Sleeper Cell (TV series)

Sleeper Cell

Title screen from the second series, Sleeper Cell: American Terror
Genre Thriller
Action
Starring Michael Ealy
Oded Fehr
Henri Lubatti
Melissa Sagemiller
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 18 (list of episodes)
Production
Running time 60 minutes
Release
Original network Showtime
Original release December 4, 2005 – December 17, 2006
External links
Website

Sleeper Cell is an American one-hour drama on the Showtime network that began airing on December 4, 2005. The tagline for the first season was "Friends. Neighbors. Husbands. Terrorists." and the tagline for the second season was "Cities. Suburbs. Airports. Targets." The series was nominated for an Emmy award for Outstanding Miniseries. The eight-episode second season of the series, titled Sleeper Cell: American Terror, premiered on December 10, 2006. Both seasons of Sleeper Cell were originally aired in an unusual fashion, by filming the entire season ahead of time and then airing the episodes on consecutive nights, such that each brand new season was aired for the first time over a period of less than two weeks. In Australia, both seasons originally aired on the Showtime Australia channel in 2006/2007. Re-runs as of 2008 have screened on the showcase channel (part of the Showtime Australia group of channels).

As extra material on the first season DVDs reveal, the show was originally named The Cell.

Synopsis

Darwyn Al-Sayeed, a 30-year-old American undercover FBI agent who is a Muslim and embracing Islam as his religion, is assigned to infiltrate a terrorist sleeper cell that is planning an attack in Los Angeles. The cell is run by an Arab extremist named Faris al-Farik who disguises himself as a Jewish person. The members of the cell come from a variety of racial backgrounds and conflicting personalities. The series also portrays the hypocrisy and dichotomy of the cell members who claim to be Muslims but engage in behavior that is sinful in Islam (e.g. sex outside marriage) yet they profess a desire to be martyred for Islam.

Darwyn is supervised by FBI senior agent Ray Fuller, also a close friend who worries for Darwyn's safety.

In the second season, Darwyn infiltrates a new cell that has formed to avenge the defeat of the original cell. When his second handler, Patrice Serxner, is killed in Sudan, Darwyn must try to work with yet another handler, Special Agent Russell. Meanwhile, his girlfriend Gayle is drawn deeper into the intrigue when she's caught between Russell, Darwyn and a member of the cell.

The writers once again offered a non-stereotypical mix of cell members, including a white European woman, a Latino-American man and, in a first for American television, a gay Muslim man.

Cast

Season 1

Actor Role
Michael Ealy Darwyn al-Sayeed (Alias: Darwyn al-Hakim)
Oded Fehr Faris "Farik" al-Farik / Saad bin Safwan
Henri Lubatti Ilija Korjenić
Alex Nesic Christian Aumont
Blake Shields Thomas "Tommy" Allen Emerson
Melissa Sagemiller Gayle Bishop

Recurring

Season 2

Actor Role
Michael Ealy Darwyn al-Sayeed (Alias: Darwyn al-Hakim)
Oded Fehr Faris "Farik" al-Farik
Henri Lubatti Ilija Korjenić
Omid Abtahi Salim
Kevin Alejandro Benito 'Benny' Velasquez
Thekla Reuten Mina
Melissa Sagemiller Gayle Bishop

Recurring

Crew

Writers

Directors

Sound Department

Episodes

Season 1: (2005)

Season one aired from December 4, 2005 to December 18, 2005. The original airdates (U.S.) are listed here for each episode.

