Burning Hands

Good heavens, what on earth did I just watch on Yoobie Toobie? Omar, upright, man of the people acts as a knight in shining armour to the inner city youth, with a day job as an English Lit teacher. Shades of To Sir, with love.

How anyone would give Omar a job as a teacher is beyond me. Realism and credibility don't get a look in. There is zero English Lit going on in that classroom. All we get are jarring monologues on what is on Hijab's mind.

An attempt is made to swing the lantern on oppressive culture of the west, racism and wholesale ignorance by non Muslims but even that is portrayed in an utterly ridiculous way. There's Omar as a youth, going through trouble and the reformed Omar of the present giving an education to misguided youth. Hijab just walks around like a Doctor Who Cyberman ready to zap anyone with a steely glare.

The acting and plot are dire, I mean it is unbelievably low calibre. Heavy on the stereotypes and pounded to dust with clichés. The two MI5 agents gave career destroying performances.

The drama is disjointed and lacks a clear narrative. Thing is though, how seriously are we supposed to take this as a drama?

Mohammed Hijab has made an effort to say some home truths but blimey, it was hard work watching this. I much prefer his seminars.

Halal Series: A Breath of Fresh Air A Muslim-crafted halal series offers a timely and much-needed perspective amidst the UK's complex social landscape. By presenting authentic narratives of Muslim lives, it challenges pervasive stereotypes and fosters empathy. The series deftly explores themes of faith, family, and identity, resonating with audiences on a profound level. Its portrayal of diverse Muslim experiences contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society. In an era marked by division and misinformation, this series emerges as a powerful tool for promoting unity and respect. It's a testament to the richness of Muslim culture and a vital contribution to the ongoing dialogue about identity and belonging.

Some great acting talent here, including isiah semple, otilia de roya, ali barazi, melly myer and charlotte reidie.

Mohamed hijab, whose first acting role this is turns in a good performance and grounds the show with a relatable muslim protagonist.

Nice editing here also, good transitions.

My only gripe is the dead air between dialog, they could've made it feel more naturalistic with a steadier cadence. That and maybe the consistency of the performance where either it was all naturalistic or all stage like and dramatic. I think since mohamed hijabs sensibilities lay more in indie and naturalistic that the characters like the female m15 agent and ball busting school principle should bring their delivery to that level, so less chewing the scene and more natural.

The third episode was brilliant, best of the bunch and left me wanting a season 2.

Not only was this an entertaining watch, but this was also a very important show. The conservatives have always represented muslims on their TV shows as terrorists, while the liberals always represented muslims as LGBT heroes. So it was high-time for us to take things into our own hands, and I'm glad one of us did just that. Good job!

Some important criticisms:

• The main character's acting was unfortunately a bit... rough. And it pains me a bit to say this. I understand that the main character is supposed to be a Da'iee, not a professional actor. And I also understand that he tried his best. But still. It was good for a first-attempt, but perhaps more cuts should be taken when recording the sequel so that Mohammed Hijab could feel more comfortable acting as Omar Ayyad.

• The subtext regarding the main message of the show may not be too suitable for a general audience. The lay audience is not as politically/philosophically aware as sometimes the show expects them to be. I definitely had a good time watching this as I have watched hours of Mohammed Hijab breaking down topics in the show. But still. When making a sequel, its essential to put this into consideration. The show must be presentable to a general audience of muslims and non-muslims while still keeping a nuanced image. This should be priority number one.

• The show lacked advertising. Not a big criticism, but it could have hit much bigger numbers if the general muslim community and wider british community were more aware of it. This may be a budget issue so I will not be as harsh about it.

Overall the show was very entertaining. I only really highlighted the criticisms because I love the people behind this show and I want to see them improve! <3 The acting (other than the MC's) was really top notch. The woman that played the right-winger lady was fantastic lol.

The ending left me starving for more. And I really do hope more comes out. Muslim representstion is just untapped gold in the western cinematic industry, and it is good that we are finally starting to touch it now.

Waiting for more :D.

Thank you for making this show, I enjoyed watching it with my husband.

A great effort has been made by Mr Mohammad Hijab and the whole team that deserves our appreciation as viewers who wants to see a good quality, meaningful and important content.

I have so much respect for this work and the braveness that I believe was there from the beginning, behind the scenes; to make "Burning Hands" come to life.

Lastly, as a Muslim myself this made me feel proud too; please continue the great work and telling the story from our point of view , because Muslims too matter to have their own content and Media is a great platform to share these stories & I must say Amira is Cool :) thank you for the representation of strong solid Muslim woman.

May Allah bless the whole team.

Ps: my Husband and I are eagerly waiting for season 2. :)