S02.E07: The Awful Grace of God

[ShellSeeker]

 

Jamal believes that the country is spiraling out of control and wants to see a military victory.

 

[txwatcher]

Great episode,but Bassan's son Sammy is delusional.

Edited July 29, 2015 by txwatcher

[SimoneS]

Bassam and Dalia being held hostage by his friend's daughter went on way too long. I was sorry that young guy was killed. 

 

Poor Ahmed and his wife. At first I thought it was a good thing that the baby was gone, but for a woman to be unable to have children in that culture is near a fate worse than death.  The way that Ahmed shut her down when she tried to tell him made me wonder if he knows about her and his father, but I don't think that he does.

 

I am glad that Rami seems to have a conscience even if his plan for no civilian casualties went awry. Jamal and his wife are lunatics.

 

So his wife got some, good for her, Bassam's actions made her life hellish. I expect he will be sleeping with Dalia soon enough.

 

Poor Abdul. What a horrible death. Sammi going to Mahaan is crazy, but I am looking forward to his reunion with his father.

Edited July 29, 2015 by SimoneS

[MrsRafaelBarba]

I'm scared for Nusrat.

[thuganomics85]

Man, Sammy really doesn't know much about the art of negotiation.  He just quickly accepts Jamal's first offer of $10 mil (out of what should have been $100 mil).  Dammit, Sammy!  You're suppose to then respond with $75-$80 mil, and then hopefully end up with $40-$50 mil!  The fact that Jamal was even willing to hear you out, meant he was desperate enough!  Now he just gets more money to do what he does best!  Either way, it ends up being too late for Abdul, but now he's planning on heading to Mahaan and join the resistance.  Will he and Barry meet?

 

Molly and the lawyer hook up, but I loved how bundled up they were.  Clearly neither Jennifer Finnagen or Jake Weber were down with showing skin.

 

Barry already gets to Dalia, but then Samira holds them hostage.  It ends with Barry getting shot in the leg, and Samira dead at his hands.  I bet Fauzi is going to love that!  Kind of slow, but the actress playing Samira did a good job.  Hope she finds something else.  I'm sure this is going to light a fire into Rashid.

 

Nurast looses the baby and can no longer produce a heir.  Ahmed is supportive at least, but she's clearly and understandably afraid that Jamal is going to off her now. Meanwhile, with Jamal preoccupied with these events, Leila uses this opportunity to make the general son go ahead and bomb stuff up in order to get a "victory" in the media.  And she ends up almost blowing up Barry in the process.  Whoops!

Edited July 29, 2015 by thuganomics85

[slothgirl]

I wonder how  many high ranking military men are hoping for a chance to put a bullet in Bastard son's back since he hopped to the top of the ladder? On the other hand, given what happened to the last head general, maybe they are relieved not to be put in that position.

 

Best one-liners of the night:

 

Doctor: Try and remain positive

Laila: She clearly doesn't know the family.

 

Samira: Are you in love with her? You should get in line.

Barry: I'm here to take my country back

Samira: You should get  in line.

 

Samira's story. Wow. She moved to 3rd place in my ranking of the actors and performances. (behind Ashraf and Moran) That was chilling and desolate.

 

The women on this show totally rule. And what delicious irony for that to be the case!

 

Except Molly and creepy lawyer dude. Whatever.

 

At last someone has recognized Bassam. Sheesh! And she managed with only his eyes showing.

 

Thankfully Sammy ISN'T as stupid as he looks... except that he's going to be taken into a war torn area where even guerilla fighters dont' want to go, so maybe he is.

 

This episode seemed either directed or framed by someone different.

[SimoneS]

Laila's line about knowing the family was made even funnier by her deadpan delivery. 

 

At last someone has recognized Bassam. Sheesh! And she managed with only his eyes showing.

 

But she has known Bassam personally for awhile. That is different from only seeing a photo or video of a cleaned up Bassam.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Samira's death was sad.

She knew deep down that the Caliphate are wrong, but simply gave up.

The actress really shined tonight.

