Well acted, good storyline, with a cast that you love and hate at times. Binge watched! Roll on season two.
44 Reviews
Brilliant
robin-3406221 November 2020
TOP CLASS WRITING AND DIRECTION
buntybhardwaj25 November 2021
I watched the entire series in one go...the writer of the series Amit Cohen is amazing again, he has created an amazing backdrop of war torn Syria, the pain Kurd were going while ISIS were in power. Everyone must watch to understand the real pain Kurd have through.
Acting wise all the actors have made their presence so well.
Acting wise all the actors have made their presence so well.
A bit disappointed
amr-490106 January 2021
All of the actors are excellent and the weaving of storylines in the second half of the season was very well done, but the main character is the least interesting aspect of the show. Having a show focused on female Kurdish fighters be told from the point of view of a French man was a poor choice in my opinion and I'd much rather have followed Sarya as the protagonist.
Oh this is a good one for sure!
Likeafrisbee21 November 2020
Riveting from Beginning to End
Blnq14 December 2021
Wow. One of the best series I have seen this year. Complex and thrilling. Acting is first rate all around and there few wasted moments through all 8 episodes. Every episode is strong start to finish. A fascinating and credible look at how ISIS operates and a thrilling spy story at the same time. Could not recommend it more highly.
Excellent show- some twists and comes together well
emboquet20 November 2020
I enjoyed this series immensely. The story just of the Kurd women fighters is interesting and inspiring on its own, but the show also has a few different viewpoints and characters to make it truly engaging. There seems to be three different character focuses towards the start, and there is a convergence that I did not see coming. I had some predictions in my head, but I was wrong and where the story went was even better!
A few of the professional television critics wrote relatively lukewarm reviews of this new show, and I think they are way off and I didn't agree with a single one of their criticisms. One of the best complete first seasons of a new show I've seen in quite some time.
Even if you think you are not a fan of "war stories" and wouldn't be interested, I urge you to watch this. I'm truly hoping for a season two! The story of season one is somewhat told, yet there is so much more to tell, and we are left at a natural yet not annoying cliffhanger.
Phenomenal television: Season one "No Man's Land" 9.5/10
(I rounded to 10 for IMDb ratings)
A few of the professional television critics wrote relatively lukewarm reviews of this new show, and I think they are way off and I didn't agree with a single one of their criticisms. One of the best complete first seasons of a new show I've seen in quite some time.
Even if you think you are not a fan of "war stories" and wouldn't be interested, I urge you to watch this. I'm truly hoping for a season two! The story of season one is somewhat told, yet there is so much more to tell, and we are left at a natural yet not annoying cliffhanger.
Phenomenal television: Season one "No Man's Land" 9.5/10
(I rounded to 10 for IMDb ratings)
Why you can safely ignore the negative reviewers - this is an amazing show
rabbitmoon8 April 2021
I will keep this completely spoiler free.
After finishing the season, I was surprised (and disappointed) to read so many negative reviews criticising the show for being too 'soap-like' (as in revolving around characters' emotional dilemmas) and not really being 'about' the Syrian/ISIS conflict. This is a ridiculous criticism to make. Here are some examples to help you appreciate why: "Designated Survivor is terrible, because its not really about Washington or the government". "Homeland is a bad show, it wasn't really about the CIA or the war in Afghanistan". "Die Hard is awful, its not really about LA or the Nakatomi corporation". You see what I mean? Stories ALWAYS need humanly relatable elements - which means emotions, personal conflicts, interpersonal dilemmas and dynamics. Its laughable that some critics literally compared No Man's Land to actual documentaries! If you want to learn more about Syria, the Kurds, ISIS etc - then yes, by all means watch some documentaries. No Man's Land is a fictional show that tells a very engaging and compelling story but in this CONTEXT.
And what a context it is. The closest parallel that emerged for me was Sicario - yes a different context entirely, but also similar in dynamics - a person out of their depth, moral ambiguities, shadowy leaders pulling the strings, having their own agendas etc. And of course the continual threat of random, brutal violence. Again though, Sicario wasn't really 'about' Mexico or the war on drugs - it was about one persons struggle to make sense of something so complex and futile - like life itself - something we can all relate to at times, and the same essential core as No Man's Land.
