Saturday 20 October 2012

The Beginning of the End - Homeland Season 2 Episode 2

Carrie and Saul are reunited, but a chance to catch Nazir in Lebanon sweeps them into a series of unexpected conflicts in the second episode of the season. 




In my humble opinion, Homeland continues to be one of the best shows on the box right now, judging from this week's episode, a nicely paced hour of thriller entertainment that builds up to a satisfying and well-earned crescendo. 

Carrie is back in her element in Lebanon, making difficult decisions and getting on her colleagues' last nerve (once again) as she struggles to capitalise on an opportunity to catch Nazir. Once again, the series excels off the back of Danes' assured performance. Her breakdown before Saul on a rooftop in Lebanon is a perfect example of the actress's range. 

This character has truly been through the ringer in her pursuit for truth, and this episode is a great example of the emotional agonies she is forced to endure. Why can the other characters not see what we see: that she is frakking right about Brody!? 

And Brody himself is sinking, buckling under the conflicting pressures of his loyalties to Nazir and his family. Lewis plays this superbly, depicting a devoted father who is struggling to cope with the choices he has made. But he's run out of time. People are making demands from him on all sides, and it's clear that he's not going to be able to keep everybody happy for long.

If Carrie's current crisis is due to a lack of recognition, then Brody's comes through his overexposure - he's now firmly in the public eye, far too visible to sit on the fence. 

But the true value of this week's episode lies in that ending. For the sake of those that haven't seen it I won't give too much away, but the final scene reveals that there might be light at the end of the tunnel for Carrie after all... 

What did you think of this week's episode? Do you have any predictions of what will happen next to Brody?

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