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Fauda

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Fauda
פאודה
Genre
Created by
Based onOriginal script
Starring
ComposerGilad Benamram
Country of originIsrael
Original languagesHebrew
Arabic
No. of seasons4
No. of episodes48
Production
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time45 minutes
Production companyYes - Satellite Television
Original release
NetworkYes Oh
ReleaseFebruary 15, 2015 (2015-02-15) –
present
Related
Tanaav

Fauda (Hebrew: פאודה, from Arabic: فوضى fawḍā, meaning "chaos" or "mess") is an Israeli television series developed by Lior Raz and Avi Issacharoff drawing on their experiences in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It tells the story of Doron, a commander in the Mista'arvim unit and his team; in the first season, they pursue a Hamas arch-terrorist known as "The Panther". Internationally, the series is streamed by Netflix.[1]

The first season was filmed in Kafr Qasim during the 2014 Gaza War, and premiered on 15 February 2015. The second season premiered on 31 December 2017. The third season takes place in the Gaza Strip and aired in 2019 and 2020.[2][3] A fourth season aired in early 2023.[4] Season 5 was filmed in 2025 and set for release in early 2026. A film follow-up has been reported to be in creation, though show's frontrunners have not confirmed this.[5]

Synopsis

The first season focuses on Doron, a former Mista'arev (special Israeli soldiers trained to operate undercover as Arabs for intelligence-gathering operations), who learns that Taufiq Hammed ("Abu Ahmad") former Hamas terrorist whom he and his unit were credited for killing, is still alive and plotting a terror attack.[6][7] Doron rejoins his former unit to hunt down and eliminate Hammed, setting the stage for a chaotic chain of events. The last episode of the first season ends with Taufiq's sidekick Walid killing his mentor.[6]

In the second season, Doron leaves his unit, separates from his wife and moves back with his father. Following the events of the first season, Walid has becomes "the head of the military wing of Hamas in the West Bank". The main antagonist in the second season is Nidal Awadallah (also known as "Abu Seif al-Maqdisi"), the son of the Sheikh who was killed in the first season, and an operative in the Islamic State organization who has returned from Syria and wants to take revenge on Doron for killing his father. Adopting the Mista'arvim's tactics, Nidal's ISIS operatives pose as Israeli personnel. In this season, the fight is more personal, between Doron and Nidal, and focuses a lot on their attempts to hurt each other's family.[6]

The third season is set six months after the events of the second season. Doron has resumed his undercover work as Abu Hadi, a boxing instructor who is training Bashar, a young aspiring Palestinian boxer in Hebron. Bashar is the son of Jihad Hamdan, who had been imprisoned for the past 20 years for his involvement with a Palestinian terrorist cell. Following Jihad's release in prison, Doron and Bashar are caught up in a plot involving Bashar's cousin smuggling weapons to Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In the process, Doron's cover is blown and he is kidnapped by Hamas, who take him to Gaza. Bashar is forced to prove his loyalty to his militant cousin and father. Doron's comrades are forced to embark on a mission to rescue him from enemy territory.[8][9]

In the fourth season, Doron is retired and estranged from his Mista'arvim unit following the death of his colleague Boaz during the third season. Doron reluctantly accompanies Shin Bet agent Gabi Ayub on a mission to Brussels to meet a source named Omar. However, this is a trap since Omar is a double agent working for Hezbollah and kidnaps Gabi. Taking the kidnapping of Gabi personally, Doron rejoins his squad as they pursue Hezbollah operatives. The rescue mission coincides with a Hezbollah plot to launch a missile attack against Israel.[4][10]

Cast and characters

Cast and crew of Fauda in 2018: Left to right: Laetitia Eido, actor; Tsahi Halevi, actor; Gilad ben Amram, composer; Avi Issacharoff, co-creator; Lior Raz, co-creator, actor; Rotem Shamir, director; Rona-Lee Shimon, actor.

