Fauda (2015–2022) User Reviews

Changed my views on the conflict

[nickwalker746 · 9/10 · 9 July 2018]

I am American. I am biased.

With that out of the way, I wanted to... no, felt that I HAD to write a review about Fauda. Being completely honest with myself, I can't review this show based on "realism" or the whether the portrayal of ideological differences are genuine or not; I'm not exposed to that on a daily basis like those in the Middle East are. What I can review is how this show changed my mind and opinion about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and how it made me feel.

I went into this viewing with a prideful appreciation of Israel (I still have one) and expected to see an action-packed thriller about undercover operations. You do get that, don't get me wrong, but that's not the point of the show. What you get from this show is a very poignant lesson about the physical, emotional, spiritual, and ideological toll that is felt in the battle that this show is portraying. You get the sense that what you are viewing is real. The writers do a masterful job of convincing you to sympathize with even the most unwavering of Hamas supporters and warriors and with the Israelis tasked with hunting them down. You get a front row seat to the endless killing that is carried out by both sides for reasons that are not even clear to the triggermen. "An eye for an eye", to what end? There is no Hollywood romance sideplots, no flashy explosions or high speed car chases through oncoming traffic, only death and despair.

This show has been incredibly difficult for me to describe to my friends and family, and I can only tell them what it's about and why I believe it's not a biased depiction of the real war going on. But I can't describe how you feel watching this show. It's profound and eye opening. All I know is that we're all human, we all mourn the same way.

Action packed, but with characters that are three dimensional. Excellent.

[bbosma-24403 · 9/10 · 19 March 2021]

I'm amazed at how the Israelis can make such high level series like this, dealing with such intense subjects relating to dealing with the Palestinians, but still manage to be fairly even-handed and treat both sides sympathetically - even terrorists. I think it's this that makes Fauda so good. Yes, you're on the side of the Israeli team - sort of their undercover SAS squad dealing with Palestinian terrorists - but you also see the other side's viewpoint. Fauda is violent and action-packed, but all the characters, on both sides, have depth and believability. Watched all three series in a couple of weeks. Well worth the time.

It grabs your attention, but it can make viewers hate Arabs or Israelis even more.

[resireg · 8/10 · 20 April 2020]

I just finished watching season 3, and in short, it is a good series that depict the life in both Israel and Palestine, like what they eat, their culture and traditions. So in the beginning, you feel hopeful that Israelis want to learn from Arabs and vice versa, but then, the series become very cyinical, when in fact the only reason they "learn each other language and culture" is to creates pain and sorrow.

I wanted to root for the Shin Bet team headed by Doron, but I couldn't. The lack of morals and restraint when inmocent Palestinians are involved, just show how imbalanced this war is. They have no policy of taking prisoners. They simply shoot to kill, even enemies that already surrendered.

Also, they recruit informanta and collaborators among Palestinians, who endanger themselves to help Israelis, but Israel never helps or rescues them, so normally they end up dead.

And another irony, is that the more terrorist they kill, the more replacements they create, because all the orphans, siblings that become destitute and homeless (it shows Israel blowing up houses of innocent people), so in the end offering their life to Hamas is the only resource left.

The show missed an opportunity to show how to de escalate the conflict. In the end, it jsut fuels more hate and sectarianism

The best Israeli series made until now.

[Laniadod · 10/10 · 16 April 2015]

The best Israeli series made until now.

Surprisingly authentic, played out great, well filmed.

The highlight is a language, Arabic language, spoken language, music to the ear.

No language barriers "gib AL hawia"(Bring your ID card).

Excellent playing actors.

Faithful to reality.

A Must see Series to Arabs and Israelis. Muslims and Jews.

For those who want to see and understand how a country forced to operate in an environment full of terror driven of national motivation.

And anyone who enjoys quality action series.

Intense action drama that will blow you away

[DagRos · 9/10 · 17 September 2018]

Fauda is a very intense and rough show about the Israeli - Palestinian conflict. No side is a saint or hero. All means and methods are used from both sides. Sometimes with success and sometimes big failure. Terrorism, revenge, fight for injustice, all causes are there.

The show is very well produced with a nerve and authentic feel that is not present in similar US productions.

The characters are strong and very well performed by actors and actresses, unknown to me but nevertheless stellar performances.

Key character is Doron, an undercover Israeli agent that is both prudent privately and ruthless as a professional. But he is often held back by his own emotional turmoil, impulsively guided by his natural instincts and careless maneuvers.

Also the acting and development of the character Walid, on the Palestinian side, is absolutely splendid.

The action is constantly there and it is impossible to predict what is going to happen next. This really brings an intensity and always keeping you on the edge. Still it feels natural and not overdone.

