HOMELAND Brings Back "Anxiety" In a Good Way

Article originally published as HOMELAND Review "Separation Anxiety" on Seat42F.

Sebastian Koch as During and Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland (Season 5, Episode 01). - Stephan Rabold/SHOWTIME

Showtime’s HOMELAND returns tonight for a fifth season with the installment “Separation Anxiety.” After an amazing freshman run that kept the audience guessing about the motivations of one of the show’s two leads, seasons two and three faltered as it kept the same pair of main characters without a story nearly so compelling to back it up. So if you’re one of those fans who jumped ship, you may be asking yourself, should I even care that the show is still on? The answer is yes.

Season four reset the game, reinventing HOMELAND as a one-woman show, with a couple of very good male supporting characters. The trio got into some very heavy things in the fourth year, and the formula diverged from the typical television one in that (SEASON FOUR SPOILER) they didn’t win the day. Not even close.

So as “Separation Anxiety” begins, two years later, these people are in a different place than we’ve ever seen them. Unlike the early days of the show in which our characters kept going after one man, season five finds them moving on, albeit in different ways. This makes the drama much more grounded and realistic, knowing that the world keeps turning, they don’t always get their man, there will be other terrors, and maybe some people don’t want to keep playing a game they’re sick of losing. The psychology behind what each of the trio have chosen to do during the hiatus is fascinating.

As has been publicized, Carrie (Claire Danes) is happier than she’s ever been. Living with an American lawyer, Jonas Happich (Alexander Fehling, Inglourious Basterds), in Germany, raising her daughter, on her meds, Carrie has found peace. She has left the CIA behind and now works security for a private organization, conveniently the same one Jonas is employed by, whose billionaire head, Otto During (Sebastian Koch, The Lives of Others), does good in the world. It is great.

Of course, HOMELAND would not allow such bliss to remain for long. “Separation Anxiety” opens with a CIA crisis in Germany, one in which Saul (Mandy Patinkin) has to come to town for. This year’s emergency is timely and poignant. It deals with hacking and data breaches and rights of the press and homegrown terrorism recruiting and off-the-book-assassinations and government conspiracies. Yes, all of the elements are present in a single event that occurs in a single episode.

I think this shows the way forward for HOMELAND. While some may want it to end, it doesn’t have to if it’s going to be an intelligent look at current events with something to say. Its characters are complex and the writers show the different sides. The world portrayed is both very big and very small. Season five is its own thing, but it doesn’t forget what came before it. I can see a number of more years using this same approach in different ways and being very successful, as season five already seems poised to be.

Now, Carrie isn’t drawn back in immediately, nor should she be, given where she is. I hate when shows artificially stretch things out, and then quickly revert to the status quo, but I don’t think that’s what’s happening here. From the tension between Saul and Carrie, who are not talking, to the new Berlin station chief played by Allison Carr (Miranda Otto, Rake, The Lord of the Rings), to a righteous, naïve rebel (Sarah Sokolovic, Cold Comes the Night), there are enough new pieces to the show that don’t point to a reversion. There are also returning characters like Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham) and Astrid (Nina Hoss) whose roles aren’t yet defined. Carrie will get involved, but she isn’t just going to jump back in under Saul on an operation, nor did she do that last year.

And what of Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend), who along with Carrie and Saul is one of the three current leads of HOMELAND? Well, let’s just say where he’s been is very interesting, revealing something really deep and dark about his character, and where he ends up at the end of the episode in an arrangement with Saul is both surprising and suspenseful.

I’m telling you, despite some bumps in the road in seasons two and three, HOMELAND is a show you don’t want to miss once more. Watch it Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

HOMELAND - THE COMPLETE FOURTH SEASON Review

Article originally published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season’ on Blogcritics.

Season four was a chance to start over for Showtime’s Homeland. With Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), one of the leads of the first few seasons, and his family and friends dropped from the cast, the show was allowed to refocus on Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and the activities of the CIA. For a series whose quality was beginning to suffer, being able to hit the reset button reinvigorated the storytelling and the characters. And while this fourth year didn’t quite hit the highs of the first (though I don’t expect Homeland to ever match that outstanding freshman run), it did outshine the past two years and make itself good again. This pivotal batch of installments, The Complete Fourth Season, is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.

Carrie herself, the core of the show, does not change much in season four. She’s still a mess, pursuing her righteous cause while ticking off authority. She really pushes the boundaries of what viewers will be able to overlook and still like her. She still doesn’t follow the rules, and while she does get the job done, the ends don’t always justify the means.

Take, for instance, the new character this year of Ayaan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma, who played the title character in Life of Pi), a young Middle Eastern man whose family and friends are killed in a drone strike in the season opener. Carrie approaches him and does what she feels she must to win him over, which crosses a line most people would not cross. In her new position as station chief in Pakistan, she can’t be doing that. She must set a good example.