[Human]

Color me surprised the writers didn't go the route of Sammy giving the Caliphate a huge sum of money.  As clunky as this plot line has been, at least it's a way to get Sammy and his dad in the same room again and may even lead to Sammy one day becoming the next Ahmed.

[Artsda]

Sammy was getting 100 million and took the first offer of 10 million and said ok? LOL

 

Was Rami the one to catch Nusrat when she fell on the stage? Not being able to give an heir, yikes not good for this world. Ahmed will need an heir especially since he now that he has jealousy issues with Rami. I wonder if this will be a soap plot, where the second Rami and Nusrat get together poof she's pregnant with a who is the daddy? 

 

Liked the whole show minus the Molly parts. Molly sure moved on quick with the lawyer. 

[Human]

What I'm wondering with regards to the lawyer is if the writers are going to have a subplot where Mr. Lawyer blows a gasket when he discovers he is potentially robbed of millions after Sammy did his own "negotiations".  Surely they signed some sort of contract with Mr. Lawyer, he's not doing all of this pro-bono.  He's such a sleazeball that I almost imagine him charge some sort of injury lawyer rate of 33.33%, like the lawyers on tv do.  

[scrb]

Of all the WTFs, Sammy wants to go to Caliphate territory, where they just massacred several gays.

And even if they don't find out he's gay, they'd still have the dictator's idiot American nephew.

Molly giving it up to the smarmy lawyer? Besides bad taste, it's dangerous to act like you're in the West. Women have been prosecuted in places like Dubai for being caught in a hotel room with men who are not their husbands.

Molly and Nusrat both better watch out.

[candall]

Part of why I love this show is that my predictions are seldom right.

 

I expected a big plotline where Sammy's relationship with Abdul eventually got one or both arrested.  No.  Tonight I thought the entire group of men at the memorial service might be attacked or rounded up.  No.  I didn't see Sammy initiating a meeting with Jamal and being able to acquit himself reasonably well, so I started to give him a little credit, but then Pasadena Sammy decides to infiltrate the Caliphate war zone and check out The Resistance.  Pffft.

 

I do relish the idea of Sammy meeting the leader of The Red Hand and it's Daddy Disavowed.

[Ariah]

This was the episode every Al-Fayeed suffered a loss.

 

Jamal - an heir and another piece of sanity.

Ahmed - a son and, partly, his wife.

Samuel - a lover.

Bassam - his friend's daughter and a piece of his soul.

Rami - his integrity.

 

And nobody gained much either.

 

Samira, a disilussioned girl who just wanted to kill and take revenge, no matter how, no matter the cost. Because her dreams were shattered and she couldn't cope with that anymore. She knew her way is bad but she saw no other possibility and in the end her death was pointless and stupid, just like her final actions - to hold hostage a woman-victim and a man who came to help her.

 

Nusrat, a woman who just lost not only a baby but also the right to live. Who will now become a worthless creature, unable to bear children and produce heirs. Her life is now in mortal danger.

 

Leila, an ice-cold queen in lush clothes, trying to be above it all and a bit on the side. Nothing can touch her. Nothing will touch her. She's Lady Macbeth, she'll do what has to be done. And when Jamal is too far gone, she'll probably deal with him as well.

 

Daliyah, who only made it to the 5th grade. A strong, level-headed woman who managed to talk sense into Bassam, calmly explaining that Samira was beyong saving.

 

The women of the series are far stroner then men will ever be, and that's extremely interesting. The men may try to break them, rape them, push them into moulds, but still they manage to fight. In their own way, in their own manner. Sometimes for a wrong cause, sometimes with wrong tools. But they do intend to fight.

 

...and there's Molly.

I do have problem with her. Not because I scorn her for the night with the lawyer, which I don't. But the whole "Bassam family segment" takes away from the main action which is far more interesting to me.

(But still, Molly, wearing a dress with that back to a simple dinner with drinks? It was bound to end the way it did)

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Perhaps Molly and the lawyer simply shared a bed, after deciding not to have sex?

