Syrian TV drama aims to demolish 'Friends' record

A popular Syrian drama that has recorded one of the highest viewing rates in the Arab world’s television history now aims to overtake the long-running American sitcom “Friends”, in what is an indication that its fifth season wasn’t the final one.

According to series’ co-director Mumen Al Mulla, “Bab El Hara” has attracted more than 100 million viewers in the Arab region and other countries since it was launched five years ago.

In comments published by the UAE’s Emirat Alyoum Arabic-language newspaper, Al Mulla, one of the best-known Syrian TV directors, said the fifth season that was broadcast during last month of Ramadan would not end the story and that another 20 seasons could even be produced.

“‘Bab El Hara’ has attracted more than 100 million viewers according to an independent survey. This valuable work can become an ongoing series that might overtake the famous US series ‘Friends’,” Mulla said.

“Friends” ran for ten seasons from 1994 to 2004.

“We can do 20 more parts or even more given the series’ popularity and massive public support…it has largely influenced the Arab public opinion and I think its theme which covers old Damascus and genuine Arab values can produce much more dramatic works that will ensure the continuation of this series,” Al Mulla said.

“Bab El Hara” (loosely translated as The Neighbourhood Gate) has been broadcast during Ramadan over the past five years and is regarded as one of the most popular TV dramas in the Arab world as it has been viewed in most regional countries.

The series chronicles the daily happenings and family dramas in an old neighbourhood in the Syrian capital Damascus in the inter-war period under French rule, when the population yearned for independence.

Directed by the Al Mulla brothers and broadcast on MBC and other Arab satellite TV channels, the first instalment of the series, comprising 31 episodes, was aired during Ramadan in 2006 and enjoyed broad viewership throughout the region.

The second part was highly anticipated, receiving even wider acclaim in Ramadan 2007. A third instalment the following year focused on the struggle against the French occupation and the post-marriage lives of the children of Abu Issam, the local doctor and barber.

The fourth series examined the struggle against the French while the fifth part was devoted to espionage and religious tolerance and coexistence.

Attacked by critics

Like many of the most recent popular Arabic series, “Bab El Hara” is a Syrian production, financed by the Gulf satellite channels. It reflects a new trend that spotlights the shift of Arabic media dominance away from the Egyptians to the Syrians. As funding has become available from Gulf TV stations, the Syrians have seen an exponential rise to dominance in the field of Arab audiovisual and cinematic production over the past few years.

Many critics have attacked the way women are treated in the series but acknowledged that the show has become one of the region’s most popular TV programmes. One critic attributed its popularity to the fact that the Arab citizens yearn to old days when their countries were almost one nation and people were close, caring and supportive of each other.

Another critic said men loved the show because it underscores their masculinity and power. But the critic warned that the series, by doing so, is sending a negative message to men to treat women that way.

“We have faced campaigns against this series for some reasons…some have even described it as one of the worst dramatic works in the Arab world…of course these claims are not true,” Mulla said. “I think there are some people who envy this work and want it to fail…but I can assure the viewers that we are studying continuing this series during the next Ramadan season according to pure public and technical considerations.”

“Friends” revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan, New York City. The series finale – the 236th episode – aired on May 6, 2004, was watched by more than 52 million American viewers, making it the fourth most-watched series finale in television history and the most watched episode of the decade.

The series made a large cultural impact, which continues today. The Central Perk coffee house that was featured prominently in the series has inspired various imitations throughout the world, including here in the UAE.

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