Main

  • Doron Kabilio portrayed by Lior Raz. Doron is married to Gali, and has a son, Ido, and a daughter, Noga.[n 1] Doron, after leaving the army, lives on a farm and grows grapes in order to make his own wine.[n 2] Having been previously credited with killing Abu Ahmad, he rejoins his old Israel Defense Force (IDF) unit 18 months later, after intelligence discovered that Abu Ahmad was still alive.[n 2]
  • Taufiq Hammed portrayed by Hisham Sulliman. Taufiq is commonly referred to as Abu Ahmad, and is nicknamed "The Panther". He is married to Nassrin and had a son (Ahmad)[n 3] and a daughter (Abir).[n 4] Taufiq had been trained by Ali Karmi, since he was a kid, and considers him a father; however, he ordered Ali to be killed when Ali turned his back on him and gave information over to Israel in exchange for surgery for his daughter.[n 5]
  • Walid Al Abed portrayed by Shadi Mar'i. As of season 1, Walid is 20 years old.[n 5] He is a trusted member of Taufiq's team, and one of the few who knows the truth about him being alive after his funeral.[n 6] Taufiq views Walid like a son to him, and eventually Taufiq wants Walid to replace him.[n 3] However, Walid eventually winds up killing Taufiq, shooting him in the head from behind. After shooting him, Walid cries and kisses Taufiq.[n 7]
  • Captain Ayub (Gabi) portrayed by Itzik Cohen. He has been divorced twice, and lives by himself.[n 10] He has five kids, with the youngest son being named Nadav,[n 11] and has another son named Yiftah.[n 3] Gabi's favorite time of the year is when his family goes to the desert on vacation and he has no mode of communication with those who are not with him.[n 11] He develops a respectful and affectionate relationship with Abu Maher, the head of Palestinian Preventive Security.[11]
  • Mickey Moreno portrayed by Yuval Segal, commander of Doron's former unit, who pulled him back in.[n 2] He is romantically involved with Nurit.[n 5] Following the issues which followed Boaz's capture, Moreno met with Gideon Avital in order to tell him his future plans for the unit, only to be told he was being let go, with the unit being disbanded.[n 11] Moreno ultimately blackmails Avital into giving him his unit back, lest he will reveal to the press that the two of them had shot five prisoners in the head in Gaza years ago.[n 10]
  • Gali Kabilio portrayed by Netta Garti. Gali is Doron's wife,[n 2] and Boaz's older sister.[n 1] She is very unhappy with their life and wishes she could move outside of Israel.[n 6] Gali is having an affair with a member of Doron's unit, Naor, and says she is no longer in love with Doron.[n 5] Her son eventually finds out about the affair while listening in on their phone conversation,[n 1] and later sees them kissing on the couch from upstairs.[n 3] Ido eventually pulls Naor's gun on him stating that his father is not there because of him.[n 12] Gali later tells Doron that he stopped fighting for her years ago, and she was afraid of him.[n 12]
  • Nassrin Hamed portrayed by Hanan Hillo. Nassrin is the wife of Taufiq,[n 2] and her mother is Hafida.[n 12] Nassrin grew up in Germany.[n 12]
  • Boaz portrayed by Tomer Kapon. Boaz is fluent in Arabic,[n 6] and is a member of Doron's unit. As a cover he states he works with Arabs in the Ministry of Defense.[n 6] He is Gali's younger brother.[n 2] Boaz is murdered by Taufiq as revenge for shooting Bash.[n 4]
  • Naor portrayed by Tzachi Halevy. Naor is a member of Doron unit. He has been having an affair with Doron's wife for over a year.[n 5] When Gali mentions she is ready to leave Doron for him, he tells her to wait, because the situation is complicated with Doron back in the unit.[n 5] Following the issues which followed Boaz's capture, Moreno intended to make Naor team leader, before Moreno was also told the unit would be disbanded.[n 11]
  • Nurit portrayed by Rona-Lee Shimon, is the sole female member of Doron's unit.[n 2] She is romantically involved with Moreno.[n 5] She is dour and rarely smiles. Initially a staff member, she becomes an active member of the team, acting undercover.[12]
  • Avihai portrayed by Boaz Konforty. A member of Doron's unit, he has a wife and one son (Guy).[n 9] Avihai considers himself to be an attack dog, always be ready to jump right into action without emotion.[n 4] Following the issues which followed Boaz's capture, Moreno informed Avihai that he was being discharged, before Moreno was also told the unit would be disbanded.[n 11]
  • Steve Pinto portrayed by Doron Ben-David, is a member of Doron's unit. Although he goes by Steve, his birth name is Hertzel.[n 4] Steve has a crush on Nurit, and attempts to kiss her while staking out Abir.[n 4] Following the issues which followed Boaz's capture, Moreno informed Steve that he was being discharged, before Moreno was told the unit would be disbanded.[n 11] Steve later brings Doron to Boaz's grave, where he cries while reciting Kaddish.[n 12]
  • Abu Maher, portrayed by Qader Harini, is the head of the Palestinian Preventive Security. Abu Maher is reconciled to peace and coexistence, and therefore willing to cooperate with the Israelis to combat Islamist terror.[13] Ayub and Abu Maher share intelligence to figure out how to best their common foe, be it Hamas or ISIS.[11]

