I'll be quite honest: Tyrant being renewed for a second season was a huge surprise. Critically, it wasn't a hit (I gave up after about 4 episodes), but most viewers who started it did mostly stick with it, as ratings remained incredibly consistent. It's that consistency that FX is looking to hold onto with the series, which also suffered from early creative conflicts (including Ang Lee leaving the project, followed by the departure of Homeland's Gideon Raff, although Howard Gordon remained) that left it without a clear tone (at least to start). Sometimes it was decidedly lackluster, sometimes it was offensive, sometimes it was soapy, and sometimes its conflicting accents were just confusing. But if FX has faith in it, maybe it's time for the Tyrant lost to find it again.

Judging from the Season 2 trailer, it shouldn't be too hard to pick up. The coup orchestrated by Barry Al-Fayeed (Adam Rayner) against his brother Jamal (Ashraf Barhom) failed, and Barry is now in jail and at his brother's mercy. His American family, though, is still nearby -- at least, his wife Molly (Jennifer Finnigan), who offers her support to Barry, and a reminder that what he's doing matters a great deal to the people of Abbudin.

Can Barry become the leader his brother will never be? Will Tyrant become the better show it should be? You can check out the trailer below and judge for yourself.

Tyrant's second season will run for an expanded 13 episodes, and will premiere Tuesday, June 16th at 10 p.m. on FX.


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Image via FX