Fauda Co-Creator Hails Oct. 7 Episodes as Career's Most Important Work

The fifth season of the popular Israeli drama "Fauda," released on Netflix on September 8, has seen a significant surge in global viewership. According to FlixPatrol data, the new season, which includes two episodes focusing on the October 7 Hamas attacks, has reached the top ten in dozens of countries. Notably, it ranked first in Lebanon and second in Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain.

Avi Issacharoff, one of the series' creators, discussed the show's success amidst the current international climate in a recent interview. He expressed initial skepticism about the season's reception, given the global anti-Israel sentiment following October 7, stating, "We hoped the season would succeed, but there was also a skeptical feeling given October 7 and the fact that global public opinion is anti-Israel, which is the understatement of the year." He added, "And then you find yourself surprised and saying, 'Wait, what? Number one in Lebanon?'"

Issacharoff explained that the series aims to expose global audiences to details they might not otherwise encounter. "The average Netflix viewer doesn't sit and watch the news 24/7 like most of us Israelis. It's clear that it surprises them to see these things and understand that there was something here that preceded the bombings in Gaza. There was a super huge and unprecedented event here that changed the face of the Middle East," he said.

He clarified that the series' primary goal was not political advocacy for Israel. "We didn't come here to be an explanatory tool for the State of Israel. We came as Israelis to tell a story that burns within us," Issacharoff stated. He criticized governmental bodies for their perceived ineffectiveness, comparing their performance on October 7 and 8 to their current actions, and suggested that Israel's adversaries face no opposition in the realm of public relations.

For Issacharoff, this work represents a professional peak. "In my 26 years as a journalist and screenwriter, this is undoubtedly the most important thing I have done. I realized that if someone at the end of the world sees this, it will move people," he remarked. He shared an anecdote about a Palestinian journalist from Gaza, critical of Hamas, who wrote about how the viewing experience deeply affected him, recalling moments from October 7. This journalist reportedly faced severe repercussions from Hamas for his statements, a situation Issacharoff found deeply moving, especially if it prompts even a moment of reflection among Palestinians.

Addressing the decision to dedicate a full season to the October 7 events rather than just a couple of episodes, Issacharoff noted that other series about the attacks had not performed as well due to different approaches. He believes the specific narrative structure of "Fauda" was crucial, stating that upon viewing the raw material, they understood it was a far larger event than just another "Fauda" episode.