Recurring

  • Ido Kabilio portrayed by Mel Malka, son of Doron and Gali. Ido, eventually finds out about the affair his mother is having with Naor, while listening in on a phone conversation,[n 1] and later sees them kissing on the couch from upstairs.[n 3] Ido eventually pulls Naor's gun on him stating that his father is not there because of him.[n 12] After Doron stops him, Ido states that he should have killed him.[n 12]
  • Jihan Hamed portrayed by Khawlah Hag-Debsy
  • Sheikh Awadalla portrayed by Salim Dau, is a spiritual leader and a close and trusted friend of Taufiq.[n 5] When Taufiq wants to exchange Boaz for Hamas members imprisoned by Israel, Sheikh is the man he wants to run negotiations with Egypt.[n 1] After Taufiq gives the order to detonate the bomb inside Boaz, Doron orders the bomb vest strapped to Sheikh to be detonated as well, killing him.[n 11]
  • Gideon Avital portrayed by Uri Gavriel, is the Minister of Defense. While in Gaza with Moreno, years prior to entering politics, they shot five prisoners in the head.[n 10]

Episodes

Summary

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast released
11215 February 2015 (2015-02-15)3 May 2015 (2015-05-03)
21231 December 2017 (2017-12-31)18 March 2018 (2018-03-18)
31226 December 2019 (2019-12-26)12 March 2020 (2020-03-12)
41213 July 2022 (2022-07-13)28 September 2022 (2022-09-28)

Season 1

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Episode 1.01"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder15 February 2015 (2015-02-15)
Doron is brought back into the IDF after discovering that Taufiq, the man he thought he killed 18 months earlier, was still alive and planning on attending his brother Bashir's wedding. Ultimately they are discovered and Bashir is killed, moments before Taufiq is to arrive. Although Doron is able to shoot Taufiq after recognizing him and chasing him, Taufiq is able to escape.
22"Episode 1.02"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder22 February 2015 (2015-02-22)
Taufiq is shown to have survived the gun shot wound, but barely, and is forced to have secret emergency surgery as to not reveal that he is alive or where he is. Doron is able to convince Moreno to allow him to stay on beyond his one mission, until they catch Taufiq, while Doron is revealed to have marital issues at home. Bashir's family all mourns him as a Shahid (martyr), while his wife, Amal, vows revenge.
33"Episode 1.03"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder1 March 2015 (2015-03-01)
Shirin helps Taufiq escape from the hospital minutes before Doron's team arrives to attack him. Amal gets assigned to blow up a night club that Boaz frequents, to send a message that it is revenge for Bashir's killing, however Amal decides to not leave and stay with the bomb.
44"Episode 1.04"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder8 March 2015 (2015-03-08)
Boaz wakes up following the blast at the night club and finds his girlfriends body, causing him to ultimately be arrested for driving his motorcycle drunk and beating up a cop. Taufiq wants a safe house in order to see his wife. Doron convinces Shirin to go on a date with him, but he leaves early to try and hunt down Taufiq. The team just missed Taufiq, and Nurit winds up killing an Arab woman that attempts to stab her.
55"Episode 1.05"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder15 March 2015 (2015-03-15)
Moreno comes in to check on Nurit and they wind up having sex. Gali is revealed to be having an affair with a member of Doron's unit. Ali, a senior member of Hamas, is being interrogated by Israel as he was supposed to provide information on Taufiq in exchange for surgery on his daughter. Ali eventually leads Doron's unit to a meeting he has with Taufiq, but they kill Ali, before the team gets there, and Boaz gets captured while separated from the team.
66"Episode 1.06"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder22 March 2015 (2015-03-22)
Boaz attempts to make his capturers believe he is Muslim, which works until Taufiq recognizes his tattoo as the man who killed Bashir. Doron and his team decide to prepare an unapproved mission to kidnap Sheikh Awadalla, in an attempt to get Boaz back.
77"Episode 1.07"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder29 March 2015 (2015-03-29)
Shirin performs surgery on Boaz, and Taufiq tells him he took his kidney in order to give it to Ali Karmi's daughter. Sheikh Awadalla caves under the pressure of interrogations and gives up Taufiq's location, however he had already moved. Doron gets Shirin to admit that she did not in fact take Boaz's kidney, but implanted something electronic inside of him. Doron announces they will instead move on to Plan B, where they kidnap Taufiq's daughter Abir. At the prisoner exchange, Walid is instructed to release Boaz without detonating the bomb or else he will blow up Abir and Sheikh, however Taufiq gives the orders to blow the bomb anyway.
88"Episode 1.08"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder5 April 2015 (2015-04-05)
After seeing Boaz explode, Doron orders that Sheikh's bomb be detonated as well, then flees off the road. Moreno tells Steve and Avihai that they are no longer with the unit and that Doron will be prosecuted by the courts, while Moreno offers Nurit a promotion which she rejects. Nassrin is forced to allow an Israeli doctor to operate on Abir's eye although she wishes to transfer her to Ramallah for the surgery instead. Moreno visits Gideon Avital to find out that he too has been discharged due to the issues, and the entire unit would be disbanded. Doron is shown wandering around Arab neighborhoods and ultimately takes shelter in a mosque.
99"Episode 1.09"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder12 April 2015 (2015-04-12)
Doron shows up at Shirin's apartment after wandering the streets injured, and after she treats his wounds, he kisses her. Moreno blackmails Avital into reinstating him and the unit. Taufiq puts a kill order on Shirin for betraying them, but Doron is there and kills the men that were sent. Doron poses as a potential shahid to try to become part of Taufiq's plan. Following his meeting, Doron is captured by a member of the Palestinian Preventative Services to attempt to discover his plan.
1010"Episode 1.10"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder19 April 2015 (2015-04-19)
Gabi shows up to release Doron, and bring him back to Israel. Taufiq sends Walid to kill Shirin, but instead he asks her to marry him. Nassrin informs Taufiq that she can't take any more and intends to go home to Berlin and take their children with her. Doron is transferred to Israel where he awaits trial, but Gabi tries to convince Gideon Avital to allow Doron to finish his mission before facing trial.
1111"Episode 1.11"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder26 April 2015 (2015-04-26)
Abu Halil is grabbed off the streets and winds up being interrogated by Gabi, where he reveals he brought sarin nerve gas, via Jordan from Syria. Gabi uses this information to convince Gideon to allow Doron to fulfill his mission in exchange for a full pardon. Gabi presents Nassrin with their passports and informs her that he has arranged for their travel to Berlin. Doron returns home to find Ido pointing a gun at Naor, blaming him for the reason his father is not there. Shirin reluctantly agrees to marry Walid, but sleeps with Doron after he walks out of his house. Taufiq reveals his plan to Walid, that the sarin nerve gas will be detonated in the synagogue, which will cause Israel to retaliate with force, committing war crimes, which will force the other Islamic states to respond.
1212"Episode 1.12"Assaf BernsteinMoshe Zonder3 May 2015 (2015-05-03)
Walid watches the suicide vest being assembled while Doron and his team review their plan. Doron is brought to the secret location and fit with the suicide vest. While Doron is prepped for the missions Walid goes to see Shirin where she tells him they cannot get married. Walid, assuming its due to Amir, goes to the Palestinian Preventive Security office to confront him, only to find out Amir is really Doron, and they have recruited a Jewish spy. Walid phones back to alert the people prepping Doron that he is a spy, so they ditch his stuff into the back of a pick up truck, which the team winds up following. Just as they are about to shoot Doron, the team returns and kills all of the Hamas men there. Walid returns to Taufiq's hide out, shows him the proof on Doron, then shoots Taufiq in the head from behind. Walid sends the proof of who Doron really is to Shirin, and she walks out on Doron mid-date.

