Homeland (showtime)

[Morris Schæffer]

I wasn't sure about this show when I saw the trailer. At least not sure enough to commit to yet another new show, but glowing reviews are through the roof!

http://www.metacritic.com/tv/homelan...critic-reviews

I'm gonna give it a chance. I should too because it's from the producer of 24, Howard Gordon which translates to "up my alley." It starts tomorrow, after Dexter.

[[ETM]]

The pilot has been available online for weeks now, for free. I've been raving about it everywhere I go. It's superb.

[Morris Schæffer]

The pilot has been available online for weeks now, for free. I've been raving about it everywhere I go. It's superb.

I must have missed that

[[ETM]]

Yeah, on the 14th, in the TV Discussion thread: http://match-cut.org/showpost.php?p=...postcount=7815

Barty liked it too.

[Barty]

When me and ETM agree you know it's good.

[Winston*]

Liked the pilot, though Morena Baccarin as the mother of two teenagers stretches credibility a bit too much.

[Mara]

Your praises convinced me to check it out. Very interesting. Sometimes it felt like it was getting a little too self-congratulatory, like it was already counting its Emmys, but for the most part felt pretty genuine. The cast is really solid, including Morena Baccarin, when I thought her acting was kind of weak in Firefly. Mandy Patinkin, whom I love, could not have looked any more like Steven Spielberg.

I'm really curious if they're willing to show an honest portrayal of a functional person with mental illness, or if they'll just use it for melodrama. Obviously, I'm hoping the former.

For whatever reason, the copy I watched was edited. I'm kind of glad, given what I saw of some of the images.

[Mara]

And I like the location they're using for filming. It's in North Carolina, but with some shots in DC. They're doing a good job of preserving the atmosphere of the area, and don't want it to look like it's coming from a studio backlot.

[Lucky]

Well, this show is on my radar now. If you guys continue having high praise for it I'll pick it up in-between seasons.

[[ETM]]

For whatever reason, the copy I watched was edited. I'm kind of glad, given what I saw of some of the images.

You saw the copy that was shown online by Showtime, heavily edited.

[Mara]

You saw the copy that was shown online by Showtime, heavily edited.

Did they cut out entire scenes, or just blank the bad words and blur the images? Because if it's the latter, I'm fine with that, but if it's the former I feel like I should track another one down.

[[ETM]]

It's the latter. Morena Baccarin has nice breasts.

[EyesWideOpen]

They did the same thing with the new episode of Dexter.

[Mara]

It's the latter. Morena Baccarin has nice breasts.

I'll live.

[ThePlashyBubbler]

After the Pilot :lol::

Very interesting. Sometimes it felt like it was getting a little too self-congratulatory, like it was already counting its Emmys, but for the most part felt pretty genuine.

On one hand I feel like this show is insanely overrated. At the same time it's also pretty good.

[transmogrifier]

I was strangely underwhelmed by the opening to Season 2. Partly I think it's because having Brody as a possible VP is ludicrous, and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at the safe sequence - I don't buy any of that nonsense. They've painted themselves into a corner with his character, and I hope they get him out soon. Not to mention the hoary "He's a Muslim!" slip up seemed unusually manufactured and melodramatic for this show.

Carrie's relationship with her family was much more interesting and her getting back into operations like a duck to water a more fertile ground for plot developments.

I'm wary ATM.

[Acapelli]

I was strangely underwhelmed by the opening to Season 2. Partly I think it's because having Brody as a possible VP is ludicrous, and I couldn't stop rolling my eyes at the safe sequence - I don't buy any of that nonsense. They've painted themselves into a corner with his character, and I hope they get him out soon. Not to mention the hoary "He's a Muslim!" slip up seemed unusually manufactured and melodramatic for this show.

Carrie's relationship with her family was much more interesting and her getting back into operations like a duck to water a more fertile ground for plot developments.

I'm wary ATM.

In a world where Sarah Palin was a vice presidential candidate for one of the two political parties you're gonna complain about Brody's potential nomination? Did you see the jokers that were running for president under the republican ticket this year?

Loved Carrie's insane smile as she was getting away from that Lebanese cop

[transmogrifier]

In a world where Sarah Palin was a vice presidential candidate for one of the two political parties you're gonna complain about Brody's potential nomination? Did you see the jokers that were running for president under the republican ticket this year?