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code[1]
1"Al-Faitha"Clark JohnsonCyrus Voris & Ethan ReiffDecember 4, 2005 (2005-12-04)101
A federal agent, Darwyn Al-Sayeed, goes undercover in Los Angeles to try and infiltrate a group of Islamic terrorists. Darwyn is introduced to Faris al-Farik, an Islamic extremist who is the leader of a sleeper cell. Farik becomes suspicious and drives Darwyn, Bobby and the other Cell members to the middle of the desert. He then starts to question the group and proclaims there is a "traitor" among them – placing Darwyn’s mission and life in danger.
2"Target"Guy FerlandCyrus Voris & Ethan ReiffDecember 5, 2005 (2005-12-05)102
Farik recruits another Cell member, bio-chemical student Eddy Pangetsu, to test the anthrax that he and Ilija have received. Darwyn learns that the Cell is planning an anthrax attack inside a mall and tries to inform the FBI of where and when, but it turns out the anthrax was fake and just a rehearsal.
3"Money"Leon IchasoCyrus Voris & Ethan ReiffDecember 6, 2005 (2005-12-06)103
Farik discovers that the money supply coming in from Mexico to finance Youmud Din has ceased. So, Farik, Darwyn and Christian cross the border to Tijuana, Mexico, and try to find a way to straighten out their financial troubles.
4"Scholar"Nick GomezKamran PashaDecember 7, 2005 (2005-12-07)104
Farik decides to send biochemical student Eddy Pangetsu on a flight to Vancouver. There he must drive a shipment of real anthrax across the Canada–US border to Los Angeles. At the same time, Abdal Malik, a moderate religious scholar and deprogrammer from Yemen arrives on a visit to the US.
5"Soldier"Guy FerlandJanet TamaroDecember 11, 2005 (2005-12-11)105
The Cell members end up posing as Iraqi insurgents-in-training to infiltrate and take over a warehouse to make it the new base of operations for Youmid Din.
6"Family"Leslie LibmanMichael C. MartinDecember 12, 2005 (2005-12-12)106
Darwyn tries to get close to a chemical plant worker in the hopes of trying to acquire some of the company's product for the Cell.
7"Immigrant"Ziad DoueiriAlexander WooDecember 13, 2005 (2005-12-13)107
Farik attends a meeting with cell leaders in Las Vegas as they finalize their plans for a date for their possible attack. Meanwhile, an Afghani boy comes to the warehouse in the hopes of becoming a jihadist himself.
8"Intramural"Nick GomezAlexander WooDecember 14, 2005 (2005-12-14)108
The Cell works out a deal with white supremacists so they can acquire a large amount of explosives. The LAPD then sets up a surveillance on Darwyn after Gayle Bishop contacts them, which endangers his cover and gets the FBI's attention.
9"Youmud Din (Part 1) /Hijack"Rick WallaceKamran PashaDecember 18, 2005 (2005-12-18)109
The Cell hijacks a truck in order to acquire its contents - a deadly chemical to be used in their attack. The FBI holds off on stopping the Cell in the hopes of getting more information on the other two cells operating in the U.S. To be continued...
10"Youmud Din (Part 2)"Rick WallaceCyrus Voris & Ethan ReiffDecember 18, 2005 (2005-12-18)110
Judgement Day has arrived and Farik is not yet out of surprises. A surprise diversion proves effective in allowing the Cell to escape their surveillance. A quick thinking Darwyn leaves a clue that he hopes will lead the FBI to the target location in time.

Season 2: (2006)

Season two aired from December 10, 2006 to December 17, 2006. There were several cast changes in season two. Thekla Reuten, Omid Abtahi, and Kevin Alejandro joined the main cast as Mina, Salim and Benny, respectively. The original airdates (U.S.) are listed here for each episode.

No. Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code[1]
11"Al-Baqara"Clark JohnsonCyrus Voris & Ethan ReiffDecember 10, 2006 (2006-12-10)201
Several months after successfully foiling a terrorist attack, FBI agent Darwyn Al-Sayeed is assigned to infiltrate another sleeper cell. Meanwhile, terrorist leader Faris Al-Farik endures CIA interrogation. Ilija, who managed to escape the authorities, has found refuge with a young woman who believes he is the victim of a government conspiracy and makes plans to escape the country.
12"Salesman"Charles S. DuttonAlexander WooDecember 11, 2006 (2006-12-11)202
Having found himself thrust into the position as leader of the new Los Angeles Cell, Darwyn must protect his cover and work with the terrorists to unmask their secret attack plan. Meanwhile, Farik’s interrogators try a surprising new method to get the terrorist leader to cooperate and give up crucial information.
13"Torture"Vondie Curtis-HallKamran PashaDecember 12, 2006 (2006-12-12)203
Darwyn is ordered by a terrorist group to get a weapon, but the FBI does not want to cooperate. Ilija prepares to run away to Europe. Farik is sent to Saudi Arabia where torture is allowed.
14"Faith"Angel Dean LopezGuy FerlandDecember 13, 2006 (2006-12-13)204
Darwyn risks blowing his cover to save an Islamic televangelist. Salim struggles with a painful secret. Farik escapes from prison in Saudi Arabia and finds a place to hide with Al-Qaeda.
15"Homecoming"Charles S. DuttonKatherine LingenfelterDecember 14, 2006 (2006-12-14)205
The expected shipment of nuclear material into the Port of Los Angeles has the FBI ready to take down the cell. Gayle turns to Russell to deal with an ugly custody dispute. Darwyn faces his father's disapproval. Mina is blackmailed by her lecherous boss. Farik forces his daughter to make a painful choice.
16"School"Leslie LibmanAndrew BarrettDecember 15, 2006 (2006-12-15)206
Farik goes to visit a school in Yemen. Ilija tries to start a new life back in Bosnia. Darwyn adjusts to a demotion in leadership. Salim has another encounter with Jason. Mina invites Gayle to an Islamic women's group, which Russell forces her to attend. A midnight exhumation is conducted and the cell recovers smuggled nuclear fuel rods.
17"Fitna"Nick GomezKamran Pasha & Alexander WooDecember 16, 2006 (2006-12-16)207
Mina kidnaps Gayle and forces her to drive to Las Vegas. En route, Gayle fights back and Mina kills her. The FBI raids cell headquarters but Salim escapes with the fuel rods. Salim improvises a dirty bomb and with an unwitting Jason in tow tries to set it off at the Hollywood Bowl, but is killed. In Las Vegas, Mina carries out a suicide bombing at a veterans' gathering.
18"Reunion"Charles S. DuttonEthan Reiff & Cyrus VorisDecember 17, 2006 (2006-12-17)208
Darwyn uses Samia to try to get close to Farik in Yemen. Farik realizes Darwyn is FBI and takes him captive. Darwyn orchestrates a missile attack on Farik's camp and Samia is killed. Darwyn and Farik battle. Both are wounded. Farik escapes and the season ends with Darwyn begging for help in a village street.

2009 broadcast

DirecTV's The 101 Network and DirecTV on Demand began airing the miniseries on January 28, 2009.

DVD releases

Region 1

DVD NameRelease DateEp #Additional Information
Sleeper CellMarch 14, 200610The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the U.S. on March 14, 2006. It was distributed by Showtime Entertainment. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included several DVD extras such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary.
Sleeper Cell: American Terror - The Complete Second SeasonMarch 20, 20078The entire second season of Sleeper Cell: American Terror was released as a three-disc Region 1 DVD box set in the U.S. on March 20, 2007. The box for the DVD mistakenly lists the Season 1 cast on the back.

Region 2

DVD NameRelease DateEp #Additional Information
Sleeper CellSeptember 18, 200610The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen four-disc Region 2 DVD digipak in Europe on September 18, 2006. It was distributed by Tla Releasing. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included the same DVD extras as the Region 1 release, such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary.

Region 4

DVD NameRelease DateEp #Additional Information
Sleeper CellAugust 17, 200610The entire first season of Sleeper Cell was released as a widescreen four-disc Region 4 DVD box set in Australia on August 17, 2006. It was distributed by Road Show Video. In addition to all the episodes that had aired, it included DVD extras such as episode commentaries by executive producers Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris, behind-the-scenes footage and making-of features as well as deleted scenes with optional commentary. In addition to the bonus material included on the Region 1 release, the DVD set featured audio interviews with cast and crew members.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 "TV.com: Sleeper Cell Episode Guide". TV.com. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
  2. ↑ "Sleeper Cell (Region 4)". Sanity.com.au. Retrieved 2006-12-11.
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