"United States of Al" has engendered advance debate over its depiction of an Afghan character, but the show plays less as offensive than dated and uninspired, built on ancient fish-out-of-water ...

“United States of Al” clearly wants to do right by Al, and all the real Als in Afghanistan who inspired him — but doing that requires way more than mere inclusion.

The sitcom The United States of Al returns for its second season Thursday. The show follows an Afghan interpreter and his Marine Corp buddy, and is very much influenced by the Taliban's recent rise.

Al tries to find an eligible Afghan-American bachelor for his sister to marry so she can move to the United States; Riley and Freddy challenge each other to a bowling match.