I’ve been told that hate is a pretty strong word, but in this case, I feel pretty comfortable using it. Homeland was easily one of my favorite new shows this year; in fact, if I hadn’t fallen so head over heels for the extended world of Westeros in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Homeland might actually be at the top of that list.
It was a superbly plotted first season, where the writing and overall production value was exceeded only by the stellar performances by the cast. There are not enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe Claire Danes’ performance as the incredibly talented, yet incredibly screwed up CIA analyst Carrie Mathison. I was also especially drawn into Mandy Patinkin’s turn as her mentor Saul Berenson. I was less impressed with Damian Lewis’ Nick Brody, but more on that in a minute.
Despite the previous eleven episodes, what went wrong with “Marine One?” Well, on one hand, absolutely nothing. If you expected — reasonably based on the title of this post — for me to tell you how horrible I thought it was, I hate to break it to you … it was a good episode of television. But as a fan of the first part of the season, I decidedly did not like how the season ended. I’m not surprised that there seems to be a significant number of people online that share the opinion (note: significant does not necessarily imply anything approaching a majority), but I am a little taken back by the response of television critics to that disappointment. It’s like they can’t even imagine a reason why we might think that way. Well, here are several of the reasons we do:
The Killing factor
I could make this point without referencing AMC’s much-maligned freshman’s drama, but since much of the discussion online resolves around it, it is hard to stay away from. Despite that, I’ll make my point, and if you see the connection, great. If not, well, in the words of the immortal Rhett Butler, “I believe in Rhett Butler, he’s the only cause I know” – oh, and that other famous quote by him.
The first eleven episodes of the series ratcheted up the tension – sometimes slowly, other times not – driving to the flashpoint of the culmination of Abu Nazir’s terror plot against the United States. For many, the question may have been whether or not Brody was a traitor. To me, the overriding question created by the series was whether or not Carrie Mathison would be able to stop the attack – which she obviously was (that she was the direct impetus for stopping the attack and that she will never be aware of that is a tragedy in and of itself). But if the show is about good vs. evil, or more specifically the immense amount of grey between those two constructs, then I want to see that paid off when the story comes to a close. Fact: Carrie Mathison saved the day, and ends up in the hospital. Fact: Nicholas Brody was complicit in an attack on the Vice President that left three people dead, and nearly killed many more with his bomb in the bunker. His punishment? Family intact (for now), Congressional campaign ready to spin up and all kinds of cozy with the next President of the United States.
I get that other fans may have not expected the closure I did – and I’m very happy that those fans got what they wanted. But Homeland built up my expectations, and then failed to meet them.
The Preview Problem
In the grand scheme of things, this is a relatively small complaint, but, as the song goes, it’s my party, and I’ll cry about it if I want to. The teaser for the finale, which ran immediately following episode 11, went a long way towards ruining the suspense of “Marine One” for me. Homeland spent much of the eleventh episode building up the idea that Abu Nazir’s plot is much more complex than we think. Team CIA had believed the attack would be a single sniper, but Super-Carrie posited that the plot ran much deeper than everyone else believed. We knew she was right, because we knew at the very least that Brody was in the plot. Great! Roll credits, and the preview pretty much spells out exactly what the plan was. Then, when watching Brody flummox with the detonator switch, I remembered that the previews also showed bits and pieces of the final confrontation between Walker and Brody. It would be pretty hard for Brody to confront his old teammate if he were vaporized in the basement of the State Department.
I recognize that this is a problem that many shows face. But as I thought about the different things that ruined the finale for me, knowing what little bit I could intuit from the preview affected my viewing experience. For better or worse, it belongs on this list.
The second season story
When the CliqueClack team was discussing the finale this week, someone asked me what I thought was going to happen. They couldn’t kill off one of the stars of the show, right? Honestly, that is what I always thought was going to happen. Season two would be Carrie, Saul and the rest of the CIA confronting some new threat to our country’s safety. Brody would be dead or imprisoned, but wholly irrelevant to the ongoing story.
