Fauda

There are too many films and series about the Israeli Mosad and IDF to go into. Suffice it to say this one simply tries to throw in every known cliche and just comes off bland. It is almost a parody of itself in that only the israelis could have the lead of a balding, obese hairy middle-aged man be the love interest to a hot professional, younger Arab woman. It is unapologetic about killing Arab civilians in the course of their operations from the beginning of the episode. So, if you like watching creepy israelis having sex with their subordinates/co-workers' wives, all while killing Arabs, then this is your wet dream.

I'm amazed at how the Israelis can make such high level series like this, dealing with such intense subjects relating to dealing with the Palestinians, but still manage to be fairly even-handed and treat both sides sympathetically - even terrorists. I think it's this that makes Fauda so good. Yes, you're on the side of the Israeli team - sort of their undercover SAS squad dealing with Palestinian terrorists - but you also see the other side's viewpoint. Fauda is violent and action-packed, but all the characters, on both sides, have depth and believability. Watched all three series in a couple of weeks. Well worth the time.

Fauda is a very intense and rough show about the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. No side is a saint or hero. All means and methods are used from both sides. Sometimes with success and sometimes big failure. Terrorism, revenge, fight for injustice, all causes are there.

The show is very well produced with a nerve and authentic feel that is not present in similar US productions.

The characters are strong and very well performed by actors and actresses, unknown to me but nevertheless stellar performances.

Key character is Doron, an undercover Israeli agent that is both prudent privately and ruthless as a professional. But he is often held back by his own emotional turmoil, impulsively guided by his natural instincts and careless maneuvers.

Also the acting and development of the character Walid, on the Palestinian side, is absolutely splendid.

The action is constantly there and it is impossible to predict what is going to happen next. This really brings an intensity and always keeping you on the edge. Still it feels natural and not overdone.

The show has been critisized for being Isreeli propaganda. It is an Israeli production so it might be a small bias here, but still there are good people and bad people on both sides. And both sides can be totally ruthless without any sense of moral and ethics. So all in all the show is a great two-sided portrait of this ongoing conflict. It is very intense and unique because you see both sides of the conflict.

A very refreshing alternative to traditional US action productions. Don't miss Fauda!

I have never lived in the West Bank, and thus cannot speak to whether the script is as severely biased as some claim. What I do know is that among those who voice this particular criticism, there does appear to be roughly the same number of people who think it is demonizing the Palestinians as there are those thinking it's the Israelis that are getting the unfair treatment.

Why I don't believe it is possible to ever be completely unbiased, I do not get the sense that the show is trying to convince me one way or the other. This tale of ruthless killing and unending retribution does not, in my opinion, make any attempt at justification. I believe it a story, not primarily about the common Palestinian or Israeli, but about the combatants on both sides.

However, I can see how a passionate supporter of either side might find this show a bit unpalatable. Those who simply want their convictions justified can probably find something more to their liking elsewhere. Propaganda is easy to come by these days. The rest of us can enjoy this well made fiction, listen to the beautiful semitic languages and be captivated by the awesome culture and piety of these ancient civilizations.

I pray for lasting peace among all the seed of Abraham.

I am American. I am biased.

With that out of the way, I wanted to... no, felt that I HAD to write a review about Fauda. Being completely honest with myself, I can't review this show based on "realism" or the whether the portrayal of ideological differences are genuine or not; I'm not exposed to that on a daily basis like those in the Middle East are. What I can review is how this show changed my mind and opinion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it made me feel.

I went into this viewing with a prideful appreciation of Israel (I still have one) and expected to see an action-packed thriller about undercover operations. You do get that, don't get me wrong, but that's not the point of the show. What you get from this show is a very poignant lesson about the physical, emotional, spiritual, and ideological toll that is felt in the battle that this show is portraying. You get the sense that what you are viewing is real. The writers do a masterful job of convincing you to sympathize with even the most unwavering of Hamas supporters and warriors and with the Israelis tasked with hunting them down. You get a front row seat to the endless killing that is carried out by both sides for reasons that are not even clear to the triggermen. "An eye for an eye", to what end? There is no Hollywood romance sideplots, no flashy explosions or high speed car chases through oncoming traffic, only death and despair.

This show has been incredibly difficult for me to describe to my friends and family, and I can only tell them what it's about and why I believe it's not a biased depiction of the real war going on. But I can't describe how you feel watching this show. It's profound and eye opening. All I know is that we're all human, we all mourn the same way.