Of course, Carrie is not alone, and Homeland once more builds an interesting tapestry, rather than just putting one person front and center. The aforementioned Ayaan is a complex, layered character, giving a personal face to the ‘other side.’ Because his frame of reference is so far removed from most viewers, he ends up being an unpredictable story, one hitting home in a time when the morality of drone strikes is hotly debated. Quinn (Rupert Friend) has a parallel storyline as Ayaan’s, but from the American perspective. Senator Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts, playwright of August: Osage County) is a new obstacle, the (necessary) stereotype that wants to sweep mistakes under the rug. Carrie’s sister, Maggie (Amy Hargreaves) becomes more vital to the story because she is now raising Carrie and Brody’s baby.

Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is second in importance only to Carrie, and more beloved. His journey through The Complete Fourth Season is even more gripping than hers. On the outside now, trying to settle down with his wife, Mira (Sarita Choudhury), one might think Saul is done with the crazy life of the CIA. That person would be wrong, of course, and it doesn’t take him, always restless, long to get drawn into the same events that Carrie is involved with. This plot contrivance may be a bit of a stretch, but it doesn’t feel like it the way Homeland does it, and fans want to see Carrie and Saul together, anyway.

In short, I do think The Complete Fourth Season is probably the second best year of the show so far, and certainly makes me look forward to the fifth season, premiering in October.

If you’re going to watch Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season, I have to recommend going Blu-ray. The Middle Eastern setting often brings our characters outside, and high definition gives depth to the shadows and allows greater detail in the unforgiving light. During the bloody action scenes, the sound is well mixed, and if you have surround sound (these discs are 5.1) and a big enough television, it can feel like you’re right in the muck with our heroes.

The special features are a little lighter than I’d like this year. We get some deleted scenes and character profiles on Quinn, Khan (Raza Jaffrey), and Sherazi (Nazanin Boniadi), as well as three “Script to Screen” featurettes. And that’s it. I really wish for some discussion about the new direction, comparisons to real life conflict, and a look at how Carrie has developed. Instead, what we get is pretty much fluff filler, and that’s disappointing. The latter does deal a bit with writing and production, but not enough.

Still, the story is good, and Homeland remains an enjoyable program.

Homeland – The Complete Fourth Season is available now.

HOMELAND Tries to Be "Queen" Again

Article first published as TV Review: 'Homeland' Season Four Premiere on Blogcritics.

Showtime’s Homeland has returned! The drama, which premiered to all kinds of critical love and adoration a few years back, has struggled to maintain both the attention and quality as time has gone on. To combat this malady (I assume), at the close of season three last year, the show basically hit the reset button. It killed one of its two central leads, Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), a character that was only supposed to stick around for one season, and dropped his family and friends from the cast, too. Now, fans finally get the chance to see what the new Homeland looks like in the two-part season opener, “The Drone Queen” and “Trylon and Perisphere,” premiering this week.

To be honest, the new Homeland looks much the same as the old, except with fresh stories and players, which reinvigorates it a bit. Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is still the mess at the center, ticking off authority while pursuing a righteous cause. Saul Berenson (Mandy Pantinkin) offers Carrie some sound advice, but has trouble keeping his life on track, which includes not giving his wife, Mira (Sarita Choudhury), enough consideration. There are terrorists and political issues and unconsidered actions and bombings and death. It’s pretty solid.

As “The Drone Queen” opens, Carrie is now a station chief in Pakistan, an interesting setting relevant to the larger story. This is only temporary, though, as it must be, considering that not only are most of the other characters back in the United States, but so is Brody’s baby that Carrie gave birth to, whom she’s foisted off on her sister, Maggie (Amy Hargreaves). We know Carrie should be stepping up and taking responsibility for the baby, but she is soon distracted by a conspiracy behind the death of a colleague, and as viewers know, Carrie will pursue leads on this issue doggedly, even while neglecting everything else in her life, infant included.

Saul has his own issues to deal with, though he takes the time to talk briefly to Carrie when they bump into one another. The pair had not kept in contact in the interim, an unfortunate turn of events. Saul isn’t taking well to the private sector and seems to chomp at the bit when working with the government again, even though not officially working for them. The problem is, going back to the feds would mean moving out of New York, and Saul promises Mira he will give the city and his new position a chance. Can he keep his promise, or is this new life just at odds with who Saul is?

Equally compelling, if not more so, is new character Ayaan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma, who played the title character in Life of Pi), a young Middle Eastern man who seems poised to join Carrie as this season’s focus, though not listed on the show’s website as a main character. We meet Ayaan immediately after his family and friends are killed in a drone strike. While he agrees to release a video of the attack, he doesn’t initially demand blood for blood, being a reasoned individual, and many of his peers disapprove of this stance.

