This Must-Watch FX Series on Streaming Blends Political Thriller With Family Drama

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TV Features

The cast of Tyrant in a promo for Season 1

As a network, FX has built a reputation for producing gritty, compelling dramas that blend tangled family dynamics with the political tensions of their respective worlds, like The Americans and Sons of Anarchy. In 2014, the network teamed up with Homeland veterans Gideon Raff and Howard Gordon to create Tyrant, a political thriller centered on the complicated and often controversial Al-Fayeed family. Set in the fictional Middle Eastern nation of Abuddin, the series follows Bassam "Barry" Al-Fayeed (Adam Rayner), the American-born son of a tyrannical dictator, who returns to his homeland with his family after 20 years of living in the U.S. in self-imposed exile. However, his return quickly pulls him into a high-stakes political world, tapping into deep-seated familial tensions and setting the stage for a character-driven drama rich with conflict and moral complexity.

What Is 'Tyrant' About?

In the pilot of Tyrant, Barry and his American family travel to Abuddin for his nephew's wedding, unaware that returning to his homeland will unravel their happy and simple lives. Barry has lived in the U.S. with his wife, Molly (Jennifer Finnigan), and their teenage children, Emma (Anne Winters) and Sammy (Noah Silver), where he works as a pediatrician. However, it's quickly revealed that his family in Abbudin has immense wealth, something he's actively distanced himself from. When Barry arrives, he learns that his father, the controversial dictator of Abuddin, is in failing health and his volatile older brother, Jamal (Ashraf Barhom), is next in line to take over the country. However, when their father dies, things quickly become more complicated, pulling Barry back into a world he had desperately tried to escape.

As tensions rise and family dynamics shift, Barry is faced with difficult decisions that challenge his long-held resistance to the ruthless politics of his homeland. While Jamal may seem the most brutal member of the Al-Fayeed family, Tyrant shows that each character, including Barry, grapples with their own moral dilemmas. They struggle with power, fear, and the temptations of a dangerous, extravagant lifestyle, making them multidimensional, even in their extreme circumstances. While Barry is a compelling character, it’s the performances of figures like Jamal and his wife, Leila (Moran Atias), that truly shine, and the series excels in exploring the often fraught relationships within the family, focusing on themes of betrayal, love, and deception.

Adam Rayner Talks TYRANT, Joining the Show, Playing an Arab Character, Shocking Moments, Shooting the Pilot in Morocco, and His Character's Motives

Adam Rayner Talks TYRANT, Joining the Show, Playing an Arab Character, Shocking Moments, Shooting the Pilot in Morocco, and His Character's Motives.

The Family Drama Is the Most Compelling Part of 'Tyrant'

What sets Tyrant apart is the relationship between the two Al-Fayeed brothers, Basam "Barry" and Jamal. At first, the two appear to be polar opposites – Barry is measured and thoughtful, while Jamal is erratic and, oftentimes, brutal. However, through flashbacks of their childhood, it's revealed that the reality is a lot more complicated than it seems. This dynamic creates a really great tension between the brothers and those around them with the fate of their country at stake. Both Rayner and Barhom deliver solid performances that make their scenes really dynamic. Tyrant also benefits from the well-developed characters surrounding the two brothers, whose individual storylines add significant complexity to the drama of the series.

The series also explores the theme of generational power, with each brother having a son who navigates their legacy in very different ways. Jamal's son Ahmed (Cameron Gharaee), who grew up surrounded by power, struggles not to fall into the same traps as his father. His mother Leila is a solid presence in his life, played exquisitely by Moran Atias. On the other hand, Barry's son, Sammy, who was raised in America, is moved by the injustices in Abuddin and feels compelled to act, often putting him in dangerous circumstances. Tensions escalate when Jamal's illegitimate son, Rami (Keon Alexander), arrives. His military expertise immediately captures his father's attention, but Rami is more focused on finding a place to belong after the death of his mother, which adds another layer of danger and intrigue to the already volatile Al-Fayeed family dynamic.

These multifaceted characters are key to the series' strength, showcasing how loyalty to family and the pull of power can manipulate and change people, which leads to a lot of morally ambiguous characters in a heightened world. Despite its brief three-season run, Tyrant remains an underrated gem in the genre, while exploring themes of family loyalty, power, and sacrifice. While not without missed opportunities and a few missteps plot-wise, Tyrant is full of strong performances and visually stunning action sequences. However, the show truly excels in its quieter, tense family moments between its characters. If you're seeking a compelling family drama with some political intrigue thrown into the mix, Tyrant is a must-watch.

All three seasons of Tyrant are available to stream on Hulu.