The story is hugely engaging and relatable, uncomfortably so at times, which is perhaps why some people were triggered by it. Who are you really, what do you really stand for, and why? Who would you be if those causes didn't happen or exist? How do you feel, knowing that your whole personality and life trajectory has been steered by events and experiences outside of your control? How do you then navigate that? These are deeply universal fears and quagmires that should plague anyone capable of thought, and are explored in various ways in No Man's Land. It's top-notch emotional character-driven story-telling, told in a brilliant way, set in the most uncompromising context imaginable.
I'm so thankful I stumbled upon this show, while actually looking up the Porsche stealing 80s movie of the same name (which is awesome in its own, very different way!)
After finishing the season, I was surprised (and disappointed) to read so many negative reviews criticising the show for being too 'soap-like' (as in revolving around characters' emotional dilemmas) and not really being 'about' the Syrian/ISIS conflict. This is a ridiculous criticism to make. Here are some examples to help you appreciate why: "Designated Survivor is terrible, because its not really about Washington or the government". "Homeland is a bad show, it wasn't really about the CIA or the war in Afghanistan". "Die Hard is awful, its not really about LA or the Nakatomi corporation". You see what I mean? Stories ALWAYS need humanly relatable elements - which means emotions, personal conflicts, interpersonal dilemmas and dynamics. Its laughable that some critics literally compared No Man's Land to actual documentaries! If you want to learn more about Syria, the Kurds, ISIS etc - then yes, by all means watch some documentaries. No Man's Land is a fictional show that tells a very engaging and compelling story but in this CONTEXT.
And what a context it is. The closest parallel that emerged for me was Sicario - yes a different context entirely, but also similar in dynamics - a person out of their depth, moral ambiguities, shadowy leaders pulling the strings, having their own agendas etc. And of course the continual threat of random, brutal violence. Again though, Sicario wasn't really 'about' Mexico or the war on drugs - it was about one persons struggle to make sense of something so complex and futile - like life itself - something we can all relate to at times, and the same essential core as No Man's Land.
The story is hugely engaging and relatable, uncomfortably so at times, which is perhaps why some people were triggered by it. Who are you really, what do you really stand for, and why? Who would you be if those causes didn't happen or exist? How do you feel, knowing that your whole personality and life trajectory has been steered by events and experiences outside of your control? How do you then navigate that? These are deeply universal fears and quagmires that should plague anyone capable of thought, and are explored in various ways in No Man's Land. It's top-notch emotional character-driven story-telling, told in a brilliant way, set in the most uncompromising context imaginable.
I'm so thankful I stumbled upon this show, while actually looking up the Porsche stealing 80s movie of the same name (which is awesome in its own, very different way!)
The reviews are real! 9/10
ABThomas11 January 2021
Moosad MF
nils_elling14 August 2021
The YPG gerilja? Respect!
But Stanley from Mossad recruiting brittish ex millitay on UK soil to fight IS is a bit too much. There must be a second season, too many questions in the air. For sure it will be. Great casting. We will wait for S02.
But Stanley from Mossad recruiting brittish ex millitay on UK soil to fight IS is a bit too much. There must be a second season, too many questions in the air. For sure it will be. Great casting. We will wait for S02.
At last, a non US-centric view of the Syrian conflict
emuir-125 October 2021
I found this series by accident while reading a biography of James Krishna Lloyd ( The Good Karma Hotel) and sat up all night watching the story told from a non US side. The lukewarm reviews might be from American critics unaware that the US isn' t the only player in the Iraq,/Syria debacle. They just started it. The story follows two separate themes, a young Frenchman looking for his missing sister who was presumed dead, and three young boyhood friends in working class London, who never really fitted in due to the Arab ancestry of two, who go to Iraq to join the fight for Islam. Throw in a deceitful foreign agent, a few converging plot twists, and the Kurdish female fighters and you get an engrossing series showing some of the reasons that many Europeans went to join the cause, whether it be for excitement, alienation from the countries where they had grown up, or genuine patriotism, set against the desperate fight for survival of the Kurds. The fact that the series is French/European gives it a quieter feel than the frenetic 'Homeland' or similar US shows. I sincerely hope to see a season 2.
