An ode to Homeland
***SPOILER ALERT***
It’s been almost a decade since Clare Danes came hurtling on to our screens as the energetic, uncontrollable but extremely sharp CIA officer we now know (and love) as Carrie Mathison. Eight seasons later and the show has drawn to a close. Over the years, Homeland has won a plethora of awards including the 2011 and 2012 Golden Globe for Best Television Series – Drama for the first two seasons. Clare Danes, Damien Lewis, Mandy Patinkin, Morena Baccarin and Rupert Friend have all also won awards for their stellar performances throughout the course of the show.
Image: Showtime
Never has a TV show made me cling to the edge of my sofa so frequently. Homeland’s plot is rooted in the real world, but it is utterly unpredictable which is only a testament to the quality and depth of the writing. Many of you will recall when Charlie Brooker was reported to have predicted the future with his groundbreaking episode of Black Mirror where the prime minister has sex with a pig. A few short years later we discovered that this was in fact true for David Cameron – and the pig. But there has been a lot less discussion around the spooky predictions of Homeland. Over the years we have seen Islamic extremist attacks on European cities, the idea of ‘fake news’ surface, Russian interference in US elections, and a US president-elect at war with the country’s intelligence agencies – first on our screens, and later in real life.
We travel around the world throughout the course of the show, learning about culture, people and politics across the globe through Carrie’s lens. The United States obviously features heavily, as does Iraq, Beirut, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Berlin with each season unfolding around a different country and its ties to America. It is worth acknowledging that many people find the show extremely problematic for perpetuating racist stereotypes on prime-time TV and essentially performing as another stage for American propaganda to shine. However, I will not be delving into the complex issue of race in Homeland in this review as I am not best placed to offer a sufficient analysis of this issue. Homeland is an enjoyable show for its characters, its plot and its action filled plot – not for factual information.
Season one was explosive, centering on Carrie Mathison investigation into Nicholas Brody, a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper, who had recently been recaptured by American forces after being held captive by al-Qaeda. Mathison believed that he had actually been turned and was working with al-Qaeda to carry out a terrorist attack in the United States – but the rest of the CIA didn’t agree with Mathison’s instinct. It is this hierarchical struggle that the later seasons continues to explore so adeptly. Carrie is constantly on the peripheral at the CIA, with many choosing to disregard her sometimes erratic thinking which is usually based on gut feeling. However, Saul Berenson trusts Carrie and her instincts immensely and he ensures that she remains an important and central figure in the CIA, despite her mental health challenges. Clare Danes, although meme-ified online for her extreme crying face, gives an incredible insight into an individual functioning with bipolar through her portrayal of Carrie Mathison.
Season one, two and even three could have quite easily been marred with a development of Carrie and Brody’s relationship, but instead her ongoing struggle with bipolar is explored deeply, alongside her friendships and her work which emerge as equally central themes. This is reflective of Carrie’s life, whereby her job is her defining quality and it is where she functions best. Later we see Carrie become a mother, which is another failed relationship for her as she quickly gives up the responsibility of caring for her daughter. Carrie’s relentless and determined attitude to everything, and her arguably dogmatic approach to life, is inspiring to viewers. She has taught me to go after the things that I want and to always believe in myself and my ability.
Image: Showtime
Although Carrie’s relationships are complex and often end negatively, her friendship with Saul is the most consistent and reliable one that she has. It is the development of this friendship that has been one of the most interesting to see played out for the last nine years. The strength of Carrie and Saul’s relationship was truly put to the test in the last season, but the last moments of the TV show demonstrated how much faith and trust they have in each other. Carrie almost went through with a plan to murder Saul and to see him in such a vulnerable position because of her was heartbreaking – but, this is a classic example of their tumultuous relationship. The two are so similar in their dedication to the CIA, to their job, and to their country that they understand each other’s desire to always to the right thing – no matter who gets hurt. Espionage runs in Carrie’s blood, as it also does in Saul’s.
In the final season we see Carrie get romantically involved with Yevgeny, a Russian agent. But yet again, despite her critics within the CIA, Carrie proves that she will always put her job first and we see her outsmart and outmaneuver Yevgeny constantly. Right at the end of the finale episode, when it is felt that all is lost and that the CIA has lost all hope of Russian intelligence, we see that Carrie and Yevgeny are now a couple, living and working together in Moscow. Although they clearly had chemistry and most likely real feelings for each other, Carrie’s secret message to Saul is the final demonstration of her loyalty. I don’t think I have ever felt truly satisfied at the end of a TV show, but somehow Homeland pulled it off. Although excitingly there is still scope for further seasons later down the line, viewers were not left on a huge cliffhanger nor did the characters ever lose their sense of self, and if they never make another episode ever again I think I’ll be okay with that too.
Words by Mollie Kate Cohen
