TV Review: Homeland (Showtime)
"Espionage" is the one word answer to the question: Describe HOMELAND with one word? When foolish NBC cancelled LIFE starring Damien Lewis, there was a sense that this actor could have carried the show into some amazing writing. He prompted the audience to invest in his character and the mystery surrounding his past. His character was jailed for a crime he did not commit, then was released after years of incarceration. This parallels Nicholas Brody, a marine who has been MIA for the past 8 years, presumed dead and rescued in Afghanistan. Again NBC and network television drop the ball.
Carrie Mattison (Claire Daines ), Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin ), Jessica Brody (Morena Baccarin ), David Estes (David Harewood ), Mike Faber (Diego Klattenhoff ), Dana Brody (Morgan Saylor ) and Chris Brody (Jackson Pace ) are the characters that make up the core players who will impact the return home of Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody.
The ability of the writers to incorporate the events in Brody's imprisonment with the present time on U.S. soil give incredible credence to the storylines. Those who are supposed to be part of our military who use and abuse our soldiers are no better than Al Qaeda or any other terrorist group. Military personal are not allowed to question actions or requests of their superiors - is this really any different from a terrorist group? NO. These are some of the actions that will provide the thought provoking storylines that will put this show as one of the top releases of the fall season.
Nicholas Brody is home after being held prisoner for eight years and must realign himself with a life of freedom. Does he have alternative motives? Can he reconnect with his wife? Jessica Brody has begun to build a life with her husband's best friend. Is Nicholas aware of the connection his wife has with Mike Faber? Can a relationship with his children exist after everything he has survived? Will Carrie Mathison, along with her boss Saul Berenson, find evidence that Nicholas Brody has turned on the United States of America, or is he just a Marine rescued from his captors who is looking to rebuild his life?
Is this more about the gray in the middle than the black & white? Most shows give you all the information and just write to entertain. HOMELAND makes the audience question, think, and be more than a couch potato. Alex Gansa, co-creator, executive producer, and writer, is pursuing storylines that question every aspect of one man's life. Job, family, even friends, get a second look as the viewers will quickly want to go deeper into each character. This is one show that can not be DVR'd, and it will become difficult to wait an entire week before the next episode.
