Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Homeland 2


Homeland, season two—who's watching? Holy moley, is this show intense. I can't say anything more because I don't want to spoil anyone's viewing pleasure. I'll just say, every week I watch this show, and I have no idea where the writers will go next, nor where they can go. Every episode so far is as twisty and suspenseful as a season ender.


The show doesn't make you wait for answers, and that's part of its genius. That and the fact that for every question answered, for every exhale, there is another sharp intake of breath, a new question formed, and the acting is muscular and shaded.


Secretly bipolar CIA operative Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) and former POW turned Congressman Sgt. Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) will probably win Emmys for this season's performances. I wouldn't be surprised. This week, the show's writers took both characters to very dark places. Every week on this series, it's the end of the world. And then it not. And I keep watching.


11 comments:

  1. It's brilliant. I wish I could wait until the whole season was over and watch every episode back to back, but I can't.

    How amazing is her portrayal of of bipolar disorder? I have to admit, last season I kept thinking about Adam Ant while watching her decline - he suffers from bipolar too, and after years of taking medication that turned him into a zombie, is now drug-free. Which seems scary. But what do I know?

    Everything about this show is just perfect, and I especially love Mandy Patinkin. Wouldn't you love to see the Israli series it's based on? That would be fascinating, to see the differences.

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  2. ellen, i love Mandy Patinkin too! I saw him walking down Broadway last week when I was shopping with my daughter. He had on a panama hat and looked just like he does in the show! but wait, what is the israeli series that homeland is based on?? i don't know about that. would love to know more. and yes, clare danes' portrayal of carrie's bipolar disorder is so nuanced, so perfect, so heart rending at times. i am happy for adam ant that he's now drug free. for some people that works, especially with intensive and sensitive talk therapy.

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    1. The wikipedia page for the Israeli series is here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatufim It sounds like this one might be a bit less political than the American one. I'd love to see it, I can't find it anywhere, though. Not sure if it has English subtitles?

      The episode this past Sunday was extremely intense, even for this show (which is always intense). I cried two separate times... Of course, I am a weeper. :)

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  3. My husband and I discovered Homeland on Demand this summer and inhaled the first season. We could hardly wait for this fall for the next episodes. Intense is an understatement. This show keeps me on the edge of my seat and don't you just want to hug Carrie? I do! I love Mandy Patinkin too, and I've loved the actress who plays Sgt. Brody's wife since I watched the Firefly series. Just an outstanding cast and show all around, and I bet your Emmy prediction comes true!

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    1. Mel, i thought i would wait and watch the whole season at once as I did season one, but that went out the window once i peeked at the premiere. xo

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  4. You and I love the same stuff. I'm going through Season 1 on my Kindle Fire -- watching two to three episodes a night, in bed, with the lights out. OOOWEE - it's so damn good!

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    1. Elizabeth, we do! You turned me on to breaking bad and friday night lights, still my very favorites! I watched breaking bad similarly to the way you are watching homeland, on my kindle fire, under the covers at night, staying up till almost morning.

      dont you find the fire perfect for watching movies in bed?

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  5. Hmmmm...I haven't seen Homeland. I'm not even sure we can get it here. I wonder if it's on DVD through Netflix? Must look!

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    1. Steve, you can get it through amazon video, too, i think. worth watching if just for clare danes. her acting is amazing. she does so much with her face, with the quiver of her chin, a knitted brow, such a nuanced performance. and mandy patinkin is always great and damian lewis is, well...hot.

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  6. Must admit that I am quite addicted to this show. But I wish I could send the producers to the real Beirut, a cosmopolitan, vibrant city in a spectacular setting, with beach promenades AND very stylish women (no veils, hijab whatever). The Homeland "Beirut" looks like some hill town in deepest Yemen. Sad.

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    1. Sabine, i wondered about that! Thank you for adding this insightful comment. And nice to see you!

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