Now, I’m not entirely sure what the show will be about going forward. Will we get a little West Wing-style political intrigue? Nick Brody, working to avenge Issa’s death from inside the government by … what? Blocking legislation? Blocking pork barrel spending in the VP’s home state? A neutered terrorist is a considerably less interesting terrorist, at least in my book.
I will hold my tongue on Carrie’s status. The producers have stated that they have a plan for getting the ex-agent back in the spy game, and I can see a couple of different logical scenarios to get her involved again, so I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt – for now. Allowing her to walk back into Langley is one thing; coming up for a plausible reason for her to stay is another story.
Nicholas Brody, leading man
I know some viewers connected with Brody during the course of the season, but I could not. I’ve been a fan of Damian Lewis since the first time I watched Band of Brothers, but I found it difficult to watch him here. That is not a comment on his work as an actor; no, he did phenomenal work worthy of the cast that surrounded him. No, I just hate Nick Brody. People say that there is some ambiguity in him, that he might not be a traitor because he did not go through with his mission. I disagree; in fact, I never doubted it. When, after the first couple of episodes, others debated whether or not he had been turned, I felt that it was obvious.
I’m so disgusted with what this character would do, and had done, that I really cannot connect with him anymore. This is the kind of character that I’d much rather see sitting in a jail cell as I watch the hero of the show, Carrie Mathison, kick a little ass, saving the world for you, me, and both sides of her bi-polar personality.
If you loved the finale, as it seems most people — and just about every television critic on the planet — did, my goal wasn’t to change your mind. I’m happy as I can be that you and your show will live happily ever after. No, my only intent today was to give voice to those of us that were disappointed in what happened Sunday night. The only response I’ve seen to those of us that share that opinion is one of incredulity — that we “don’t get it.” I contend that we were smart enough to “get” the show — we certainly were quick-witted enough to enjoy the first eleven episodes. In the end, Homeland simply turned out to be a different show than we thought it was, that we invested our time and appreciate into. And that, from my point of view, kind of stinks.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Dec 21, 2011 @ 09:37 EST5EDT
. . . . .
Now? I need to catch up …
I definitely disagree with the comparisons to The Killing. That finale just felt like they were screwing with us, as did the entire, “No, I’m totally done and DEFINITELY going to California, you guys” nonsense that they played out in every single episode. The finale here didn’t feel like such a cop-out to me. It felt like an interesting way to turn the story – and I also would have felt that way if Brody had blown himself up. Most shows feel too “Safe” in terms of the main characters, but Homeland didn’t. I liked the fact that it felt like Brody or Carrie could conceivably be jailed or killed; it kept the stakes high.
I do agree with the promo issue though, and specifically started avoiding them after I heard people complain.
*POST AUTHOR*
Like I said, I didn’t watch the Killing after the first episode or two. My point more has to do with Homeland: From my perspective, I felt like I was owed some resolution. If fans of the Killing expected the same thing, then I think THAT’S the comparison: Unmet expectations. I don’t have a clue how “cop-out” the Killing finale was.
But, to your point about characters being “safe.” On some level, I think there could be a complaint that they went the safe route and kept Brody alive. The “braver” choice would have been to kill off a main character. Reading some of the interviews, it almost sounds like they were originally thinking in that direction in the first place.
There are MANY shows that tease with the “he HAS to die” approach with a main character, and then they don’t. But to HATE this episode because of that is a very powerful statement to make. The way they went about him not killing himself was done so well that even if I had a problem with it, it makes up for it.
I’m *all* for killing off major characters to cause the story to move along nicely, but I didn’t feel that was necessary here.
*POST AUTHOR*
Hate: “intense hostility and aversion usually deriving from fear, anger, or sense of injury.” I think that accurate.
When it comes down to it, though, I’m not blaming the showrunners, who crafted an excellent show.
Wait, you’re seriously using a definition for the word “hate” to give it meaning here? Then where’s the “fear?” Where did you get a “sense of injury?” Come now, Ivey.
It sounds like you’re backpedaling now. Then whose fault is it if it’s not the showrunners? Come on, tell them you hate them. Tell them!
*POST AUTHOR*
Not backpedaling in the least. In fact I started off by saying it was a good episode of television.
On one hand, if I have to lay blame, then it probably goes with me for thinking that the show was about something different. On the other, yeah, I guess I could blame the showrunners for letting me think that. But that just seems petty.
Yes, I hated the episode; “intense hostility deriving from anger.” Its a whole lot easier than “hating myself” for misinterpreting the first eleven episodes. Plus, a post about hating myself would be pretty depressing to write :)
Expectations are dangerous things. I can totally understand being frustrated if you expecting a resolution.
Also… so glad I didn’t watch the preview!
*POST AUTHOR*
Very true … If I’d known this was the type of show that would have this type of narrative style, I’d have been less likely to be interested from the beginning. I’m not blaming the show or the showrunners, because it’s their show, not mine :)
You don’t seem to be a good fit for this kind of show. If you want good prevails over evil in the finale, go watch 24 or even some superhero flicks.
Unfortunately the world is lot more than just pure black and white. There are far more grey areas. Am I the only one think Brody the terrorist actually had a point in his cause? He just went to extremes. But he has been through extreme circumstances in the last eight years.
I did agree they spoiled too much on the preview though. Overall it’s a great show and I can’t wait to see Season 2.
*POST AUTHOR*
You’re right, Becky. My point is that I thought that is what Homeland was going to be about. In fact, I think the point inherent to the bigger questions that were at work throughout the season: How do you define good vs. evil? I think if you’re going to answer that question then the next step is: What the good and the evil deserve?
An offshoot of your point: I would have been perfectly fine with evil triumphing over good in this case. However, to me, “nothing” happened in that regard. If their big question in Season One was “How do you define good and evil,” then obviously that question wasn’t answered. And if the point of asking the question was to get us to see that in many cases the question is unanswerable, then you’re right, Homeland turned out to be a show that wasn’t for me.
And, I doubt you’re the only one who thought that there were some justification behind Brody’s actions — even I will admit that they did an excellent job in painting the strokes of his story in varying shades of grey — but in the end, you’re right, he did go to extremes. Those extremes cost three (possibly innocent) people to lose their lives, and potentially many more if he went through with his plot.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
Homeland suffered from being renewed for a 2nd season. The show runner thinks “there’s still meat on the bone” vis-a-vis Carrie & Brody’s relationship. Homeland would have been stronger had they wrapped up Brody’s terrorism in one season.
I became excited during episode 6 because of the courage of the writers to lay all their cards out on the table – it was so refreshing! And so disappointing that it was a brief tease, not an evolution of scripted entertainment. I’m still waiting for a show to leave behind the soap opera tropes and risk renewal and just tell an excellent story, excellently.
I liked the finale. I think Damien Lewis’ performance in that bunker was palpable and intense. The fact that he was allegedly so committed to the task, but his daughter was able to talk him out of it, THAT was the out of character part of this story IMHO. Carrie is a little over the top with all the mania to still be functional as a real CIA agent (I mean nobody noticed that she has issues before this debacle with Brody?) and what on earth made her fall in love with him? He’s not warm and fuzzy and has quirky sex habits (scene with his wife early on – gross.) So there are a lot of holes in the storyline, but I enjoy it anyway. My husband always says “it’s a movie, it doesn’t have to make sense.” Well, to me it does. If you’re going to write it, write it so all holes are closed in the end. I’m absolutely thrilled that they did not kill off Brody; he’s too fascinating to watch. As for poor Morena, they sure didn’t give her much of a part here. The daughter gets more lines. They should have kept V on longer; she was outstanding as the evil queen in that get-up. Just my 2 cents.
I’ll give you your first complaint. It’s valid even if I don’t agree with it. But that is how you saw the finale and that’s fine. Hell, I’ll even concede to you that Brody as a character ruined the finale since you appear to have wanted good to triumph evil here (although, honestly, for me both the VP and Nazir were just two sides of the same fucked up coin in what is wrong with the world).
But your other complaints don’t actually have to do with the episode itself. The previews ALWAYS spoil things. But they’re not a part of the show itself, they’re a creation of the network independent of the series. Watched on DVD, VOD, or any other way outside of the network and they’d be a non-issue.
And your other complaint with this finale has to do with something that hasn’t even been produced yet! Your upset over what MIGHT happen next season…that’s just ridiculous! As long as you have any interest in coming back to see how this show pans out, you can’t really complain about what may or may not occur.
I believe that you were a little let down in comparison to other critics. But this whole article seems forced and unnecessary. Must be the holidays?
I agree with you on almost everything it was such a buzzkill after all that build up if they weren’t going to kill brody at least have carrie know she stopped him.
As you were looking for a nicely packaged digitally perfected series of clean answers to black and white questions, I certainly understand your angst. I, on the other hand, really appreciated the approach that this series and its ultimate finale provided; there are no clear right or wrong solutions in our gray analog world. In other words, while I certainly do not condone Brody’s solution, I truly now understand why he is pissed. This, for me, was the real twist to the finale. We all knew he was going to do something bad here, we just did not fully appreciate why. The finale gave us that.
While I really love this series, my issues with season one are more form over substance. As a Marine, I truly was experiencing gut-wrenching pain every time Brody put on his uniform. I had to be sedated in the one episode that he put on his dress blues. The mistakes are too many to chronicle here; however, here are some highlights for those Marines who read this blog. First, the writers screwed up Brody’s rank insignia. One day he was an E-5 Sergeant and the next he was an E-7 Gunnery Sergeant and the next a sergeant again. It appears that he was a Gunnery Sergeant the majority of the time, yet he still referred to himself and was referred to as “Sergeant Brody.” Never would happen in the Marine Corps. He would be Gunnery Sergeant Brody or, simply, “Gunny.” Second, Brody’s ribbon seniority and placement were completely FUBAR. Also, his freaking hair and sideburns were way out of grooming standards. In addition, as a sniper, I am pretty sure that he would have been a multiple award expert both with the rifle and pistol, so his shooting badges were wrong. Don’t even get me started on his hash marks. They were inconsistent depending on the uniform he put on and not reflective of his time in service. Also, Mike’s uniform and haircut were completely wrong and his achievement of the rank of Captain within the time period alloted was impossible.
These are just a few of the more glaring issues; however, there are many more. I know I am going to get feed back on this from non-Marines who don’t understand the importance of these seemingly mundane issues. Marines, though, are very, very sensitive about these sorts of things. If the producers want to make the central character a Marine, would it kill them or break their budget to hire a former Marine to advise them on some of the basics? Thankfully, as Brody now, somehow, is going to walk away from the Marine Corps and into politics, he probably will not be putting his uniform on any more. This is good for me as my cardiovascular system really needs the break.
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks for your feedback. Expecting shows to get the technical details about their subject material shouldn’t be too much to ask, but it often is. What I find odd though is that they weren’t consistant. His shown rank actually changed during the course of the season?
I often wondered about Mike. He was obviously enlisted before and became a Captain during Brody’s captivity. Seemed fast to me.
You were correct to wonder. It would have taken longer than Brody’s time in Syria for Mike to make Captain from an enlisted rank, unless he already had completed college and was about to be commissioned when Brody left. That is not the impression that the series gave us when the two were seen together in the flash back bus scene. Also, you were sharp to spot the inconsistency in Brody’s rank. He was an E-7 one day and then an E-5 the next. Huge difference and major oversight.
It is difficult enough for me to stomach that the producers chose to portray two Marines as traitors to their country. I am speculating here; however, this may explain the Marine oriented technical oversights as the producers may not have been able to find anyone from the Marine Corps, past or present, to provide the series with this much needed technical assistance. Having seen the finale and Brody’s explanatory video (where is that, by the way?) I have accepted the choice and understand its literary purpose. Part of the appeal of this series is that the producers have taken a seemingly fantastic and completely absurd premise and made it eerily realistic and acceptable. The accuracy issues that trouble me nearly spoiled the realism for me. I suppose that it is a testament to the quality of the story, the acting and the writing that I still love this series and am looking forward to Season 2.