Didn't get post-coitus vibes, nor were they spooning.

[SimoneS]

I just realized why the actor who played the mercenary looked so familiar. He played Stephen on Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. He is a good actor. I hope that he gets to do more together.

 

Sammy was getting 100 million and took the first offer of 10 million and said ok? LOL

 

That was not a first offer. Jamal said that the rest of the money would be released to Sammy eventually, but he had to leave the country and not return. 

Edited July 29, 2015 by SimoneS

[Constantinople]

Is every character on this show from Ma'an except for Barry's family?

 

I don't understand how Barry and Fauzi could be childhood friends if Fauzi is from Ma'an and Barry lived in the capital city (I forget its name, or if we've even been told its name).  Granted, Barry and his family visited Ma'an from time-to-time to talk to (kill/shoot/gas/brutalize) the locals, but Barry's primary residence would have been in the capital city.

 

I suppose Fauzi could be from Ma'an and attended school at a young age in the capital city, but then why did Samira attend school in Ma'an?  At least, I thought she said she went to school there when she was 12 and was part of the champion debate team?  But it seemed as if Fauzi worked out of the capital city and the mother isn't around (dead?), so why send his daughter to school in Ma'an?

 

It just seems unnecessarily convoluted, or people are from Ma'an when it's convenient or both.

 

That said, given that Samira joined the Caliphate, and doesn't give a damn what happens to anyone regardless of their guilt or innocence provided she gets her "revenge", I wasn't exactly broken-up when she died.

[dubbel zout]

Will he and Barry meet?

Could that have been telegraphed any more obviously?

 

Molly and the lawyer are boring. So, so boring. 

 

Sammy was getting 100 million and took the first offer of 10 million and said ok? LOL

That was not a first offer. Jamal said that the rest of the money would be released to Sammy eventually, but he had to leave the country and not return.

 

Sammy should have asked for more up front. Ten million dollars is nothing to sneeze at, but it's only 10 percent of what he's owed, and it's highly unlikely Jamal will release the rest of the money.

 

Poor Nusrat. I don't think she'll be killed—Jamal has too many other things on his plate right now—but I wonder if she'll be forced to divorce Ahmed. Maybe that's where Rami will come in. 

[Mr. Lac]

It was $10 mil up front and the rest after he leaves. Of course, Sammy should have asked for more but I don't blame him for taking what he is offered. It's not like he has any leverage. He now has $10 mil more than he woke up with. Whether he ever sees the rest is anyone's guess but it wasn't guaranteed the courts would rule in his favor anyways.

[MrsRafaelBarba]

Adam Rayner emoted a bit last night, that's a start.

 

First time I saw him show ANY typre of fire/emotion, since the brief scene slapping Sammy last season.

[candall]

I keep thinking about Bassam saying to Amira, "You don't have a cell phone because that's a crime punishable by death" [to the Caliphate.]

 

Whoa! 

 

I've been to some places, like Yemen, where many women were totally covered, including their hands and eyes.  (They get hit by cars pretty regularly because their hearing is muffled and their vision impaired.)  But knocking women all the way back to pre-technology sounds like hitting a new sub-basement.  Would someone like Samira, raised by a progressive journalist father, ever agree to join that kind of regime, no matter how low her flame had flickered?

 

Leila ordering Rami to start the bombing--and not working very hard to conceal the fact that Jamal didn't know--was curious, from the other end of the spectrum.  I think most likely Rami would have respectfully refused and not suffered any consequences.

 

I can't quite pin down how women are viewed in Abuddin Central.  Molly probably was taking a risk sharing a bed with a non-spouse.  In a big American-ish hotel, fairly safe, but that can still get you in trouble even in more progressive Arabic countries.

 

Ah well.  Just last season, I was complaining about Emma going sleeveless.  Ha.  This show's zipping right along on a LOT of issues.

[candall]

I bet Jamal wishes he'd left for that tropical island with his blonde sidepiece.  Instead of smothering her with a pillow.

