New FX show Tyrant

[Elixer]

Tonight's episode was mostly predictable.

Spoiler

right down to the girl kissing sammy--and she getting killed right after that.
I also find it dumb that the kid didn't shoot his mom, but instead he shot himself instead of the leader who was right in front of him. I guess there must be a 3rd season coming.

 

[Zim Hosein]

2 huge explosions and bullets flying everywhere and Sammy only has a few scrapes! WTF!?!

 

[purbeast0]

man jamal is falling extremely fast this season. not falling from power, but just losing everything around him spiraling out of control. i'm really curious to see how this season plays out.

 

[Perknose]

The plot twists, such as the American Doc not being executed but then morphing almost immediately into a resistance LEADER are unbelievably laughable and cheesy, but the actor playing the dictator is excellent and unique, and his hot bod wife is bonericious in an ice queen draped in expensive designer clothes sort of way.

It's the oil fueled rich folks dynasty soap opera Dallas set in the Middle East!

 

[Perknose]

I do like how they portray the Caliphate...

Some Caliphate! They kidnap the Doc's buddy's kids, and 10 minutes later those kids hold key trust positions in the group, complete with much face time with their leader. I wonder how many of those 10 minutes were spent teaching these simple rural kids never before seen with a gun how to fire their AK's?

 

[Charmonium]

Some Caliphate! They kidnap the Doc's buddy's kids, and 10 minutes later those kids hold key trust positions in the group, complete with much face time with their leader. I wonder how many of those 10 minutes were spent teaching these simple rural kids never before seen with a gun how to fire their AK's?

There are countless holes in the story but if you watch any amount of tv, this is a universal problem. Most movies aren't much better. You have to try to focus on what's good about these shows.

After all, there really aren't many truly original stories. They're all just different combinations of the same elements. And you have to make certain allowances for the compressed timeline of television. You only have about 42 minutes over 10-13 weeks to tell an engaging story. That generally works out to about 8 hrs of actual screen time.

Granted, some shows are much better at doing this than others but the really good shows tend to pay for it in lower viewership. So there's a certain amount of simplification that has to occur to keep a viewing audience engaged. That leads to compromises in the script.

I like the show because it does a decent job of portraying some very topical events. Of course it's oversimplified but at least it addresses them in a fairly engaging way.

 

[Perknose]

There are countless holes in the story but if you watch any amount of tv, this is a universal problem. Most movies aren't much better.

Most popular action movies aren't much better, true. But this is not a universal problem.

Name one howler of a plot hole on Mr. Robot. Name even one from all three years of Deadwood.

Otoh, there are shows like this one, or that lazy-assed mess Wayward Pines, where the plot holes are bigger than Jared before he went on his strict Lolita and Subway diet. They are effing lazy, and they count on you not caring. They slap you silly and call you Nancy.

Well, my name is not Nancy!

Granted, some shows are much better at doing this than others...

And those are the ones I prefer. If you accept shite on the menu, then it's shite burgers and a side of shite-slaw every night. Even Nancy wrinkles her button nose and pouts adorably at yet another heaping helping of televised feces. :biggrin:

 

[Charmonium]

If you can't look past the deficiencies of a show to what's good about it, then I feel bad for you since there's a lot of decent tv that you're never going to see. If you don't have the time to watch a lot of shows, I can see using this as a criterion for weeding things out but personally I don't have that problem. There are shows that I write off just because there's nothing interesting about them. One I ditched recently is Proof.

It really comes down to what you get out of watching something. If inconsistencies and plot holes are really going to turn you off to a show, that's your choice. Personally, I'm so accustomed to that sort of thing that it allows me to focus on the aspects I like. Only in the case where there seems to be nothing redeeming about a show do I nix it completely.

 

[Perknose]

If inconsistencies and plot holes are really going to turn you off to a show, that's your choice.

Yes, it's my choice, so don't "feel bad for me."

