TV Review: Homeland

Homeland (2011 - 2015)

Four and half Stars out of Five

TV MA

Carrie Mathison: Claire Danes

Saul Berenson: Mandy Patinkin

Nicholas Brody: Damien Lewis

Jessica Brody: Morena Baccarin

Dana Brody: Morgan Saylor

Writers: Alex Gansa, Howard Gordon, Gideon Raff

Each of us looks for certain features in cinematic or TV programming. That is to say, one may favor good acting, realism, particular storylines/genre, special effects, etc. For me, I seek out with the most relish those movies and TV programming that feature writing done at a noticeably high level of proficiency. In Homeland (like Breaking Bad or The Wire, my current personal benchmarks for excellent writing), I have found a new program that most definitely meets my desire for great writing.

The writing in Homeland will on occasion have plot holes that will frustrate or maybe entertain the viewer. But for the most part, I found myself with great frequency commenting out loud, “I didn’t see that coming”, or “Wow, that is so believable”. These two comments reflect in a nutshell what I love about this program. The characters are so consistently written and even though the subject (the CIA’s efforts to protect America from terrorism) is one not easily related to from personal experience; the actions of the characters almost always seem completely enthralling and believable.

Homeland tells in seasons one through three (season four goes in new direction) a tale that begins with the rescue of US Marine Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Damien Lewis) in Iraq from the hands of Al-Qaeda. Just prior to his rescue, however, CIA field operative Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) learns that Al-Qaeda has turned an American soldier. She reports her concerns to her supervisor, Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) and thus begins a “cat and mouse” game between Carrie and Nicholas; a game that crosses back and forth between mutual suspicion and love so many times that the viewer is held in near constant confusion as to what is real in Sgt. Brody and what is not.

Damien Lewis’ performance as Sgt. Brody is fairly “one-note” during the first half of season one, but as the overall season arc unfolds, he has ample opportunity to completely dominate several episodes as he portrays the figuratively and literally tortured Brody. Helping him in his character’s re-assimilation into American society is his wife Jessica (Morena Baccarin) and daughter Dana (Morgan Saylor). These two characters (plus a son, Chris – played by Jackson Pace) act out the tough roles required of the family left behind when Brody headed off to war. Complicating the picture is that Brody has been gone for eight years and thought dead. At some point during his absence, his wife Jessica has started a new relationship; his children hardly remember him. They all must start a nearly new relationship with him following his return and the difficulties of doing so, especially with the complicating factors of his torture while a prisoner, are particularly poignant. Baccarin’s and Saylor’s (a teenager in all three seasons) performances are amazingly good; and in the case of Saylor, I was constantly astounded that such a young actor could so perfectly nail the role of a young woman in her character’s situation.

Meanwhile, the viewer is gradually exposed to the nature of Carrie Mathison. Her complex character is revealed to be driven, superbly capable, a favored acolyte of the Saul Berenson character, and oh by the way, suffering from bi-polar syndrome. This latter characteristic is used throughout the four extant seasons of Homeland; sometimes to very effectively demonstrate the stress and demands on CIA operatives in general, but also on the Carrie character in particular. Fortunately for Carrie, she works for a very understanding mentor in the form of Saul Berenson. The performances by Danes as Carrie and Saul by Patinkin are as in the case of the Brody family characters of very high caliber. Carrie’s character weaves at times from normal competence to wildly careening, out of control manic behavior. Danes is particularly good at portraying these swings; and the writers are very good at integrating the swings into various plot points that help propel the story in a believable manner.

The story played out by Homeland is definitely not for a young audience. There is some violence, though not graphic, but it does at times get somewhat graphic with respect to sexual behavior. However, if like me you enjoy stories that are generally notable for their believability and you also like twists that are also believable, then you will like Homeland.