White man's land
sugarmack24 November 2023
Warning: Spoilers
*spoilers ahead* If you expect this show to be about Kurds, the YPJ or women, as the title might suggest, think again. This show is largely about European men with Kurdish women and Arab men as a backdrop to their stories. The only Kurdish character who gets more than a few lines has grown up in France and returned to Syria. The main YPJ characters who speak are the foreigners who've joined up. While we get a taste of the Kurdish struggles, especially early on in Season 1, they pale in comparison to the main white, male character's story arc. Even on the ISIS side we follow British men (including two POC).
The storyline gets worse and worse throughout the first season, particularly as Anna's character becomes more prominent. She's blonde, impulsive and unable to blend into her surroundings, wearing low-cut tops in Iran and Egypt, and in the latter she isn't veiled (the men who made this clearly have not set foot in Cairo). Yet somehow she's a natural super spy who instantly knows how to interrogate and recruit people after a day of training. Of course, when she joins the YPJ she veyr quickly becomes one of their leaders despite not seeming to speak Kurdish. I'm not sure whether that's more insulting, or the show's suggestion that the Mossad fuelled Iran's Green Movement.
Does the show nonetheless entertain? It moves along at a good pace. The acting is mostly fine, especially from the persuasive Mossad agent. It just seems like it could have been set in any number of conflicts, but having the YPJ allows the main character to have a solider love interest, and for his sister to be high up in the resistance force. Nothing more.
The storyline gets worse and worse throughout the first season, particularly as Anna's character becomes more prominent. She's blonde, impulsive and unable to blend into her surroundings, wearing low-cut tops in Iran and Egypt, and in the latter she isn't veiled (the men who made this clearly have not set foot in Cairo). Yet somehow she's a natural super spy who instantly knows how to interrogate and recruit people after a day of training. Of course, when she joins the YPJ she veyr quickly becomes one of their leaders despite not seeming to speak Kurdish. I'm not sure whether that's more insulting, or the show's suggestion that the Mossad fuelled Iran's Green Movement.
Does the show nonetheless entertain? It moves along at a good pace. The acting is mostly fine, especially from the persuasive Mossad agent. It just seems like it could have been set in any number of conflicts, but having the YPJ allows the main character to have a solider love interest, and for his sister to be high up in the resistance force. Nothing more.
Fantastic series
hamakoyi-7777925 November 2020
Started Strong, Turned into a Soap
aew-1031 January 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Started strong. The first episode was gripping and made you want to come back and see more.
Then, as we have seen in many TV series, the pace slows down and you can see it gradually morphing into a soap opera, albeit set against a horrible background.
The gung ho female soldier, who in the first episode treated the hero like scum (rifle butt in the head etc), jumps into bed with him around episode 5 and cries on his shoulder.
I am giving up here.
Then, as we have seen in many TV series, the pace slows down and you can see it gradually morphing into a soap opera, albeit set against a horrible background.
The gung ho female soldier, who in the first episode treated the hero like scum (rifle butt in the head etc), jumps into bed with him around episode 5 and cries on his shoulder.
I am giving up here.
Adrenaline shot to the heart
avivbc-3309622 November 2020
Female knights in shining armor
tarekhankir23 November 2020
It's so incredibly cool to see awsome Kurdish women taking up arms to fight the terrorists. I love a good badass movie female, so I'm surprised we get so little of actual historic or contemporary examples of such in media. How about the soviet night witches? Keeping lil' nazis up at night, because they're scared of some lil 90-pound Russian girl. If I understand it correctly, there have been attempts to make a Night Witches movie, but aside from one Soviet one back in 1981, they've not gotten anywhere. Then there's the Soviet sniper women, or angolan women fighting with axes, or viking shield maidens? Got a little of that in "Vikings," but mainly a woman, as opposed to lots of them.
