The Dictator's Playbook - Season 1

Season 1
They were ruthless men with unchecked power, ruling their nations with an iron fist. Suppressing dissent, they demanded absolute loyalty, jailing or killing those who opposed them. They ruled by force of personality, but were plagued by secret fears and private demons. They were dictators, tyrants who shaped the 20th century and left their mark on our own.
From Benito Mussolini to Saddam Hussein, Idi Amin to Manuel Noriega, dictators confront us with some fascinating questions. What drove their thirst for domination and control? How did they seize and wield power? What forces rose up against them or resisted them in secret? How did they lose control in the end? A new series from Twin Cities PBS sets out to answer these questions in six immersive hours, each a revealing portrait of brutality and power.
As we meet some of the most ruthless rulers of recent history, we trace their rise and fall - and discover that they traveled a well-worn path. As different as these men were from each other, they followed a series of essential steps, from seizing power to eliminating enemies - an unwritten Dictator's Playbook.
Episodes

Kim Ii Sung
See how Kim Il Sung created a North Korean dictatorship that has lasted for three generations.

Saddam Hussein
Learn how Saddam Hussein seized power in Iraq and maintained it for almost 30 years.

Benito Mussolini
Meet the man who created fascism, an ideology that would plunge all of Europe into darkness.

Manuel Noriega
Watch Manuel Noriega's rise and fall, from his early military days to his dictatorship's sudden end.

Francisco Franco
Learn how Francisco Franco won the Spanish Civil War and became the dictator of Spain.

Idi Amin
See how Idi Amin used military force to achieve power and build his dictatorship in Uganda.
Recently Updated Shows

FBI
FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These first-class agents, including Special Agent Maggie Bell and her partner, Special Agent Omar Adom 'OA' Zidan, bring all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep New York and the country safe.

Gangs of London
Set in the heart of one of the world's most dynamic and multicultural cities, Gangs of London tells the story of city being torn apart by the turbulent power struggles of the international gangs that control it and the sudden power vacuum that's created when the head of London's most powerful crime family is assassinated. For 20 years, Finn Wallace was the most powerful criminal in London. Billions of pounds flowed through his organisation each year. But now he's dead—and nobody knows who ordered the hit. With rivals everywhere, it's up to the impulsive Sean Wallace, with the help of the Dumani family headed by Ed Dumani to take his father's place. if the situation wasn't already dangerous enough, Sean's assumption of power causes ripples in the world of international crime. Perhaps the one man who might be able to help him and be his ally is Elliot Finch, who up until now, has been one of life's losers, a lowlife chancer with a mysterious interest in the Wallace family. But as the wind of fate blows, Elliot finds himself transported to the inner workings of the largest criminal organisation in London.

NCIS
NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) is more than just an action drama. With liberal doses of humor, it's a show that focuses on the sometimes complex and always amusing dynamics of a team forced to work together in high-stress situations. Leroy Jethro Gibbs, a former Marine gunnery sergeant, whose skills as an investigator are unmatched, leads this troupe of colorful personalities. Rounding out the team are Anthony DiNozzo, an ex-homicide detective whose instincts in the field are unparalleled and whose quick wit and humorous take on life make him a team favorite; the youthful and energetic forensic specialist Abby Sciuto, a talented scientist whose sharp mind matches her Goth style and eclectic tastes; Caitlin Todd, an ex-Secret Service Agent; and Timothy McGee, an MIT graduate whose brilliance with computers far overshadows his insecurities in the field; Assisting the team is medical examiner Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard, who knows it all because he's seen it all, and he's not afraid to let you know. From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, these special agents travel the globe to investigate all crimes with Navy or Marine Corps ties.