[slothgirl]

I wonder if this will be a soap plot, where the second Rami and Nusrat get together poof she's pregnant with a who is the daddy?

Can't. The doctor said she had a hysterectomy. Though I suppose she could have an ectopic pregnancy, but  "who's the Daddy?" would be moot, because she wouldn't be able to carry it to term. The only way it would become an issue is if she does have an ectopic pregnancy and Ahmed KNOWS it couldn't be his.

Edited July 29, 2015 by slothgirl

[Jade Foxx]

Oh, the intensity, and melodrama of it all!!

 

Superficial observations:

 

- Would they please tone down Rami's guyliner and exquisite eyelashes a notch or ten? Distracting.

 

- Lelia's fashion choices are usually banging, but what was up with that tent/tassle skirt? That outfit was a don't.

 

- So Sammy (an obvious strange foreigner/American) is just wandering around Abbudin markets and clubs, un-escorted, and being welcomed into the hidden gay community to speak on behalf of his "exotic crush?" DOES NOT COMPUTE.  

 

- I love the scene with African military leader in bed, seemingly uninterested in getting up to help bomb civilians. Like he was there for rest and a vacation! Ha!

 

Episode/Plot:

 

Man, I really liked this one. I felt the intensity.

 

- Nusrat is totally going to kill herself. And might take someone with her.

- Glad Bassam was finally recognized, it was getting a little ridiculous.

- "Nothing like a catastrophe to distract yourself from tragedy" - Jamal. He feels this "awful grace of God" is all his fault. Does he (gasp) HAVE A CONSCIENCE? 

 

 

Molly and the lawyer are boring. So, so boring.

 

When the story switches to Molly and Sammy, I groan. Blah blah, I know they're necessary to the plot. I hate their characters, I hate the actors who play the characters, they're both sub-par and about as interesting as a plain bowl of oatmeal. Gah. 

 

 

Samira's story. Wow. She moved to 3rd place in my ranking of the actors and performances. (behind Ashraf and Moran) That was chilling and desolate.

 

Riveting performance. And to know these atrocities are happening daily, on the other side of the globe - well, it depresses me more to realize this TV show is a fraction of what's really going down. 

 

 

I bet Jamal wishes he'd left for that tropical island with his blonde sidepiece.  Instead of smothering her with a pillow.

 

Ahh, the good old days!

[slothgirl]

The way that Ahmed shut her down when she tried to tell him made me wonder if he knows about her and his father, but I don't think that he does.

 

Poor Abdul. What a horrible death.

 

 

Know what about Nusrat and Jamal? I think we've covered the base on other threads that Jamal Could NOT have been the father from the "are you a virgin?" assault the day of the wedding. While having Ahmed know about that would be an interesting twist, it doesn't change anything about THIS baby and the loss of it.

 

I wonder what the point of tying them to chairs was? Couldn't they just throw people off the roof?

What I'm wondering with regards to the lawyer is if the writers are going to have a subplot where Mr. Lawyer blows a gasket when he discovers he is potentially robbed of millions 

Please, no more subplots, especially melodramatic soap opera'ish ones, involving anyone NOT from Abbudin. We have enough potential for soap opera moments with the Royal family and their various entaglements

Of all the WTFs, Sammy wants to go to Caliphate territory, where they just massacred several gays.

And even if they don't find out he's gay, they'd still have the dictator's idiot American nephew.

I'm not clear on who knows Sammy's identity. I guess they all would have to, since he's an American throwing money around, but is there any advantage to that for them? There's no reason for anyone who takes him hostage to think that the Al Fayeeds will pay a ransom, given that they executed his father and sent him out of the country and haven't exactly welcomed the family back with open arms (don't get me started on how it should have been impossible for Molly and Sammy to re-enter Abudinn in the 1st place).

 

They also can't be certain that the ransom could be paid by Sammy's own inheritance since he hasn't gotten any of it yet.

Edited July 29, 2015 by slothgirl

[SimoneS]

Sammy should have asked for more up front. Ten million dollars is nothing to sneeze at, but it's only 10 percent of what he's owed, and it's highly unlikely Jamal will release the rest of the money.