The show has been critisized for being Isreeli propaganda. It is an Israeli production so it might be a small bias here, but still there are good people and bad people on both sides. And both sides can be totally ruthless without any sense of moral and ethics. So all in all the show is a great two-sided portrait of this ongoing conflict. It is very intense and unique because you see both sides of the conflict.

A very refreshing alternative to traditional US action productions. Don't miss Fauda!

An impressive Israeli thriller series

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 25 January 2021]

This Israeli series is centred on a counter-terrorist squad working to stop Hamas terrorists operating in the West Bank. This involves them frequently going undercover into situations where they must pass as Palestinian; the slightest mistake will put them in grave danger. In the opening episode we are introduced to Doron Kavillio, a retired member of the team who is asked to help when a terrorist leader who was thought dead re-emerges. Soon he is back in this deadly world. Their first operation goes wrong; the target is wounded but escapes and his innocent brother is killed. This leads to tensions rising and revenge attacks. While this storyline is wrapped up in the first season a new terrorist leader emerges in the second so it is effectively a continuation of the same story. The third season sees operations against another terrorist which leads to the kidnapping of two young Israelis. They are taken to the Gaza Strip... a location far more dangerous than the West Bank.

I really enjoyed this series; I can't comment on its actual authenticity but it certainly felt real. We observe characters on both sides of the divide and while it is clear that Doron and his team are the 'good guys' there are plenty of sympathetic Palestinian characters, and the Israeli's actions aren't always what one would call moral. There is plenty of tension in every episode and early on it becomes clear that just because somebody is set up as a main character doesn't mean they can't get killed. The cast does an impressive job bringing their characters to life although as I relied on subtitles I can't comment on the quality of accents or Arabic spoken by the team... something that would need to be near perfect in reality. Overall I'd certainly recommend this to fans of the genre.

These comments are based on watching the series in Hebrew/Arabic with English subtitles.

Good action TV

[tonyntrisha-586-484417 · 9/10 · 18 January 2021]

I didn't watch this to fully understand the complexities of the Israeli and Arab conflict and to believe it represents fact. That out of the way its a good, well acted action drama series. The very end to series 3 was also quite unexpected. Never going to win an Oscar but a very good and not too taxing to watch action series. I recommend this. Binged on Netflix using Hebrew dubbed into English and with the Arabic in English subtitles.

Great Show

[grantbutlin1 · 8/10 · 19 May 2020]

Really like the tactics and shooting scenes. It's nice to see professionalism and not total Hollywood style theatrics. It's hard though I'm sure they don't want to give away too much tradecraft but I do enjoy it.

Brilliant: gritty, engaging, enthralling and thought-provoking drama

[grantss · 10/10 · 10 July 2020]

(Review updated after Season 4).

Doron Kavillio was once a member of an elite Israeli counter-terrorism team. Seeking the quiet life he has retired to own a vineyard. His peaceful existence is shattered when he learns that a Hamas military leader, the mastermind behind the deaths of scores of Israelis, a man he was convinced he had killed, is alive and well and planning another attack. He quickly rejoins his team in their hunt for Abu Ahmed.

Superb drama. Shows well the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, from both sides. Solid, very gritty plot: feels very realistic and there are no indispensable characters. Not at all predictable: some great twists and turns, all without feeling like twists just for twists sake. Great action scenes too: once again quite realistic in feel - not over-the-top gung ho stuff.

From the outset the series also demonstrates the vicious cycle that is the struggle in the Middle East, as violence just begets violence. One side will kill someone from the other side, and the other side will avenge them, perpetuating the cycle. Also shows how innocent civilians get pulled into this cycle: people determined to stay out of the conflict get sucked in once a relative is killed.

There's also a great sense of pointlessness to it all. The Israeli team is tasked with tracking down and killing high profile terrorists / operatives. When they accomplish this there is a sense of achievement but they know it will be short-lived as someone will just replace that person and the whole thing starts again, never to end. This is even admitted to in a discussion by two Israeli agents in one of the reflective moments in the series.

Amongst all this there are also some great sub-plots involving family life and relationships, making for quite engaging viewing as you get to know the characters and what they're experiencing behind the scenes.

Season ratings: S1: 9/10, S2: 10, S3: 10, S4 9.5. S1 was less well-rounded in that it didn't show much of the family/relationship stuff and concentrated almost exclusively on the intrigue and action. From S2 onwards the writers added more depth to the plots and characters. S4 started strongly but dragged a bit in the middle episodes before returned to its best. Incredibly tense and powerful ending.

review after Season 3

[dragokin · 7/10 · 15 February 2021]

The most important message of Fauda is that there are no good guys.

