The writing on Tyrant is outstanding. Unique in the vein of Homeland and Ray Donovan. Possibly Sopranos. Nothing like it on TV. This episode reveals humanity and we begin to see round, complex characters. Beautifully developed and leading the viewer along a razor's edge, the audience begins to feel Barry's deep-rooted, decades'-long, struggle as well as Jamal's darkness and his desperate need for the compass that is his brother. Remarkably, while we don't see Leila and Barry alone in this episode, their connection is sensed, yet you see Barry's own desperate need for his wife, Molly. He is coming both unraveled and together in Abudin...leaving the past behind, while embracing his roots and taking on the future. Parallelly, we see Sammy, Barry's son, also embracing a part of himself that perhaps had been stifled in the U.S. Interestingly, the female characters are like shadows or whispers, fleeting, perhaps mirroring their reality in Abudin. Hopefully we'll see them emerge as life evolves. Can't wait for next episode.
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