Tyrant Season Finale - "Gone Fishing" Retrospective. What If?

Season 1, Episode 10

Airdate: Tuesday, August 26, 2014, 10:00 pm ET/PT on FX

Rating: ★★★★★

[notice]WARNING: Spoilers ahead.[/notice]

“The funny thing is if you had said you wanted this, my presidency, I would have given it to you. I would have given you anything.” – President Jamal Al-Fayeed

As Barry’s (Adam Rayner) planned coup gets closer, he turns to his old friend Fauzi (Fares Fares) for help in paving the way for the citizens of Abbudin to accept him as their new president. Fauzi, however, doesn’t seem eager to write Barry’s speech for him. But that’s not the only problem Barry has. The U.S. State Department is “out of the democracy business,” according to Lea Exley (Leslie Hope) and U.S. Ambassador John Tucker (Justin Kirk). Without America’s help, will Barry go forward with his plans to oust his brother Jamal (Ashraf Barhom) from the presidency of Abbudin? Or, will Jamal figure things out before Barry can set his plans in motion?

In or Out?

I don’t think Barry can believe what he’s hearing from Lea Exley.

One of the things that scares me the most about “Gone Fishing” is how nonchalant Lea and Tucker are when explaining why the State Department doesn’t want to back Barry anymore. With Jamal removing the majority of his senior command and arresting General Tariq (Raad Rawi), he has done what the State Department wanted all along. “We thought we needed a coup to do that.” And even though they think Jamal will win the election most likely by buying votes, they’re “OK with that.” Is this what happens behind the scenes of the fighting currently happening in the real world? Does the United States back the terrorists as long as they’re doing what our country wants? That’s a discussion for another forum, though. Back to the matter at hand, Lea says something very telling to Barry—“Here’s the thing. Either you really want the power or you’re an idealist. Either way, that’s a problem.” I wonder whether Barry even knows the answer to that.

Fauzi can’t make up his mind whether to help Barry or walk away.

Just when I thought Barry was going to give in, Fauzi changes his mind and hands Barry a speech. Whatever he’s written makes Barry call Tucker and tell him he’s going ahead with his plans without the State Department’s help. Of course, there’s more than one way to skin a cat. Barry warns him and Lea that if he’s captured, a letter will be delivered to the NY Times outlining exactly what went on in Abbudin, and the State Department’s role in the whole affair. I guess his threat works because he receives a text from Tucker saying, “You’re good to go.”

The Girls Go Shopping

It’s a good thing the cop (George Iskander) finally believes Emma and Jenna’s story despite what the cafe owner tells him.

While there are some tense moments when Emma (Anne Winters) and her Aunt Jenna (Wrenn Schmidt) don’t return home from a shopping trip on time to make their flight to America, the setup is rather predictable. Some young boys steal their wallets and cell phones from their purses while having something to eat at a café so they can’t pay. And, of course, the café owner (Loai Noufi) is pissed because this isn’t the first time people have tried to steal from him. Well, that’s how he sees it. The problem is, the minute I saw the boys I knew something bad was going to happen. For a series that has had some stellar writing all season long, this is a major disappointment for me.

The Boys Go Fishing

Barry and Jamal get ready for their fishing trip.

Almost everything Jamal says to Barry on their fishing trip seems to have a double meaning. At first glance, it appears the brothers are having a good time reliving their days together as young boys, but the mood changes when Jamal begins talking about “What if.” What if they hadn’t been sons of a king? What if they had chosen different paths in life? It’s sad to listen to Jamal talking about what best friends they’d be if circumstances were different. It’s almost like Jamal is trying to tell Barry something but Barry’s not listening. He has only one thing on his mind—Jamal’s arrest when they’re back on land.

The Best Laid Plans

Things don’t go as planned because Barry, not Jamal, is arrested when they return home. Apparently, two much wine at dinner caused Nusrat’s (Sibylla Deen) father Hakim (Yussef Abu Warda) to spill the beans. I knew he wasn’t the type to be trusted. He has always struck me as a little weasel. Now he, Nusrat, and Ziad will pay for his loose lips with their lives. But what of Barry? His mother Amira (Alice Krige) pleads for his life—for Jamal to exile Barry and his family. But he is not the “gentle son” Amira thinks he is. What surprises me is how strongly Leila (Moran Atias) urges Jamal to execute Barry. But, as much as she has feelings for Barry, she is more firmly aligned with her husband, and will allow no one or nothing to come between them and Jamal’s presidency. As the episode fades to black, Jamal says, “I will tell my mother first, and then I will sentence him to death.” Whatever happened to Jamal’s statement in last week’s episode, Gaslight,” — “See, Bassam, I don’t murder family…no matter how treacherous…how traitorous.” I guess we’ll have to wait until next season to find out what happens.

Overall

If you were expecting a lot of fireworks in the season finale of Tyrant, you’ll be disappointed. There are no fireworks at all. For that matter, no one even raises their voice. I know writers Howard Gordon and Chris Keyser could have done a better job. The cliffhanger isn’t even a proper cliffhanger as we all know there’s no way Jamal is going to execute Barry. Unless, of course, Rayner wants off the show next season. All in all, as season finales go, “Gone Fishing” is a huge disappointment for me.

What do you think of “Gone Fishing?” Leave me a comment below or tweet me @SeasideTV. Do you agree with my assessment of the episode? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!