Both sides in the show are doing essentially the same thing, one under the pretense of maintaining law and order, the other under the pretense of freedom fighting. However, if you're watching Fauda in order to learn more about Israeli - Palestinian conflict, you're obviously in the wrong place. This is not and never pretends to be a documentary.

Season 1 and Season 2 offer a bleak insight into the lives of the Israeli special forces team trained to infiltrate the Palestinian side in plain clothes. Their job is literally nerve wrecking, both on and off duty.

However, Season 3 takes more of a Hollywood approach, meaning that we're led to believe that a group of highly trained individuals may take on a (small) army and emerge victorious. Therefore you might as well stop watching Fauda after Season 2.

Captivating

[think-charles · 8/10 · 10 October 2018]

I have never lived in the West Bank, and thus cannot speak to whether the script is as severely biased as some claim. What I do know is that among those who voice this particular criticism, there does appear to be roughly the same number of people who think it is demonizing the Palestinians as there are those thinking it's the Israelis that are getting the unfair treatment.

Why I don't believe it is possible to ever be completely unbiased, I do not get the sense that the show is trying to convince me one way or the other. This tale of ruthless killing and unending retribution does not, in my opinion, make any attempt at justification. I believe it a story, not primarily about the common Palestinian or Israeli, but about the combatants on both sides.

However, I can see how a passionate supporter of either side might find this show a bit unpalatable. Those who simply want their convictions justified can probably find something more to their liking elsewhere. Propaganda is easy to come by these days. The rest of us can enjoy this well made fiction, listen to the beautiful semitic languages and be captivated by the awesome culture and piety of these ancient civilizations.

I pray for lasting peace among all the seed of Abraham.

Became a little too much like an ultra-violent soap opera in third series

[brian-222-575807 · 6/10 · 26 March 2021]

Liked the first two seasons a lot, but series three definitely tipped over into melodrama, involving too many improbable coincidences and contrived situations for comfort. The show even became quite soapy in places, with the Doron character sweeping every female character off her feet, in spite of looking like Vin Diesel's tubbier brother! He was a problem for me in other ways as well, mainly to do with his almost pathologically unwillingness to obey orders. Would any special forces unit really go to war with someone so unstable in their ranks? Still worth watching, but lost quite a bit of its realistic feel.

Getting more and more ridiculous

[schatel · 5/10 · 18 April 2020]

The 3rd season is very implausible and frankly incredible, and not in a good way. Doron can seemingly take down whole armies single handed and still has time to drop the pants of any attractive girl with a pulse.

A captivating and engrossing program.

[shilkmake-11153 · 9/10 · 7 November 2017]

Kudos to other reviewers who intimately understand the Palestine/Israel conflict. Their reviews are in-depth and broadly cover the topic.

Allow me to present the perspective of someone who knew little more than the fact two countries are battling over land. One heavily represented in the media as an ally of the Free World, the other portrayed as a nation of extremists and terrorists. And this from the occasional media I watch and hear in Australia (another allied nation).

So here's the kicker: Fauda, an Israeli series depicting the very conflict I've just mentioned, manages to infuse its tale with humanity, love, family and friendship. And it does so on both sides of the fence. Two clear enemies, major stakeholders in the war they wage, are shown with objectivity and fairness. Both men are flawed, both men are biased and heavily indoctrinated in their cause. Yet both have wives and kids they adore, and both men wage their war in the hopes of creating a better future for their families.

That being said, war is ugly and the price paid is often high. Fauda does not stray from this reality and the ripple effect is ever-present, slicing its way through the lives of those embroiled in the fight; some guilty, some innocent.

Woven through these fundamental connections are the various political and military involvements. Watching the puppet masters at work is both interesting and disturbing. Nothing is ever straightforward and Fauda is no exception. There's always someone watching or listening and there's always someone a step ahead of you.

In essence, Fauda is wonderfully acted, riveting, fast-paced and even educational. It is a superior series and deserving of the praise it has received. I truly look forward to Season 2.

On of the most captivating web series if you are interested in the genre

[neverendingnirvana · 10/10 · 11 April 2021]

On of the most captivating web series if you are interested in the genre.

Seasons

[burbastas · 9/10 · 9 April 2021]

Season 1 and 2 is connected but seasons 3 is not. 1 and 2 are better. You may make season 4 which is connected with 3, why not?

Doron's smoke makes people smokers :))

This netflix series gave different taste, which gives more than americans, it smells like Russian show "to the lake",

I really like it, thanks.

An amazing show....