They irk me more than they do you, especially the real howlers, which are just lazy. But, hey, I'm more like you than my rant lets on. There is much I like about Tyrant., As you might have noticed by my familiarity with it, I do indeed watch, despite some truly intelligence-insulting plot holes.

Abbudan (sic) itself seems particularly well created, up to and including the Chinese muscling in, plus the palace pomp and intrigue. But the howling plot holes they indulge in to keep their main characters front and center in all circumstances are truly disappointing.

There's not a lot really good on right now, and I've got to extract my eyeball equity from my full zoot cable package, right?

 

[andy04]

Wow this season too, towards the end is getting really interesting... A perfect nail biter, very good show, loving it. Just following 2 more shows this summer, Extant and Last Ship, all awesome shows.

I think Sammy's ganna die, resulting in Molly leaving Barry and he in turn getting some from that widow chick!!!

 

[Elixer]

Well, can't say I expected

Spoiler

her to shoot him...

, but it was

Spoiler

obvious that he was going to renege the "deal".
If this gets picked up for a 3rd season, (which I am thinking not likely) it will all be about one huge power vacuum.

 

[Charmonium]

The ratings look like they're on the bubble but my bet is that it gets renewed. The main downsides are the huge drop from last season and the low 18-49 ratings.

I thought the most recent episode was quite good and have enjoyed pretty much the entire season. There's sort of cliff hanger since according to standard tv drama "rules" a character isn't dead until you see them buried, and even then . . . So it looks like the writers are leaving it wide open for next season.

 

[Zim Hosein]

The ratings look like they're on the bubble but my bet is that it gets renewed. The main downsides are the huge drop from last season and the low 18-49 ratings.

I thought the most recent episode was quite good and have enjoyed pretty much the entire season. There's sort of cliff hanger since according to standard tv drama "rules" a character isn't dead until you see them buried, and even then . . . So it looks like the writers are leaving it wide open for next season.

Agreed, we've all seen this rule way too many times Charmonium.

While I did enjoy the season finale, I felt it "rushed" IMHO, it should have been more drawn out, I feel like a lot was left on the cutting room floor, enough for either a longer season finale or an episode that should have aired between "Desert Storm" and "Pax Abuddin."

 

[DesiPower]

yeah, I felt that they rushed it too, could have easily showed more politics and deception, made it more interesting... But a great season overall :thumbsup:

 

[purbeast0]

yeah i felt like the finale was 50 minutes of slow filler of everything working out too well, then all of a sudden this info gets shown to jamal and the last 5 minutes shit hits the fan. i told my wife that something big is going to happen at the end because the rest of the episode was way too "happy ending" for this show, and yep, it did. didn't expect the sons wife to shoot jamal, but definitely something.

 

[Charmonium]

It's baaaaaackkkk - 2 hour premier was tonight. Should be available on demand tomorrow.

 

[RossMAN]

I prefer Dig over Tyrant, what about y'all?

So how was the 2 hour premier?

 

[Charmonium]

I was mistaken - it was only a normal 1 hour. It seems they have an interesting premise for this season. I'm hoping it will be better than season 2.

I loved Dig but I think it was canceled.

 

[purbeast0]

was happy to see my dvr recording it last night, will probably watch this weekend.

and it wasn't 2 hours, it was 75 minutes.

 

[Perknose]

and it wasn't 2 hours

It just seemed that way.

It's no Dynasty or Beverly Hill 90210, but it's the single best show on it's channel during its time slot!

 

[Charmonium]

It just seemed that way.

It's no Dynasty or Beverly Hill 90210, but it's the single best show on it's channel during its time slot!

You think you're pretty cute don't you. Well, you are. But that doesn't mean you can rub our noses in it.

 

[Perknose]

You think you're pretty cute don't you.

Are you coming on to me? :biggrin:

 

[Elixer]

Spoiler

She should have been killed off last season. Such an annoying character.

 

[DesiPower]

Pretty weak 3rd season so far... not sure I can continue...

 

[JM Aggie08]

I watched 1-2 episodes of the first season and dropped off -- is it worth restarting from the beginning with wifey dearest?