Loved Carrie's insane smile as she was getting away from that Lebanese cop

Yes, I am. Not because he wouldn't be a candidate in real life (who really cares?) but that it makes for a lot of implausible drama given the terrorist angle.

[Mara]

After the Pilot :lol::

I did not remember that. How prescient.

I'm interested in the new season, but it's not a huge priority for me. I guess I didn't miss the show that much.

[Mara]

I guess I didn't miss the show that much.

OR SO I THOUGHT. I found the premiere very absorbing. I hope we've worked through some of the writing problems. There are a few improbabilities, but there always were... I'm feeling forgiving.

[Mara]

Oh, and can we talk about reporter lady's hair? IT IS AMAZING.

[EvilShoe]

Finished this. After episode 7 it does start to veer into 24-territory a bit more, but I'd still say this is great television.

Lewis & Danes are great, but so is Patinkin.
[

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My favorite scene of the season is probably the one where Saul's wife tells him she's leaving him, and then Carrie shows up.

]

I'm also pleased[

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the show hasn't revealed who the mole is yet. I don't want this to turn into 24, where every season a new traitor is revealed.

]

I guess that's my biggest concern in general: that this might turn into 24. The twists here worked in general, but that's because the characters do as well.

I'm intrigued to know what season 2 will look like, but also a bit worried. Time will tell.

[Morris Schæffer]

Saw episode 7 tonight. Man, they certainly kept teasing and teasing which isn't a bad thing as it keeps proceedings more grounded and realistic than 24. That said, I was waiting for it to grab me and tonight I think that it's gone ahead and done just that with the reveal of [

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of what's behind the house (marine one's landing pad) and that the black soldier is presumably very much alive.

]

Doesn't Mandy Patinkin just rock? Maybe it's the beard. Seriously, cool actor.

[Morris Schæffer]

Final bunch of episodes just blew me away really. I love this show, but like some others, wonder how it's going to segue into season 2. I mean[

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we've got a villain who's prone to chicken out at the least opportune moment and in the case of our heroine, they've literally hit some sort of reboot button although I wouldn't go so far as to call it contrived.

]

I like the show's switch to more 24-type territory. We all knew the big thrills would eventually materialize and they're exciting and plausible. Take the [

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sniper's position. It obviously guarantess him a getaway window, but it also syphon's all the relevant folks into the right direction, beyond the metal detectors and into the small room...with Brody.

]

And Lewis is really great in this finale. [

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I've always seen these suicide bombers as relentlessly devoted to the cause, deeply religious and calm in these final moments. That he doesn't flick the swith out of love for his family is certainly very cute, but now I wonder whether we should continue to take him seriously as an antagonist in the next season.

]

At the same time, such duality and nuance is nicely contrasting with a show such as 24 which deals only in absolutes. Brody's [

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battered and anguished face in these climactic moments was shattering to watch and his single tear rolling down his cheek as much a realization that he loves his family and, even more powerful perhaps, that he's failed his mission, he's failed to avenge the death of Issa and the other 81 boys, victims of a US rogue mission.

]

And that's quite remarkable because Homeland bravely succeeds in creating the kind of villainy that is relatively easy to identify with, to understand even. [

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I didn't get the feeling these Al-Quaida operatives were brainwashing American soldiers, but instead almost converting them through more benign, compassionate means. That's a pretty bold idea, but it really results in an action show that is more nuanced than others as per its bad guys. I almost, almost wanted the bomb to go off although admittedly also because every one around Carrie was so dead set in antagonizing her. Really felt for her.

]

Carrie is a wonderful character. I totally did not expect her [

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condition to play quite such a big part towards the end. Oh it could have been silly, and for a brief moment I thought it was going to be when she ran out of the car and started talking to, well, dirt really, but Danes is very convincing. It's kind of a courageous performance.

]

She and Saul have a great relationship. Really wonderful, but never phony. Saul has no qualms about [

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turning her in if he thinks she's lost it, but that mutual respect remains. It's quite moving.

]

And then her final words [

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before the anestethic kicked in. That was a shock too! A Good one to be sure. I'm sure the sister will inform Saul.

]

To top it off, Morena Baccarin is hot!

[Lucky]

Well the hype was for good reason. Comcast OnDemand has the first two episodes (albeit, edited) up, so I watched them last night. Need to get my hands on the rest. I'm even considering a brief subscription to Showtime while the new season airs so that I can catch up on Showtime OnDemand.