PREVIEW: 'Tyrant' Season 3, Episode 5 "A Rock and a Hard Place"

To maintain order in Abuddin, Bassam resorts to more and more tyrannical actions. Get a sneak peek of tonight’s Tyrant (“A Rock and a Hard Place”).

Do you remember how in last week’s Tyrant (“A Prayer for our Daughters“), Daliyah comes to Bassam to offer some comfort and he says that Molly’s grief is too big to allow any space for him to mourn Emma too?

I think that sentiment perfectly captures the episode. From beginning to end, I am consumed with worry for whether Molly will survive. I mean we see her potentially drowning herself in the bathtub to maybe even OD’ing on pills.

I can’t even imagine Molly’s guilt and sadness and anger. Truth be told, I don’t think we, Bassam, Molly, or Sammy will ever get over Emma’s death.

Goodness, to see how the Caliphate just leavesvher naked body among the trash… to hear Al-Qadi’s wife Nafisa speak disdainfully about Emma being murdered… it makes me so upset and angry.

At the same time, the quest for vengeance totally backfires.

General Cogswell and the Abuddinian military believe they had actionable intel on the location of a Caliphate training camp, and they are right. Unfortunately, when they bomb, Sheik Abdullah is using the opportunity to recruit children to his cause.

Of course things get even worse when Ihab Rashid manipulates the situation to promote his anti-Al-Fayeed agenda.

But Ihab isn’t alone in this: as Shiek Al-Qadi announces his candidacy for president, he too lambasts Bassam as the American president fighting America’s war against Islam, with Abuddinian children as causalities.

Leila and Fauzi also announce their plans to run for president.

While Leila relies on an American style campaign (using funding from her sister and bringing in an American consultant), Fauzi speaks from his heart (influenced by his growing relationship with Daliyah).

If you can believe it, there is even more drama!

I continue to worry about Sammy’s sexual relationship with his married professor. Dr. El-Amin seems like he cares about Sammy, but who really knows?

But I think the MAJOR reveal is learning that Bassam is actually Ahmed’s father! Apparently, Jamal was unable to have children (which now calls Rami’s parentage into question).

WHOA. Will Leila tell Bassam the truth too?

In tonight’s episode “A Rock and a Hard Place” (written by Anna Fishko, directed by Deborah Chow) we see that Bassam takes some tyrannical actions in an attempt to maintain order:

Barry bans open prayer following thwarted terror attacks; Al-Qadi speaks out against violence and restriction of religious freedom; and Leila’s relationship with Cogswell intensifies. (via TV Guide)

From the trailer, we see that Molly might be leaving Abuddin. We also see that Leila is extremely suspicious of Bassam’s relationship with Daliyah.

Watch below: