Homeland – Is there a leak?

I’m surprised to be writing this, but while “Representative Brody” moved the story forward, it lacked the conflict and action that I have come to enjoy on Homeland. There was too much talking. And, the neverending jazz scene didn’t help at all. Ok, so Saul is sad. We get it.

Despite that complaint, the story did advance and even this marginal episode of Homeland is better than much else on television. Plus, it contained one of the most disgusting, yet absolutely hilarious lines I’ve heard on a show from the Saudi diplomat Mr. Sahrani, “I suck cock and I love it. Yummy. Yummy. Yummy. Yummy.” Where do you go after that?

I guess you become a CIA asset because your family means more to you than anything else. But, did Sahrani really help the CIA or did he tip off Walker? This sting operation didn’t make much sense. If Walker went underground, how would he know that Sahrani put up a heart picture in his window? And, why didn’t the CIA intercept him then, rather than wait to go to Farragut Park? What am I missing? Futher adding to my confusion is that Walker and Sahrani met at the mosque, so when did that change to Farragut Park?

This brings me to the leak. Is there a CIA leak or are we being lead astray? So far there are three “leaks”: the razor blade given to Hamid, Aileen and Faisal were warned and left the house by airport, and Walker was tipped off about Farragut Park. I go back and forth about Saul. There seems to be more to his story than we are being told, but at this point I don’t think he is the leak. So, that leads me to Estes. Is Estes the leak? He seems to be the most logical person at this point.

Though, after this episode, I’m beginning to think there isn’t a leak at all. After the bombing, I wrote down the above three events as part of the leak, but then Saul mentioned the same three to Carrie. If there is a leak, why did it start right after Brody showed up?

Instead of a leak, we have a series of coincidences that appear to be a leak. How, you ask? Hamid had the razor blade in his shoe, Aileen and Faisal got nervous on their own and left or were tipped off due to the email trace the CIA conducted, and lastly, Sahrani set up the CIA by tipping off Walker with the heart drawing. Those are just as logical explanations as a leak. This is a question I hope is answered in the remaining two episodes, rather than carrying over to next season.

Walker has now committed an act of terror. That changes everything. I suspect the search for the leak will be the next CIA task besides the continued search for the now terrorist, Walker. He crossed the line from troubled, returned POW to a terrorist with this bombing. Now that Walker has officially been turned, will Brody take action against his country as well?

I don’t know what to make of Brody. He is a convincing liar, which makes it difficult to know what is real and what isn’t. I want to believe that he cares about his family and that he truly understands and forgives Mike. I’m just not sure it is true. Are they just a means to an end for him? He can’t win an election without their support. And, what are his ends? To do something against the US for Nazir or to help his country bring down Nazir? It could go either way.

What I am sure about is that Brody cares for Carrie. She just doesn’t fit into his plans. As Brody got turned against America with the killing of Issa, will Walker’s bombing and the injuries to Carrie be enough to wake him up? Will he be compelled to visit her? I hope this will be the beginning of Brody helping Carrie and the CIA to bring down Nazir. If not this season, that’s what season two is all about!

Odds and Ends

• The jazz scene was too much. Boring! Ok, we get it, Saul is upset his wife is gone. Did we need to sit through a few minutes of him at work getting food and eating peanut butter on a ruler? That made an already slow episode, painful to watch.
• “It’s a little incestuous, isn’t it? Why don’t we all just take off our clothes and get in bed together.” — Jessica
• Carrie is in the hospital. Will her psychological problem become documented? Through a blood test? A week without her meds would be problematic. Or, will her sister slip them to her?
• Carrie’s feelings for Brody, while unhealthy are real and aren’t going away anytime soon. How long before she makes a move on him? It was painful to watch her pain. Claire Danes has been amazing throughout the series, but tonight especially. She showed the pain so clearly without overdoing it. She’s definitely Emmy-worthy in this role.

Clacked by Carla Day
on Dec 05, 2011 @ 00:03 EST5EDT