As executive producer Kate Harwood said in a recent interview: “The point of view is Khafaji’s, it’s the Americans and the Brits who are ‘the other’.”. Last week’s opening episode of Channel 4’s Baghdad Central was hugely impressive.. And Khafaji, his main recruit, needs to find out what. As the episode reaches its close, we learn that Sawsan – along with her friends Amjad (Tawfeek Barhom), Sanaa (Nora El Koussour) and Zahra (Maisa Abd Elhadi) – are part of a secret resistance group. of 6, Nicola Adams reveals how she feels about being in Strictly’s first same-sex pairing: “I don’t see why it’s a big deal!”, JJ Chalmers reveals he already learnt this Strictly dance in Afghanistan, Max George thinks Strictly judge Craig Revel Horwood is “harsh”, Caroline Quentin reveals “hardest” part about Strictly Come Dancing: “No question it’s difficult”. The new puzzles website is now live - sign up now and enjoy a 7-day free trial! We know, likewise, that the Iraqi government collapsed and the police force was disbanded. His words have a profound impact on Sanaa, who insists that “it is my shame and no one else’s”. Thanks! About as intriguing a backdrop for a detective noir as you could ask for, with the obvious exception of Detective Pikachu. I'm always pleased to see a director post here. The Killing Times Dissecting the best crime drama on television and radio from around the world For those of us who watched the news story unfold at the time, we know that Iraq fell to the US-led forces on 9 April 2003 – we all watched as the statue of President Saddam Hussein was toppled in Firdos Square. Rotten Tomatoes, home of the Tomatometer, is the most trusted measurement of quality for Movies & TV. Then, she shoots him in the head, before pressing the gun to her own temple and killing herself. This is a UKB crime drama developed for English languague broadcast TV; there are issues, but I found it well paced and very watchable. Saddam Hussein has been toppled and the country has descended into chaos. Kayleigh Dray is Stylist’s digital editor-at-large. As Zahra sobs over her friend’s body, we are left wondering: what did these men do to Sanaa? Indeed, she adds, he will soon be seen as a trespasser. “We are students. And why did she feel this was her only escape? Telling the story of the American occupation during the war of 2003, it features Muhsin Kadr al-Khafaji (a supremely good Waleed Zuaiter), a police inspector during the Saddam regime who now finds himself – like many other Iraqis – without a job, their present and future in limbo. As we learn early on in the episode, Khafaji hasn’t spoken to his eldest daughter for some time. This marks the first stage of the Iraq war which began on 19 March that same year. By entering your details, you are agreeing to Radio Times privacy policy. Indeed, as Mrouj points out: “Why is [my sister] working for people she didn’t like or trust? If you’re into binge-watching, you’re in luck: the entire series of Baghdad Central is now available to watch online via All 4. Does Professor Rashid know more than she’s letting on? “We have no choice.”. But, when he learns that his eldest has gone missing, Khafaji dusts off his (now defunct) police badge and uses it to gain access to a university campus. What happened to Sawsan? Please do not use ALL CAPS. That is the question posed in Baghdad Central (Channel 4), a new thriller set after the US invasion of Iraq. All of this means that, yes, the murder mystery at its centre is fictional. He breaks into a trailer and comes across a cache of hidden dollars. As daylight breaks, she approaches their prisoner alone and removes the gag from around his mouth – making sure to do so gently, carefully. His moustache is ‘confiscated’ – “it will be sent to Washington as an example,” he jokes – and he is bullied and berated for accepting a cigarette from his captors. If you prefer to digest your crime dramas and mull things over, however, don’t despair: the remaining episodes of Baghdad Central will air every Monday on Channel 4 at 10pm.