Libyan, not Syrians, though both would have worked for how the plot was changed for TV: developing countries with dictatorship where the West encouraged rebellion then walked or away (worse in Libya: overthrew the government, then left). But if your friend watched the end, he might have heard the OB character admit the real villains sometimes were Western intelligence agencies that got too caught up in the Cold War to think about long-term consequences or blow-back. As you say, Herron gives everybody a turn as the bad guy. Far & away my favorite spy thriller since Le Carré, the books & the show. The changes in the latter have all been defensible IMHO, even casting a jacked Roddy Ho! 😄
Libyan, not Syrians, though both would have worked for how the plot was changed for TV: developing countries with dictatorship where the West encouraged rebellion then walked or away (worse in Libya: overthrew the government, then left). But if your friend watched the end, he might have heard the OB character admit the real villains sometimes were Western intelligence agencies that got too caught up in the Cold War to think about long-term consequences or blow-back. As you say, Herron gives everybody a turn as the bad guy. Far & away my favorite spy thriller since Le Carré, the books & the show. The changes in the latter have all been defensible IMHO, even casting a jacked Roddy Ho! 😄