I like this motto by People's Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (YPG)):
"YPG dimese, erd û ezman diheje" which means from a translation of Kurmanjî to English: "YPG is marching, and the earth and sky (or heavens) tremble."
I've always believed that YPJ could lead to treasure trove of powerful stories and they are all true. The show is entertaining, and they clearly did their homework in some regards. I dig that they actually speak Kurmanji. However, the situation is very simplified for the sake of being entertainment, and trying to avoid too much controversy. Nonetheless, it's cool that they weren't afraid to directly use YPJ, instead of making up a fake name, or something to avoid triggering people.
One thing I disliked about this show is that they picture Syria as a desert, and it's generally like that in media. This is just part of it.
Some background: The United States destroyed Iraq, and turned it from a secular state into an Islamic state, affiliated with Iran, and now it is doing the same thing in Syria, and the purpose of that is to steal oil and enter the Middle East in total darkness. A lot of Kurdish lives were shed in destroying ISIS.
I like this motto by People's Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel (YPG)):
"YPG dimese, erd û ezman diheje" which means from a translation of Kurmanjî to English: "YPG is marching, and the earth and sky (or heavens) tremble."
I've always believed that YPJ could lead to treasure trove of powerful stories and they are all true. The show is entertaining, and they clearly did their homework in some regards. I dig that they actually speak Kurmanji. However, the situation is very simplified for the sake of being entertainment, and trying to avoid too much controversy. Nonetheless, it's cool that they weren't afraid to directly use YPJ, instead of making up a fake name, or something to avoid triggering people.
One thing I disliked about this show is that they picture Syria as a desert, and it's generally like that in media. This is just part of it.
Some background: The United States destroyed Iraq, and turned it from a secular state into an Islamic state, affiliated with Iran, and now it is doing the same thing in Syria, and the purpose of that is to steal oil and enter the Middle East in total darkness. A lot of Kurdish lives were shed in destroying ISIS.
Watch it!!! Great series that puts a face on the reality of ISIS and the complexitty of spycraft
jij9811127 November 2020
A series worth watching for anyone who likes spycraft and the reality of ISIS and its threats. Heroism on a grand scale and the women who alongside the men who are fighting the scourge of radical Islam and ISIS. You will be surprised by the twists in this great series.
Women fighting ISIS
ronbrawer-1867520 November 2020
Fabulous shooting and production transport you a bloody Syrian war where the YPJ Women's fighting brigade (real thing) tackle ISIS. Great storyline, acting, recreation - engaging the entire time! I'm ready for season 2
Stayed up all night to watch..
catherine_pochin14 January 2021
Women Warriors in Man's World
marksmccaffrey-811029 November 2020
Another terrific French series in the genre of the fantastic The Bureau, this well crafted saga set in the Middle East captures the complexity of Syria in the context of the competing agendas and alliances. Compelling acting, especially from the women who join the Kurdish fighters battling ISIS. Season 2?
Great footage, flat dialogue
kaydad15 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
The setting in middle east, always intriguing to a white westener. Diving into YPG and ISIS is also very interesting.
Sceneries abound, but... The plot is very flat, full of clichés. The male main character is quiet inplausible in his quest for his sister. She, in turn, also very superficial in her fast turn into '...spoiler...'.
Please turn to "Bureau des legendes" in stead, if you want French spies in the same setting.
Also Fauda, Our boys and Valley of tears are recommended.
Sceneries abound, but... The plot is very flat, full of clichés. The male main character is quiet inplausible in his quest for his sister. She, in turn, also very superficial in her fast turn into '...spoiler...'.
Please turn to "Bureau des legendes" in stead, if you want French spies in the same setting.
Also Fauda, Our boys and Valley of tears are recommended.
Great Show
zoltanbiro-3697623 May 2021
The best Military thriller up there if you liked Fauda.
gnjenga-3053712 November 2020
Best Serie ever made!!!!
kenvix-7308616 November 2020
Surprising!
iza-henn6 December 2020
Syrian conflict with a human face. Captivating.
armoun2 January 2021
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