A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad.

I caught part of it a day or so ago. I didn’t realise it was a three part documentary and will definitely watch all of it. Like you, I did wonder why a seemingly educated British woman was with him. In the snippet I saw she was addressing some women and seemed very charming.

Very interesting programme. Quite scary too somehow. Just an alien mindset. I'd always thought she was nice but had some pause for thought when I heard that the family had hired 3 PR firms to improve their public image. Assad all happy to get 97% of the vote I the elections where he was the only candidate!
I don't think we'll be going anywhere in the Middle East for our hols any time soon!

I've watched all the episodes. The programme helped me understand how Syria has become the way it is. As someone mentioned on the other thread, the look on Blair's face when he was shafted by Assad said it all. Assad is a two-faced snake hidden behind a meek and mild manner and speaking with a lisp .... and Asma is pretty much the same, seemingly all charm itself on the surface. She was addressing schoolchildren in last night's episode telling them to speak up. Later when they did (and they were still only children), they were horrifically beaten up and imprisoned. Riots in the streets followed, not surprisingly.

The Assad family seem truly terrifying.

I have only watched the first two episodes so far. What I find difficult to accept is that Assad was originally working as a doctor and therefore presumably committed to saving lives. Very disturbing programme and I need to watch the final episode.

One of Assad's medical colleagues who trained with him was shown saying how bizarre it was that Assad was bombing hospitals and doctors and he (the colleague) was trying to put people back together. He couldn't understand him and I don't suppose anyone else can!

We have watched all three episodes and found it very interesting, and it has helped me understand a bit more about how Syria has become the way it is today. We were wondering what he has had to concede to Russia for its involvement in the war .

A very interesting and informative programme. I learnt a lot. A must watch.

I’ve watched 2 episodes so far and found it interesting, disturbing and chilling all at the same time, so much background history that I never knew before. Like you folly22 I found the transition from doctor to despot hard to grasp.

Syria, a country ruled by a Mafia type family.

Very interesting programme. Absolutely awful for all these innocent people in their own country. How can someone who studied medicine, helped give people back their eyesight come to be such a monster. It certainly allowed me to understand better of what went on. Unsure of how his wife fits into all of this too. She also seemed extremely kind and portrayed herself of wanting the very best for her country and it’s people. Such a tragedy. Well done programme makers.

Maybe they genuinely think they are doing the right thing? They seem surrounded by yes men and a cheering parliament. Very disturbing. Poor Syrians with a leading family like that. I suspect that the leaders of the other Arab countries are pretty much the same sort of set up.

It did imply that The Family had a considerable influence on how Assad had to think and was expected to act. It seems to have lead to him becoming a split personality and a sad man being pulled in two (or more) directions. I wonder which one is the real Assad. One thing I couldn’t understand was that Asma dressed in revealing western clothes and made no attempt to cover up at all. Double standards all the way.

A very good series. I may try to watch it again.

What an insight into the mind of a dictator !

I was fascinated by this 3 parter and sadly not shocked by anything we were shown.

Evil b----s aren't they and sadly they are just one family of dictators there are many more of them out there as we are all too familiar with.

Well worth a watch.

I found this to be an extremely sad saga of a young man catapulted into a position that he didn't want and had desperately hoped he would never be pushed into. A saga of a young couple who wanted to modernise Syria, but of course with that appalling family, the armed forces and the legacy of the father, (did you notice fathers portrait in the background of some of the posters?) they simply didn't stand a chance. I thought the look on Bashars face early on clearly indicated that he was not a happy man in the situation he was now having to be in. Suddenly it all changed, he HAD to become like his father come hell or high water and all that that entailed! and he did! Dreadful just dreadful! The look of relief when greeting President Putin - a saviour indeed! I wonder what Putin wants in return?!! A tragedy of Shakespearean proportions, both for Syria and for Bashar the gentle softly spoken eye surgeon, turned monster.

Yes it really is Shakespearean.

Surprised this programme received so few comments. I genuinely thought it was a good documentary, insightful and relevant timewise .

I agree POGS I would have thought that it would have generated a lot of comment. Bit like the thread about the Rohingya people of Burma! that didn't generate much interest either.

nigglynellie
^ I wonder what Putin wants in return^
He's got what he wants. Russia only have i navel base in the Mediterranean ( that's in Syria)
But, that needed to be expanded to accommodate more warships (nuclear)
The deal has been signed.
If only Assad had had the balls to tell his mother "I'm not my father and will do it my way"
But hey, what do you expect from someone with a chin as weak as that. It's almost invisible.

I have only watched the first two so far, and got the impression that Assad would have preferred to remain an eye doctor. I think he had to bow to the family and the army because if he didn’t he would have been overthrown by either or both, and the country would have been in worse hands. Perhaps he thought that as time went on he would be able to change things, but in reality he can’t without being overthrown.
Do you remember a series of programs years ago, called Syrian School? It followed some of the students. At least girls and boys appeared to get the chance of a good education, though that does not help them now.

That's true petra, but none of us can help the way we're born, or our appearance. In the earlier part of the programme I thought he looked deeply troubled, wrong person wrong place, but how could he help that?!
Of course, I'd forgotten about the Naval Base!! That answers my question!

Ive only watched episode one so far but I’ll watch it all, it’s gripping. It is like the Godfather, with the awful father, the younger son who was building a professional career that contributed positively to society, only to find himself head of the dynasty.

Very true, Iam and the wife who tries to stay outside of it all.

Her reasons for staying with him are understandable (third episode so I won't spoil it) but I would love to know how she really feels.

We watched most of it. Unfortunately having trouble getting BBC on i player, so gave up half way through episode 3!!! It is quite fascinating watching the descent of Assad and Syria into a hell-hole. Those poor people.
In my experience, eye doctors have generally poor social skills - obviously not all of them, but the vast majority. They talk to patients over/through an eye examining machine (no idea what it is really called), and so do not have to make eye contact.

I would think being the son of a murdering megalomaniac is more damaging to your social skills than using a slit lamp. He may have not wanted to step into his brother's shoes but they were all brought up to know the score.

Nature and nurture.