Sleeper Cell is no 24-- and That's a Good Thing

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It's become a bit trendy among some TV critics (and I use that term advisedly) to compare Showtime's Sleeper Cell to Fox's 24. Not only is that wrongheaded, lazy reportage, it's just flat-out stupid. Beyond the theme of potential terrorism on American soil, the two series have precious little in common. Let me rephrase that--they have absolutely nothing in common.

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I'm not knocking 24--hell, I've followed it religiously for going on six years now, often to the dismay of family and employers. (Random note to self--gotta get a TIVO.) I love the show, despite its leaps in logic, not the least of which being that all this mayhem takes place in a mere 24 hours. Sleeper Cell moves at a more deliberate, but no less deadly pace.

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Sleeper Cell: American Terror picks up where the first season ended, give or take a few months. After thwarting the terrorist attack on Dodgers Stadium last season, FBI operative Darwyn al-Sayeed (Michael Ealy) just wants to get on with his life. After all, Faris al-Farik (Oded Fehr) is in US custody, and his cell has apparently been destroyed. Darwyn emerged unscathed, and he's been offered a teaching position at the FBI Academy. But he's quickly drawn back into the role of field agent when he's persuaded to recon Benny Velazquez (Kevin Alejandro). Darwyn and Benny had met while Darwin was doing his prison stint, and Benny has attracted the notice of the FBI because he's joined a radical mosque in San Diego. Meanwhile, cell leader al-Farik, tucked away in an American prison of undisclosed location, is enduring indignities and unorthodox CIA interrogation techniques, but remains steadfast in his extremist beliefs.

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Thus the stage is set for another tale of intrigue and betrayal told in a grippingly realistic fashion. This is not a story told in black and white, good versus evil--rather, it flows in ever-shifting shades of gray. Darwin is a man torn between his Muslim faith, his racial identity and his sense of duty. As an ex-Marine, an African-American, with an Anglo girlfriend who's married but separated, he has a lot on his plate as it is. But even though his work as an undercover agent requires subterfuge and deception, he wades through life with a stoic resignation, compromising principles in the name of the greater good.

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The imprisoned al-Farik is no less devout, but his fundamentalist viewpoint has led him to believe his terrorist tactics are not only justified, but divinely inspired. Through his eyes, we almost understand, if not sympathize with, his extremist viewpoint. He's a radical terrorist who truly believes the West is responsible for the evils of the world, and that he's justified in taking whatever actions he can to cleanse the world of its influence. He's undeniably intelligent, even charming to a degree, and is steadfast in his beliefs even under duress of torture.

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It's in its unflinching presentation of the dichotomies inherent in the global war on terror that Sleeper Cell: American Terror makes its mark as one of the most provocative TV series around, cable or otherwise. Once Darwyn is forced to kill the leader of a new terror cell who has blown his cover, he finds himself thrust into the role of their new leader. We're introduced to a number of new characters within this cell, each of them with a plausible backstory. There's Mina, a former Dutch prostitute who got caught up in extremist Muslim beliefs through an Iraqi lover; Salim, an Iraqi expat raised in England, where he learned to misinterpret Islam; and the aforementioned Latino gang member who converted to radical Islam while in prison. They all have their own motives, united in their devotion to their ambiguous cause.

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While Sleeper Cell does present any number of viewpoints, it is by no means one-sided. It shows evil as evil, whether it's perpetrated by Islamic terrorists or American interrogators. It's a series that is unafraid to portray the world in which we currently live in no uncertain terms. Perhaps its most jarring moment comes at the end of the episode, when Darwyn's handler from last season, Patrice Serxner, is executed by extremists. It's broadcast via the Internet, and aptly illustrates how insidious this conflict is.

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While Showtime did air this miniseries on consecutive nights during the holidays, and all eight episodes are available on Showtime on Demand, Sleeper Cell: American Terror is beginning its weekly run on the cable network now. If you can see it, do. This is one of the most provocative television dramas you're likely to see.