Season 2

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
131"Episode 2.01"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann31 December 2017 (2017-12-31)
Having taken charge of Taufiq's Hamas cell, Walid Al-Abed and his brother Nidal Awadallah engineer a suicide bombing in an urban location that results in several fatalities including the Mista'arvim commander Mickey Moreno. Following the events of the first season, Doron has separated from his wife, who has a new boyfriend, but he is allowed to visit their children. He lives with his father. In response to the suicide bombing, Shin Bet agent Gabi brings back Doron into active service to hunt down Walid. Walid also discreetly visits his cousin Shirin and the two reaffirm their familial bond and commitment to Palestinian resistance.
142"Episode 2.02"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann7 January 2018 (2018-01-07)
Gabi Ayub visits Abu Maher, the head of the Palestinian Preventive Security, to seek his assistance in hunting Walid Al-Abed and his operatives. Walid surreptitiously visits Shirin in hospital before she is arrested by Israeli soldiers. Meanwhile, Doron and his comrades gather at the home of Moreno's family to pay respects to their fallen comrade. Tensions are high within Dorron's squad, with a boxing exercise ending in acrimony. The new unit commander Eli warns Doron to make amends or leave the squad. Elsewhere, Walid and Nidal meet with Abu Samara, the leader of Hamas in the West Bank. Abu warns Nidal not to launch further unauthorised attacks. Defying Abu's orders, Nidal assembles a squad of Hebrew-speaking Palestinian teenagers for a new mission. Later, Dorron manages to convince Shirin to cooperate in return for flying her to France and proposing a relationship. With Shirin's help, Doron's team captures Samir, one of Walid's operatives.
153"Episode 2.03"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann14 January 2018 (2018-01-14)
164"Episode 2.04"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann21 January 2018 (2018-01-21)
175"Episode 2.05"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann28 January 2018 (2018-01-28)
186"Episode 2.06"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann4 February 2018 (2018-02-04)
197"Episode 2.07"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann11 April 2018 (2018-04-11)
208"Episode 2.08"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann18 April 2018 (2018-04-18)
219"Episode 2.09"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann25 April 2018 (2018-04-25)
2210"Episode 2.10"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann4 May 2018 (2018-05-04)
2311"Episode 2.11"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann11 May 2018 (2018-05-11)
2412"Episode 2.12"Rotem ShamirAmir Mann18 May 2018 (2018-05-18)

