Homeland: Season 2

HOMELAND is an amazingly well-written show with a dream cast. All of the pieces fit together in keeping this political drama moving in surprising directions. The writers have kept the momentum in Season 2 as alliances and motives shift. The writing is crisp and fresh and stimulates the viewer with a story that delves deep into political, social and moral issues. Here is a show that excels in being well-written, absorbing and intriguing.Season One left CIA agent Carrie Mathison's life shattered. There could have been no better choice to play Mathison than the lovely Clair Danes. Confident Mathison with a remarkable "gut" instinct fell into the depths of dispair in Season One. Her career and confidence were gone. This hotshot agent became a shell of her former self as she began to question the truth behind rescued hostage Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) and his ties to his former captor the terrorist Abu Nazir.In Season 2, Brody is a congressman fast on his way to becoming a major force in politics. He becomes top choice as the Vice-Presidential candidate when the current VP runs for the Presidency. Brody seems to have it all as he tries to mend the rift with his wife and children. Mathison's life was destroyed in Season One when her theory that Brody had been "turned" by Abu-Nazir was "proven" wrong--though the viewer knew all along she was correct with her idea.Season Two does not disappoint in its revelations that Mathison's instincts were not wrong. She is on the road to recovery and teaches English as a Second Language when the CIA comes calling. Although it is not clear how she returns to the CIA, somehow she again becomes a major force in the agency. Let the intrigue continue.HOMELAND keeps us wondering as characters, especially Brody, seem to change alliances and beliefs. How would someone return to their former life after years in captivity? How do "good" people become twisted with hate and revenge? There are some fascinated character studies here as new players are introduced this season. Zuleikha Robinson is outstanding as the Palestinian and British-educated journalist Roya Hammad. Hammad is beautiful and thoroughly wicked and devious with contacts in high levels of government. She becomes Brody's mysterious handler and connection to Abu Nazir. Hammad's sinister nature proves that evil can come in any form. Robinson brings depth and substance to the misguided Hammad.Each episode only gets deeper and deeper into the minds of Brody and Mathison who re-ignite their volatile relationship as Brody's family life deteriorates beyond repair. There is a fascinating journey with a moral tinge. Who can be trusted and what is anyone's true intention? Even the "good" guys can be bad. Danes gives Carrie Mathison an edge that becomes more and more disturbed as she questions Brody's intentions. Her confused doe-eyed gaze that hovers between madness and sanity say more than any words could.I'm hooked and can't wait for Season 3 on DVD. One disappointing note to mention are the bland and sparse "extras" that are included in this DVD set. Damien Lewis's Super 8 Movies-yes, he apparently still has an ancient Super 8 camera-does have some fun behind-the-scenes footage featuring cast and crew. Unfortunately, the extras are limited and give very little insight into the filming and visual effects and storyline.HOMELAND is a fascinating exploration of life in the modern age of terrorism and political unrest. The writers are abreast of current events and the show has a force of reality that is rare on TV.

A lot of people are complaining that season 2 falls short of season 1; that there is too much about the relationship between Brody and Carrie which gets in the way. I assert that season 1 lays the groundwork for how their relationship develops and becomes more complicated and troubled in season 2. Also, many aspects of the events that deal with the war on terrorism that are set forth in season 1 play out in season 2. The events of season 1 and 2 are intertwined and connected.I am not going to offer any "spoiler" comments here but the events in both seasons, especially season 2, are becoming all too familiar these days. This show is, of course, fiction but in a way is not. The last episode called "The Choice" leads us to believe that there may be a happy ending with respect to the relationship between Carrie and Brody but the horrors of terrorism get in the way. The finale is a visceral, intense and disturbing experience.But, with respect to the complaints about season 2, there may be a little too many "mushy" moments between the two protagonists. But, in an interview in the season 2 extras Danes says that these moments make the tone, at least for a while, be more "human." I get that. Both seasons run through at a almost fevered pitch, somewhat like many episodes of my other favorite, "24." But "24" also allowed Bauer to have some moments of his own, even though they were few. They do not take away from the show but make the characters seem more real.The writing as in season 1 is brilliant. I am especially moved by how Danes portrays bi-polar disease. She must have looked into the issue or been around people who know what it is like to be bi-polar; to have episodes that can be manic at one time and suddenly become depressive. As someone who has dealt with this problem it is wonderful and also a little scary to witness by Danes' astonishing acting how the disease can over, even consume, one's personality. Her bi-polar moments were almost like a mirror. Maybe not that extreme but a mirror nonetheless.I have to add the the casting is brilliant. Having Mandy Patinkin as Saul who becomes Carrie's father-figure is wonderful. He is such a great actor and I am glad he took on this part. His somewhat world-weary tone is unmistakable. Also how he respects and is confused and frustrated by Carrie's behavior is great. Nobody else could have played Saul. Watch for his very moving prayer, in Jewish, at the end. You don't need to understand the words to realize what his prayer is about. Why he is praying becomes evident. I loved that brief moment in the finale.One of the actor in the show that nobody talks about is Morgan Saylor who plays Brody's 16 year old daughter. I am always amazed how film and TV shows can find really great kid actors. Saylor is excellent. She acts like a typical teenager but her character also calls for depth and sensitivity and Saylor does quite well. Check out her reactions to her father's actions in the show's finale and you will see what I mean.A TV critic for the New Yorker said that Homeland is the best show on TV. I could not agree moreSo, if you love season one 1 cannot afford to miss season 2.

Fair warning, this will contain spoilers from season 1, and hints (but no major spoilers) from Season 2. If you have not seen season 1 proceed at your own risk.The fist season of Homeland was very original and told a very good story. Brody, who had been a POW in Iraq was turned into a terrorist and a part of a plot to execute a terrorist attack in America, which he backed out of. At the end of season 1 only the viewers knew the truth. That changes very quickly in Season 2. The tape he made confessing to the bombing he backed out of comes back to haunt him in multiple ways in the second season.I cannot say too much without giving away a lot of what happens, but there is another terrorist plot in the second season that we don't know the full extent of until about 3/4 of the way through the season finale. Many of the characters and relationships in the show change, and there are a couple very big twists. The season ends with some things resolved and other questions left open. It definitely leaves the show to go into a very interesting direction in the third season and will hopefully keep Brody's storyline from getting worn out.The acting and writing of the show are both top notch again. I do not think there was a downturn in either from season 1, even though there are some far fetched moments. The A/V quality of the blu rays are very good, as you would expect. There is not a ton of bonus material. There is a very short prologue to the third season, a short film by Damien Lewis, a making of the second season feature and some deleted scenes. There are also commentary tracks on selected episodes. All in all, if you are a fan of the first season, you will most likely be a fan of the second.