By Robbie Jones
I have to wonder....Do the writers of Homeland sit there and think “Right, Damian Lewis is really popular with fans of the show and everyone is really interested in his character, so I’m thinking that we should use him as little as possible without actually killing him. Sound good?” Yep, it seems that once again, Brody has fucked off into the sunset as we see another week of Carrie’s struggles. However, this time it’s not quite so dull, as not only do two former main cast members return, but the show moves one up in quality. Well, apart from a terrible twist....
I have to wonder....Do the writers of Homeland sit there and think “Right, Damian Lewis is really popular with fans of the show and everyone is really interested in his character, so I’m thinking that we should use him as little as possible without actually killing him. Sound good?” Yep, it seems that once again, Brody has fucked off into the sunset as we see another week of Carrie’s struggles. However, this time it’s not quite so dull, as not only do two former main cast members return, but the show moves one up in quality. Well, apart from a terrible twist....
It would appear that Dana was gone AWOL (Sadly not for the entire series), having stolen Jess’s car and helped Leo out of the hospital. She takes him to the base where her father was stationed, and tells him that when he said goodbye was the last time he didn’t lie to her.
They also go the grave of Leo’s little brother, who shot himself, something that Leo has blamed himself for ever since. Next up, Mike is back! Yep, Mike Faber, Brody’s fellow soldier and best friend who slept with his wife for all the years he was gone and even slept with her in Season two, before her and Brody broke up. It would now appear that they are dating, and go to meet with Leo’s parents, who claim that Dana is a bad influence on their son and that she takes after her father (Ooh, harsh!).
Mike does some snooping around and finds something interesting (Cause he’s only a guest star in the show now, so he can only be important for about five minutes); turns out Leo didn’t have mental difficulties. He was put in that hospital in a plea agreement – The police believe that Leo killed his brother.
Heading on over to the CIA where Fara traces the money behind the Langley bombings to an Iranian soccer player. Only problem is, this soccer player is dead. Saul then creates a theory that perhaps the person they’re looking for is using a fake account.
They also go the grave of Leo’s little brother, who shot himself, something that Leo has blamed himself for ever since. Next up, Mike is back! Yep, Mike Faber, Brody’s fellow soldier and best friend who slept with his wife for all the years he was gone and even slept with her in Season two, before her and Brody broke up. It would now appear that they are dating, and go to meet with Leo’s parents, who claim that Dana is a bad influence on their son and that she takes after her father (Ooh, harsh!).
Mike does some snooping around and finds something interesting (Cause he’s only a guest star in the show now, so he can only be important for about five minutes); turns out Leo didn’t have mental difficulties. He was put in that hospital in a plea agreement – The police believe that Leo killed his brother.
Heading on over to the CIA where Fara traces the money behind the Langley bombings to an Iranian soccer player. Only problem is, this soccer player is dead. Saul then creates a theory that perhaps the person they’re looking for is using a fake account.
Finally, Carrie attends a hearing to determine whether or not she can be released, and despite all her doctors suggesting positive things and recommending her release, she is denied due to being classified as security risk by the U.S. Department of Justice, something she had expected having seen Dar Adal enter the building. Upset, Carrie returns to her room, only to find out sometime later that she can leave, which prompts Saul to freeze her bank accounts and put her under surveillance.
Returning home, Franklin is waiting for her, asking her to once again meet with his client, and once again, she refuses. He then reveals that his firm was behind her release, and they can either put her back in or keep her out permanently. She reluctantly agrees, but tries to leave once he’s gone. This is the second time in the episode we’re treated to another former series regular, in the form of none other than Carrie’s CIA friend Virgil, who was a fan favourite and probably better liked than Mike. Seeing her car is gone, Carrie calls Virgil asking to borrow his van. We then find out that the CIA are listening to the phone call. He agrees to let her use it, and then gives a very subtle message to warn her. Seeing the cars outside his house, she goes to stay the night with a guy she had sex with three episodes ago.
Franklin pulls up the next morning and takes her to see a lawyer named Leland Benett, who works for a bank connected to Iranian terrorists, including the masterminds of the Langley bombing. He wants information on how the CIA identified and destroyed six known associates, in exchange for the firm’s defence against the agency’s reprisals against her; he convinces Carrie that they will destroy her. She agrees, but refuses to name field agents. That night, Carrie visits Saul (Oh by the way, his wife pops up very briefly before she’s told to go back in the house. Main cast credit, guys, main cast credit). That’s when we find out her entire ordeal was part of an elaborate scheme to infiltrate the Iranian terrorist group behind the bombing.
Returning home, Franklin is waiting for her, asking her to once again meet with his client, and once again, she refuses. He then reveals that his firm was behind her release, and they can either put her back in or keep her out permanently. She reluctantly agrees, but tries to leave once he’s gone. This is the second time in the episode we’re treated to another former series regular, in the form of none other than Carrie’s CIA friend Virgil, who was a fan favourite and probably better liked than Mike. Seeing her car is gone, Carrie calls Virgil asking to borrow his van. We then find out that the CIA are listening to the phone call. He agrees to let her use it, and then gives a very subtle message to warn her. Seeing the cars outside his house, she goes to stay the night with a guy she had sex with three episodes ago.