Season 3

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
251"Episode 3.01"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman26 December 2019 (2019-12-26)
262"Episode 3.02"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman2 January 2020 (2020-01-02)
273"Episode 2.03"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman9 January 2020 (2020-01-09)
284"Episode 3.04"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman16 January 2020 (2020-01-16)
295"Episode 3.05"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman23 January 2020 (2020-01-23)
306"Episode 3.06"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman30 January 2020 (2020-01-30)
317"Episode 3.07"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman6 February 2020 (2020-02-06)
328"Episode 3.08"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman13 February 2020 (2020-02-13)
339"Episode 3.09"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman20 February 2020 (2020-02-20)
3410"Episode 3.10"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman27 February 2020 (2020-02-27)
3511"Episode 3.11"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman5 March 2020 (2020-03-05)
3612"Episode 3.12"Rotem ShamirNoah Stallman12 March 2020 (2020-03-12)

Season 4

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
371"Episode 4.01"Omri Givon[14]Noah Stallman[14]13 July 2022 (2022-07-13)
382"Episode 4.02"Omri GivonNoah Stallman20 July 2022 (2022-07-20)
393"Episode 4.03"Omri GivonNoah Stallman27 July 2022 (2022-07-27)
404"Episode 4.04"Omri GivonNoah Stallman3 August 2022 (2022-08-03)
415"Episode 4.05"Omri GivonNoah Stallman10 August 2022 (2022-08-10)
426"Episode 4.06"Omri GivonNoah Stallman17 August 2022 (2022-08-17)
437"Episode 4.07"Omri GivonNoah Stallman24 August 2022 (2022-08-24)
448"Episode 4.08"Omri GivonNoah Stallman31 August 2022 (2022-08-31)
459"Episode 4.09"Omri GivonNoah Stallman7 September 2022 (2022-09-07)
4610"Episode 4.10"Omri GivonNoah Stallman14 September 2022 (2022-09-14)
4711"Episode 4.11"Omri GivonNoah Stallman21 September 2022 (2022-09-21)
4812"Episode 4.12"Omri GivonNoah Stallman28 September 2022 (2022-09-28)

Release

In the summer of 2016, the satellite network yes officially picked up season 2 of the show, stating it will focus more on real world events.[15] During the fall of 2017 the initial trailer was released,[16] and the official premier date was later announced to be 31 December.[17] A few weeks prior to the airing of season 2, Fauda was renewed for a third season, to air in 2019.[18]

The series is distributed by the online streaming service Netflix, billed as a Netflix original program, and premiered on 2 December 2016.[19] Season 2 was added to Netflix in May 2018.[20]

The third season premiered on Yes Action's TV channel, VOD and YouTube channel on 30 December 2019.[3] It premiered on Netflix on 16 April 2020.[9]

Reception

Viewership

According to BBC and CNN, Fauda has garnered significant popularity not only in Israel but in Arab countries as well between 2018 and 2019.[21][22]

Critical response

The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes indicated that 100% of reviews were favourable for all four seasons.[23]

Seasons One and Two

In a piece for The Guardian, film producer Trudie Styler found the series to be "an electric and fantastically acted drama", adding that "[the] moral context is complex and provides more fodder for dinner-table discussions."[24]

Don Trachtman of The Times of Israel praised the series, writing that it "tries to level and equate the sides, without clear message of who is acting worse or who is right and who is wrong." He also compared Fauda favourably to similar American spy television series, observing the focus on drama over spectacle and special effects. Trachtman praised Fauda for humanising Israeli spies and commandos by depicting them as "humane, with personal lives, families, love, greif, [sic] consicence, [sic] doubts." He also opined that the second season improved on the first season by raising the stakes, level of suspense, and exploring the show's minor characters.[6]

Season Three

PJ Grisar of The Forward gave the third season a positive review, writing that "the show remains, above all, about fighters and their families. When it comes to them, Fauda still excels in its consistent, action-based character studies." He praised the surrogate father-and-son dynamic between Lior Raz's character Doron, an undercover IDF operative, and Ala Dakka's character Bashar, the son of the antagonistic Palestinian militant leader Jihad Hamdan (Khalifa Natour).[9]

Esther Kustanowitz of J. The Jewish News of Northern California gave the third season a mixed review, writing that it "delivered the dramatic tautness and moral murkiness" of the previous two seasons. However, she criticised what she regarded as "unnecessary" love scenes, the confusing multiple character arcs and abandoned "possible plot points." Kustanowitz praised the series' subtitles for their adapt translation of Hebrew slang including references to The Exodus and Judaism.[8]