Alex Gansa, one of the show’s creators, has mentioned they “messed up” on Brody’s uniform. So, I expect that would be corrected next season. Though, it sounds like he won’t be in uniform in S2 if he is running or has won political office.
If you’re disappointed in the outcome, that’s your right, but it seems like you’re suggesting that the show somehow misrepresented itself in its first 11 episodes, and I just don’t see it. I thought Homeland was absolutely true to itself in the finale.
This really isn’t a critique of the finale, but whether a critique of things that have nothing to do with the episode itself (The Killing, the promos, things that may happen in season two). If you judge the finale on its own terms it was a great episode.
People really need to not let outside influences and fears of the where the show may be going hamper their enjoyment of the series as it is now. It’s not fair to the show.
I agree with all thes points/counterpoints. I think that the ONLY reason Brody (whatever rank he is this week) turned and was ‘brainwashed’ was due to his affection for a sweet child who filled the void of his own children. I buy that he was swayed not to flip the switch when that affection played out again from his own daughter causing him to snap out of it. I do believe that this part should have been edited differntly perhaps with the phone call from his daughter coming before as well as hinder his time to fix the vest and then being ushered out of opportunity and/or have him then recognize the opportunity to ‘kill an idea’ as this was all going on. But hey, like Ivey said, It’s not my show. I am certainly watching it next season. I loved the whole show even though I was hoping for different.
A shout out to the Marines waying in on this. Not one myself, but many family members who are, I’d like them to fix the rank problems immediately in E1 next season LOL… Thank you all for your ‘unturned’ service!
*POST AUTHOR*
Thanks Jim.
I guess the biggest question for me now is will I watch the second season. It will be hard not to … Like everyone else on the planet, I was mesmerized by Claire Danes’ performance. I may have hated the choices made in the finale, and the direction season two is going to go, but it is hard to walk away from a show like this.
I’m sure I’ll be branded a hypocrite for watching season two, but as you can see by some of the comments above, I’m accustomed to taking shots to the body like this :)
OK, after thinking about all this. Here’s how this independant film maker (no I’m not looking for work) would have ended the finale.
when Brody flips the switch the first time… complete silence except for the flick of that switch. quick flash to a full white screen hold for 2 seconds then fade to credits.
Save the next 20 minutes to be thought out better for next season and use those 20 minutes earlier in the show to add a few more possible questions. THAT ladies and gentlemen is a cliffhanger.
terrible ending, I agree. it just kicked the can forward and didnt resolve any issue. a desperate attempt at keeping me intrigued with the same characters. the wire did it better.
There’s a careful balance in depicting immoral characters. I hate Brody. I have no sympathy for him, and I find myself just wishing that his scenes would just end already so that I can watch Saul and Carrie. Brody goes down with me as one of the most unlikeable TV characters, joining the ranks of despicable Baltar on Battlestar Galactica. Compare to a character like Father Justin of Carnivale, who was evil but compellingly watchable.
*POST AUTHOR*
See, ironically, I don’t think Baltar is in the same neighborhood. The worst thing Baltar was accused of was done without his knowledge (His complicity in the original Cylon attack).
Baltar did a lot of immoral things, the worst (which the show wrongly tried to gloss over) being purposefully and knowingly giving a nuke to Gina who suicide-bombed one of the ships killing hundreds/thousands of innocent civilians.
From the population count the following episode, it was thousands that died. I actually had thought it would be more at the time. That ship with all its gardens was one of the largest in the fleet, and if you watch the explosion closely, large chunks of the ship fly out and destroy several other smaller ships that were flying too closely as well. Yes, I also hated Baltar more for that than the destruction of the Colonies.
*POST AUTHOR*
An excellent point by QFT and Ryan.
Though I’d argue that Gina could have found a million ways to blow up the ship; the only different relevance that the nuke, and thus Baltar, had in the incident was the fact that it was the beacon that lead the Cylons to New Caprica.
