Prisioneiros de Guerra

Each season was made 3 years apart, and it shows.

Season 1 is a very detailed psychological study of 2 men who were gone for 17 years. It has some thriller elements but mostly, it's slow paced, methodical study that is finely weaved by the writer/director.

Season is two is mostly thriller, action. Much faster paced with many plot twists. Very different, overall but nevertheless enjoyable.

Overall, it's not an American version, and in some ways it's better, if you like slower pace, methodical narrative vs fast paced action, plot twists, and quite a bit of unrealistic action.

9/10 because ending left few questions unanswered, as if they expected s3 that never came.

The Israel series, Hatufim (Prisoners of War), which is all in Hebrew, is on DVD with English subtitles. It is one of the best TV dramas I have ever seen: tense, suspenseful, emotional, with superb acting and directing. Gritty and violent at times, wonderfully slow other times, and always dramatic; we usually wind up watching two episodes in a row. There are characters you like, others you don't, but you care about or are interested in all of them. The US version, Homeland, was taken from this Israeli original and is also excellently well done, but Hatufim is a lot different and stands entirely on its own; I think it's the better of the two. This powerful drama should be on everybody's watch list. A comment about the English subtitles: we found the same thing a reviewer on Amazon did -- the subtitles marked as English on the disc of season 2 (2012) for episodes 9-12 were only in Hebrew. On the advice of the seller, we tried the disc on our computer and (for reasons I cannot understand) the disc played with the English subtitles! The final episodes (13-14), like all the others except for that one disc, play fine on the DVD player.

Indeed, even beyond high expectations. One of the most successful serials in recent years, much better made than its US remake Homeland. Israeli cinema in its best.

Magnificent scenario, great directing, excellent cast. Extremely enthralling, holds attention every second. Viewers are constantly under tension - what will happen in the next episode.

A real pleasure for the auditory, proof of the high potential of Israeli cinema in general. I personally very much hope its creators to make a third season, and will look forward to with anticipation of future pleasure. I hope be soon!

Genuine, original drama, very mature writing and great performance by talented Israeli actors.

Memorable music and very mindful, slow-paced storytelling, somewhat reminiscent of the best works of Coen brothers.

Cinematography, on the other hand, is a bit amateurish, but in this specific case, it only help to recreate the "documentary" look and feel of the series.

PS: Honestly, I'm mot sure, why so many people compare this show to Homeland. Despite lush "Hollywood" production values, the later looks like a cheap plastic knockoff of the original series, all twists and cliffhangers, no real depth or character study whatsoever. Maybe the problem is the translation (or cultural differences?), I just happen to have lived in both US and Israel, so I could compare both shows as they are. POW is infinitely better, hands down.

While 'Hatufim' is definitely worth being judged on its own merits, it probably will, for some time, always be compared to the US series that was based on this Israeli original... and after having viewed both series I'm confident in saying that 'Hatufim' doesn't have to shy away from the comparison. In fact, I think it is the superior show of the two.

Whereas 'Homeland' is clearly in the same vein as other US shows and boosts a fast pace, twists and turns and lots of action, 'Hatufim' is much more of a psychological thriller. On the surface much less happens than does in 'Homeland', but 'Hatufim' involves a lot more subtleties as well as realism and character study, especially in its 1st season.

The budget is only a portion of the US remake, but it seldomly shows. Great actors accompany an even better script that left me feeling a lot more involved than the fast pace and action of 'Homeland' did. In fact, Hatufim's 2nd season picks up in pace and action, but still keeps that intimate feeling and heart that 'Homeland' sometimes lacked.

'Homeland' is a very good series, but 'Hatufim' is, in my opinion, a great one.