FBI vs. CIA – Indulge In The Thrilling Pre-9/11 Drama With Amazon Prime’s ‘The Looming Tower’

September 11, 2001. When you put it that way, it doesn’t quite ring a bell. So allow me to rephrase. The 9/11 attack. 

Sends a shiver down your spine, doesn’t it? Just thinking of one of the most tragic attacks on one of the most powerful countries. There are books written on it and movies that tried to address it. But the questions in my head never seemed to be answered satisfactorily. Until now.

Amazon Prime Exclusive’s mini-series ‘The Looming Tower‘ is adapted from the books of the same name and traces the events that took place in the crucial years before the 9/11 attack.

The series centres around the rivalry between the FBI and the CIA during the time when Osama Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda was becoming a real threat. Their inner conflict may have inadvertently set the stage for the attack on the Twin Towers.

Although the show is fiction, most of what it portrays is true. Adapted from the Pulitzer-winning novel by Lawrence Wright, it is everything you’d want in a series that is equal part reality and equal part entertainment.

The pilot episode begins with a suspicious exchange of what looks like a book and a man getting busted by armed forces. From this moment on, you will be on the edge of your seat because things get pretty serious.

In a subsequent heated encounter between John O’Neill, the FBI agent and Martin Schmidt, the chief of ‘Alec Station’ of the CIA, it is revealed that Schmidt withholds crucial information from the FBI – information about the Al-Qaeda operatives and their targets.

O’Neill’s protégé, Ali Soufan is another key character of the series. Played by French actor Tahar Rahim, he is an invaluable and indispensable asset to the team, thanks to his knowledge about Islam and Arabic.

He forms bonds with international intelligence and rises through the ranks in the FBI.

Jeff Daniels plays the role of FBI agent John O’Neill. Jeff believes you will either love O’Neill or hate him because he was many layers – both good and bad. But most importantly, he’s brilliant and right.

He said,

“I had no idea that there was this much conflict leading up to 9/11 within our own government. I think it was a situation where both agencies felt that the way they were doing it was right.”

Peter Sarsgaard, on the other hand, plays Martin Schmidt, the head of counterterrorism section of the CIA – Alec station. He said,

“We should be paying attention. It’s terrifying. History absolutely repeats itself all the time.”

Other key characters include CIA director, played by Alec Baldwin, and Schmidt’s protégé Diane Marsh, played by Wrenn Schmidt, who contribute in large parts to the story.

The show gives you a deeper understanding of the tragedy that shook the world. It makes you wonder if we are any better today. If there is anything we can do to stop these organized terror attacks.

The answer, however, is left for the audience to ponder over.

A suspense-filled, thrilling fiction drama, The Looming Tower is some real food for thought and you must watch it.

Here’s a sneak peek of the show, the trailer, which will pique your interest even more and tingle your nerves.

Need more convincing Doubt that! Because I can already picture you logging on to Amazon Prime Video to satiate your heightened curiosity.

You’re welcome! 🙂