Sleeper Cell

A chilling and unflinching look at all sides of a complicated issue, focusing on an African-American Muslim who joins an Islamic sleeper terrorist cell in the United States while working undercover for the FBI.

Sleeper Cell (2005-2006) is an American crime drama series created by Ethan Reiff and Cyrus Voris for Showtime. Michael Ealy plays Darwyn al-Sayeed, an African-American Muslim working undercover for the FBI who embeds himself in an Islamic sleeper terrorist cell in the United States. Oded Fehr plays Faris al-Farik, the cell's charismatic leader whose trust Darwyn must earn, while Henri Lubatti's Ilija Korjenic and Melissa Sagemiller's Gayle Bishop add pressure from the cell's ranks and the federal side. The engine of the series is the constant risk of exposure: every meeting, prayer and recruitment is a test of whether the agent can keep both his cover and his conscience intact. Across two seasons and eighteen hour-long episodes, the story moves forward as one continuing arc rather than a case of the week. The tone is chilling, tense and unflinching, asking viewers to consider several sides of a politically charged conflict. Set in the post 9/11 United States, it carries the paranoia of its era into domestic neighborhoods and safe houses. Fans of 24, Homeland and The Shield will find resonance in its double identity suspense and morally complicated characters, though its tone is more intimate and talky than action driven.

Audience reception is positive overall, with the first season rated noticeably higher than the second.

• 24undercover infiltration, moral ambiguity, post-9/11 terrorism paranoia
• The Shieldundercover law enforcement double identity, serialized crime drama tension
• Homelandintelligence agency moral gray zones, terrorism serialized thriller

Created by

Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Voris

Release Date

2005-12-04

Episode runtime

60 min

Rating

7.9 / 10 (82)

What is Sleeper Cell about?

An African-American Muslim FBI informant infiltrates an Islamic sleeper terrorist cell in the United States, navigating loyalty and identity at every turn.

What is Sleeper Cell like to watch?

Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Sleeper Cell as brisk, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.

Is Sleeper Cell violent?

Somewhat. Ember rates the violence in Sleeper Cell as moderate.

What did critics think of Sleeper Cell?

Audience reception is positive overall, with the first season rated noticeably higher than the second.

Which shows are like Sleeper Cell?

Shows with a similar feel include 24, The Shield, and Homeland.

How long is Sleeper Cell?

Sleeper Cell: 2 seasons, 18 episodes.

Is Sleeper Cell still running?

No, Sleeper Cell has ended.

Where can I watch Sleeper Cell?

In United States, Sleeper Cell streams on fuboTV, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Apple TV channel, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, Paramount+ Roku Premium Channel.