I love this show for some reason. I agree with everyone who says Barry's decision to stay was rushed...and this his past with Leila was telegraphed right from the start. That's pretty standard fare for flashbacky shows like this.
What really bugs is how clueless, how seemingly willfully ignorant Molly and the kids are. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Dana and Jessica Brody are geniuses compared to these people. Abuddin is obviously awash with human rights violations. I can't believe any of them wouldn't have Googled the place hundreds of times...if not weekly. I mean, if my father-in-law was the head of state somewhere I would have a little more than a passing interest in their affairs. That's what takes me out of the show.
How would it have hurt the show to have Molly really, really, reticent to go there? Why couldn't she have insisted they leave? That would add more tension to the show, and give Barry more to chew on. They easily could have invented some plot device to make their escape impossible..like getting their names on a no fly list or somesuch...refused entry to the US or whatever.
Sure, I can see the son wanting to stay for the cars, power, affluence, and steam rooms, but I can't see any modern mother and angsty teen wanting to even go there in the first place, much less hang around for the inevitable violence that's sure to come.
Good show though.