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Season 1 – Sleeper Cell

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Sleeper Cell Dec 2005 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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72% Tomatometer 18 Reviews 91% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
Darwyn Al-Sayeed -- a 30-year-old undercover FBI agent who is also a practicing Muslim -- finds his way (under an assumed name) to an Islamic extremist named Farik, who recruits him to join a terrorist sleeper cell planning an attack in Los Angeles. Darwyn is supervised by Ray Fuller, a close friend who worries for Darwyn's safety.
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Sleeper Cell — Season 1

Sleeper Cell — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

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.

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Critics Reviews

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Ron Rosenbaum Observer Nov 29, 2018
The show flounders because, at a certain point, all foreplay and no climax makes the series a dull void. Go to Full Review Nancy Franklin The New Yorker Nov 29, 2018
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 Go to Full Review James Poniewozik TIME Magazine Nov 28, 2018
The script makes the cell members human and explains their motives without ever excusing them. Go to Full Review Gloria Goodale Christian Science Monitor Nov 29, 2018
B+
While the series is well written and the action sequences are as good as any on TV, it is the human side that makes this drama worth watching. Go to Full Review David Zurawik Baltimore Sun Nov 28, 2018
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. Go to Full Review Cynthia Fuchs PopMatters Nov 28, 2018
Sleeper Cell has more than its share of smart, affecting moments, having to do with the conflicts it establishes between the achingly earnest Darwyn and his many loyalties. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Upper C @RT98905377 May 13, 2025 I did not see the show until 10 years after it was over. Gritty dark show about the players involved in a network. I cannot believe I did not hear of this show when it was out. I saw both seasons and I enjoyed it. for the most part very interesting characters, deep motivations, keeps you guessing. I binged it in one weekend. Underrated show. just probably not right for the time. See more Dec 6, 2020 fantastic show, to me this is a precursor to Homeland See more Read all reviews
Sleeper Cell — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Michael Ealy

Darwyn Al-Sayeed

Oded Fehr

Farik

Henri Lubatti

Ilija Korjenic

Alex Nesic

Christian Aumont

Blake Shields

Thomas "Tommy" Emerson

Melissa Sagemiller

Gayle Bishop

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Dec 4, 2005 Al-Faitha Darwyn Al-Sayeed is a Muslim ex-con who has just been released from prison and finds his way to an Islamic extremist named Farik, who recruits him to join a terrorist sleeper cell planning an attack in Los Angeles. Details Episode 2 Aired Dec 5, 2005 Target Farik and Ilija receive a deadly biological anthrax shipment and prepare for an attack inside a Los Angeles shopping mall. Details Episode 3 Aired Dec 6, 2005 Money Farik learns that the money supply filtering in from Mexico to finance `Youmud Din Judgement Day' has come to a halt; Farik, Darwyn and Christian cross the border to Tijuana, Mexico, and attempt to straighten out their financial problems. Details Episode 4 Aired Dec 7, 2005 Scholar Farik sends biochemical student Eddy Pangetsu on a flight to Vancouver, Canada, to drive a shipment of real anthrax across the Canadian border down to Los Angeles. Details Episode 5 Aired Dec 11, 2005 Soldier The cell members pose as Iraqi insurgents in training, in order to infiltrate and take over a secure warehouse as the new base of operations for Youmud Din. Details Episode 6 Aired Dec 12, 2005 Family Darwyn befriends a pesticide-plant worker in order to buy some of his company's product under the table for the cell, while each of the jihadis cope with personal troubles of their own. Details Episode 7 Aired Dec 13, 2005 Immigrant When an Afghan boy arrives at the warehouse looking to be trained as a jihadi, Darwyn introduces him to a more moderate brand of Islam in the hope of steering him away from terrorism. Details Episode 8 Aired Dec 14, 2005 Intramural The cell buys explosives from a white supremacist militia, while Darwyn's new handler, Patrice Serxner, tries to prevent the LAPD from blowing his cover in another investigation. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 18, 2005 Hijack The cell hijacks a chemical truck; Farik spends the last night with his wife; the FBI prepares to stop the attack. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 18, 2005 Youmud Din When Darwyn discovers that the explosion is a decoy, he leaves a clue he hopes will lead the FBI to the true target. Details

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Sleeper Cell — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Clark Johnson
Executive Producer
Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris
Screenwriter
Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris
Network
Showtime
Rating
TV-MA (S|L|V)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Dec 4, 2005
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