Ayaan is important because he not only gives a face to the other side of this story, but also is a very complex character. Not everyone in the Middle East hates America, but Homeland drives home the danger of drone strikes, a current hot-button political issue, and Ayaan’s story makes it personal. We see how things can go wrong, and the effect this has on people. We see, too, that not everyone is blinded by emotion, but it’s a struggle to go against the grain, especially under these circumstances. Ayaan is a chance to explore the debate from a new perspective, and I welcome it, certainly the strongest element of the season four opener.

Interestingly, Quinn’s (Rupert Friend) arc this season sort of parallels Ayaan’s, from an American position. He, too, is bothered by the drone strikes and the fallout from them, painting a stark contrast to Carrie’s coldness. I’m not sure what change Quinn may be able to affect, especially with the new CIA boss, Senator Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts, yes the same Letts who won a Tony and a Pulitzer for writing the play August: Osage County, which he later adapted into a movie), wanting to sweep any mistakes under the rug.

The title “The Drone Queen” is obvious, but what does the second hour’s moniker, “Trylon and Perisphere,” mean? The name refers to two buildings at the center of the 1939 New York World’s Fair, which inspired hope and thoughts of progress, but are no longer standing. Giving meaning to this title requires a bit of contortion, and I’m not exactly sure what the series has in mind here. If you think you know, please feel free to explain in the comments below.

Some random thoughts on guest characters in this premiere: Corey Stoll’s (House of Cards, The Strain) role is way too small for such a great actor, and it’s regrettable it won’t grow any larger, though he is a busy man. James Rebhorn, who sadly died last year, has not been written off the show, his character, Carrie’s father, is merely mentioned to be out of the room during a scene. Is killing his character off being saved for an emotional impact at a critical juncture, or will the show continue to skirt around it?

I do think season four of Homeland has the potential to be the best since the show’s first. What that will depend on is how long Ayaan is kept interesting and evolving and how unsympathetic Carrie is allowed to grow. It will also matter if the less-important subplots drag in the middle or steal too much focus, as sometimes happens on the series. The jury is out,  but there are promising signs.

Homeland airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime.

"Down" in the HOMELAND

Article first published as HOMELAND Review Season 3 on Seat42F.

Showtime’s HOMELAND returns with the season three premiere “Tin Man Is Down.” It’s not just the Tin Man, whoever he may be, that is down, though. Two months after the events of last spring’s shocking finale, all of our main characters are struggling. Let’s just hope they can rise back up again before too long.

I am going to write in vague generalizations to avoid spoilers. Still, if you’d rather not know anything, bookmark this article and check back after the episode airs.

The CIA is facing a serious inquiry, with Congress hauling Carrie (Claire Danes), Saul (Mandy Patinkin), and others before them. This is something easy enough to see coming, as someone must answer for such a glaring gap in national security that allowed an attack to kill over two hundred people, including agents and leadership. Let’s just say that those running the panel, especially Senator Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts, Killer Joe), will not be stopping with their investigation until they get restitution for the American people.

What would make up for the attack to the public? Finding out who is to blame for not stopping it and seeing their lives ruined? The CIA suffered the worst of the blows, losing men, property, and face. It’s not quite understood why Lockhart and his colleague want to make someone else pay more, but they definitely are angry and are letting that anger out.

The question is, how will this showdown between Congress and the clandestine agency end? Can Saul protect the organization he is now running, as we saw in last year’s season finale? Can he shield the individuals who bear some of the responsibility? Will he be able to control the flow of information so that he has influence over the end result?

Saul is a great character, with a strong moral compass and oodles of intelligence. But “Tin Man Is Down” does not make things easy for him, as information gets to Congress that he’d rather keep from them. I won’t tell you what the information is or if Saul manages to figure out where the leak is coming from, but this is definitely some great drama for him to deal with, while also trying to find the terrorists responsible for the mess in the first place. Plus, we get to see him interact with both Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham) and Mira (Sarita Choudhury), two relationships that are intriguing.

Not that “Tin Man Is Down” is all conversations and slow burn. There is some movement on the action front, too, especially involving Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend, now a series regular).  But that’s all I can say at this time, not wanting to give anything away, since Quinn’s is such a gripping subplot. I think we’re going to get some terrific stuff for him this season.

Carrie also has her own issues, both from the hearing and on another front. Let’s just say that she thinks she has it together, but does she ever really? It’s not exactly clear what Carrie is up to these days right away, however she still has some hanging threads left from the Brody (Damian Lewis) incident, and that will surely get resolution sooner rather than later.

As the discerning viewer may have predicted, the Brody family bears a horrendous fall out from their patriarch’s actions. We’re talking dark trouble on a couple of different fronts. It’s got to be incredibly hard to cope with learning one’s husband or father is a terrorist, or at least the media is reporting that he is one. Each member of the clan reacts in a different way.

