Tyrant Season 2 Episode 2 Review: Enter the Fates
Elizabeth Harlow
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Was anybody surprised with how tonight's episode ended?
I hope not. The assassination plot in Tyrant Season 2 Episode 2 drove all the action in Abbudin to an easily foreseen outcome. Meanwhile Barry wandered the desert and Molly started to grieve for her not-so-dead husband.
For the audience, Rashid's assassination plot is a mere story device -- there's no way the writers are going to write off a deliciously insane character like Jamal in the second episode of the season. Still, even a failed assassination can have far reaching consequences.
Clearly, Ahmed is planning on using the event to rehabilitate his image. Of course, shooting the already-dead would-be assassin of a hated despot might not end up earning the brownie points he's seeking. I was disappointed by the return of his entitled attitude -- last weeks discussion with Nusrat had me hoping he was ready to grow up.
The assassination also set up Jamal's return to being an evil, genocidal dictator. His narcissism makes this inevitable. Every time he has discussed the gas bombs with Tariq, his arguments against using them focused on world perception.
Whereas Barry would have objected on moral grounds, for Jamal it's been about making people like him.
I'm trying to convince the Chinese, I'm trying to convince the world, that we are a peaceful and friendly nation, anxious to do business, eager to welcome visitors. Canceling celebrations, dropping bombs, using gas against our own people would make that difficult, don't you think?
Jamal
Sammy's phone call from Abdul is red flag that Barry's son may be heading back to Abbudin. Somebody needs to smack this kid upside the head and explain the truths of the world to him in small, easy to understand words.
I found it frustrating all through Tyrant Season 1 that he was so obtuse, and I do not look forward to recovering that ground.
Emma only made a cursory appearance in the episode. I really hope we get to see her mouth off to the press about her uncle in the near future. The press is literally camped on her front lawn, and it would be so in character for her to do something like that.
Emma [to Molly]: Everybody thinks what you did was amazing. Everybody thinks what dad did was amazing.
Sammy: Not everyone. Some actually think it was kind of stupid.
I am curious if Molly will be able to keep her mouth shut with the press. She's obviously upset right now, and wants to get back to her normal routines, but the American Al Fayeeds are going to need a way to connect to the Abbudin based plots outside of Sammy's romantic entanglements.
Molly's too busy grieving and trying to figure out life without Barry to worry about much else. Of course, because she's a woman, a new love interest has been introduced for her, at church of all places.
Molly hasn't even planned a memorial service, so introducing a new love interest for her seems premature. From what we've seen of her relationship with Barry, I think she would need longer to grieve.
I think I just need someone to tell me what to do. How to grieve. How to breathe, how to be a mother to my children. I've lived in this town my whole life, and I feel like I've never been here before. I'm just...completely lost.
Molly
I'm willing to give this story a chance though, mainly because of Jake Weber. In addition to my Medium induced crush on him, he's an excellent actor, and after his run on Hell On Wheels Season 4, I trust him to pick great roles.
It will be interesting to see where this story goes once Barry makes his reappearance to the world. Since they were introduced at a church, I have to wonder if religion and shared background will factor into her final decision.
Poor Barry has enough to worry about without Molly stepping out on him. His journey through the desert has left him barely alive, and as a captive of two young Bedouins. He was utterly broken when he called out Allah, and it seems like his journey home will have him having to accept his past.
"Enter the Fates" might not have been the most fulfilling episode in and of itself, but it's setting us up for what looks to be a great season. The payoff should be worth the wait.
Watch Tyrant online and join the conversation in the comments.
Elizabeth Harlow was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She left the organization in October 2018.
