Adel Karam
Tariq
Overview
Beautiful executive assistant Zeina reluctantly teams up with the self-assured Tarek to chase down an elusive dollar bill worth $1 million.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 15 episodes
- First aired
- Aug 8, 2019
Cast
Reviews
3 min readThe Million-Dollar Question
I’ll admit it: when I first saw Dollar pop up in my Netflix queue, I almost scrolled past. A Lebanese romantic action-drama about an advertising executive chasing a million-dollar idea? The premise sounded like a corporate thriller crossed with a rom-com, a genre mashup that usually leaves me skeptical.
But there was something about the way the show positioned itself—Netflix’s first original series from Lebanon, a milestone in its own right—that made me pause. What does it mean for a streaming giant to plant its flag in Beirut? And more importantly, what does Dollar actually have to say?
The answer, it turns out, is less about the money and more about the chase. The series follows Tarek (Adel Karam), a slick advertising executive who stumbles upon a promotional scheme so brilliant he refuses to share it with anyone but the bank’s CEO. His only obstacle?
Zeina (Amal Bouchoucha), the CEO’s sharp-witted assistant, who isn’t buying his act. Their dynamic is the engine of the show, a push-and-pull of ambition and suspicion that’s equal parts Mad Men and Mr. & Mrs. Smith—if Don Draper and Jane Smith were stuck in a Beirut high-rise with a million-dollar secret between them.
What’s striking about Dollar is how it uses its corporate setting as a pressure cooker for its characters. The office isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a battleground. Every handshake, every PowerPoint slide, every whispered conversation in the elevator feels charged with subtext.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s First Lebanese Original: The Making of Dollar (2019)
Netflix’s push into Middle Eastern content took a bold step in 2019 with Dollar, its first original series from Lebanon. A romantic action-drama blending high-stakes intrigue with local flavor, the show marked a milestone for the streaming giant—and a rare spotlight for Lebanese talent. But behind the glossy production, Dollar carried the weight of expectations, both as a cultural ambassador and a test of Netflix’s global strategy.
A Landmark for Lebanese TV
Dollar premiered on August 8, 2019, as a 15-episode series directed by Samer al-Barkawi 
. The show starred Adel Karam, a Lebanese comedy icon (Very Big Deal), and Amal Bouchoucha, a Tunisian-Lebanese actress known for her dramatic roles. Their pairing promised a mix of humor and tension, though the series leaned heavily into action and romance—a departure from Karam’s usual comedic fare.
As Netflix’s first Lebanese original, Dollar was positioned as a prestige project. The streaming giant had been expanding aggressively into non-English markets, and the Middle East was a key frontier. Lebanon, with its vibrant entertainment industry and multilingual talent pool, was a natural choice. The show’s premise—a high-society thriller involving a mysterious billionaire and a struggling artist—played to regional tastes while aiming for international appeal.
Behind the Scenes: Challenges and Rumors
Little is confirmed about the production’s inner workings, but industry chatter suggests Dollar faced hurdles typical of ambitious debuts. Rumors swirled about creative tensions between the director and Netflix executives over the show’s tone, with some insiders claiming the platform pushed for a more "universal" (read: Western-friendly) approach [unconfirmed]. Others speculated that the 15-episode order was a compromise after initial plans for a longer season [unconfirmed].
Adel Karam’s involvement was a coup for the project. Known for his improvisational skills, he reportedly clashed with al-Barkawi over script changes, particularly in scenes requiring dramatic depth [unconfirmed]. Bouchoucha, meanwhile, was praised for her portrayal of a complex female lead—a rarity in regional TV—but her role’s limited screen time sparked fan debates about gender representation.
Reception and Legacy
Dollar arrived with fanfare but left a mixed legacy. Critics lauded its production values and the chemistry between Karam and Bouchoucha, but some dismissed it as a formulaic Netflix experiment . The show’s Arabic-language dialogue and Lebanese setting were highlights, yet its pacing and plot twists drew comparisons to Western thrillers—raising questions about whether it truly broke new ground.
For Netflix, Dollar was a stepping stone. The series paved the way for more Middle Eastern originals, including Jinn (2019) and AlRawabi School for Girls (2021). But it also underscored the challenges of balancing local authenticity with global appeal. Whether Dollar will get a second season remains unconfirmed, but its role in Netflix’s regional expansion is undeniable.
The Bottom Line
Dollar was more than just a show—it was a gamble. As Netflix’s first Lebanese original, it carried the hopes of a region hungry for representation. The results were uneven, but the series proved that Middle Eastern stories could find a global audience. For Adel Karam, Amal Bouchoucha, and Samer al-Barkawi, it was a chance to redefine Lebanese TV. For Netflix, it was a lesson in the risks and rewards of cultural crossover.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.