[searchanddestroy-1 · 9/10 · 24 September 2020]

I don't know exactly how many series were made about Israeli palectinian conflict, but this one is, I am sure, among the best. Taut, sharp, gripping, pulled by an awesome actors directing, above the best I have ever seen in a TV series, but unfortunately smashed by some mistakes that should have been avoided. The gunfights are for me the weak points; Palestioians are too easily shot, like in a sideshow shooting gallery, see? So, the Israelis seem to be the super heroes, and I think that's pretty lousy, if you consider the quality of the show. The same as I you sa a fly in a bowl of milk. The contrast is too obvious. But, I repeat, acting is here over the top. The second season is the best of the series so far, and the third is, for my taste, too much focused on the hostage case, and this is different fro the second season. But the sad and totally unpredictable ending saves this third season, that, why not, asks for a fourth seaon. Let's cross our fingers.

Best Underrated Series !

[rohanrewale · 10/10 · 17 May 2021]

Anyone who is interested in global politics and Israel - Palestine conflict, then must watch this series.

FANTASTIC FAUDA DOES IT AGAIN !!

[alanlamont-34154 · 9/10 · 23 January 2023]

I have only just finished the most recent series ( series 4 ) of this amazing series and already I am pining for Series 5 . The quality of writing , production , writing and acting continues to render any thoughts of staleness or repetition redundant and every fresh storyline and every fresh character blend seamlessly into an intricate twisting televisionary feast . For anybody who has missed out on this series you are in for a treat and very little sleep if you start at the beginning with Season 1 and just keep going . This review is deliberately short on plot details as I would not wish to taint your feast . Only complaint is how long it takes for the next series to come out .

Flat cliche Israeli propaganda

[hddu10-819-37458 · 27 May 2020]

There are too many films and series about the Israeli Mosad and IDF to go into. Suffice it to say this one simply tries to throw in every known cliche and just comes off bland. It is almost a parody of itself in that only the israelis could have the lead of a balding, obese hairy middle-aged man be the love interest to a hot professional, younger Arab woman. It is unapologetic about killing Arab civilians in the course of their operations from the beginning of the episode. So, if you like watching creepy israelis having sex with their subordinates/co-workers' wives, all while killing Arabs, then this is your wet dream.

Great, Good,Not so Good

[jeffmcleo · 6/10 · 19 April 2020]

1st series was excellent. 2nd series was good 3 series is just meh? I was looking forward to another season of Fauda but I was left disappointed.

very good! Recommend it!

[yutko2004 · 10/10 · 14 March 2019]

Reading some of the reviews I have noticed that those who sympathize with the Arabs hated the series and those who sympathize with Israel or don't know much about the conflict loved the show. Knowing a lot about the conflict, I can say that the series is a little bit GENTLE to what really happens in real life. The conflict is deeper and unfortunately will not be solved in my lifetime or (in my opinion) ever. However, the show gives a semi-realistic glimpse of what happens in the area. The actors are authentic, raw, and some of them have lived it in real life during their military service. I loved it! The acting is great, the filming is good and can't wait for the 3rd season that is now being filmed.

Skip season 3, first 2 are entertaining with strong acting.

[eda-7 · 6/10 · 7 June 2020]

Not sure what has happened with writers and casting directors after the 2nd season. In season 3 the secondary roles and the main antogonist act horrible, story is extremely weak and illogical. It was the 1st international hit from Israel making it to Netflix, and such a failure just after the 2 strong seasons. By the way, it's piculiar to read reviews from people challenging the series with its trustworthiness and political neutrality. C'mon, you decided to watch an Israeli movie and their reflection on the conflict. This is the fiction story to entertain you. Invest your time, watch documentaries from both sides of the conflict to make your opinion if you really like to get to understand what goes on for decades over there.

Season 3 is laughable

[marija-92571 · 1/10 · 18 April 2020]

I liked season 1 and thought season 2 was ok. But season 3 got rid of even a pretence of realism and character development. The main attraction of the season is the plot moving to Gaza. This place is meant to be hell on Earth but four Israeli soldiers spend most of the show running through Gaza killing what must amount to a battalion of Hamas soldiers and getting through checkpoints because they...idk, need to wash their hair? Need to get married? Their wife is unwell? Every excuse seems to work with those affable Hamas folk.

The show boils down to a bunch of dudes in distressed denim and tight t-shirts toting heavy weapons/calling each other bro/having a go at each other.

Maybe if the lockdown goes on for another 2-3 months, I will break and finish watching it. Otherwise it's a hard no.

VERY GOOD SERIES

[sunildaswaney-63642 · 8/10 · 15 May 2020]

All 3 seasons of "Fauda" were very good with everything be it the acting,direction,cinematography and editing all being top notch.

Like the previous 3 seasons,the fourth season is also extremely good.

If you enjoy watching hard hitting,no nonsense,gritty,tension filled,action packed political dramas,then don't miss the entire series of FAUDA 8/10.