Homeland Review: “Beirut Is Back” (Season 2, Episode 2)

The mission takes place, the special ops are positioned, and Carrie, Estes, and Saul are all keeping in contact. A slight scare happens when the two vans pull up as the streets are being cleared up, but that is immediately shrugged off. Just when everything seems to be going well, Brody is invited to a viewing of the operation. Nazir arrives confirming Fatima’s information. Just when the snipers are about to take their shot, Brody texts Nazir and warns him of the danger. Nazir runs back into the car and the operation ends in failure.

To me, Carrie had to be proven right on this operation. There would be no way they would set her up for failure knowing her fragile position among the CIA. Nazir had to appear, but we all knew he would get away. When Brody showed his face, Nazir’s escape was clear as day. It’s moments like these where Brody’s allegiance should be used –  in places where it can cause some sort of a push to the story. It was a bit obvious as to how this scene would play out, but everything worked the way it should in order to keep the story and the characters credible – Carrie especially.

Immediately following the failed operation, Carrie and Saul pick up Fatima as she was promised safe haven back in the U.S. in exchange for information. Carrie breaks into the house of Fatima’s husband and steals a bag and a pile of papers as the car is being assaulted by locals. Saul makes the decision to drive away seeing as how the crowd has begun breaking the windows. Some of the assaulters see Carrie and shoot at her, making way for a chase scene ending with Carrie being saved.

And now the suspense is back. That horrible yet invigorating feeling of uncertainty this show does so well. I was screaming at Carrie and calling her stupid, but I knew this scene had to happen. She had to find information and she had to find it in the most nerve-wracking way possible.

The most beautiful thing was the silence. The footsteps, shooting, and voices all worked together to make the best music they could have chosen – it reminded me of The Hurt Locker, a great great film. Product placement aside, not only was Carrie’s position suspenseful, Fatima’s was as well. In the first season, Carrie’s asset was killed and I feared the same would happen to Fatima, but she got away and is safely in Detroit, a move that improves Carrie’s credibility.

Earlier, Brody’s old friend Mike spoke with Brody due to his suspicions of Tom Walker’s demise. Walker was known to never have missed a shot and to have him miss three on the day everything went down was very suspicious indeed to the Marines. When Brody met up at the bar with his other Marine friends, they questioned him further and he reminded them that Walker was a traitor and they shouldn’t be speaking about him. He later goes home and has that Brody/Dana moment we all love. Nothing much to say about these scenes other than it gives us more on Brody.

It’s the final scene that makes this episode. Up until this point, I was writing everything off as filler. Upon investigating the bag Carrie stole from Fatima’s husband, Saul finds a memory card. He puts it in his laptop and out comes the video Brody made in last season’s finale: the one where he reveals everything.

My jaw dropped to the floor and beyond when this happened. I certainly wasn’t expecting it to happen so soon, but Homeland continues to keep its viewers happy. I know there has been some questioning on to whether Saul is a mole or not so in the next episode, these questions will hopefully be answered. I had thought that someone would slowly deduce Brody’s treason, but to have it blasted in my face was more than I could ever ask for.

This show knows it cannot drag things on, this show knows how to make a jaw-dropping episode and this show knows how to make a proper television series. The third episode will prove to be pivotal as I wait on the edge of my seat for a week.

HOLY CRAP!