Tyrant Season 2 Episode 6 Review: The Other Brother
Elizabeth Harlow
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Oh brother, things are heating up in Abuddin.
On Tyrant Season 2 Episode 6, crazy Jamal is back! His instability may make for good TV, but isn't exactly what people look for in a leader. It's a good thing Rami hadn't left town yet.
Barry ended up leading the resistance movement he sought to join, and became interesting again in the process. Now that he's back in the game, the real battle for Abuddin can begin.
Things are not going well for Jamal at the start of "The Other Brother," but it's all okay since it marks the return of Sociopath!Jamal. Beating his uncle to death with the golden oil derrick from the Chinese was symbolic on so many levels, but really, I just loved it because responsible, rational Jamal was...boring.
Sure, he's better for Abuddin that way, but the beauty of television is you can enjoy evil dictators as complex characters. And who doesn't want to see China told off without facing any consequences?
You dare to play the human rights card with me, you puppet? Look to your own country for that.
Jamal
Of course, his rash decisions may come back to haunt him. He covered up Tariq's murder (like so many others), but I think the chances are high that he'll regret bringing in Rami.
Rami openly stated to Leila that he feels little loyalty to Abuddin, so I can't imagine he feels much towards his father either. With his UN Peacekeeper background, he's certain to see Jamal for the unhinged despot he is, and he's now perfectly poised to stage the coup that Barry failed to carry out.
Rami: I don't expect you to understand this -- you haven't lived my life -- but everything's that happened to me thus far has made it easier to be someplace else, anywhere but the place I was born.
Leila: "Easier." You're right. I don't understand. This is your country.
Rami: No.
Jamal was impressed with Rami's quick work recruiting African "military advisors," but will that move backfire on them? Mercenaries work for the highest bidder, and it looks like Sammy will be looking to make a sizeable contribution to the Army of the Caliphate in exchange for Abdul's freedom.
Oh Sammy. So pretty. So foolish. I thought he might have finally woken up to some of the harsh realities of Abuddin, but he's clearly not thinking about the long term. Giving money to the Caliphate is stupid in so many ways.
In Ma'an, it looks like the days of sad-sack Barry are over, thank god. Now that he has a mission, hopefully he'll be less whiny. At least we won't have to keep hearing about how he runs away from things.
All that aside, is involvement with the resistance is in the best interests of Abuddin. Although he went about the coup against Jamal all wrong, he's not without tactical know-how. He managed to strike a significant blow against the Caliphate with almost no support.
And his speech to Saddiq and the others about having the tribes form a coalition against the Caliphate (and c'mon, eventually against Jamal) was another example of his political savvy. He has a knack for inspiring people, as Halima pointed out.
With Halima seeming to recognize him and taking a leadership role in the resistance, it doesn't seem like he's going to be able to keep his identity secret for too much longer. At least Sammy will have something justifiable to be upset about.
Halima was just one woman who stole scenes tonight. She and Ru'a seem to be replacing Samira, who has been MIA recently. They're both more relatable than Samira, and their motives for rebellion are clearer. After losing loved ones to someone else's fight, they are fighting back.
Do you know what terrifies the Caliphate more than anything? A girl with a gun.
Ru'A
Jane and Daliyah in conflict not just because of Omar, but because of how they view the world. Outside of murder-by-oil-derrick, their confrontation was the highlight of "The Other Brother." Even though Daliyah was not in a position of power, literally on her knees, she doesn't back down from Jane.
I'm curious. What twisted path brought a pathetic Western whore to think that she could come to my county and dictate to me her perverted misinterpretations of the Koran? Did your parents not love you enough? Is that why you lay with murders? Is that why you stood by while the people of this house were slaughtered? So you could sleep in their bed and call it your own?
Dalyiah
I really want to know more about Jane – not only is her Western background intriguing, but something really disturbing must have happened to make her so twisted. Or maybe she's just another sociopath. Either way, I'm completely fascinated.
Back in the capital, the royal women live in a gilded cage. While Jamal spins out of control, Amira and Leila are behind the scenes arranging things as best they can to protect their family. Both of them have limited power, but they know how to use what they have and how to manipulate others.
Speaking of royal women, did anyone else catch the looks that Nusrat gave Rami? Don't miss it – watch Tyrant online. Then come back and share your thoughts in the comments!
Elizabeth Harlow was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She left the organization in October 2018.
