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Original poster

Baghdad Central

21 replies

purpleme12 · 09/02/2020 00:48

Anyone watching?
I'm halfway through the first episode and it's not what I was expecting
It's very distressing

OP posts:
Hesperatum · 09/02/2020 15:32

Yes. Excellent in my view. (Am up to Episode 5).

Original poster
purpleme12 · 09/02/2020 15:38

Only only watched episode one so far. I thought there'd be a thread on here before now

OP posts:
Hesperatum · 09/02/2020 15:53

Re my previous post - unsettling but excellent

stumbledin · 09/02/2020 18:01

I've only watched episode 1 so far and found it really well made. I think the international cast makes it feel different from those US/UK made thrillers set in Arab countries where everything is viewed from the western perspective.

I am going to watch it week by week as there was so much to think about after the first episode I wantet to get it straight in my head before moving on.

I wonder why series like this are tucked away late at night, sort of implying that most people want watch unless it is about US/UK. Like the increasingly ridiculour Homeland.

I think the storyline is familier. But in a horrible way that is because it happens too often.

I really like how the family relationships are shown.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 09/02/2020 20:25

It was on at 9 o clock I don't think that's late at night?

OP posts:
HugoSpritz · 09/02/2020 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 09/02/2020 20:44

Oh sorry it was 10. Although I wouldn't consider that too late

OP posts:
stumbledin · 09/02/2020 23:58

I meant late in terms of how they programme shows. ie 9am is the top spot and then 8pm.

And this is why in the listings there is oftn just one line so easy to miss!

stumbledin · 11/02/2020 14:55

Okay so watched episode 2. Still think it is really good. But do find the English character a bit jarring. Everyone else seems really naturalistic.

Looks like the children in Morocco must have had a great time as extras being hostile to the occupying Americans! (It says at the end that is where it was filmed which I noticed as I wondered about that.)

But ... very concerned as I have bookmarked this series, but for some reason episode 3 isn't listed. Dont wont to skip onto 4 as so much happens each episode. Sad

Original poster
purpleme12 · 14/02/2020 23:08

I feel like I've got no idea what's going on in this programme

OP posts:
stumbledin · 15/02/2020 00:06

Episode 3 has now popped up in my feed so will be watching the rest.

I wouldn't claim to totally understand the story as it is about the occupation of Iraq by the western allies and the impact that had on daily life and families. And there are tensions between how the Americans work and interact with the UK and of course those Iraqi's who work for them.

Then into this is the story of a missing young woman. Her father is a former Iraqi police officer and tries to use old contacts to find her. But at the same time he is being criticised for being part of the Sadaam regime but on the other hand the Americans want him to do police work because they will not get any cooperation from local people because they are occupiers.

You probably know this purpleme, but in fact it helps me to write it out.

Not sure how far you have got, but it seems that the police office trying to find his daughter and the americans wanting him to investigate a murder are linked.

Dont want to spoil it.

And sorry if this hasn't helped.

There is a lot in each episode which is why I am not binge watching. Its quite a complex plot added to which there are the family stories and tensions.

Original poster
purpleme12 · 15/02/2020 00:45

It's ok your post helped a bit. I've watched episode 1 and 2 so far. I think I'm finding it hard with all the tensions knowing who's not happy with who and why and why they're all frosty with each other etc etc

I will back to watch the next one

OP posts:
stumbledin · 15/02/2020 16:38

I'm going to watch episode 3 tonight.

Am intrigued as to what happens next. But also sad as the situation is so awful for them - and the violence.

InvisibleWomenMustBeRead · 15/02/2020 16:41

Is it in English or is it subtitled?

AudacityOfHope · 15/02/2020 16:45

I couldn't get past episode 2; had no idea why I was supposed to care about any of the characters. It's all a bit oblique and the script quite minimal, no emotions shown really, and that's what drives things for me.

WhatKatyDidNot · 15/02/2020 16:47

Is it in English or is it subtitled?

About 70% in English and the rest subtitled. Iraqi characters don't speak to each other in English, basically.

I've watched the whole thing and thought it was great intricate, moments of big impact but also politically subtle. The main character is so well drawn.

No spoilers but the last episode is a stonker.

stumbledin · 15/02/2020 17:29

no idea why I was supposed to care about any of the characters

Have to say that compared to say the characters in the second series of Hidden who seem like vermin, I am quite sympathetic to many of the characters and the situation they find themselves in, and like the portrayal of the Iraqi family.

And I think a lot of the acting is great.

Thanks Katy for no spoilers! Smile

I am watching episodes spread out as it is complex and I need time to take it all in.

stumbledin · 18/02/2020 14:02

Well I am still engrossed. In fact broke my rule and watched 2 episodes back to back, so only have 2 to go.

It really shows up what a load of rubbish Homeland is.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 23/02/2020 12:24

I have watched 3 episodes. I had planned to binge watch but found parts of episode one very upsetting and couldn't. I think it's excellent and gives a glimpse of what a disaster the whole thing was.

stumbledin · 23/02/2020 18:44

I have just watched the last two episodes.

And wasn't totally happy with the ending, but suspect it real life it would have been even grimmer.

But all in all it is so much better that anything else.

Am off to the Homeland thread to say they should watch this and see the impact of the occupiers on the occupied.

Am really impressed by the number of series we are now getting that are multilingual.

Not so long ago this would have been unthinkable on mainstream tv.

StarbucksSmarterSister · 27/02/2020 21:47

Just finished. I thought it was very good. The implications of what happened in Iraq after the fall of Saddam are very well done. We saw enough but not too much to make it unwatchable. It really made me think how naive I was at that time about what was likely to happen afterwards

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