Between censorship and chaos: Syrian artists wary of new regime

Though the cast and crew of the television series “Al-Batal,” or “The Hero,” were happy to be wrapping up, there was a tinge of anxiety. Well before streaming gained popularity, viewers would gorge on Syrian miniseries — from glamorous telenovelas to historical dramas. A state-backed production company financed shows emphasizing fealty to the ruler and demonizing Assad’s adversaries as jihad-crazed chaos agents. Actors perform in the last scene of the “Al-Batal” series. Sulaf Fawakherji, a Syrian actor known for her pro-Assad views, was recently removed from the actors’ syndicate for denying the former government’s crimes.