Scott Davis reviews Homeland season 3 on Blu-ray…
Of all the shows that have come out of the US over the past few years, none have been more widely watched or indeed talked about than Homeland. With its unexpected plot turns and political storylines that have had millions gripped to their seats across the globe, the show has become the staple of cable network Showtime, as well as keeping us UK’ers up late on a Sunday evening to see what would transpire next.
With season three about to be unleashed on home release for those still playing catch-up, the weight of expectancy and anticipation on the show on its original airing was huge, and found itself not just trying to stay ahead of the game, but at something of a story crossroads as to where the intricacies, double-crossings and everything in between would be heading.
It certainly left us on tenterhooks after season two’s shocking finale, but many had suggested that it was the final couple of episodes that ultimately saved it second time out, and so the question was whether Homeland had jumped the shark, or whether its early promise was finally going to pay-off. The answer, we are happy to report, is firmly planted in the latter.
As season three opens, America is still mourning the horrific terrorist attack that occurred at the CIA Headquarters. Over 200 dead, including CIA director David Estes, now Saul (Patinkin) has to pick up whatever pieces are left as interim director, with Dar Adal (Abraham) as his right hand man. Their first acts, which continue a-pace across the season, are three fold: firstly, trying to stop a congressional commission and its antagonistic chairman (Tracey Letts) from making the CIA redundant as an entity; second, reacting to the bombing by moving across the globe to find six main henchmen of a revolutionary Iranian division who are held responsible; and finally, to “shut down” both Carrie (Danes) and Brody (Lewis), the latter of whom has fled the country.
Carrie, dealing with her drink problems and having stopped taking her medication, she is seen as a liability for both her relationship with Brody and that as a former operative, with knowledge that many believe in the wrong hands could cripple the government and the CIA for good. Saul, under immense pressure from the congressional committee, is forced to expose Carrie’s mental state to the world and in turn blame her for the entire Brody debacle that in one way or another led to the bombings, and his subsequent fleeing.
From here on, it’s best to go into season three with little or no more information about where the show ends up going, but one thing is for certain, it is certainly a rollercoaster, and a superb one at that. Twists, turns, bluffs, counter-bluffs you name it the whole gang is here, but what makes Homeland even more compelling than it’s storylines are the phenomenal performances across the board, which help elevate to it the highest of levels. Claire Danes, who has performed wonders throughout the show proving that there is life after Juliet, is astounding here. Carrie is put through the grinder in season three, whether it’s to do with mental hospitals, her fractured relationship with Saul or her complicated love affair with Brody, she doesn’t seem to be able to catch a break. But all of those “speed bumps” would count for nothing if it weren’t Danes behind the wheel.
The same could be said for the wonderful Mandy Patinkin, who is arguably the star man of season three. Thrust into an even bigger position of power, Saul is taken right to edges of his soul and back again, becoming as agitated and incensed as he has ever done, leaving us wondering at many points throughout if he has the power to pull himself back. But in Patinkin’s astonishingly dominant performance, everything about Saul is still graceful and classy as ever.
Supporting turns from F. Murray Abraham, Tracey Letts, Rupert Friend, Nazanin Boniadi and the late James Rebhorn (among many others), all add class and flair to proceedings in abundance to keep the season ticking over. It’s a shame then that the only downside to the show is Brody and his family.
One could argue that the Brody strand of the show has long since lost its appeal, and is the element that is perhaps the one that is holding the show back from exploring new horizons and new levels. Lewis is still fantastic in the role, but the character now seems perfunctory and more obligatory than anything else, as if the show has to have him for it to be called Homeland. It must have been something playing on the producer’s minds going in, as the majority of the Brody clan is sidelined for much of the season, with most of their story strands taking place in the first few episodes.
While much was made of its previous season and whether it had run of out steam before it really got its engine running, the newest season of Homeland is back with a vengeance, and is a hugely rewarding watch. Slickly directed and written, the show again tackles some major themes involving terrorism, governmental politics and the US’s roles in world issues, while still maintaining its high energy and rip-roaring pace. Add to that another set of superb turns from Danes and Patinkin, Homeland finally lays to rest any of the fears of “second album fatigue”. Television at its finest.
Scott Davis
Originally published September 8, 2014. Updated April 13, 2018.