Franklin pulls up the next morning and takes her to see a lawyer named Leland Benett, who works for a bank connected to Iranian terrorists, including the masterminds of the Langley bombing. He wants information on how the CIA identified and destroyed six known associates, in exchange for the firm’s defence against the agency’s reprisals against her; he convinces Carrie that they will destroy her. She agrees, but refuses to name field agents. That night, Carrie visits Saul (Oh by the way, his wife pops up very briefly before she’s told to go back in the house. Main cast credit, guys, main cast credit). That’s when we find out her entire ordeal was part of an elaborate scheme to infiltrate the Iranian terrorist group behind the bombing.
Right, so before we talk about the good stuff of this episode, can I have teeny little rant about the twist please? The fact that the episode contained a twist was spoiled for me earlier in the week. I thought it was actually going to be something interesting. For one, it seems too ridiculous. We’ve just watched her go through all this pain and then just “lol it was part of the plan”. Come on guys, this is pathetic. It didn’t need to be so elaborate. And then, this twist was quite hyped up so I was expecting something Earth-shattering, something that would change the show and take it in a new direction, but nope. It was just that. Ugh.
Rant over. Anyway, despite the lack of Brody, Claire Danes once again manages to hold her own, with help from Morena Baccarin as Jess and of course Mandy Patinkin. This episode shows that it CAN be interesting without Brody if it’s actually done right. There were no dull story lines in the episode, except for maybe the scenes with Saul and Fara but they were definitely essential. Also, it was nice to see Mike and Virgil back, having been dropped from the regular cast after Season two.
Rant over. Anyway, despite the lack of Brody, Claire Danes once again manages to hold her own, with help from Morena Baccarin as Jess and of course Mandy Patinkin. This episode shows that it CAN be interesting without Brody if it’s actually done right. There were no dull story lines in the episode, except for maybe the scenes with Saul and Fara but they were definitely essential. Also, it was nice to see Mike and Virgil back, having been dropped from the regular cast after Season two.
Which brings me to my only other complaint; the casting of this show is just stupid. In particular, it’s who makes it to the main cast that annoys me, and then it’s what they do with the main cast members who actually do matter.
There are obvious detractions from the main cast; the actors who played William Walden, Abu Nazir and David Estes are gone, seeing as their characters are now dead. But in this new season, we’ve had 4 names added to the roster; Rupert Friend, who plays Quinn; F. Murray Abraham, who plays Dar Adal; Sarita Choudhury, who plays Saul’s wife Mira; and Tracy Letts as Senator Andrew Lockhart, the Committee Chairman. As in, you know, that guy who was an asshole to Carrie in the first episode and we haven’t seen since. Mike Faber, the man with the somewhat interesting story line and currently dating one of the main characters, was dropped for him.
Now, Dar Adal has appeared in three of the episodes so far and Quinn in two, and both of them have had major parts within these episodes. Mira has appeared three times; one conversation with Saul where he ended up with a stiffy, getting shoved aside as Carrie enters her house and the one I mentioned earlier, where she comes into the scene and is immediately told to get out of it. She is MAIN CAST, and they’re hardly giving her any attention. Even Damian Lewis, who comes second in the opening, is feeling like a guest star right now.
There are obvious detractions from the main cast; the actors who played William Walden, Abu Nazir and David Estes are gone, seeing as their characters are now dead. But in this new season, we’ve had 4 names added to the roster; Rupert Friend, who plays Quinn; F. Murray Abraham, who plays Dar Adal; Sarita Choudhury, who plays Saul’s wife Mira; and Tracy Letts as Senator Andrew Lockhart, the Committee Chairman. As in, you know, that guy who was an asshole to Carrie in the first episode and we haven’t seen since. Mike Faber, the man with the somewhat interesting story line and currently dating one of the main characters, was dropped for him.
Now, Dar Adal has appeared in three of the episodes so far and Quinn in two, and both of them have had major parts within these episodes. Mira has appeared three times; one conversation with Saul where he ended up with a stiffy, getting shoved aside as Carrie enters her house and the one I mentioned earlier, where she comes into the scene and is immediately told to get out of it. She is MAIN CAST, and they’re hardly giving her any attention. Even Damian Lewis, who comes second in the opening, is feeling like a guest star right now.
The only main cast members who feel like main cast members are Danes, Patinkin, Baccarin and Morgan Saylor, who plays Dana. Everyone else feels so under used. I’ve spoke of my like for Quinn and how I’d like to see him used more often, so hopefully his story gets more interesting as the season progresses. Same goes for Dar Adal, who is certainly making his presence known. These are the only 2 characters who I am sure will make of the most of their status. Mira and the Senator, however, I cannot see becoming any more or less interesting than they are now. Either they pull out something big for these guys or they’re just getting paid extra for doing nothing.
Oh, and Jackson Pace. I know he’s Brody’s son and should be in the main cast, but HE’S SO DAMN POINTLESS.
So despite my serious issues with the casting and the twist, this episode has shown to be one of the better so far. But on average, the season isn’t too great at the moment. Put it this way: I should not be more excited about the new episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D than Homeland. But hey, it’s only episode 4, anything could happen. I really pray it does....
Oh, and Jackson Pace. I know he’s Brody’s son and should be in the main cast, but HE’S SO DAMN POINTLESS.
So despite my serious issues with the casting and the twist, this episode has shown to be one of the better so far. But on average, the season isn’t too great at the moment. Put it this way: I should not be more excited about the new episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D than Homeland. But hey, it’s only episode 4, anything could happen. I really pray it does....
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