Tyrant

:

Season 1
  • Network: FX
  • Series Premiere Date: Jun 24, 2014
Season #: 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 156 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 119 out of 156
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 156
  3. Negative: 22 out of 156
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User Reviews

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  1. cxfoster
    Jun 26, 2014
    3
    An attractive production peopled with poorly written, unpleasant and illogical characters--really just caricatures. There is not a single person portrayed that I want to spend time getting to know better.
  2. nautico
    Jul 23, 2014
    3
    I'm always wary of dramas set in fictional countries ruled by rough talking men dressed in gaudy uniforms, and this one quickly lived down to my low expectations. The lead actor has all the personality of a piece of lox, and those who are arrayed against him are cartoonish in their personae. Then there's the US diplomat, John Tucker, who presumably represents the American position in thisI'm always wary of dramas set in fictional countries ruled by rough talking men dressed in gaudy uniforms, and this one quickly lived down to my low expectations. The lead actor has all the personality of a piece of lox, and those who are arrayed against him are cartoonish in their personae. Then there's the US diplomat, John Tucker, who presumably represents the American position in this festering bogus nation, and yet we are really given no idea as to what that position is. And does the guy have an office? Where's the American Embassy, and does anyone else work there?… Expand
  3. tynell
    Jul 15, 2014
    2
    Silly. That's the best way I can summarize this. The (very artistic) trailers seemed promising and got me interested, but the first episode - especially the second half of it – left me really disappointed. The feel from the trailers was nowhere to be found and without giving spoilers, I felt the story/characters did not make any sense and didn't feel believable at all.
  4. TheMetacritiqer
    Jul 15, 2014
    1
    Beware of Tyrant! The most horrible thing about this show is how offensive it is to Middle Easterns and women. It's just too inappropriate to be entertaining or taken seriously. The plot is lifeless and so is the dialogue and characters. Tryant doesn't deserve a second season or a chance to be viewed by millions of Americans.
  5. Lipthem
    Jul 11, 2014
    0
    I'm a huge fan of FX shows, but Tyrant is terrible. Only got as far as the first episode, but couldn't possibly watch any more. Characters are cliched stereotypes, narrative is uninformed and lacks any subtlety. If you're going to delve into the complex world of Middle East politics, or simply explore the workings autocratic regimes, put some thought into it.
  6. brentwshelton1
    Jun 27, 2014
    0
    Huge disappointment. FX has such great shows: American Horror Story, The Americans, and Fargo I love. this show is just a clunky assortment of silly stereotypes. the brutal dictator, the oppressed people, the freedom fighting journalist, the bullying and spoiled first son, and lets not forget, most important, the 2nd son who has lived in America, and embraced American ideals whoHuge disappointment. FX has such great shows: American Horror Story, The Americans, and Fargo I love. this show is just a clunky assortment of silly stereotypes. the brutal dictator, the oppressed people, the freedom fighting journalist, the bullying and spoiled first son, and lets not forget, most important, the 2nd son who has lived in America, and embraced American ideals who returns to set things right by just being himself. Yuck. Boring and trivial and insulting. As an aside, why (???) do all these Middle East citizens speak English when alone and not Arabic? Not even when the dictator is addressing his people. Silly and unrealistic. Boring, predictable, and tired show that deserves an early cancellation.… Expand
  7. cherylncohn
    Jun 28, 2014
    0
    How could the Dr.'s family be so ignorant about the middle east? Do they not watch the news or read a paper, or for heaven's sake get their news on line. I won't be watching!
  8. podaddy
    Apr 2, 2015
    0
    Glad i held off on reviewing right away. Had I based my review upon the pilot, I would have foolishly fallen in the 8-9 range, but 7 episodes in, the two leads, the brothers, have proven to be incredibly awful characters, as well as actors. The American doctor is just awful, maybe it's the dreadful writing and not him, but his character, probably the most interesting at the show's start,Glad i held off on reviewing right away. Had I based my review upon the pilot, I would have foolishly fallen in the 8-9 range, but 7 episodes in, the two leads, the brothers, have proven to be incredibly awful characters, as well as actors. The American doctor is just awful, maybe it's the dreadful writing and not him, but his character, probably the most interesting at the show's start, has hit rock bottom. The stereotypes that were employed to depict the Tyrant brother were obvious from the start, but the character has grown tired and laughable. And really, the wife of the American doctor, who also happens to be a doctor, is plain ridiculous. They've built up the ruling dictator, the father, to be the equivalent of Sadaam Hussein and she thinks it would be just swell to visit and even better to take the kids along and stay for an indefinite amount of time! Did she not watch CNN or google the Evil Dictator father prior to going there? What mother would want to place her children in such danger? What a joke....completely insulting to it's viewing audience. Maybe they can right some wrongs and make Tyrant interesting, but it seems an impossible task from this vantage point. I've honestly never seen a show start with as much promise get this bad, this quickly. For those looking for an interesting Middle Eastern drama Sundance's "An Honorable Women" looks to be the real deal, something the creators of Tyrant seem incapable of accomplishing… Expand
  9. mac5
    Aug 11, 2014
    3
    It could be so interesting given the production value. However, I feel it would be more relevant if there were more focus on the political struggle on the Middle Eastern inhabitants and less on Barry/Bassam simply awful family. The wife is so annoying with her repetitive ‘are you ok’ on constant loop and their god awful children portrayed as the most selfish inane useless parodies of theIt could be so interesting given the production value. However, I feel it would be more relevant if there were more focus on the political struggle on the Middle Eastern inhabitants and less on Barry/Bassam simply awful family. The wife is so annoying with her repetitive ‘are you ok’ on constant loop and their god awful children portrayed as the most selfish inane useless parodies of the worst teenage stereotype. I feel it’s cheap, tacky and tasteless and its visuals are way too clean and polished considering the abject violence. It is verging on the patronising, spoon feeding every scene with a flashback to remind the viewer of their viewpoint. Personally I find it a tad vulgar.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

34
#34 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
21
#21 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 14 out of 33
  3. Negative: 5 out of 33
  1. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Jun 30, 2014
    67
    It’s brutal, violent and graphic. And it’s a story we’ve seen before.
    Read full review
  2. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Andrew Romano
    Jun 25, 2014
    40
    The case [ordon and Raff] make on Tyrant isn't particularly convincing, or even all that entertaining. The details are too generic. The conflicts are too simplistic. Abbudin is too unreal.
    Read full review
  3. Zap2it (Inside the Box)
    Reviewed by: Terri Schwartz
    Jun 24, 2014
    50
    The new FX drama from "Homeland" and "24" executive producer Howard Gordon balances family with politics in a show that constantly questions what the right choice is when torn between the two, but oftentimes finds itself bogged down in soap opera-style drama that distracts from the greater, more ambitious story that it's trying to tell.
    Read full review
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