TV REVIEW: 'HOMELAND'

Season Finale Paves Way for a Thrilling Second Season

By: Rachel Heine

December 20, 2011

(Showtime) From the producers of 24 comes Homeland -- TV’s smash new hit that delves into the trauma and politics of a post-9/11 world. With impeccable writing, artfully nuanced characters, and a plot that has audiences at the edge of their seats each week, the show is only picking up steam. Sunday, December 19th marked the 90-minute season finale, leaving viewers wondering, “What’s next?”

Homeland is based on the Israeli series Hatufim (Prisoners of War) and developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa for Showtime. It centers on key characters in the Central Intelligence Agency and the imminent threats they face every day. Sharp and belligerent Agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) receives intelligence that an American soldier has been turned against the United States. When missing marine Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) is rescued after eight years in Iraqi custody, Carrie believes she’s found her man. As she investigates Sgt. Brody, she not only develops an unhealthy connection with the enigmatic war hero but also begins to unravel a huge terrorist plot.

Carrie has only her doggedly supportive mentor, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), on her side. Thwarted at every corner by her boss, CIA Counterintelligence director David Estes (David Harewood), Carrie blackmails diplomats, sets up illegal surveillance operations, and even gets herself in the midst of a suicide bomber in her single-minded search to uncover the truth.

Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t seen the first season, catch up ALL on those episodes before further reading. Please!

So far this season, the team has uncovered the revelation that Abu Nazir turned both Sgt. Brody and his partner Tom Walker against the U.S. government while in prolonged captivity. Walker stalked the streets of D.C. with a sniper rifle, while Brody had a hefty bomb vest hidden on a shelf in his closet. Carrie had finally put the pattern together, convinced that a gap in Abu Nazir’s terrorist activities was directly related to and the key behind a pending attack. Though Homeland Security was on the hunt for Walker, Brody had been welcomed into the inner circles of political power with open arms (and dreams of electorial glory). He alone had access to the Vice President and half of the top members of the cabinet, but in the season finale, detonating the bomb strapped to his chest proved easier said than done for Sgt Brody thanks to a timely intervention from his teenage daughter.

The finale didn’t go for the cheap shot and blow up a bunch of characters we love. In fact, the tension built so steadily that I found myself yelling at the TV as the episode drew to a close. Brody’s sheer panic was a nightmare to sit through, and Carrie’s defeatist attitude was the most heart-wrenching of all. Thankfully, the showrunners gave us enough answers to keep us happy, while leaving plenty of room for a similarly compelling Season 2: Brody remains alive and nestled deep in the bosom of American politics. Though most of his family and peers are oblivious to the change in him, Brody’s daughter Dana posses knowledge which poses a very interesting threat for that next season. Saul has only begun to realize the scope of his government’s involvement with Al-Quada, but his revealation of classified information to Carrie at her bedside opens another delicious dynamic for the next set of episodes.

Claire Danes’s emotional range as the unpredictable Carrie Mathison has been astounding to watch. Even after an extensive resume of phenomenal roles, Danes has yet to try something so gritty, though her recent award-winning turn as Temple Grandin on HBO certainly pointed the way to these new depths of nuance. Her raw vulnerability is palpable as Carrie jumps from heightened mania to staggering depression. Bipolar Disorder is often misunderstood, but on Homeland, the writers have handled it honestly: Though her mood swings are debilitating, Carrie's unique mental processes have meant that she is truly the only one close to the truth. Homeland’s season finale was painful to watch mostly because she begins to believe that she is, in fact, crazy.

Watching Brody navigate through elections is a brilliant route to take the next season. Having Carrie recovering from brain-altering treatment is no less compelling. The hanging questions will cost me some sleep between now and then:

Will Carrie remember that she has a clue to catch Brody (and will "Issa!" become the new "Rosebud")? How can she get her job back at the CIA? (I found myself yelling, again, at the TV that Saul should have just blackmailed Estes to get her reinstated at Langley, but that’s another story). Will Brody actually be able to rechannel a terrorist's desire for violent revenge into genuine political action for good?  

Thank you Showtime: It’s been both an unmitigated pleasure to watch a brand new show this well acted and delivered, and a massive relief to find a new show that is so well writen and worthy of the attention. And now, with Golden Globe noms for Danes, Lewis and the show itself already in the bag, Homeland is well on its way to being a sure hit and a fixture on my DVR for years to come.

For Fans Of: 24, Sleeper Cell, Breaking Bad

Why We Like It: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Unrelenting Tension, Intelligent Political Thriller, Best New Shows of 2011