Portraying Middle Easterners in English-Speaking TV Series: From Stereotypes to Nuanced Portrayals

The present globalization era has influenced the production and consumption of TV series, making them more diverse and appealing to international audiences. In fact, diversity, multilingualism, and multiculturalism are now part and parcel of many TV series around the world. These series feature multiracial characters who speak their native languages, creating a thrilling and immersive viewing experience for audiences. Although aimed at entertaining viewers, certain series, particularly those originating from the US, may perpetuate specific ideological viewpoints. This can be seen in a myriad of stereotypical representations of specific groups like Middle Easterners, which not only reinforce preconceived notions but also limit their multifaceted and complex identities. This chapter aims to explore how Middle Easterners—more specifically Muslims—are represented in English-speaking TV series. Through the lens of Orientalism, the first section of this chapter critically investigates the prevalent depiction of negative terrorism stereotypes as associated to Muslim characters in certain TV shows. Following this, I present examples and arguments illustrating how recent English-speaking TV series have made significant advancements in portraying Middle Eastern characters with more nuanced, complex, and typically more positive or, at the very least, impartial representations. Finally, the chapter outlines future research avenues.