“Tin Man Is Down” gives most of its Brody family focus to Dana (Morgan Saylor). Considering the conversation she has with her father last year, not too long before the bomb goes off, she feels particularly betrayed, and perhaps goes to the most extreme measures. I don’t know that the path she’s going down will be an improvement over her story arc last year, which fans either loved or hated, mostly the latter, but HOMELAND is definitely resolved to keep giving the young girl screen time, for better or for worse.

Jessica (Morena Baccarin) is perhaps less affected because she already has a rocky relationship with Brody throughout seasons one and two. She doesn’t view him through the hero googles that her children do or did. She’s also a strong survivor, though, having gotten through believing Brody was dead prior to the show’s start, and she’ll overcome the challenges she faces now. Perhaps her season three plot will center on her being the single mother who can support her family, stepping up even more when she must.

There are multiple main characters who do not appear in “Tin Man Is Down,” though I won’t get into which ones. This is a set up episode that does not give us everything we’ve been waiting for, but does get a lot of things going again.

Suffice it to say, HOMELAND remains a big-picture show, continuing the stories of last year while also telling new ones, but never at a quick pace. When season two began, I wondered if the show had lost something, not seeing right away how it could continue past the amazing stuff from the first year. I feel the same this fall, not sold on where the writing is going yet, but if last year is any indication, that will probably change relatively early in the run. There are some interesting things in this installment, but there is also a lot left unexplained and not going well. Whether it can take off and soar remains to be seen, but my guess is that it probably will.

HOMELAND returns Sunday, September 29^th on Showtime.

Homeland makes "The Choice"

Homeland -"The Choice"
Grade: 99%

Showtime's Homeland handled their second season finale, "The Choice," which aired last Sunday, in a very unexpected way. The action of the season completes in the penultimate installment, giving lots of time for characters-driven moments in the final episode. Until the big shocker rocks everything, and reignites the intensity.

Homeland is about terrorism, yes, but it's even more about the characters, and their relationships with one another. Obviously, a driving dynamic of the show is the one between Carrie (Claire Danes) and Brody (Damian Lewis). They have flitted around each other since day one, alternating between enemy and lover. As season two draws to a close, though, they are ready to admit their love and commit to a long-term relationship, with Carrie even willing to give up a promotion to be with him.

Is this professionally inappropriate? Absolutely. Is their relationships dysfunction? That's an understatement. But they have seen each other at their worst, or at least are aware of the flaws, and they still want to be together. Carrie understands that the reason Brody almost becomes a terrorist. Brody knows about Carrie's mental illness. Neither is perfect, but both want to be happy. And they can be themselves together, which is a huge check in the plus column.

Do they have a chance of making it work? I think so. Brody's marriage to Jessica (Morena Baccarin) is over because he came home a different man, and the bond between them has been broken. Trust is gone, and he can no longer relate to her as he once did. The same issues won't arise with Carrie, so barring anything completely unexpected and soul-altering (again), Brody's next gal may be the one for him for the foreseeable future.

Except, Carrie doesn't realize that Brody murdered Vice President Walden (Jamey Sheridan). It isn't an act likely to come to light, and most viewers will probably find Brody's actions forgivable and understandable, given Walden's sleazy nature. But should this ever be known to the public, it could pose a major stumbling block between Carrie and Brody, if Carrie thinks he has crossed a line.

It's interesting that Brody goes to Mike (Diego Klattenhoff) in "The Choice" and basically tells Mike that he can have Brody's family. There are a lot of reasons that go into this, but I think it isn't just a selfish out so that Brody can be with Carrie. In fact, it's a bit selfless. Brody has demonstrated that he cares about his kids very deeply, and by sending them Mike, who was already taking care of the clan before Brody comes home, he knows that Jessica and their children will be in good hands.

Of course, one assumes that Brody still expects to be involved where the kids are concerned, and the events at the end of "The Choice" make that pretty difficult. But we'll get to that in a minute.

Brody has a different and unique relationship with each of his kids. He seems more open about his affection for Chris (Jackson Pace), but he does want to stay good with Dana (Morgan Saylor), too. I think Dana scares Brody just a bit because she challenges him, she's intelligent, and she doesn't take things at face value. She is the one that learns some of Brody's secrets.

I hope that, even at the conclusion of "The Choice," Dana can continue to see her father for who he is, and put the pieces together. She could definitely be his window back to the world. Which could complicate things with Carrie, dividing Brody's attention.

Continuing to speak of relationships, while Brody has a family, the closest person in Carrie's life to her is Saul (Mandy Patinkin). Yes, her dad and sister are around, but we don't see them much. Saul is a father figure, but like Brody's love ones, doesn't quite know Carrie as well as he thinks he is. Saul is very upset with her when he learns she plans to put Brody ahead of her career. But this is a typical parent reaction; Carrie and Saul aren't equals, and his concerns come from a place of love. Which means, no matter how much he may disagree with the choices Carrie makes, they probably still have a good connection, and he will continue to watch out for her.

