New show on FX. Premise: Dictator of fictitious Arab country Baladi has two sons. The younger one leaves for America early in life (16) and becomes a pediatrician with an American wife and two American children. He has not returned home to his country since leaving and has very little to do with his family. He is the main character, Basam. At the start of the show, his nephew (son of his older brother and heir) is getting married and Basam is convinced to return home for the first time in 20 years. The setting is present day even though the country is fake. The fall of other Arab dictators is referenced and it is clear that the so called "Arab Spring" is threatening this small country. So...anyone watching? I watched the first episode and I was impressed. Definitely going to the top of my watch list.
Definitely advise watching. Acting is strong, script is strong, filming is well done, editing is well done. Honestly the production seemed like a good HBO show. It's on FX so I don't know what kind of traction it can pick up, but honestly the pilot was a "page turner" to steal a phrase from a different medium. Actually felt more engaged after this debut than I did after watching Homeland Episode 1. Cast seems really strong.
Not really. They take small facts from several dictators and Middle Eastern countries so that you see some familiarity to certain things to make it feel real. Assad was not in self imposed exile. There are parts of Assad's narrative in there, some stuff from Sadam's sons, etc.
they raping everybody on this show. except homeboy's son. he's one of them obama queers. Spoiler I keed, I keed. not a homophobic.
Well we are one episode in, but the show looks to be a political type thriller of sorts. Beware, thar be spoilers below, argh! Spoiler The pilot episode is Basam returning to his home for the first time in 20 years with his American family to see his nephew's wedding. During the wedding, his dictator father dies and his brother in a rage is involved in a car accident. Basam is trying to flee the country back to America after the death of his father, but the airplane is stopped by security forces. It is apparent that Basam and his family will not be allowed to return home. The plot seems to be that Basam will be forced to deal with the political unrest in his home country that he has wanted no part of for 20 years. We are told that there are terrorists groups trying to kill members of the royal family and that the people in general are demanding freedom similar to what has happened in Egypt. There is also an apparently powerful general at the head of the military.
I saw it .. .it was ok Friends were annoyed by Jamal's intro [with the family] Kind of a tired way to show his . . uhm . . .disposition and authority I dunno . . may give it an episode or two Rocket River
Friends were annoyed by Jamal's intro yeah that was super-slimy, did I miss the explanation of who and why. (my wife prefers that I FF through rape scenes and execution scenes)
That was kind of the point They never said . . .. Spoiler My friend go into the 'rape culture' thing it is just an old trope to show he is a bad man . . . the woman was just a prop . . . . I mean . . there are other ways to say he is a bad man . . . Just kind of a lazy way to show it, using the woman as a prop. I hope they come back to it . . . Make her and her family important otherwise it is just meh . . . .throwaway scene I am not as sensative to it . . . but i can see their point Rocket River
Well... Spoiler She and her family were important. She ended up being the one who tried to kill him at the end of the episode. They sort of explained some of it. His wife has not affection for him and they don't have sex. He's a psychopath and is clearly insecure with rage issues. He takes out his anger on people who can't fight back. Rape is normally about power and anger. It was important to show his psychological issues. Both he and Basam have psychological issues stemming from their father and their youth. They've each gone down different roads. What will be interesting to see is who truly is the "tyrant" in the show.
It's kind of cool, like an entertaining movie but also at the same time incredibly cheesy and cliche. The main actor and his wife kind of sucked at acting too. I'll probably never watch it again. I'll go out on a limb and guess that the main character becomes some sort of Walter White-type ruthless badass instead of some sort of good natured leader.
