User Reviews

I enjoy fast paced thrillers. The plot has to move so fast that if you blink an eye-lid you miss something crucial. Homeland ensures that the intriguing plot does not lose steam. The performances of Claire Danes and Damian Lewis are simply outstanding. They look the part and essay their roles brilliantly. You start feeling for their characters. The story keeps you at the edge of your seat throughout. I am looking forward to watching Season 2

The story is good, even very good. But, Claire Daines is no less than amazing! This is a 9:5 easily.

Homeland came to the UK on a wave of praise from the US – or at least I'm pretty sure it did because after the first few episodes had screened in the US I had made a concerted effort to avoid all the talk on the internet from those a few episodes ahead. It was wise to do so because the crux of this story is that you don't know where it is going or quite what is happening, even when something seems pretty obvious and straightforward it is delivered with enough shading around it to include doubt and assumption. This works very well throughout the show and I was impressed by the pacing of it. Unlike 24 (a show I enjoyed a lot) Homeland moves at a very steady pace. The downside of this is that there are few moments where you are on the edge of your seat, because there are few "ticking clock" scenarios here and more just a steady creep of progress and twists.

Mostly this works very well because you are held as things are steadily revealed, twisted or changed in your understanding – the flashbacks are a big part of this as they present a muddling effect that enhances the already muddled present. I'm not sure how the show would play on a second or third viewing though, because the mystery is the all here and it is that sense of not being sure of anything that makes it as engaging as it was. The constant twisting when things are muddled helps later when things start becoming clearer and more "known" – because by this point the viewer is used to having half-truths in front of them so I was still sort of wary of fully believing everything that I was being shown.

The downside of this even pace is that occasionally we have sections where it feels like time filling – cougar moments if you will. Some of these are still engaging as side-threads informing the characters but sometimes they do feel like they are in there or extended to be able to fill a little bit more time that they should have done. This is a minor quibble though, because they are rather covered by virtue of the show being of a steady pace in the first place – so it isn't like moments in 24 where the constant forward motion would just seem to stop for the sake of stopping.

The cast play well with the constant sense of grey area. Carrie may well be a hard character to like but Danes plays her really well – she is a deeply flawed character and she works as such. Some of the plot contrivances don't full work in regards her character but Danes does well with them despite this. Lewis is by far the strongest of the cast – no matter what we think of him at any point in the show he is really well done, always giving enough to all points of view so that you never totally know where he sits or how to feel about it. Baccarin is stunning of course but also gives a good support and keeps the family side interesting although with good child performances – particularly the key relationship for Brody of Dana (Saylor). Patinkin is a real good presence, as is Harewood – even if it is a little odd for UK viewers to see him over there with an American accent! Homeland, despite the rave reviews, is not a perfect show and I don't think it would be as good coming back to it for a second or third viewing, but it is a well-paced and satisfying show that engages by having a constant sense of doubt about what everyone's motivations and aims are. Some of the red-herrings and cougar moments don't work particularly well but they don't disrupt the flow too badly and therefore are easy to forgive. I wonder how they can continue it into a second season while still maintaining the strengths from this first season, but for now this an enjoyable and engaging show.

There are some (I would go so far as to say many) TV shows that start off in a meandering sort of format. Because of renewal constraints or time schedules, the show producers just don't quite get into a groove until late in the first season or even beyond. Likely due to its existence on pay cable (Showtime), however, "Homeland" starts off with a bang and doesn't waver a bit for all twelve episodes of this first season.

For a basic plot summary, "Homeland" begins with government agent Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) investigating criminals of war in the Middle East. One one specific occasion, Carrie is told that an American POW has been "turned", or converted into a sleeper agent for Al Queda. At about the same time, U.S. soldier Nicholas Brody (Damien Lewis) is rescued after eight years of captivity. Is he the "turned" agent? As we (the viewers) are given closer looks at the lives of both Carrie and Nicholas, the mystery begins to unravel in tantalizing bits and pieces.

The hallmark of this show is easily the fact that the storytelling is paced so well. The show producers (much of the same team that contributed to "24", I believe) divulge everything so perfectly. Relationships are nurtured along (not rushed or prolonged), key plot points are parceled out bit by bit, and the characters grow a little bit with each situation. Only perhaps the very early season of "LOST" rival "Homeland" in terms of dramatic storytelling.

The acting is also top-of-the-line. Besides the two leads, great supporting performances are also turned in by Morena Baccarin, Mandy Patinkin, & Morgan Saylor, to name just a few. Each character has a specific purpose within the show, and all the actors realize that purpose and know how to use it to great dramatic effect.

Also, if (like me) you are a sucker for politically-themed dramas, then this will quickly rise up near the top of your "favorite shows of all-time" list. It manages to speak to many different political issues and events without taking sides or getting preachy, which is always refreshing.

Overall, I watched all twelve of these episodes in the span of days, not weeks. Even in such a short time frame (relatively speaking compared to season-long broadcast shows), so much happens that you'll feel as if you've watched twice the amount of actual fare. Suffice it to say that you'll be chomping at the bit for season two!

I came into this show well aware of the hype surrounding it. It had taken home several Emmy's and golden globes in its first year, which was quite an accomplishment. Once I saw it however, I quickly came to the conclusion that it was overrated. Not that it wasn't a good season, because it was very good overall, but it just is not as fantastic as people have made it out to be.

Carrie is a well thought out character: she's interesting, unreliable yet somehow reliable at the same time, and her illness provides great potential and unpredictability. For the most part she was handled well this season, and was portrayed so well by Claire Danes. However, I think Saul takes the cake for best character on the show. He's real, dynamic, and flawed despite coming across as a generally nice guy to be around.

But the character who should be the most interesting isn't. Nicholas Brody. No doubt the mystery surrounding his captivity and rescue makes for a good season, but he himself really isn't all that captivating. And once we find out who he is and what he's doing, the story takes a turn in a direction that does not hold open many doors for following seasons.

This is a show that does have a good premise, but it's one that can likely be solved in a single season or two at most. But where does it go from there? Likely the story branches out into so many different directions and angles that we no longer even acknowledge the fact that there indeed was a premise that sparked the show.

Unlike shows like The Wire, Game of Thrones, The Sopranos, or Breaking Bad, which all have premises that can sustain themselves for multiple seasons at which point the show gracefully ends rather than drawing out unnecessarily, Homeland does not.

Only time will tell, but ignoring all that, I can say that the first season was a successful run.

After wasting time to watch 12 episodes it is really disappointing to accept this as the last episode of the first season!!

Brody is still popular. And Carrie s sent to hospital. I hate to watch 8 season to get a good ending . I really like the series have good ending at each season. But now i guess i should Stop Watching that bcause i am not patient enough to watch 8 season to see Brody get what he deserve.