So a little over two-thirds of the way through "The Choice," everyone is on the right path, and a happy ending is in sight. We even see Abu Nazir's (Navid Negahban) body thrown into the ocean, leaving no doubt that the terrorist is dead.

The thing is, though, terrorism is not about one person. Sure, there is a face to many organizations, but the mission of the group is driven by a passion and surety of belief. Nazir recruits others who feel as he does, and just because Nazir is taken out doesn't mean that one of his followers isn't prepared to step in and take his place. Which is why Brody's car is used as a bomb to kill hundreds at Walden's funeral.

The difference between Brody's car bomb and the rest of Homeland's action thus far i,s there is little doubt this time that Brody is innocent. He already got his revenge on Walden, and while most of those killed are CIA, and so not "innocent civilians" in his eyes, it seems pretty clear that Brody is well past the point of attempting something like this. Maybe this is naive, taking his surprise at face value, and trusting Carrie's judgment of him (she is usually right), but I don't think so. I really don't think Brody did this. Though I concede that I, like most people, are almost always one twist away from being proven wrong.

The genius of the "The Choice" is that is fairly neatly ties up a number of arcs, but also sets up the action to continue threads already begun. The characters have theorized about a CIA mole before. Now, it looks like there definitely is one, and the mole's choice to use Brody as a scapegoat keeps all of the main characters involved in the drama.

I love 24 dearly, but Homeland is the next step in the evolution of that show's story and themes, making it a more intelligent version. 24 rebooted constantly; Homeland realized a full reboot isn't quite so necessary.

Carrie's decision not to run away with Brody is a sad one. She has good reason, intent on clearing his name, something she can do much more effectively working on the inside. It may be hard to convince Saul believe her this time, but he's a lot more sympathetic to Carrie that David Estes (David Harewood), who died in the blast, would be. Plus, Saul knows he doesn't listen to Carrie at his own risk, because her instincts are sharp. The seeds are sown for a very interesting plot here.

One last musing about "The Choice:" I absolutely loved the scene where Quinn (Rupert Friend) threatens David Estes. Quinn has been a fascinating character this season, and I really, really hope he returns full-time next year. Whether he goes on the hunt for Brody, or the mole, or both, he lends a driving force to the series that works incredibly well. Plus, he has issues himself that have not been explored. He seems like a character who should be there to stay, enriching the world, giving Carrie a friend and peer, and possibly even a second love interest, should Brody stay away too long, or be painted too dark for Carrie's taste.

So many good moments, and nary a single complaint that I can think of. "The Choice" is an amazing piece of television, and a real shining example of what a smart series can be, and can do. Awesome work.

Homeland has been renewed for a third season and will return to Showtime next fall.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

Homeland hooks you with "The Smile"

Grade: 85%

Showtime’s HOMELAND begins its sophomore season with “The Smile.” Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is in Beirut trying to make contact with an important woman who can give the U.S. information about an impending attack. Unfortunately, she doesn’t want to talk to Saul. The only American this lady trusts is Carrie (Claire Danes), who is in no shape mentally to return to spy work. But Carrie does anyway.

HOMELAND stunned viewers in its first season, presenting an intricate, complex mystery. Carrie is a bi-polar woman straddling the edge of insanity and genius. She could see things others could not see, but her dogged efforts came at a price. She did save the world, but it left her strung out and wasted. After hospitalization and some meds, she is finally finding peace. Is she really ready to go back to this world?

No, she is not. That is the frustrating part of “The Smile.” Here we see a familiar, beloved character finally getting a bit of happiness, and she willingly and knowingly puts herself in a position to destroy that. Worse is Saul, who knows full well what bringing Carrie back into the field will do, and yet he asks for her anyway. This is a disaster waiting to happen, one that is totally preventable, and will hurt main characters that we don’t want to see hurt. Which means the series already starts off the second season on the wrong foot.

The thing is, Saul and Carrie’s decisions are completely rational. Saul has to weigh the mental health of a woman he cares deeply about against the lives at stake. He doesn’t want to cause Carrie more harm, but if it stops a terrorist plot, he has to. HOMELAND doesn’t let the weight of this decision play heavily enough in the episode for Saul, but it does provide a justifiable motivation for anyone who stops and thinks about it.

Carrie can’t help herself, so her choice to go to the Middle East is even more understandable. She has a personality that cannot just walk away when she senses a crisis. She will probably go down swinging one day, refusing to give up, even as she knows it is destroying her. It’s a bad recipe, and one that I am not anxious to see play out.

Which is why I didn’t love “The Smile.” It left me with a feeling on intense displeasure. How can Saul and Carrie do this? Surely, there are other ways to get the information for the CIA. Why set up something so bad for the characters?