“Though I’d argue that Gina could have found a million ways to blow up the ship”… what does that mean?
An Al Qaeda accomplice or bomb-maker who helps a suicide bomber gets a free get-out-of-jail card because the suicide bomber “could have found a million ways” to kill innocents with the help of any other accomplice?
Secondly, I think only Baltar was so stupid and unscrupulous to provide the means to enable Gina to killed thousands of civilians (and he did this after already facilitating the deaths of billions, neither of which prevents him from seeking presidency and later bringing terrible misery on New Caprica through negligence)
At least Brody is a real human character. Baltar was a walking plot device of untold endless death and misery, and IMO his legacy is a stain on Battlestar Galactica (even worse than the contrived finale).
*POST AUTHOR*
Fair points, all, sir.
I do think that Baltar is a little deeper than you give him credit for, though.
Yes, you’re right, the last episode of homeland was a disaster. I don’t want watch it no more. Thanks.
Fantastic Series; acting and more but I agree with the writer of this article except for this concern.
1. Carrie Mathison – has bi polar and is the only one who really knows what is going on. Even after solving the problem she’s made to look like a complete idiot, loses her job and no chance of return. Forced to doubt her self worth and sanity along the way. She takes the fall for everyone else’s incompetence with no support except for Saul who at the end decides to be a friend after being an antagonist. Even every episode – it’s Carrie that has the largest input and when it’s finally revealled she’s unwell – instant dismissal. So much for praising the asset. This is a typical stereotype that all bi polar people are crazy for being right.
2. Second stereotype – The Cia are idiots and don’t have a clue what is going on. This is just typical propaganda and makes most Americans look like clowns. Interesting for an organisation who knows everything about everyone – their top expert Carrie has bi-polar without their knowledge for “years” and no one else noticed a thing. It’s pretty obvious the writers of this series are telling us a statement in black and white. The CIA – are idiots.
3. Sympathy for Terroristm. How many terrorists would sympathize for the cruelty portrayed by the west and agree with this series in heart? If anything it sows seeds of distrust that pro-actively support the cause and justifies standing up for what you believe in no matter what – hence Brody’s long drawn out speech about the South and North’s Battle to his children. This is the moral of the story – stand up for what you believe in for enemies both overseas and domestic. In my opinion the people who wrote this episode are pro terrorism because of their portrayal of the cause; and the beliefs of patriotic vengeance and that even after 12 episodes the CIA dont have a clue how to catch these guys. Also the CIA leaders comments of justifying brutality – it’s just patriotic garbage that makes America look like the war mongering stereotypes many believe they are. How does that help America’s image – that’s what I wanna know. Tv shows like this should be about encouraging a good image – not glorfiying an image that many would agree. It is fascism pure and simple. In the old days anyone who spoke openly against a governments leaders were jailed. Today they are allowed to write television like this.
I concur whole heartedly. I could not agree more. That ending, excuse the language, just pissed me off. It’s a show where both sides end up doing dirty deeds as opposed to good ones. I mean not only was Brody not able to make his point, and this i was looking forward to even more than his long awaited capture; but even worse was that Carrie, the wrongly condemned took the fall for EVERYTHING. I just wanted to see Brody blow himself up mostly because I hated the CIA chief and Saul, not per se, but because he lacked initiative and was sitting on the fence with trusting Carrie. I just wanted Carrie to be able to say ” I told you so”
This is a repost because I want to make a point:
I concur whole heartedly. I could not agree more. That ending, excuse the language, just pissed me off. It’s a show where both sides end up doing dirty deeds as opposed to good ones. I mean not only was Brody not able to make his point, and this i was looking forward to even more than his long awaited capture; but even worse was that Carrie, the wrongly condemned took the fall for EVERYTHING. I just wanted to see Brody blow himself up mostly because I hated the CIA chief and Saul, not per se, but because he lacked initiative and was sitting on the fence with trusting Carrie. I just wanted Carrie to be able to say ” I told you so”