Eric Kohn of IndieWire gave the third season a B+ grade, writing that "the show's moral implications gain texture, as its undercover agent becomes more of a problem than a solution." He praised the third season for being more morally ambiguous than the first two seasons by exploring the moral implications and psychological toll of Doron's undercover work as an IDF agent, describing Doron's downward character arc as a Kohn also praised the third season for featuring more Palestinian characters such as Bashar in its Gaza Strip setting but criticised the lack of Palestinian input during the screenwriting process.[25]

Season Four

Itay Ziv of Haaretz gave a positive review of the fourth season, writing that it captured the Israeli "zetgeist." He described the series "as one of the most important channels to understand the Israeli occupation."[26]

Kelly Luchtman of Foreign Crime Drama praised the fourth season's writing as superior to the third season, writing that "making the mission personal and taking the team out of Israel made it feel like a progression of the story." While critical of the slower pacings and two "filler" episodes, Luchtman praised the series She praised the showrunners for balancing action scenes with the characters' personal and family struggles. Luchtman also observed that the series went beyond the binary narrative of good Israelis versus evil terrorists by exploring how the Israeli protagonists "will go to any length to stop terrorism, even ruining lives and families in the process."[4]

Adam Sweeting of The Arts Desk awarded the fourth season four stars, writing "fourth time around, the human cost is becoming too much to bear." He praised the performance of Lior Raz as the main protagonist Doron, observing that the writer and co-producer was able to draw upon his experiences as a real-life Israeli counter-terrorism unit veteran. Sweeting praised the fourth season for exploring the bonds between Doron and his comrades as well as their various personal struggles. He also observed that the season explored the themes of trust and betrayal, particularly the sibling relationship between the antagonistic Omar (Amir Boutrous) and Israeli-Arab policewoman Maya Binyamin (Lucy Ayoub) and the hostage-captor relationship between Gabi and Omar.[10]

PJ Grisar of The Forward praised director Omri Givon and writer Noah Stallman for exploring the cost of combat on the series' IDF protagonists and questioning the wisdom of the IDF's tactics. He was however critical of the fourth season for not probing the impact of Israeli military surveillance on the Palestinians and the wreckage of the IDF team's home lives. Grisar praised the fourth season's climax for exploring the impact of Israeli collateral damage on the show's Palestinian characters.[14]

Shania Matthews of ThePrint gave the fourth season four stars, describing it as "a gut-wrenching and intense series finale." She praised the series for "unlayering" its characters particularly the main protagonist Doron, exploring his past and emotional stability. Matthews praised the fourth season for continuing the series' stellar action performances, "sensitive interpretation of a tense geopolitical landscape," and ability to reinvent its story over successive seasons. She also praised the series for raising awareness of life in the Occupied Territories, humanising its Palestinian characters and showcasing Palestinian talent to Israeli audiences.[27]

Ambar Chatterjee of EastMojo gave the series four out of five stars, describing it as "a thrilling journey through conflict and identity." He wrote that the fourth season "maintains the same structure as the previous three seasons, but the story expands to include a diverse range of characters, dramatic precursors, locations, and individuals from both sides of the conflict." Chatterjee also praised the new Arab-Israeli character of Maya for "embodying the torment and internal conflict experienced by individuals who find themselves torn between loyalties and identity."[28]

Political commentary

Various pro-Palestinian groups have labeled Fauda as an "Israeli propaganda".[29][30] Rachel Shabi, writing in The Guardian, criticised the show for its politics and its "relentless machismo".[31] According to Yasmeen Serhan of The Atlantic, "Viewers who are hungry for a Palestinian perspective on the conflict would do well to urge Netflix to commission a Palestinian-created series, because Fauda will probably prove a disappointment."[32] George Zeidan of Right to Movement Palestine, was more direct; in Haaretz, he wrote "The Middle East is already bursting with disinformation, insinuations and dangerous propaganda: there's no need for yet more. Fauda can do better."[33] An article by Yara Hawari in Al Jazeera about the "latest surge of programmes focusing on Israel and trying to show it as a force for good" gave the opinion that "although not as crude as classic Orientalist cinema and TV, these programmes are no less racist and perhaps even more dangerous in their subtlety and slick presentation."[34] Reviewers have described it as "shooting and crying".[35]

Pro-Israeli critics also panned the show as depicting Israelis in a bad light. In Tablet Magazine, Alter Yisrael Shimon Feuerman states:

Doron, then, isn’t a new Zionist hero negating the old nebbishy Jewish stereotypes. He’s merely a curious new form of the Jew as schlemiel, only this time with the powerful fisticuffs and a high-powered rifle. He is, in short, the kind of character my mother warned me against when I watched Hogan’s Heroes, a buffoon who turns a painful and serious and all-too-real conflict into a bit of entertainment.[36]

Tablet magazine notes that both pro-Israeli and pro-Palestinian critics complain that the show is biased against their points of view, an indication that it is evenhanded. Writer Josef Joffe notes:

To begin, the protagonists look, walk, dress and speak the same, with Palestinians and Israeli switching smoothly from Hebrew to Arabic, and vice versa. Their common bond are those classic Arabic swear words centering on the sexual depravity of one’s mother. It doesn’t require a subtle mind to get the subtext: Look how alike we are.

