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.

White Collar's fourth season is now "In the Wind"

Article first published as White Collar's fourth season is now "In the Wind" on TheTVKing.

USA's White Collar completes its fourth go-round this week with "In the Wind." Reese (James Rebhorn) warns Peter (Tim DeKay) not to trust Callaway (Emily Procter, CSI: Miami), who apparently is in the pocket of Senator Pratt (Titus Welliver, Lost, Sons of Anarchy). Since the FBI is closing in on the evidence box in the Empire State Building, and Peter doesn't think he can get around Callaway professionally, he asks Neal (Matt Bomer) to cross the line and get the evidence himself.

"In the Wind" is an action-packed episode. There is a death by shooting, a couple of twists, some running around, and an escaping blimp. There's subterfuge and betrayal, all in a gorgeous location shoot. All of this is very exciting, especially when the evidence is kept out of Callaway's hands in an original way.

But the best parts of "In the Wind" are the emotional moments. Most obvious is that involving the relationship between Neal and his father, James (Treat Williams). Mozzie (Willie Garson) never quite trusts James, and so viewers may be inclined to look at him with suspicion, too. Even as we hope that James turns out to be the innocent man he claims to be, for Neal's sake, we see the signs that everything he says is not on the up and up.

In the end, it's not finding out that James is guilty that hurts. It's the fact that James is not a good guy nor dad, refusing to stick his neck out for Neal. It's understandable that James doesn't want to risk going back to prison, but after all of the pain he has caused Neal throughout his life, when Neal begs him for a favor, and this favor is selfless, James should definitely comply. He doesn't, and I feel like this is the end of their emotional journey as father and son. James can never really return to Neal (even if the actor guest stars again), and Neal can never forgive his father.

The favor that Neal asks is to clear Peter's name. James kills Pratt in self defense, but Peter takes the fall for it. The evidence is damning against Peter, and the way it plays out actually feels smart, rather than contrived. Neal very much cares for Peter, and has shown that he will do almost anything for him. Neal is even willing to sacrifice his own father for Peter, which proves once and for all the level of affection between them, despite the sometimes rocky story.

The only thing that feels slightly off in this James-Neal-Peter arc is that Neal seems to suddenly regard Peter as a father figure. Sure, Peter is older and has authority over Neal. But I've always seen the two as best buddies, rather than mentor-mentee. They work in unison, not necessarily as a superior and an inferior. The power shift drawn here is a little weird.

Also, when Peter makes dinner plans with Elizabeth (Tiffani Thiessen), you just know something is going to happen to prevent the date. Usually, White Collar isn't this obvious, so it's a shame a move is telegraphed here, even if the way the story shapes up takes awhile to become clear.

Neal not only gets to connect with Peter and James, but he also has a wonderful scene with Sara (Hilarie Burton) in "In the Wind" in the Empire State Building. The relationship between them has been a highlight of the series, and there is definitely something real that works for the pair. Neal gets to confess his feelings in a very authentic way, even while performing a mission, and she responds to them. It's a shame the show is sending her off to London instead of keeping her around. "In the Wind" feels like a sad, but very well written and performed, ending for the couple.

I am not yet ready to cast judgment on Callaway. I miss Reese as boss, to be sure, despite the small role he usually plays. But Callaway seems like she just might be on the side of justice, and changes the dynamic in the White Collar Division in an interesting way. The evidence Reese brings to Peter makes her look bad, but not so bad that it can't be explained. She does try to keep Pratt away from the evidence that will take him down, and so I think there could be some redemption for her next season, should she stick around.

Ah, next season. I hate when Peter is away from his job, but a murder trial is too rich to just skim over. Let's hope White Collar delivers the goods in this arc, rather than cutting it short, as it sometimes, but not always, does with longer plots.

White Collar will return next fall to USA.

Enlightened may not be the "Agent of Change" it hopes

Article first published as Enlightened may not be the "Agent of Change" it hopes on TheTVKing.

HBO's Enlightened brings its second season (and possibly series) to an end this week with "Agent of Change." The proverbial crap hits the fan as Jeff's (Dermot Mulroney) article about Abaddon becomes public knowledge. Amy's (Laura Dern) part in it is fully exposed, costing her her job. Before she goes quietly or triumphantly off into the night though, she burns a few more bridges.

Amy is a polarizing character you tend to either love or hate. Despite enjoying the show, I don't like the lead very much. I don't know if this is a testament to Dern for creating such a specific persona, one who is realistic and recognizable, even if not very likeable, or if they series' writers misjudge just how far Amy can be taken. I feel like this is why the show struggles to build a following.

That being said, I do still want Amy to have a happy ending. She is the protagonist, and we've spent enough time watching her. She is a pain and her self-righteousness causes more harm than good. But, at the end of the day, she should still find her niche. "Agent of Change" doesn't get her there, but it does leave her in a place of success, at least on certain fronts.

