Even when shows not focused on terrorism attempt to include Muslim characters, the old stereotypes are rarely far away. For example, consider the popular program Lost (2004–2010). Lost follows the survivors of a commercial airplane that crashes on a mysterious island with supernatural forces. One of the survivors is Sayid Jarrah. Sayid's character hails from Iraq, and we learn from various episodes that he is both a Muslim and a former soldier in the Iraqi Republican Guard during the Persian Gulf War (1990–1991). Because terrorism is not the show's focus, Sayid is not portrayed primarily in relation to terrorism. Yet his character is portrayed in relation to violence.

Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Intro…, loc. 533