 

Sammy did as well as he could hope for and correctly understood that would have been unwise to ask for any more money up front. It was not a negotiation because Sammy had no leverage other than Jamal's love and guilt. Sammy was in serious danger when he confronted Jamal who is emotionally unpredictable and doing drugs. He is not being given credit for how courageous it was go to the palace and ask for that money after what Jamal had done. I think that it was a win just getting out of the palace alive or uninjured.

Edited July 29, 2015 by SimoneS

[scrb]

Eyeliner son gets goaded into airstrikes too early and hits the resistance instead of the Caliphate.

 

Brilliant.

[Rhetorica]

That was a hard one. I guess Freud was right, anatomy is destiny... But the women tried to forge their own. Sammy's story was touching. Molly still needs to go. She just stands out in an excellent cast. Did anyone see Nusrat as the sister/wife in Tut? Great job.

[mecmimi05]

I really miss the lush scenes of the first season, I realize they are saving money,but sometimes the sets seem really 2nd class.

Love everything Leila wears, she is beautiful and she is dressed like a queen. Nusrat is also a lovely woman.

Hate Molly, can we please get rid of this vapid, silly woman? I don't understand why this character is written so poorly, and that we are supposed to believe she could be a doctor. It is almost like there are two sets of writers. Unfortunately the "Americans" got the weaker ones.

I hope Barry gets a backbone and can start showing some emotion and action. 

I do enjoy this soap opera and appreciate the fact they try to make the story relevant to what is happening in the middle east right now.

 

[sjohnson]

Barry doesn't need a backbone, he needs to stop being a puppet for American goodness and political perfection, and be a character. 

 

I think if I was going to throw a man off a roof, it would be easier to grab a chair and lift. Grabbing a writhing limb seems awkward and I don't want awkward on the edge of a roof. 

 

As entertaining in a totally operatic, over the top goofball melodrama way as Jamal's antics are, it totally undercuts any serious political drama. 

 

Sammy's storyline could be an entry point to something a little more sane, except he is written with so little care that you can't even tell whether he is supposed to be able to speak Arabic. I thought not, but none of the scenes really make any sense. Not all those people are going to speak English. 

[ganesh]

Sammy is the one with $10 million dollars. Why not say, "if they need my help so bad, they can come and talk to me.?" That was ridiculous.

 

I was surprised Barry killed the girl. I don't think he had a choice though. If the men came back, he'd be in some deep.

 

Molly. Whatever. Seriously, you're in a muslim State. You've got to be way way way careful just *going* into another man's room, let alone be seen kissing in the hall way. Also ridiculous.

 

Still, I liked the episode. I felt really bad when the doctor said "she can't bear any more kids." She knows she's done. I thought when she was in the hospital she looked suicidal. 

[elzin]

Weren't Molly and the lawyer also in some kind of bar drinking what appeared to be alcohol? Isn't that a huge no no in most (all?) Muslim countries? Especially publicly with your head uncovered with a man who is not related to you, nevermind that you're the widow of an allegedly executed traitor?

 

This show was never sunshine and rainbows and lollipops, but this season is even more bleak for me than S1 and it's getting to be too much of a bummer to watch. I'm glad the season is almost over and I'm not sure if I'm going to come back next season.

[Ottis]

Would they please tone down Rami's guyliner and exquisite eyelashes a notch or ten? Distracting.

 

 

Ha, I noted this in the first ep in which he appeared, and every time he shows up I LOL. He looks like Velentino in the silent movies.

 

Still don't know why Rami left a job where he was successful and on his own to be part of the mess that is Abuddin. They needed to explain that better. He's been there 10 minutes and he can already see how screwed up everyone and everything is. If he is as smart as he was presented to be, he would flee, now.

[slothgirl]

Ha, I noted this in the first ep in which he appeared, and every time he shows up I LOL. He looks like Velentino in the silent movies.

He looks like that in every picture I can find of him. I'm thinking that it isn't make-up