Nor does Fauda squelch the voices of the Palestinian. They keep articulating their grievances and their claims to justice. They love their children, and they cry over their fallen. No black and white hats here. The Jews defend their homeland; the Arab kill because they want one. Both sides believe they are in the right, though the Hamas types also invoke Allah. Both feast and fornicate. They have families and rebellious sons. In-group power struggles keep overwhelming the existential national conflict. They go after each other as they plot their next attack on the enemy.[37]

Accolades

In 2016, the show took six awards, including Best Drama Series, at the Israeli Academy Awards.[15] In December 2017, The New York Times voted Fauda among the best international shows of 2017.[38] In 2018, the show took 11 Israeli TV Academy Awards, including best TV drama, best actor for Lior Raz and also best screenplay, casting, cinematography, recording, special effects and in other categories.[39]

Indian adaptation

In November 2019, content studio Applause Entertainment (promoted by Aditya Birla Group) announced an Indian adaptation of Fauda,[40] which would depict the relationship between India and Pakistan.[41][42] Tanaav, the Indian adaptation,[43] premiered on SonyLIV on 11 November 2022.[44]

Gaza war

Series production manager Matan Meir, a reservist in the IDF, was killed by a bomb trap in a Hamas tunnel in the Gaza Strip on 11 November 2023, while deployed during the Gaza war.[45]

Idan Amedi, who appeared in Seasons 2-4 as Sagi, was severely injured in Gaza on 8 January 2024 while serving as a reservist in the IDF. A blast that was the result of a premature explosion intended to demolish tunnels killed six soldiers and resulted in shrapnel hitting Amedi in his neck and spine. Amedi has stated that he hopes to return to Fauda for season 5.[46][47]

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e "Episode 6". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 6. 22 March 2015. Yes.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Episode 1". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 1. 15 February 2015. Yes.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Episode 10". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 10. 19 April 2015. Yes.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Episode 7". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 7. 29 March 2015. Yes.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Episode 5". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 5. 15 March 2015. Yes.
  6. ^ a b c d "Episode 2". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 2. 22 February 2015. Yes.
  7. ^ "Episode 12". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 12. 3 May 2015. Yes.
  8. ^ a b c d e "Episode 3". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 3. 1 March 2015. Yes.
  9. ^ a b c "Episode 4". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 4. 8 March 2015. Yes.
  10. ^ a b c "Episode 9". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 9. 12 April 2015. Yes.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g "Episode 8". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 8. 5 April 2015. Yes.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g "Episode 11". Fauda. Season 1. Episode 11. 26 April 2015. Yes.

