Ep 1. Al-Fatiha (Pilot)

Sleeper Cell is an American television drama series that premiered on Showtime network back in 2005. The show revolves around Darwyn Al-Sayeed, a Muslim-American agent working undercover for the FBI to infiltrate a terrorist group planning an attack in the United States. The series portrays the challenges of fighting terrorism from both sides of the law.

Season 1 episode 1, titled "Al-Fatiha (Pilot)" introduces the audience to the protagonist, Darwyn Al-Sayeed, played by Michael Ealy. The episode opens with a terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia that kills several Americans, and a group of Muslim-Americans denouncing the attack in Los Angeles. Their congregation is infiltrated by a man named Darwyn, who is employed as a pool cleaner and has recently converted to Islam.

Darwyn is working undercover for the FBI, led by Ray Fuller (played by James LeGros), who considers the Islamic community of Los Angeles a breeding ground for potential terrorists. Fuller and Darwyn, who is a former gang member, share a controversial past. Darwyn is willing to put his life on the line to serve his country, but he struggles with his faith and beliefs as he is ordered to infiltrate the terrorist group responsible for the Saudi Arabian attacks.

As part of his cover, Darwyn must win the trust of the Islamic community leaders and gain access to their network. He also has to earn the admiration of Farik Majeed (played by Oded Fehr), a terrorist mastermind who had been under surveillance by the FBI but had eluded them for years. Darwyn manages to get recruited into the terrorist network and is introduced to Farik.

Throughout the episode, Darwyn's emotions are conflicted as he learns about the terrorist group's plans and tactics for executing a violent attack. He struggles to maintain his cover while trying to stop a group of fanatical terrorists from wreaking havoc in Los Angeles.

The episode introduces other FBI agents, including the determined and no-nonsense female agent Patrice Serxner (played by Melissa Sagemiller), and the tech-savvy Jewish agent, Tommy (played by Blake Shields). The agents work together to gather intelligence while also struggling to trust Darwyn's loyalty to the agency.

"Al-Fatiha (Pilot)" takes the audience on a journey through the challenging and complex world of undercover work, espionage, and counter-terrorism activities. The show's creators pay great attention to detail, depicting the intricacies of the Muslim-American community in Los Angeles, the FBI's challenges, and the terrorists' fanaticism.

Overall, the first episode of Sleeper Cell introduces the audience to a complex and thrilling plot, with an exceptional cast of actors bringing the story to life. The show's realistic portrayal of the inner workings of the FBI and the terrorist groups they are trying to stop provides a captivating and thought-provoking viewing experience.