How Secure Is Your "Homeland"?
It's been a wild ride in the first season of the Golden Globe-nominated Homeland. (WARNING: MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!)
If you watched the video above it gives you an idea of the series. A Marine (played by Damian Lewis) is captured while over in Iraq, then sold to the Al Qaeda and held for eight long years. This reminded me of an actual incident that happened with an American Muslim that went and fought along side Al Qaeda, but with a twist. Somehow the Marine, named Sgt. Nicholas Brody, was not killed in the interrogation, but holds the scars from it. Because of this he was brought under the wing of the head terrorist Abu Nazir (Navid Negaban). He doesn't torture Brody, but rather has him teach his son how to speak English and learn other American-based things. However something goes really wrong when an American UAV drone drops a missile right on the compound, killing the son of Abu Nazir.
Sgt. Brody after being found in a compound. I know how it feels to wake up looking like that.
We then get introduced to the second main character Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes), a C.I.A. operative that was in the field who was talking with an Al Qaeda member on death row. The prisoner finally broke down at the last moment, and told her that an American soldier had been turned, and would be a part of another big attack on America. When the show starts off Carrie seems to be a plain girl that works as a great spy, but as you go along you start finding that there is something wrong. It's not really until the last three episodes of the season when viewers find out what is really wrong with her.
The next character that has a major part in the story is Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), who is above Carrie in the C.I.A. She is usually the go-thru guy to the head member of the C.I.A. David Estes (David Harewood), while the director of the C.I.A. deals with the Vice-President William Walden (Jamey Sheridan). As you can see this is the chain of command, but it also is a crucial part that deals with America trying to fend off another attack. Saul is a great character, as his personality in the matter went from the person you want to work next to, then to the big giant asshole, and finally the guy who cares about you. Finding out that his wife is of Indian descent deals with the worst aspect of being part of the C.I.A. He can't always be with her, and you can see the frustration that he has to deal with both that aspect and the concept of saving the world. Believe me: with this character you will have a love/hate feeling towards him, with your feelings veering more towards love.
From left to right: Saul, David, and VP Walden
As the story unravels you'll find that some of the main characters hide one of the main reasons behind threat in the first place. It always seems when something serious happens someone has their finger on the big read button from the other side of the world. If you can't read between the lines, then your going to have to watch the show to figure out what the big deal is.
Homeland has done a great job catching my attention, and I hope it wins some of those Golden Globe nominations they have obtained. I also have to give it to Showtime for creating another great series, especially seeing they made Sleeper Cell, another favorite of mine that should've been brought back for another season. I can see this show going for at least three seasons if it's written right. They will need to keep the twists and turns coming, but at a not-so-predictable pace. Within the first 4 episodes I saw where they were going with the series, but they did lead me to believe that they were just going to end the show with one season (which would've been a big downfall). All in all Homeland is a damn good show, so if you got access to Showtime and its onDemand service you'll be able to watch the whole series. For those who don't have access to Showtime I suggest to waiting for it on DVD, and just watch it captivate you little by little.
Rating: 9.6 out of 10
Show: Homeland
Production: Showtime
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