Homeland - US TV Series

[Valiant]

They'll probably have to get in line behind her Maj's finest.

[Mr Larrington]

I didn't like the Brenda Blethyn one either - Vera - and I thought I loved anything with Brenda Blethyn in it.

Roll The Square, Arthur?

OK, so what exactly was Sergeant Rock doing with Pouty Teenage Daughter that caused her to make all those odd noises?  I have a nasty suspicious mind.

[Rig of Jarkness]

I'm hooked too.  Currently the best thing on telly. 

[LEE]

Just seen episode 4.  I'd say my interest level has slipped from 10 to 8

[citoyen]

Glad it's not just me. Tbh, I'm getting a bit bored of it. Every plot development is so unsubtly telegraphed as to kill any tension there should have been.

d.

[mattc]

Yup, not as pacey as it should be. Spooks would have got the whole series plot into a 2-parter. I've lost count of episodes, but i thought the bit where

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Kerry 'just bumps into' Moony at the support group meeting

was a genius idea - could lead to all sorts of intrigue. Or it might not ...

meanwhile, in Rubicon, just when I thought it was grinding to a halt, a terrorist actually blew stuff up! Only 1 episode left in the series 

[LEE]

Re. The spoiler above.  If Brody doesn't get suspicious then it's crap so I'm hoping he DOES realise that...

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He was always likely to be under surveillance and that there is no chance that a CIA officer would just happen into a "squaddies" support group. He may be playing her just as she thinks she's playing him.

The more obvious/pathetic storyline is that CIA officer has fallen for Brody after months of surveillance and that Brody falls for someone who "understands my pain man!"

I'll quit watching if it's that simple.

I'll keep watching if Brody is double-bluffing her.

[mattc]

Re. The spoiler above.  If Brody doesn't get suspicious then it's crap so I'm hoping he DOES realise that...

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You're spot on with those points. My view is slightly more positive; there should be a little of ALL those options in a really clever script.

Kerry is BOUND to feel some attraction to Brody under the circs - the question is how much, and whether it clouds her judgements.
Brody might play her, or he might fall for her*, or possibly both! None of these would tell us for sure whether he's a turrrrrrorist!

We're into proper spooks (with a small s) territory here - people suspecting each-other, but never knowing for sure, cos the double-bluff is always on the cards, and who can they ask for a 2nd opinion?!? The Le Carré legacy 

What I liked about that episode was that it appeared to be an ad-libbed tactic. She doesn't know what she's doing, and we don't know for sure their motivations. All we know is that she's desperate for a result, and doesn't mind breaking a few rules ... (here we go again).

*Given that Brody's been cuckolded from the start, there was ALWAYS a strong possibility they'd write him into Kerry's arms. I think I agree that this would be too easy and crass, if that was all there was to it ...

[citoyen]

All of the above seems almost inevitable, given that...

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Carrie's mental instability has been so prominenty flagged up from the start and is bound to play a large part in how the plot develops.

d.

[LEE]

All of the above seems almost inevitable, given that...

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Carrie's mental instability has been so prominenty flagged up from the start and is bound to play a large part in how the plot develops.

d.

It just did. 

I'm still watching it.

[keeks]

Love this series, can't wait til next Sunday.

[Notsototalnewbie]

I am pretty impressed with Claire Danes’ portrayal of someone with bipolar; it is uncomfortably familiar (my nan had it).

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Are we really supposed to believe that they’ve turned not one but two of them, or is there another twist coming…hmmm…

[citoyen]

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Are we really supposed to believe that they’ve turned not one but two of them, or is there another twist coming…hmmm…

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It seems pretty clear that they've both been turned, unless they're really leading us up the garden path. The clues from last night's episode suggest that Dana is somehow going to be involved in the denouement. Whatever happens, we know Brody doesn't use the suicide vest on himself because there's going to be a second series.

d.

[mattc]

I am pretty impressed with Claire Danes’ portrayal of someone with bipolar; it is uncomfortably familiar (my nan had it).

Yesterday was a really good episode - a very moving scene, even for the "bipolar layman", IYSWIM.( I thought Kerry's management were a little bonkers to expect her back at her desk quite so quickly after being bombed - even without bipolar!)

OT somewhat: Dana's boyfriend looks just like (a younger version of) the last mainstream bipolar character I'm aware of in decent TV, wossername's brother in 6'Under.("Billy" IIRC?)

[Notsototalnewbie]

Did anyone else see this through to the end of the series? We just saw the last one on iplayer.

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I do think we could have done with knowing how Walker was turned, as otherwise I personally find the fact that they managed to turn both of them too much.

Also I thought that the approach of changing ideas rather than blowing people up was always potentially a better idea and was wondering why he didn’t just do that in the first place, given his new position placed him to do so (I know he did the video to explain, but I doubt that the powers that be wouldn’t have hushed that up anyway and just made him look like a brainwashed lunatic).

[mattc]

Yes indeed. really enjoyed it. Great ending, too. I think every episode had something I didn't expect.[Like the occasional one where Mrs B kept her clothes on].

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Also I thought that the approach of changing ideas rather than blowing people up was always potentially a better idea and was wondering why he didn’t just do that in the first place, given his new position placed him to do so

Well, I guess it depends on how good a politician/5thcolumnist/spy he is. His training is as a Marine - maybe his only qualifications are to get near the VIPs, not actually have them listen to him.

But this is irrelevant really, isn't it? Dramatic licence required him to survive!

Oh, and the plot was easier to follow than the Bridge!

Disturbing personal digression:

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I dreamt about Claire Danes after the last episode. No, I wasn't electroshocking her, and she was fully clothed. I'd been persuaded to star opposite her in a school production of Romeo+Juliet, it was the first full run-through, and I hadn't learnt a single line. weirdly, we were both our current ages (i.e. not 16 again).

[Mr Larrington]

Did anyone else see this through to the end of the series? We just saw the last one on iplayer.

Yes, and as MattC says it was a lot easier to follow than Bron/Broen/The Bridge.  I en't got a clue what's going on there apart from the entirety of Scandiwegia being populated by nutters.

[mattc]

The new series is going pretty well. Danes is ... well, bonkers 

But this week drove me completely bonkers. Why the hell didn't Brody ask why they're holding him, or who the fuck they are?!? OK, so they might not tell him ... but the whole business is just deliberately vague. I know, I know - suspension of disbelief yadayada ... but this programme is on the whole pretty cohesive, story-wise. It's not some action fantasy. <grump>

Fingers crossed they get through this ...

[De Sisti]

The new series is going pretty well. Danes is ... well, bonkers 

..... I know, I know - suspension of disbelief yadayada ... ... <grump>

[LEE]

I just watched the "why the hell are they holding him and who are they?" episode.  I'm still one the wiser.

A bit frustrating but, on the whole, it's amazingly well made.  Production values are incredible.

I see Claire Danes is credited with Producer.  I can't even imagine what the producer and star of such a hit US TV series earns.

[fuzzy]

They'll probably have to get in line behind her Maj's finest.

We're not hunting you Sam.

We KNOW where you are

[mattc]

I just watched the "why the hell are they holding him and who are they?" episode.  I'm still one the wiser.

Dear One the Wiser,

This week's is a lot better.  Thank fuck (as Carrie might say).

Yours,
Matt the Happier

[Gattopardo]

So never got beyond season1..is it worth going to season 2?

[LEE]

Crikey !

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Carrie was in deep cover in the Mental Health Unit

I didn't see that coming.

[mattc]

I didn't see that coming.

Nor me. 

_{( Do you think Brody is too?!? )}