Brody’s (Damian Lewis) story is a little less annoying. He is being offered the chance to run for Vice President. Though he tells his wife, Jessica (Morena Baccarin), that he doesn’t stand a chance, it’s easy to see that Brody himself doesn’t believe such nonsense. Whether he is a bit drunk on power, or the prospect of power, or if he is just foolhardy, isn’t clear. What is obvious in the episode is that Brody plans to get into higher office.

What will Brody do with his position? Will he help the American people, or will be betray his country for Abu Nazir (Navid Negahban)? The terrorist leader sends someone to remind Brody of his commitments. These are promises Brody did not make lightly, even if he seems to be regretting them now that he is back in the comfort of home. What will Nazir do if Brody refuses to follow through? One thing is certain. Nazir will not let Brody maintain his comfortable life.

Even though Brody is in just as precarious a position as Carrie, one in which his satisfaction with life won’t last, it’s harder to feel sorry for him. He may have a mental illness, too, having sympathy for his captors. However, he seems to have the chance to break away, and he’s continued to make bad decisions. He can fight to save people over there by scaling back the drone strikes and still be patriotic, but this isn’t the way he is portrayed. Brody carries a bit more responsibility than Carrie for the position he is in.

Lastly, there is a subplot about Brody’s daughter, Dana (Morgan Saylor), telling her classmates that Brody is a Muslim. This could be the seed of a neat plot where a war hero openly runs for president as a member of an alternate religion, and tolerance is battled for. However, because Brody is one of those bad Muslims who might kill innocents, it kind of falls a little flat. Instead, it’s a bit about continuing to trick his family, rather than an uplifting, inspiring turn of events.

HOMELAND’s first season was good for a lot of reasons. It kept you guessing who the characters were, what their purposes and beliefs were, and what would happen next. These elements do not feel as blatantly present in “The Smile.” Maybe it will just take time to get back into the world. Or maybe HOMELAND would have worked better as a miniseries, with a defined beginning and ending, rather than trying to drag something out that becomes a bit staler the longer it is continued. Either way, while still entertaining, “The Smile” did not live up to the greatness of season one. Only time will tell if this is a trend for the season, or just a fluke.

"Marine One" threatens Homeland

     Turns out "Marine One" can refer to a person as well as a helicopter. In the hour and a half long first season finale of Showtime's Homeland, Brody (Damian Lewis) and Tom (Chris Chalk) carry out Abu Nazir's (Navid Negahban) plan. But there's a hitch. Brody's suicide vest malfunctions. And Carrie (Claire Danes), despite being drummed out of the CIA while off her meds, figures out what is really going on. Carrie gets Brody's daughter, Dana (Morgan Saylor) to call her dad, talking him out of blowing up a number of high ranking government officials. Except, neither Dana nor Carrie ever learn for sure if Brody is a terrorist, and he lives on to plot another day.

     With all of the twists and turns in Homeland's freshman year, expectations are high for "Marine One." The writers make the bold decision to reveal to the viewers that Brody is, in fact, working for the enemy. But they also let Lewis play the character close enough to the vest, with real signs of affection for his family, to keep everyone guessing what he might do. Sure, Brody swears to Nazir that he is loyal, and kills crazy Tom to do it. But Brody could easily justify Tom's murder as protecting himself and his family. And considering how he backs down before blowing up everyone, perhaps he won't stand tall for Nazir in the future, either. So while much is now known about Brody, what he will do remains as murky as ever.

     Which is pretty unfortunate for the CIA and the US of A, as only Carrie has the knowledge to put everything together. Right as she is about to undergo shock therapy, a side effect of which is short term memory loss, though it's usually temporary, she realizes why Brody might be motivated to act on Nazir's behalf. That knowledge is probably lost, for now. How long before she can remember it? And how can she stop Brody without any government resources and still maintaining the promise she made to stay away from Brody and his family, which, if she breaks it, will likely result in Brody having her arrested, blowing any slim credibility she has left? Not to mention, her consent to mess with her brain could damage her greatest weapon. Only Carrie's sister, Maggie (Amy Hargreaves), overhears Carrie's mumbling (and assorted medical staff, who don't count), but does Maggie have the knowledge of foresight to attribute anything legitimate to the words?

      Carrie's best bet will continue to be Saul (Mandy Patinkin). A genius in his own right, he stands by Carrie as a personal friend, even as she undergoes "treatment" for her condition. He also knows Carrie is right on a lot of things, including Nazir, so despite doubting her before, he may be inclined to look more closely at Brody if Carrie insists on it. The real question is, will he be in a position to do so? He now knows about the cover up perpetrated by David (David Harewood) and Vice President Walden (Jamey Sheridan), but can he use that information to make a change in leadership? David is correct in asserting that Saul isn't willing to hurt his country by leaking what he knows to the press. So what can Saul do now? Before David and Walden ruin Saul first, that is.

