by Robbie Jones
For its first five episodes, Homeland Season Four was one of the worst shows on TV. But last week, it turned things around and delivered a smashing episode, which had hopefully promised a continuing increase in quality. This week wasn’t quite as good, however it did contain knock out performances, trippy sequences and a nice cameo.
For its first five episodes, Homeland Season Four was one of the worst shows on TV. But last week, it turned things around and delivered a smashing episode, which had hopefully promised a continuing increase in quality. This week wasn’t quite as good, however it did contain knock out performances, trippy sequences and a nice cameo.
Before that though, we were reminded of just how much of an arsehole Lockhart is. The current director of the CIA handled the meeting with Pakistani delegates concerning Saul’s safety horribly. It seems nothing has changed from his political ventures, as he still has no idea what he’s doing. Despite the effort Tracy Letts is putting in, Lockhart just feels like a useless character when he’s around, and especially not deserving of his main cast credit. In a perfect world, Saul would still be director (The way he toyed with Lockhart in Season Three was fun) but unfortunately it seems Carrie, Quinn and the gang will be following orders from that twit for a long time. Unless, you know, they wanted to go a different direction than the one they might already be going down. In our past reviews, we’ve speculated the possibility that Saul may see his death this season due to his dwindling importance in the show. But how about this: What if Lockhart died, and Saul was reinstated as director? It’d be an interesting road to take, and fans would surely like to see somebody with sense in charge, but it would run the risk of feeling like Season Three again, and Saul’s story may have already come too far to be changed. Either way, it’s unlikely that fans would be crying their eyes out if something were to happen to Lockhart.....
This week featured some seriously great performances, most notably from Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. We witness Saul as a hostage to Haissam Haqqani (Who also delivers a good performance), and their few exchanges are fun to watch. Saul finds out at the end of the episode that his freedom is being negotiated in exchange for several prisoners. So apparently there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Saul, although we know how untrustworthy Haqqani is after last week, so there’s no promises.
This week featured some seriously great performances, most notably from Claire Danes and Mandy Patinkin. We witness Saul as a hostage to Haissam Haqqani (Who also delivers a good performance), and their few exchanges are fun to watch. Saul finds out at the end of the episode that his freedom is being negotiated in exchange for several prisoners. So apparently there is a light at the end of the tunnel for Saul, although we know how untrustworthy Haqqani is after last week, so there’s no promises.
Claire Danes is back to doing what she does best: Losing her mind. That sneaky Dennis Boyd has been snooping around her apartment again, this time replacing her pills with fake ones given to him by Tasneem. They give her serious hallucinations, making her cause a scene when she tracks down Aayan’s friend Kiran at the hospital, and attacks Quinn as he tries to restrain her. The camera and lighting in this scene are terrific, and really give us an idea of what’s happening through her eyes. Following an incident in which she thinks she’s shot two men, she’s arrested by police and taken to a safe house, where she is greeted by none other than Brody (Damian Lewis) who convinces her he’s alive and shares an embrace with. Throughout this scene, there is a small feeling of panic at the thought of Brody being alive, and Homeland wrecking itself once again with a convoluted twist. Luckily though, it was merely a hallucination, and Carrie was actually crying in the arms of ISI Lieutenant Aasar Khan. What a relief that was. As nice was it was to see Lewis back in the role one last time, his return simply would’ve been a horrible idea and taken away any and all impact from his death in Season Three, rendering the last episode just as bad as the rest of it.
It’s another cracking week for Homeland, let’s hope for several more as we have five episodes left of Season Four.
It’s another cracking week for Homeland, let’s hope for several more as we have five episodes left of Season Four.
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