Burning Hands

Good heavens, what on earth did I just watch on Yoobie Toobie? Omar, upright, man of the people acts as a knight in shining armour to the inner city youth, with a day job as an English Lit teacher. Shades of To Sir, with love.

How anyone would give Omar a job as a teacher is beyond me. Realism and credibility don't get a look in. There is zero English Lit going on in that classroom. All we get are jarring monologues on what is on Hijab's mind.

An attempt is made to swing the lantern on oppressive culture of the west, racism and wholesale ignorance by non Muslims but even that is portrayed in an utterly ridiculous way. There's Omar as a youth, going through trouble and the reformed Omar of the present giving an education to misguided youth. Hijab just walks around like a Doctor Who Cyberman ready to zap anyone with a steely glare.

The acting and plot are dire, I mean it is unbelievably low calibre. Heavy on the stereotypes and pounded to dust with clichés. The two MI5 agents gave career destroying performances.

The drama is disjointed and lacks a clear narrative. Thing is though, how seriously are we supposed to take this as a drama?

Mohammed Hijab has made an effort to say some home truths but blimey, it was hard work watching this. I much prefer his seminars.

Halal Series: A Breath of Fresh Air A Muslim-crafted halal series offers a timely and much-needed perspective amidst the UK's complex social landscape. By presenting authentic narratives of Muslim lives, it challenges pervasive stereotypes and fosters empathy. The series deftly explores themes of faith, family, and identity, resonating with audiences on a profound level. Its portrayal of diverse Muslim experiences contributes to a more inclusive and understanding society. In an era marked by division and misinformation, this series emerges as a powerful tool for promoting unity and respect. It's a testament to the richness of Muslim culture and a vital contribution to the ongoing dialogue about identity and belonging.

Been a follower of Ali Dawah and Hijab for quite a long time, but I never thought I'd see the day where Mohammad Hijab would one day produce a series highlighting struggles that muslims face.

This show brilliantly highlights hanging out with the wrong crowd, racism, bigotry and standing up to what's right, something I'll probably never see these big streaming services will never do, especially with muslims as the main cast.

Hijab does so well intellectually as his character for this show that I feel like he's natural for the role for obvious reason, this show highlights the hypocrisy of society when someone becomes pious and does nothing, they're deemed a criminal, but when they're not religious and join in gang violence, it's OK?

The series perfectly captivates viewers the tension building and my only gripe is that it's too short, even with 3 episodes, and I hope each character develops and more arcs would come Inshallah.

Some great acting talent here, including isiah semple, otilia de roya, ali barazi, melly myer and charlotte reidie.

Mohamed hijab, whose first acting role this is turns in a good performance and grounds the show with a relatable muslim protagonist.

Nice editing here also, good transitions.

My only gripe is the dead air between dialog, they could've made it feel more naturalistic with a steadier cadence. That and maybe the consistency of the performance where either it was all naturalistic or all stage like and dramatic. I think since mohamed hijabs sensibilities lay more in indie and naturalistic that the characters like the female m15 agent and ball busting school principle should bring their delivery to that level, so less chewing the scene and more natural.

The third episode was brilliant, best of the bunch and left me wanting a season 2.

When I saw that Mohammed Hijab was starring in a drama series, I thought it was gonna be a cheaply produced, and badly acted show (no offense to Mohammed Hijab. It's just that I thought he'll be involved in the production and, as far as I know, he's not and never was a producer, or an actor). Damn, was I surprised. The high level of production blew me away.

Besides for the production, the message is really powerful. And the drama really intense and moving. I've been brought to tears at some parts (and not many things bring me to tears, I'm a "strong and tough man"). The characters feel like real people with real feelings, people some of us might know, and some of us might be.

It's main goal as far as I can see it, is to spread peace, and understanding between different religions and cultures. Which is a beautiful thing. Especially in this day and age, with all the interracial, and sectarian violence. It's something we all NEED to watch.