Mo’s series finale deftly depicts a real-life tragedy
"A Call From God" is a moving, bittersweet, and occasionally joyous love letter to Palestine.
Photo: Netflix
One of many affecting scenes in Mo’s second-season finale occurs when Mo Najjar (played by series co-creator Mohammed Amer) recites the evening prayer at a mosque. His cousin nudges him to do it as a way to answer “a call from God”—the episode’s title—so Mo surrenders to his faith and walks up to the mic. He serenely sings in Arabic as the camera shows his face and then, briefly, the town of Burin where he is. Mo is visiting his native land in the West Bank almost 22 years after being forced to flee with his family when he was a child. The finale follows his homecoming and is a beautiful love letter to his culture, ancestors, and religion. But it’s also extremely bittersweet.
A rare TV show centering on a Palestinian American, Mo doesn’t shy away from political issues. It tackles the U.S.’s vexing immigration policies that have taken an emotional toll on the Najjars, who are seeking asylum. Much of the series is lifted from Amer’s experiences growing up in Houston as a refugee, hustling at odd jobs while trying to provide for his loved ones. Amer and co-creator Ramy Youssef (who worked together on Hulu’s Ramy) depict these stories with wit and, more importantly, sensitivity.