It's funny when Amy gets a meeting with the head of Abaddon, Charles Szidon (James Rebhorn, White Collar, Homeland). It takes no time at all for Szidon to convince Amy that he's a good guy who's trying his best. His earnestness and apparent sincerity could sway fans of the show, too. Yet, Amy should not be moved, given the evidence she's seen. She should be able to look past his words and remember his crimes, figuring he only offers her the dream job because it makes him look good. The fact that she doesn't, changing her mind at the drop of a hat, exposes the flimsiness and weakness of her personality, a lack of utter conviction about anything.

This wishy-washiness extends to Amy's romantic life, too. She is plenty willing to blow off Levi (Luke Wilson), a man who has gone to great lengths to get his life together for her, and whom she has strung along for awhile, when she is sleeping with Jeff. Yet, when Jeff asks for a break, whose house does she go to for comfort? Yep, Levi's. Her actions are not fair to either man.

I don't believe that Jeff doesn't care for Amy. I'm not convinced he's in love with her, but it does seem like he's asking for the time apart for professional reasons, not because he is using her for information. The glowing way in which he writes about her in his article, as well as his query as to whether she is OK after everything blows up, shows us this. If Enlightened does get a third season, it could be interesting to watch Jeff and Levi fight over Amy, especially when the "winner" who gets her could, in actuality, end up the loser.

The most uncomfortable thing Amy does in "Agent of Change" doesn't come from her guy troubles, or her final showdown with Szidon, where she grows a backbone at last. No, the worst scene is when Amy ruins her fragile relationship with Krista (Sarah Burns). Just when they rebuild a friendship, Amy storms into Krista's hospital room, not long after Krista gives birth, and lobbies angry accusations and profanity against an innocent woman. It's totally in character, but it's exactly why Krista has distanced herself from Amy in the first place. There is most likely no coming back from this for Amy.

The best moment of the episode, in my opinion, is when Dougie (Timm Sharp) tries to help Amy get out of the building with her evidence against Abaddon. He tells her that she's been a terrible employee, but he still wants to hang out with her, and he supports her mission. Friends can be found in the most unlikely of places, and to see them come together is heartwarming.

It's also nice that Amy salvages Tyler's (Mike White) budding arrangement with Eileen (Molly Shannon, Saturday Night Live), and, after kicking her daughter out of her home, Helen (Diane Ladd) finds something to be proud of Amy for. These are the touches that makes Enlightened worth watching, even at its most uncomfortable moments.

What would a third season of Enlightened look like? Obviously, Amy would not be at her job any longer, and that would make it hard to keep all of her co-workers in the cast. Tyler and Dougie, at least, lost their jobs, too, so maybe they would latch on to whatever Amy does next. But Krista would likely be gone, which, while I liked her, would not be a big loss, since her arc comes to a close so neatly this week. And obviously Amy would have another cause to go after in some half-thought out way.

"Agent of Change" is nice because it really brings things to a close in a way that makes sense. There may be some things that end uncomfortably, and plenty of balls left up in the air, but if Enlightened should be done, there is enough finished to not be too disappointing.

Big Lake almost a disappointment

     Comedy Central's Big Lake comes from some big names in comedy. However, it would be hard to tell that from watching the show. Set in an average sized community in middle America, the plot began when Josh (Chris Gethard) lost all of his money, and all of his clients' money, including everything his parents had, and then moved back in on their couch. I'm not sure what exactly Josh's job was, but the point is that he is a huge disappointment to his folks and now lives with them. Josh is very creative, but can't seem to get any of his ideas off the ground, which makes you wonder how he got the job he previously had in the first place.

      Josh's family has some talent in it. His mother is played by Deborah Rush (Strangers With Candy), a comic genius in my opinion, whose talent is wasted on this project. His father is portrayed by James Rebhorn (White Collar), whom usually does more dramatic roles, but can certainly do comedy. His younger brother, who at the age of twelve has already dropped out of school and seems to run all organized crime in their town, is Dylan Blue. Each of these actors is strong. Each of them struggle to make bad writing funny, and succeed at it more often than expected.

      Now that he's back home, Josh begins to hang out with his townie best friend, Glenn (Horatio Sanz, Saturday Night Live), and his former teacher, Chris (Chris Parnell, also SNL). Chris used to be a great mentor, but has given up on his career and does plenty of illegal things that would cost him his license if he ever got caught, which remarkably, he doesn't. By the end of the pilot the three friends have become inseparable and unable to function without each other, which is odd, considering they were used to being alone before the show began.

      And that's the problem. The sitcom plays into cliche and cheesiness, and allows it's characters to be one note. Sure, it's quirky and sometimes funny, but there are so many things wrong with it, it's hard to like it. Yet, I keep watching. Maybe it's the cast. Maybe it's because the show is odder than it should be. I don't know. Something about it draws me in, even if I admit I don't really like it all the much.

      If you want to check out Big Lake for yourself, new episodes air on Comedy Central Tuesday nights at 8 and 8:30pm. But do it quick, because I think it's unlikely to get a second season.


Article first published as TV Review: Big Lake Almost a Disappointment on Blogcritics.