Kalifat

Was not expecting this!! The most intense drama I have seen since Breaking Bad. The last episode literally had me out of breath. This is a Swedish show but you can watch it on Netflix if you put it on an English-speaking setting. Really good story, spellbinding, and also has a lot of suspense. Well acted and delivers on every level.

An amazing series where the subject, screenplay, plots and acting are so intense, gripping and well-done that they curl around your chest and throat, making you choke and gasping for air...

• (++) Outstanding charismatic play and acting by all the cast, especially by Pervin (best of all), Husam, Sulle, Kerima and Lisha. All of them did a memorable job with amazing acting and gripping facial expressions. Also, the sisters' parents acted so naturally that they deserve real recognition as well.
• (+) Superb and deep screenplay with enormous twists and turns, depicted near perfectly.
• (+) Unbelievable final episode with jaw-dropping events and happenings.

A contemporary matter amazingly brought to the screen and a huge effort put into it by the creative team of writers and producers.

Definitely deserves at least a season 2 with around 10-12 episodes.

At times, this was one of the most stressful TV shows I can remember watching. The sheer horror of the situation some of these characters find themselves in, coupled with how realistic their predicaments are, makes for some genuinely stomach-churning moments of suspense.

Caliphate features some incredible lead performances from Gizem Erdogan, Aliette Opheim and Amed Bozan. The character development of Husam is incredibly astute and Bozan's ability to portray the different facets of his subjects personality is mightily impressive. Drama shows have a tendency to compartmentalise major characters into good, bad and ugly but Husam is at once frightening, likeable and pitiful.

Some of the plot development is a little predictable and the final episode feels quite rushed. I was unconvinced by the way in which the Russian boys and Swedish girls were so easily manipulated and felt their function in the story was a little too convenient. Nevertheless, this is one of the most powerful shows I have seen in some time and another example of the high quality of Scandinavian TV and cinema.

As a former lecturer in Arabic and Islamic Studies, who has written a major report on radicalization in Muslim schools, and who has written many articles about radical Islam, I was worried that this series might be filled with all sorts of misunderstandings and inaccuracies and mistakes. In fact, it was well researched, down to subtle things such as distinguishing between jihad al-akbar and jihad al-asghar, using both terms in Arabic. And saying fard (duty) without translation. The portrayal of ISIS in Raqqa seemed to me most convincing, based as it was on authentic film and reportage. As the author of ten international thrillers (several bestsellers and three or four with Islamic themes), I found the tension well built, making many episodes nail-biting. The characters are well developed, if at times frustrating. I have taken one star off on account of the coincidences and other plot holes. Despite these, the series works in terms of character, pace, and plot lines. I strongly recommend it to anyone who likes well written and well performed drama that will keep one watching through the eight episodes with speed. As for the several people here leaving 3, 4, 5 or other low ratings, I would pay them no heed at all.

Do not use the dub, watch it with subtitles. The acting is phenomenal! The storytelling believable yet unpredictable. I did not see the last few episodes coming and that says something. This series exceeds all expectations