     Of course, if Dana comes forward, that might be a big help. It doesn't seem like she would intentionally betray her father, ever if she knew the entire truth.She loves him dearly. She certainly suspects something, being scared to discover Brody's conversion to Islam, and knowing that something isn't right during the phone conversation. And sixteen is old enough to look past family connections. But will she be motivated to do so, or just take her dad at face value because to learn anything sinister would be too hard on her emotionally? Dana could also accidentally let something slip to her mother, Jessica (Morena Baccarin), or even Mike (Diego Klattenhoff), who also care for Brody, but could be persuaded to tell Saul under the right conditions.

     Homeland leaves viewers with many, many more questions after "Marine One," and a lot of possibilities remain. Which solidifies it as one of the season's best new shows. Homeland will return to Showtime next year for a second season.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Homeland questions "The Good Soldier"

     In the latest episode of Showtime's Homeland, "The Good Solider," Carrie (Claire Danes) secures polygraphs for everyone who has contact with the dead insurgent. Saul (Mandy Patinkin), upset about losing his wife, Mira (Sarita Choudhury, Kings), flubs the test. But he aces a retake the next day. Brody (Damian Lewis), on the other hand, the real target of Carrie's scheme, passes, too, but proves to her that he can lie without detection. The problem is, for Carrie to expose him, she has to admit to the drunken sex she has with Brody in her car, which she cannot do without risking her own job.

     The delicate dance between Carrie and Brody is certainly the heart of Homeland. However, even with all of the tension between them, their sexual encounter in "The Good Soldier" is unexpected. After all, Carrie is completely convinced that Brody is an enemy of the state. Why would she sleep with him under those circumstances? Is this the attraction of sexy evil? Or is it something more? Perhaps all of the time that she spends studying him has resulted in her seeing Brody as being damaged, as she is, forging an unlikely bond. For whatever reason, it is clear that the attraction is mutual, and the physical expression of it will likely continue.

     Brody's reasons for the encounter are much simpler than Carrie's still murky ones. Carrie is hot. Brody doesn't know about her suspicions. He is furious at his wife, Jessica (Morena Baccarin), after it is confirmed that she slept with his best friend, Mike (Diego Klattenhoff), when he was a prisoner of war. Brody may be looking for a little revenge. Carrie is flirty and willing and very hot, so why not? In this manner, perhaps Brody can even justify to himself that he isn't being unfaithful. If so, perhaps he isn't fooling the polygraph after all, but telling the truth as he sees it. Morality is a subjective concept.

     Jessica and Mike's relationship is exposed at a wake for Brody's fallen comrade. It's something Brody probably thinks he knows anyway, but when a fellow soldier blurts the truth out, Brody is finally justified in punching Mike in the face. It's a complicated situation, because Brody had been missing so long, that few can blame Jessica and Mike for finding comfort in each other's arms. However, it's also understandable why Brody would be angry, feeling betrayed that, while he suffered as a tortured enemy combatant, his wife was fooling around with Mike.

     Daughter Dana (Morgan Saylor) understands this, and sides with Mom. Dana may give Jessica lots of crap, as teenage daughters are wont to do. But when Brody obviously behaves immaturely, and cannot see past Jessica's indiscretion, Dana gives him the cold shoulder. This is not an argument that Brody is destined to win in his daughter's eyes. Too bad, because Dana and Brody actually have quite a nice relationship, prior to this scene.

     But whatever is going on between Brody and Carrie, the result of all this drama, remains ambiguous. Which is why Homeland is one of the most intriguing series on television. It's impossible to pin down these two leads, or prove which shade of gray is the correct one.

     Another big reveal with the polygraph experience in Homeland is that the CIA now knows that Carrie is taking illegal drugs while in their employ, and lies about it. What will the consequences of this be? Might she be fired? Suspended? If she thinks she is having trouble getting support for her theories now, wait until her drug abuse comes to light! This will be catnip to David (David Harewood), who still blames Carrie for ruining his marriage, at least partly, and is also mad because the way thatCarrie gets the polygraph approved embarrasses him.

     Saul's own story in "The Good Soldier" is heartbreaking. He is swamped with a national emergency, hunting down a terrorist on the run, but also has to deal with a crumbling marriage. Saul is willing to give up his life in the States and follow Mira to India, but that's not what she wants. She feels they have grown apart, and are now closer to friends than lovers. She wants to move on. Even worse, they both see the facts of their current living situation the same, but while Saul thinks it's heaven, Mira sees it as a failure. This is a case of two different people no longer wanting the same things.

     And then there's the nagging feeling that maybe, just maybe, as unlikely as it seems, Saul is working with the terrorists, too. This could be horrible, but the seed is planted in his polygraph, and it's impossible to shake it until proven otherwise.

