For the first three seasons this show was charming fun. Obviously low-budget, the production values of the first season looked like it was made by three friends with a camcorder. And the drama was always extremely low-stakes, and everybody (including the antagonists) all seemed to get along really well. It remained very fun, something like a Muslim "Andy Griffith Show," and I'll give credit to the ensemble cast - while the show centered on the new imam, really he was the straight man. The show gave just as much focus to about ten other characters, all of whom were likable and funny. The writing could be corny, but got better over time, and in particular the melodrama of season three was well done...
More than any other show I've ever seen, though, the show jumped the shark, and I wish it hasn't gone on past three seasons. The obvious problem was that the show shifted focus onto the conflict between Amaar and Rev. Thorne. Neither character was well-written, neither actor was good enough to carry the show themself, and anyway the strength of the show was the ensemble cast, which got pushed to the side in favor of a new character. Additionally, Carl Rota was the strongest actor and probably the best character on the show, and he left in the middle of season 4.
I live in the US and ordered the season 2 DVD set off Canadian Amazon. I was disappointed that there were no extras on the DVD aside from really inane commenting on a couple episodes by the show's producers.
More than any other show I've ever seen, though, the show jumped the shark, and I wish it hasn't gone on past three seasons. The obvious problem was that the show shifted focus onto the conflict between Amaar and Rev. Thorne. Neither character was well-written, neither actor was good enough to carry the show themself, and anyway the strength of the show was the ensemble cast, which got pushed to the side in favor of a new character. Additionally, Carl Rota was the strongest actor and probably the best character on the show, and he left in the middle of season 4.
I live in the US and ordered the season 2 DVD set off Canadian Amazon. I was disappointed that there were no extras on the DVD aside from really inane commenting on a couple episodes by the show's producers.