Kfulim

My wife and I just saw the first two episodes at the SF Jewish Film Festival. Although I didn't see the Israeli "Prisoners of War" before it was adopted in the US as Homeland, I loved Homeland. But the first two episodes of Kfulim, or False Flag, were even better than Homeland, which was great. The subtitles (the show is in Hebrew) don't detract at all from the intense suspense.

This totally engrossing thriller - all without any violence so far - is compelling even in a theater, and I'll watch compulsively streaming or on TV. After two episodes, all we have is mysteries, so the eight-episode season holds great promise.

No wonder they say the Israeli originals are better!

Season 1 was engaging. There were too many characters. I agree with the commenter who said the quality dropped off over the course of the season.

Season 2 had better focus. There were many, many plot holes and the conclusion was disappointing.

The main investigator wasnt a sufficiently strong actor to carry the series.. Some of the supporting actors and actresses were very good.

Even with this criticisms, many viewers will find the show entertaining.

I thought that this was one of the best shows I've watched in a long time. The characters are well drawn out and it seems that each episode bought a new twist. I never for sure knew who was who. I know this is a bit vague. My only quibble is that the subtitles are in a yellow font. Very difficult at times to read.

The story of five random people that get entangled in a world of politics, conspiracies, and death, "Kfulim" starts strong, keeps a grip-your-sofa gripping second act and ends on a high note (even if, though, it leaves some loose ends that could have been better tied).

The plot in its basics: five citizens of Israel with double nationality but otherwise seemingly normal lives are accused of kidnapping the Iranian Minister of Defense. Little by little we get to know why, how and all the other answers to the questions behind the kidnapping. At the beginning, though, all five of them seem to be completely innocent people (ok, except Sean, who looks shady from second one). The plot does a decent job on developing this premise (even if, when you think about it after ending the show, it is all a little bit head-scratching because some plot points make no sense).

However, the strongest points of the show are the characters, all of them really interesting and well developed, and the pace of the development of the story. In regards of the first, the characters are fleshed out and the acting good enough. And in regards to the second, the rhythm, the music, the camera work all work to make every episode "Lost"-style gripping, normally ending with a cliffhanger and with some really nice twists along the way.

I just have to say season 2 is sooooo much better than season one with Nata Riskin in it, and the whole story line is so much better....don't wanna spoil it