     A review of "The Good Soldier" is not complete without touching on the funeral scene. Brody tries to speak a eulogy, but finds himself at a loss for words. Whether that is because of guilt in the role he plays in his friend's torture, or because he is just really choked up with grief, is inconsequential. Brody breaks the silence with a roll call, highlighting the missing man. It's an extremely moving moment, one on par with the saddest scenes ever in film. This is brilliant, and kudos are much deserved to whoever came up with, and executed, this idea.

     The final story in this week's Homeland involves two terrorists on the run. For some reason, it is very hard to find the actors who play these two online in the usual sources, but their plot is almost directly ripped from 24, a beloved, much missed show. The guy keeps urging the girl to turn themselves in to the government. He argues it will save their lives, but she is insistent that they stay on the run. Of course, he is the one that is actually gunned down, while she escapes through the bathroom window. Will seeing him lying in a pool of his own blood finally convince her to take his advice? And what is their connection to the larger arcs?

     Plus, the polygraph guy is played by Dr. Venture (The Venture Brothers) himself, James Urbaniak! Awesome!


     Do not miss Homeland, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Homeland - "The Good Soldier" on Blogcritics.

Homeland finds a home on my TiVo

     The "Pilot" of Showtime's new drama Homeland premiered two days ago. The premise is this: Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis, Life, Band of Brothers), a U.S. Marine missing for eight years, is found in Iraq. Returning home, he is hailed as a hero, and his family, including wife Jessica (Morena Baccarin, V, Firefly), who has been trying to move on, rally around him. But a CIA analyst named Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes, Temple Grandin, My So-Called Life) thinks that newly-minted hero Brody might be a hidden terrorist, based on a snippet of information she gets from an imprisoned terrorist about to be executed. So it becomes her obsession to prove it. Oh, and Carrie might just be crazy. 

     Homeland is a fascinating character study. But of which character? Jessica, ready to move in with Nicholas's best friend, Mike (Diego Klattenhoff, Mercy, Men in Trees), before she finds out that her husband is still alive, drops everything to support him and pretend he never left? Nicholas, who has spent years being tortured, even forced to kill his partner (Chris Chalk) with his bare hands, but then lies about it, either because he's a bad guy, or because he just wants to forget the terrible experience? Or Carrie, who is on antipsychotics, and is illegally bugging Nicholas because of one piece of intel that may or may not be true. And even if it is, it may or may not be about him, risking her entire career and that of her mentor, Saul (Mandy Patinkin, Criminal Minds, Dead Like Me), on a hunch? All are pretty much equally intriguing.

     The big question of the series?  "Is Carrie right?" In the Homeland pilot episode, it appears that she is. Nicholas acts a bit funny, and she catches him in a lie. This proves nothing, and some things turn out to be coincidences. But then she discovers Nicholas's hand ticks in a repeating pattern every time he's on camera, as if sending a secret message. It's enough of a straw to grasp for Saul to let her pursue it, keeping her on the job, for now, and possibly saving both of their jobs, but only if she's right. However, could it just be a tick? Might it mean something entirely different than what Carrie thinks?

     Yes, and that's how Homeland seeks to keep viewers guessing. If the series made things so simple, few would be interested in watching it. Carrie is delusional and obsessive; there's no arguing that. She also operates with very narrow blinders on, not really considering other possibilities once her mind is made up, which it very quickly is. This is not the makings of an intelligent, smart operative. She must once have been one, considering that, while her job is scaled back, she is not fired, and the way that Saul, a seemingly intelligent man, has trust in her. But now she is teetering on the edge of instability, and it won't take much to push her over that cliff.

     What Nicholas has been through would be a nightmare for any sane person. He lived in a hole, cut off from everything that he knows, for eight years. Whether he remains loyal to his country and profession, or whether he is turned, one can hardly blame him. The horrors he still faces through haunting memories are unimaginable. But now, not only is he away from Iraq, but he's home. He has to readjust to family. He appears to be doing so in front of the cameras, but a tense and somewhat angry bedroom scene with Jessica shows very clearly that he does not have it all together. There are any number of reasons this could be, but, thankfully, Homeland doesn't reveal why quite yet.

     Equally jarring is Jessica's experience. True, she lives much more comfortably these eight years. There was likely a period of deep grief, but she came out the other end intact. Now she has to reopen old wounds. She is glad to see him, but she has moved on. She tries to backtrack, putting herself back in the mindset of his wife. Not only that, but she has just as little chance of understanding what Nicholas goes through as the viewers. Less, because she doesn't get to see the flashbacks. It's a complicated situation under the best of circumstances, and with Carrie sure to make their lives even more difficult, these are not the best of circumstances.

     Homeland is extremely gripping, and is off to an incredible start! It feels like an action show, but with little action. You won't want to miss it, airing Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on Showtime.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Homeland - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.