So Estes finally admits Carrie was right, but doesn’t trust her enough to lead a covert team. Enter Peter Quinn, a mysterious analyst who is appointed the leader of the team and clashes with Carrie at first, but the two learn to respect each other in the short amount of time they’re together. As a new regular, Quinn fits right in with the cast as the mystery of his origins in the CIA are questioned by Carrie as she has never met him even though he had been in Langley for six years. Quinn provides a jerk-ish yet welcoming sense of humor that you wouldn’t think would work, but does. I would love to see what Quinn is fully capable of and what monstrosities he committed in order to achieve his praise from Estes.
We also see the return of Virgil and Max as we go back to the earlier parts of season 1 with the whole spying on Brody thing. I expected to see this run for at least a few more episodes, but since that isn’t the case, I would assume Virgil and Max would fit in the story from now on by investigating Quinn. Still, it was in good taste to have that moment of nostalgia with the cameras and videos, but this time with the power of the CIA behind them.
I was bracing for impact when Carrie and Brody were to finally interact with each other again. The whole season so far had them doing completely different things, but with this reconnection, a whole new show has started. The chemistry was back, as was the pain. It was clear that Carrie still felt something for Brody. The way she would look at him showed the longing of intimacy she had only experienced for a short while. She even hinted that things would be different under wildly different circumstances.
Brody’s fear of Carrie’s reemergence was handled brilliantly as usual, but like Carrie, he wanted the intimacy of it all. Contrary to what Carrie thought – or what she feigned thinking – I’m sure Brody actually just wanted the booty call he so vehemently denied until she started threatening him with hints of Nazir. But even after that, his mentioning of the therapy was only a ways to actually close things off, not to provoke Carrie who once again went against everything she was told and decided to pursue Brody.
The last ten minutes or so was groundbreaking. When this show first started, the whole mystery was whether Brody had turned or not. When it was revealed he was, the story shifted to the indefinite discovery of Brody’s true allegiance. With only four episodes in, everything came together in a captivating confrontation between Carrie and Brody – performances which were clearly Emmy-worthy.
The minute Carrie blew her cover was the minute I almost choked on my drink. Never would I have imagined Homeland to take this many risks, but time and time again do they show that everything they do is gold. The best part of this scene was Carrie’s final words to Brody as he was taken away as she finally got her redemption. Pure television gold.
As to where they go from here, they could go the obvious double-double-agent route with Brody “working” for the CIA to uncover Nazir with the promise of a normal life with his family that has been so tormented by his treason or they could go a double-double-double-agent route, which would just be downright silly. Either way, Homeland always has a way to keep us surprised and watching.
With the reactions to the next episode being overwhelmingly positive, I am prepared for whatever they will bring.
