This Movie Can Only Be Described With One Word.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

An action-packed slog

Blistering performances.

Maybe I'm jaded since I saw Homeland before I saw this badly acted, poorly written attempt at PC schlock, which seeks to always underscore that the religion of Islam is not the root cause of any violence...just a bad interpretation of it. They accomplish this by repeating the "warm fuzzy" parts of the Qur'an through the "good" Muslim lead character, but fail to mention that Muslims have been warring since the time of the founder of their religion, and conquered all of North Africa, much of Southern/Eastern Europe and the middle east through violence; the SAME violence happening today, only Western technology has finally trumped Islamic theology. Just bad. Watch a Mohammedan propaganda youtube video for the same level/amount of believability.

The story itself is interesting, but is it representative of terrorists? I think not. Find just one Islamic terrorist attack that involved three westerners. There aren't any.The show is good from a dramatic point of view, but it is in no way "realistic". It's about as true to life as 24. But, like Kiefer does on 24, the actors on here are quite good. It reeks of too much handling from producers - you can almost hear the pitch meeting "we can't just have a bunch of arabs. People need to identify with these characters. And we need a love interest." Very formulaic. Obviously a lot of time and money has been spent on this and it's very watchable, but ... HBO would have kept it truer to form. For instance, I am quite curious about the Indonesian character. If you've ever been to Indonesia, he looks about as Indonesian as an Eskimo. Would it have been that hard to find an actor from Jakarta?

The nature of the terrorist threat facing America is certainly complex and multifarious: it is also almost certainly nothing like the threat depicted in this drama series about a terrorist cell, with its Dr. Evil-like figurehead, square-jawed FBI agents, and a hero who, predictably, allows his love life to interfere with his professional one. The concept of the series is itself problematic, the premise is spelt out at the very beginning (terrorists plan a horrific attack) so one knows that any intermediate dramas are ultimately red herrings, destined to come to nothing before the big one at the end. The program also suffers from an overdose of solemnity, there's no sense of humour and very little humanity (in either the script or the characters), and the earnest attempts to balance the emphasis on Muslim fundamentalism with a show of respect for true Islam is clumsy and vaguely risible. Glossily-produced and with a pertinent subject, 'Sleeper Cell' can be considered a wasted opportunity. Steve Earle, in his three-minute song 'John Walker's Blues', offered more insights into why an American might become a terrorist than this series manages in almost eight hours.

To be completely honest, I completely intrigued by the original concept of 'Sleeper Cell.' Having watched the best part of the series on FX Channel (UK), my Sky got broke meaning I missed the crucial finale. But what I DID see of it, I assumed it to be a great story line, good acting and as I don't watch '24' I thought it was great, AND it's been confirmed for a second season...One of the best TV programs I have seen. Much more realistic and believable than "24." Excellent character development and plot line. Does not bash Islam, but gives a thoughtful and considered approach, showing the difference between radical terrorist Islam and true Islam. Everybody should see this show!Stringy xx