Tag: saul berenson

Watching Homeland Seasons 1-2-3 Twelve Years Later – Part II

Thank you all so much for reading my thoughts about rewatching Homeland Seasons 1–2-3…  twelve years later! I’m over the moon with how many of you checked out the post — though honestly, I can’t say I’m shocked. Homeland is suddenly back in Netflix’s Top 10, seven years after the series finale, so clearly we’re all finding our ways back to our favorite show together. I’ve been getting emails and messages from fans, and even our old Homeland posts from the early days of Fan Fun are getting tons of clicks again. It feels like a full-on revival… I am so happy!

As I told you in last week’s post, I have so much to say about my rewatch that I was not able to fit it all into one post — so welcome to Part II! Continue reading “Watching Homeland Seasons 1-2-3 Twelve Years Later – Part II”

Watching Homeland Seasons 1-2-3 After Twelve Years – Part I

I am home after surgery, supposed to rest, and “take it easy,” whatever that means. My main job is to kill time. I open Netflix.

And there it is.

Homeland.

For the first time, Homeland is on Netflix US, staring at me from the top row. I watched the entire show only once. I never rewatched it. Not a single episode. And now here I am, twelve years after that horrifying Season 3 finale, lying on the couch with time to burn… and Netflix presents me Homeland like a get-well card.

So, I click play.

A little bit of context for new readers: at a recent dinner party, we played a game. Everyone had to name three things that changed their life. My top three:

  1. The Live Aid concert in 1985 (I was 13, suddenly aware that the whole world could come together and watch the same thing).
  2. The assassination of a journalist in Turkey in 1992 (I was 20, and I learned what a state can do to its own citizens who insist on finding and reporting the truth).
  3. And… Homeland.

Yes, seriously. Homeland. Continue reading “Watching Homeland Seasons 1-2-3 After Twelve Years – Part I”

Falling Star Part Two: The Silence

“The Silence of a falling star lights up the purple sky.”

Hank

Season Three of Homeland is one of it’s darkest and not only for the obvious reason.

Carrie learns what Brody has known for a long time: mission before the man applies to her, too.

In a very busy, noisy season, in the background is the silence between the lovers. We wait for their reunion. They wait for a sign, a word, with ever encroaching despair.

Continue reading “Falling Star Part Two: The Silence”

Falling Star, Part One: Into The Shadows

I left Carrie and Brody suspended in a golden light near the end of episode 11 in season 2 but I think maybe Brody will never leave me be. So will you go with me into the shadows?

Nazir is dead. Brody has left his family. He and Carrie are together in peace that  “is a rare thing for me”. They are back at the cabin; the place they first discovered that peace with each other. This time it’s different: “no secrets”. They have a fascinating conversation about that. Scarier and easier. Carrie says “That should be a good thing, right?” Well, yes it would seem it should but with these two people that’s a reasonable question. The ambiguity and tenderness with which they approach each other is a touchstone of their relationship. They are finding their way moment by moment. These two actors show us characters we’ve only seen in flashes: vulnerable, amazed. It’s beautiful. Continue reading “Falling Star, Part One: Into The Shadows”

Homeland Season 2: Star Ascendant

If you missed Homeland Season 2 Part I, you can read it here.

STAR ASCENDANT

“ Go to Brody .. empower the guy.” Peter Quinn

At the Brody home chaos ensues. Dana has taken off, Jessica is raking her husband over the coals for the events at the police station, Brody is due in half an hour to meet with Roya, and Carrie is right outside with her team listening to it all, worrying.

Jessica, how has she made it this far? It’s unbearable. There is no way she can understand any of this. “Tell the CIA to back off, that your daughter matters more!” “I CAN’T I CAN’T I CAN’T!”

Continue reading “Homeland Season 2: Star Ascendant”