Sleeper Cell: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 26 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 57 Ratings

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Sleeper Cell

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Season Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Season Premiere Date: December 4, 2005

Starring: Oded Fehr, James LeGros, Henri Lubatti

Summary: An FBI agent goes undercover in a Los Angeles-based terrorist sleeper cell in this 10-hour Showtime limited series.

Creator: Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Youmud Din
Air Date: December 18, 2005
tbd
S1:E9. Hijack
Air Date: December 18, 2005
tbd
S1:E8. Intramural
Air Date: December 14, 2005

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

100

David Hinckley

In theme and execution, in caliber of performance and level of dramatic tension, "Sleeper Cell" is an impressive, relentlessly gripping drama. Read full review

Hal Boedeker

Sleeper Cell moves with more sophistication than most crime dramas. Read full review

Robert Abele

At times it plays like a hybrid of the ticking-bomb thrills from ["24"] and the moral thorniness that undergirds HBO’s excellent crime series The Wire. Read full review

James Poniewozik

Imperfect but chilling.... In the end, Sleeper Cell is every bit as nailbiting as 24, with one crucial difference: neither the terrorists nor the Feds are supergeniuses. Read full review

David Zurawik

If one is looking for a TV drama that earnestly tries to reflect and speak to our lives and times, it would be hard to do better than Sleeper Cell. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Despite laudable elements -- particularly the magnetic Oded Fehr as the cell leader -- [the] series is too uneven to dub this ambitious mission a complete success. Read full review

Aaron Barnhart

The one thing “Sleeper Cell” does commendably is to suggest that there is a struggle going on for the soul of Islam, and that al-Qaida does not have the only say in the matter. But that message is swamped by predictable thriller filler and cheap production values. Read full review

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User Score

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7.8

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User Reviews

NancyH

Dec 20, 2006

Extremely chilling, terrific acting and very realistic. Can't wait for 3rd season to see if Darwyn survives.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

martins

Apr 29, 2006

excellent

0 of 0 users found this helpful

lucl

Dec 12, 2005

it is an awesome picture of what the truth might be. If the truth is less than the movie, well I am sure the terrorist will use these ideas, if the reality is more... Be afraid.

0 of 0 users found this helpful

DeydelT

Aug 26, 2006

excellent must watch it little kiss from France

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Angel

Apr 13, 2006

love it!! so real, it's scary! can't wait for season 2

0 of 0 users found this helpful

Tss5078

Dec 7, 2014

It is a common misconception that Sleeper Cell was cables first failed attempt to recreate the hit show 24, in a more extreme format, and that Sleeper Cell was the precursor to the smash hit Homeland. In reality, Sleeper Cell was a highly rated mini-series that was picked up for anotherIt is a common misconception that Sleeper Cell was cables first failed attempt to recreate the hit show 24, in a more extreme format, and that Sleeper Cell was the precursor to the smash hit Homeland. In reality, Sleeper Cell was a highly rated mini-series that was picked up for another year. The show was actually the inspiration for Homeland, as if one were to take Sleeper Cell and mix it with 24, the result would be Homeland.

The story follows Darwyn Al-Sayeed (Michale Ealy), the FBI's best undercover agent, who also happens to be a Muslim, making him the perfect choice to infiltrate the domestic side of Al-Queda. Darwyn poses as a recently paroled Islamic militant, who wants to strike a blow against the country that imprisoned him.

Through his prison contacts, Darwyn is connected to a mysterious man named Farik (Oded Fehr), who even the FBI can't identify. Through a series of tests, Farik introduces Darwyn to the rest of his cell and together they start to plan an attack on Los Angeles.

Michael Ealy stars and played the role of Darwyn as if it were specifically written for him. Ealy is the kind of actor who is easily recognized from dozens of minor movie roles, but I've never seen him star before. The character he's playing, Darwyn, is basically Jack Bauer with a lot more self-control. He's cool and collected, but ready to take action at a moments notice, making for a great character.

Ealy is paired with Oded Fehr, of the Mummy series, and he too was terrific. Obviously you need an actor with a Middle Eastern background to play this role, but Farik isn't you're typical Al-Queda, as he is able to easily fit into the suburban community. Farik is a ruthless killer, but also has a peaceful, caring side, that really comes across in the episode where they go to Mexico.

Sleeper Cell has all the action and edge of your seat drama that 24 had, and more, because let's face it, This was a cable show. Thanks to a top notch cast, some well known Directors, and a great team of Writers, Sleeper Cell was a sleeper hit on Showtime, that was easily overlooked, because it was only on for a short time. Besides only having 18 episodes, Showtime originally presented the show in a very strange way, airing all the episodes on back to back nights. This means that combined, both seasons were on the air for less than a month, and in a time before on demand had gotten popular. That is why this series was so overlooked, but thanks to Netflix, Me and thousands of others have been exposed to this hidden gem, that is worth every second that you put into to watching it.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TrentB

Dec 13, 2006

More mindless neocon propaganda vomited onto our screens. This country is going to collapse into a police state if people are actually believing this garbage. Fellow citizens, start questioning your government for God's sake! They're taking away our liberties and expanding federal More mindless neocon propaganda vomited onto our screens. This country is going to collapse into a police state if people are actually believing this garbage. Fellow citizens, start questioning your government for God's sake! They're taking away our liberties and expanding federal police control over states and cities. Terrorists don't have any power over us--in fact they have less power to threaten us than street criminals. It's all a facade, and the Feds are using it to grab more control over our lives.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful

SEE ALL 36 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

68

Series Overview
Season 2

73
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: December 10, 2006
Season 1

65
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: December 4, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E10. Youmud Din
  Air Date: December 18, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E9. Hijack
  Air Date: December 18, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E8. Intramural
  Air Date: December 14, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E7. Immigrant
  Air Date: December 13, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E6. Family
  Air Date: December 12, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E5. Soldier
  Air Date: December 11, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E4. Scholar
  Air Date: December 7, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E3. Money
  Air Date: December 6, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E2. Target
  Air Date: December 5, 2005
- tbd
  S1:E1. Al-Faitha
  Air Date: December 4, 2005