References

  1. ^ Hod, Itay (10 September 2017). "Why 'Fauda' Is the Best-Kept Secret on Netflix". TheWrap. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  2. ^ Spiro, Amy (12 December 2017). "Fauda renewed for third season". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b Brown, Hannah (30 December 2025). "Season 3 of 'Fauda' viewed a million times in 48 hours". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Luchtman, Kelly (24 January 2023). "Fauda Season 4 Review: This Time It's Personal". Foreign Crime Drama. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  5. ^ "Worldwide TV sensation 'Fauda' to be adapted for the big screen - report". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Trachtman, Dov (18 March 2018). "Was Fauda, season 2 the bomb?". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 25 April 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  7. ^ "Watch Fauda". Netflix. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b Kustanowitz, Esther (20 April 2020). "'Fauda' returns to Netflix for season 3, as tense and chaotic as ever". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  9. ^ a b c Grisar, PJ (16 April 2020). "'Fauda' season three makes a deep study of incidental trauma". The Forward. Archived from the original on 15 May 2025. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b Sweeting, Adam (4 February 2023). "Fauda, Season 4, Netflix review - Israeli terrorism thriller gets darker and dirtier". The Arts Desk. Archived from the original on 24 April 2025. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  11. ^ a b Joffe, Josef (11 June 2018). "What Critics Left and Right Get Wrong About 'Fauda'". tabletmag.com. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  12. ^ White, Francine (10 October 2022). "Meet the warrior women of Fauda: In the macho world of Israel's international TV hit series, women play a powerful role on and off screen". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  13. ^ Tobin, Jonathan S. (21 August 2018). "'Fauda' and the two-state scenario". JNS.org. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  14. ^ a b c Grisar, PJ (23 January 2023). "In season 4 of 'Fauda,' Israeli tactics come under fire — and so do the show's heroes". The Forward. Archived from the original on 9 July 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  15. ^ a b Steinberg, Jessica (22 July 2016). "Next season's 'Fauda' to reflect real news, says co-creator". Times of Israel.
  16. ^ Spiro, Amy (12 December 2017). "'Fauda' season 2 trailer teases more action". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  17. ^ Spiro, Amy (15 November 2017). "Tune in: Fauda's season 2 premiere date revealed". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  18. ^ Spiro, Amy (12 December 2017). "Fauda renewed for third season". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  19. ^ Kamin, Debra (8 November 2016). "Netflix Picks Up Israeli Political Thriller 'Fauda'". Variety.
  20. ^ Hod, Itay (23 February 2018). "Here's When Netflix Is Dropping 'Fauda' Season 2 (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  21. ^ Corbin, Jane (5 May 2018). "Fauda: The drama lifting the lid on Israeli snatch squads". BBC News. Retrieved 3 September 2025. It shows not just the violence but the moral dilemmas too and has been a hit not only in Israel but surprisingly in Arab countries as well, and globally on Netflix.
  22. ^ Quest, Richard (17 April 2019). "Quest Means Business". CNN (Transcript). BURKE: This show has done even better in Arabic speaking countries then it has done in its home country of Israel and Netflix has really gone with a strategy of taking more of the series and not building them as foreign language series, and have shown that they're able to do something where really other networks haven't been able to do that.
  23. ^ "FAUDA". Rotten Tomatoes Post. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  24. ^ Styler, Trudie (28 April 2020). "Trudie Styler: 'We have to get used to feeling uncomfortable'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
  25. ^ Kohn, Eric (21 April 2020). "'Fauda' Review: Netflix's Thrilling Israeli Spy Show Matures Into Ambiguity During Season 3". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 18 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2025.
  26. ^ Ziv, Itay (17 July 2022). "Review 'Fauda' Season 4 Captures the Israeli Zeitgeist". Haaretz. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  27. ^ Matthews, Shania (21 January 2023). "Fauda season 4 — Get ready for a gut-wrenching and intense series finale". ThePrint. Archived from the original on 8 December 2025. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  28. ^ Chatterjee, Ambar (6 July 2023). "Fauda Season 4: A thrilling journey through conflict and identity". EastMojo. Archived from the original on 6 July 2023. Retrieved 8 December 2025.
  29. ^ "Netflix Series Fauda as an Effective Tool of Israeli Propaganda". palestine-studies.org. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  30. ^ "BDS calls for boycott of Israel's 'racist propaganda' Netflix series". middleeastmonitor.com. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
  31. ^ Shabi, Rachel (23 May 2018). "The next Homeland? The problems with Fauda, Israel's brutal TV hit". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  32. ^ Serhan, Yasmeen (8 June 2018). "Watching Israeli TV's Fauda as a Palestinian". The Atlantic. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  33. ^ Zeidan, George (24 April 2020). "'Fauda' Isn't Just Ignorant, Dishonest and Sadly Absurd. It's anti-Palestinian Incitement". Haaretz. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  34. ^ Hawari, Yara (12 February 2020). "Israel's propaganda war waged through TV shows". Al Jazeera English. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  35. ^ White, Ben (9 January 2018). "Fauda brings Israel's 'shoots and cries' genre to the Netflix generation". Middle East Monitor.
  36. ^ Feuerman, Alter Yisrael Shimon (30 May 2018). "Why I Won't Be Watching 'Fauda'". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  37. ^ Joffe, Josef (11 June 2018). "What Critics Left and Right Get Wrong About 'Fauda'". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  38. ^ Poniewozik, James; Hale, Mike; Lyons, Margaret (4 December 2017). "The Best TV Shows of 2017". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 13 December 2017.
  39. ^ Stern, Itay (12 March 2018). "Israeli Emmys: 'Fauda' Wins Best TV Drama, 'Shababnikim' Best TV Comedy". Haaretz. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  40. ^ "After Hostages, Israeli series Fauda set for Indian adaptation". India Today. 4 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Israeli series Fauda set for Indian adaptation". The Indian Express. 7 November 2019.
  42. ^ "Popular Israeli series 'Fauda' gets a desi twist, will feature Indo-Pak tension". The Economic Times. 7 November 2019.
  43. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (13 June 2022). "SonyLIV Picks Up 'Tanaav,' Indian Adaptation of 'Fauda' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.
  44. ^ "'Tanaav,' Indian adaptation of 'Fauda' to stream on Sony LIV from November 11". The Hindu. 18 October 2022.
  45. ^ Piña, Christy (11 November 2023). "'Fauda' Crew Member "Killed in Action" in Gaza, Says TV Show". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  46. ^ "Idan Amedi's Path to Healing at Sheba Hospital". Sheba Medical Center. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  47. ^ "'I was so burned, no one recognized me,' says 'Fauda' actor Amedi of his Gaza injuries". Times of Israel. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
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