It’s been 20 years since the release of the TV series Sleeper Cell, a thriller that lasted two seasons and was labelled ‘unsettling’.
Two decades later, the US Customs and Border Protection agency has claimed that the threat of sleeper cells in America has ‘never been higher’, after the US launched strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.
Earlier this month, Israel launched strikes on nuclear and military sites in Iran, with Iran retaliating by sending missiles into Israel. Civilians have been killed and injured in both countries.
The Telegraph reported that Iran sent a message to President Donald Trump threatening to activate sleeper cells in America if the country is attacked.
A ‘sleeper cell’ is the name given to a spy or operative who is placed in a country and can be called to action at short notice.
Back in 2005, ‘provocative’ thriller Sleeper Cell took viewers inside how the terrorist groups work, as well as exploring the representations of Islam.
The thriller series followed American undercover FBI agent Darwyn Al-Sayeed (Michael Ealy), a proud Muslim man tasked to infiltrate a terrorist sleeper cell planning to attack Los Angeles.
The cell is run by Arab extremist Faris al-Farik (Oded Fehr), who has disguised himself as a Jewish man.
The second season, released in 2006, saw Dawryn attempt to take down a new cell after the events of the first season while also grappling with working with a new handler, Special Agent Warren Russell (Jay R. Ferguson).
Sleeper Cell was nominated for an Emmy Award for outstanding miniseries, but did not run for more than two seasons.
For those who didn’t tune in the first time around, or just want to refresh their memories, log onto Amazon Prime Video, where you can rent and buy seasons one and two.
Alternatively, you can also rent and buy both seasons of Sleeper Cell from Apple TV Plus.
Season one currently holds a 72% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the critics’ consensus reading: ‘Sleeper Cell approaches its provocative high-concept with a respectful exploration of religious extremism, but the series works better as a gritty thrill-ride than the nuanced drama it aspires to be.’
‘Despite the mostly awful dialogue, Sleeper Cell succeeds on the strength of its plot. You’re kept in a constant state of suspense as you watch various aspects of the plan taking shape,’ The New Yorker said in their review.
Baltimore Sun said: ‘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.’
The Wall Street Journal added: ‘Its strains and balancing efforts aside, it is soon obvious that there’s much in this story about the day-to-day planning and training for a terror strike that should enthrall — and chill — audiences.’
‘It’s to the writers’ credit that they set out to engage viewers’ brains as well as their adrenal glands,’ Empire summarised.
After appearing on the show, Ealy went on to land roles in The Good Wife, Californication, and Westworld.
He also landed big screen roles in Think Like a Man, The Intruder, and The Perfect Guy, among others.
Speaking to Ebony Magazine in 2015, the actor, 51, opened up and POC representation on screen and how the world of TV is changing.
‘I think we’re right on track,’ he said. ‘I don’t think we’ve arrived at the destination. But things are definitely getting better.
‘There was a long time where the Asian character couldn’t be anything but a doctor. That has changed. You still have to deal with Middle Eastern characters not being terrorists all the time. And we’re trying to get away from that.
‘So we’re starting to see that open up with different shows. And that, to me, is going to make Hollywood and this TV world a much more diverse place.’
Sleeper Cell seasons one and two are available to rent and buy at Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+
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