Anyone else still watching? I’ve seen all three episodes to date, and overall I still like it. I didn’t expect Barry would agree to work with his brother so readily or so prominently, but am glad he has a better understanding of what a monster his brother has become. He’s also showing more emotion than in the premiere episode, which is good.
And anybody recognize Alice Krige, the former Borg queen, as the late tyrant’s widow?
A wildass prediction, given Barry’s frequently-expressed wish to go home:
The final scene will have Barry as president, his brutal brother having been killed along the way (maybe even on his orders). His wife will say something like, “Now we can go back home [to Pasadena].” And Barry will reply coldly, “I’m already home.” He’ll be a slave to duty, to his family and to his homeland, until he dies.
There was some speculation in the comments section of the AV Club recaps that Barry’s wife is actually a CIA agent. Last night, we were told that she is a physician as is he, but I think the idea is that she has been sort of a “mole” in his house since they met.
I gave up on the show last night. Part of me wanted to wait, because I can’t shake the feeling that it’s going to get better, but ultimately I just don’t care about the story/characters and there’s too much other good TV to watch. I didn’t even finish the episode I was watching.
I’ve watched the pilot and the subsequent episodes, and I’m still interested. Sure, you can pick out plenty of flaws about it being unrealistic, but it is a dramatic TV show.
The characters are interesting, and the plot lines seem intriguing enough. Plus, the shoot locations and the CGI palace give it great visuals, as do most of the female cast.
Jamal and his wife (extremely beautiful) are by far the most interesting characters.
The earlier poster who said that Barry will likely become the tyrant, might be right.
Yes, and I wish she was getting more screen time. Is her character actually supposed to be an Arab, or did Papa Al-Fayeed marry an Englishwoman? I’d especially like to see what her interactions with Jamal are like.
My minor nitpick is the confusing use of English. On one hand I just assume that in situations like the cabinet meetings or Jamal’s eulogy the characters are really speaking Arabic, but then there’s really jarring things like Jamal angrily ordering his doctor to “speak English” when he was using too much medical jargon (& apparently it’s Dr Kohen :dubious:) or everyone sounding exactly the same when the US ambassador was invited to the same cabinet meetings for some reason.
I’m pretty sure that idea is inspired by Queen Noor of Jordan. I’ve noticed a they’ve lifted tiny elements from various Middle Eastern countries and incorporated them into the fictional country.
The return home for a wedding and never leaving, reminded me of one of Sadaam’s son-in-laws, but he was jut killed.
The brutally insane heir to the throne could have been lifted from Iraq or Libya.
If it were a movie, I’d be harsh on them for stuff like that, but I’m much more forgiving of a TV show for committing such sins.
After all, they have to market this thing to the mouth breathing public, do you really think subtitles are going to fly with Mr. & Mrs. Mouth Breather?
I’m guessing you are right. It might be an interesting story, how a thoughtful, caring (overly brooding) person can turn into an brutal autocrat. Just won’t be pretty to watch.
The American’s are all terrible. The son hooked up with a random guy within minutes of arriving and that alone seems to be his motivation for liking the place. Big trouble brewing there. A very teen thing to do I suppose, but these people don’t seem to have any concept of the country they are in. Did dad never mention where he was from?
Another speculation; the gay son Sammy’s new friend is setting him up to be blackmailed later. His father is the head of security; perhaps they had someone watching Sammy back in the US, saw that he was gay and planned their meeting.
Agreed, being gay can bring an honor killing level of shame in Arab culture. Spying on Sammy could quite possibly be the only way Abdul can “redeem himself” and avoid being killed by his father. I’m also guessing there’s an arranged marriage waiting in the wings for him too.
Now we find out the guy has no connections except looking good. ( so you just blow me then blow me away?? Heh) so I don’t think the pre spying happened.
Interesting that the president really seems to want to be a good leader. He’s not just a cardboard villain. I’m amazed he’s taking his brother’s advice as much as he is. His plump club-hopping son is shaping up to be just as much a self-indulgent arrogant asshole as dear ol’ Dad, though.
Barry’s daughter said she really wants to go home. Her mom (yes, very naive, eenerms) just gave her a hug. “Uh, thanks, Mom, but about going home…?”
Gay Arab kid says his dad really isn’t the head of security. True, or another lie?
Leading an Arab republic from tyranny and cronyism to democracy and a meritocracy would be damned hard, esp. if you were yourself seen as an oppressor from a family with blood on its hands. And violently clearing the square of protestors is not going to make it any easier.
And the daughter displayed astonishing naivete in asking the servant what people thought of the chemical gas attack of twenty years prior, as if the poor woman could given any sort of honest response. For all she knew, she might have ended up in prison no matter what she said.
BTW, regarding the guy who set himself on fire in the square, the writers were probably inspired by the story of Mohamed Bouazizi, who did so in Tunisia. That was the event that started the Arab Spring, which resulted in regime change in several Arab countries. And the square is probably inspired by [Tahrir Square](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tahrir_Square\), the location of multiple protests in Cairo. Basically, the plot of the show combines elements of multiple Arab countries.
The son’s primary motivation for liking the place is that he sees himself as a Prince and wants to live Uncle Jammal’s lifestyle. Getting to bang Abdul is just a bonus. Not understanding how bad it would be to be gay there is mind boggling, though.
At this point I am just hoping that Barry’s family dies horribly in the revolution. His wife and son especially are too stupid to live. The daughter seems to have some understanding of what they have gotten themselves into, but is powerless to do anything about it.
No kids last night, but it likes look that Molly is finally starting to realize that Abbudin isn’t just a quirky foreign country. It was nice seeing her reaction to the paramedic’s 180 the moment she mentioned her name. It was nice seeing Alice Krige, but I really hope her character get’s developed more.
I’d especially like to see what her interactions with Jamal are like.