It might be a stupid question, but I was wondering who arranged the meeting between Saul and Javadi. It seemed like Saul arranged it, but who were the guys who did the transport? First, I thought Mossad, but: how did Etai didn't know about it then? What makes sense for me now is that it was Javadi's team.
Typical Judith Warner recap - commenting on Quinn's haircut. These are the least insightful recaps out there. Last year it was an obsession with a character's purse. The best recaps were written by the woman who recapped The Leftovers - they literally gave you wonderful background info and interesting takes on the story and characters. Not these. Bad show and worse recaps
1
I really liked the interaction between Quinn and Franny. He seems to be really good with Carrie's daughter. The plot is getting thicker!
1
I think it merits consideration that Quinn is not nearly as debilitated as he appears, to wit his decided take-down of the thug from whom he obtained the gun. He may now just be continuing the charade for the benefit of the guy (CIA?) who lives across from Carrie. And to protect Carrie, herself. That's Quinn's role.
2
While I continue to mourn the “loss” of Quinn, Rupert Friend is amazing - breathing authenticity into Quinn's character with all the empathy and dignity he deserves.
Dar Adal is a fabulous "bad guy" but Homeland is great because of the layers of what makes each character “tick.” I find it hard to believe that Dar Adal would mastermind a bomb on US soil for short-term, political leverage. At his core, Dar is motivated by his ability to influence events and build America’s power base internationally. He can be vindictive, he we’ve never seen him react impulsively. I think Seouku’s demise is too close in time and too limited in scope to have enough potential benefit to a character like Dar.
As we get move deeper into this season my main source of dread is the suspicion that Dar will find himself at cross-purposes with Saul, influencing security policy with the incoming administration. I do believe Dar would willingly sacrifice his old friend in the name of “national security.”
I also think Seoku's friend from work is part of a cell that's been leveraging his social media reach. Seoku’s release from prison may have compromised his value to a cell recruiting for ISIS but he is useful for amplifying fear and anxiety in NYC, or lionizing him as their martyr. Either way, his story is a sad, companion narrative to Brody’s last act of service to his country. Heartbreak drives a lot of Carrie’s choices. I think our girl’s about to get back in the game.
Dar Adal is a fabulous "bad guy" but Homeland is great because of the layers of what makes each character “tick.” I find it hard to believe that Dar Adal would mastermind a bomb on US soil for short-term, political leverage. At his core, Dar is motivated by his ability to influence events and build America’s power base internationally. He can be vindictive, he we’ve never seen him react impulsively. I think Seouku’s demise is too close in time and too limited in scope to have enough potential benefit to a character like Dar.
As we get move deeper into this season my main source of dread is the suspicion that Dar will find himself at cross-purposes with Saul, influencing security policy with the incoming administration. I do believe Dar would willingly sacrifice his old friend in the name of “national security.”
I also think Seoku's friend from work is part of a cell that's been leveraging his social media reach. Seoku’s release from prison may have compromised his value to a cell recruiting for ISIS but he is useful for amplifying fear and anxiety in NYC, or lionizing him as their martyr. Either way, his story is a sad, companion narrative to Brody’s last act of service to his country. Heartbreak drives a lot of Carrie’s choices. I think our girl’s about to get back in the game.
5
One of the reasons why I still watch is for Rupert Friend, he has shown such a vulnerable side of Quinn not one that we are used to. He still makes the show interesting and somewhat plausible. And yes Carrie ought to watch her back with POTUS elect but in true form she won't.
2
I feel bad for Sekou. Except for the ones who really did it, who will believe he is not guilty now? Even Carrie I think will be convinced Sekou did it.
1
if she comes off her meds, carrie will figure out in a psychic neurotic fit (she’s incredibly good at that salivating frenzy) that sekou is innocent. she’ll quiz quinn and discover the link to saad, conlon, dar, and the creep across the street.
1
I wish someone would discredit the continued use of the mistranslation of Amadinejad's 2005 statement, which has been used by Israel and US politicians ever since to enable Israel to be given whatever weapons they want and continue their colonial expansion. Just check wikipedia for the facts that there never was a serious statement that Iran was literallly planning to build a nuke and drop it on Israel. I was disheartened that the writer's let this propaganda...that Israeli intelligence has always known was bogus...but suits their government's goals...stand unchallenged by Sol. The author of this article should do the homework as well. You can be sure Trump and the rest of the cabal will be demonizing Iran on this front, but pushback by those who should know better is desired. No doubt the show will continue to spread this dangerous belief.
1
didn’t amadinnerjacket say he’d wipe isreal off the face of the map? the MAD game is deterrence isn’t it ? while all along the real threat to Gaia is unsustainable economic and population growth.
1
not sure why you're connecting Dar with the car bombing. wasn't it the FBI who was hot on Sekou, not the CIA? pls explain.
2
Hasn't Dar been shown to be chummy with the FBI guy earlier though. Also, if it was to make a 'geopolitical point', it would clearly benefit both agencies.
The FBI informant said Carrie would regret outing him. And I think the neighbor is somehow sinister. And Quinn is right. And possibly this crusade will bring him back to who he is. Although I'm not sure since I watched the previews.
2
Judith,
A small correction: It’s – “Itai” not “Etai”
Though I totally understand why you would write it that way given how the actors pronounce the name (err..) which is surprising since, if I recall correctly some of the producers are Israelis…
A simple way to “hear” it is:
Say the country name: “Italy”
Say the letter: “I”
Now say: Ita I
(Emphasize a bit the first ‘I’ as you do in “Italy”)
BTW. If you curious what Itai means well, long long time ago Itai was an Army Minster (e.g Commander) in King David’s Army :)
A small correction: It’s – “Itai” not “Etai”
Though I totally understand why you would write it that way given how the actors pronounce the name (err..) which is surprising since, if I recall correctly some of the producers are Israelis…
A simple way to “hear” it is:
Say the country name: “Italy”
Say the letter: “I”
Now say: Ita I
(Emphasize a bit the first ‘I’ as you do in “Italy”)
BTW. If you curious what Itai means well, long long time ago Itai was an Army Minster (e.g Commander) in King David’s Army :)
3
The closed caption said "Etai," as does IMDB. Doesn't make it right.
Where do the Cobergs and specifically Prince Albert fit into this plot? Reince Preibus?
2
I guess you mean the Otto Düring storyline? Fritz Thyssen seems about the right character source, whose biography is by Emery Reeves. He wrote an open letter to the american people in 1945 about M.A.D.- fascinating ! But perhaps you mean the United Queendom’s reigning house of Hanover? Priebus might have connections to Phillip ‘the Greek’ Mountbatten, but I don’t see where you are going with that. Albert was Saxe-Coburg & Gotha, whose incumbent duke Andreas, a grandson of a nazi, and great, great grandson of Albert, lived in New Orlean until 1965. Perhaps Otto will reappear to marry POTUS Keane, if carrie introduces them !?
1
Quinn will most likely be a person of interest while the FBI investigates the bombing of the Medina van. He was seen outside the facility on the night before.
I can't imagine Dar being involved with the bombing.....Maybe a Berlin connection?
I can't imagine Dar being involved with the bombing.....Maybe a Berlin connection?
1
Or the Israelis (unlikely, Luskin seemed quite apologetic to Saul)! Or one of Sekou's associates unconvinced he isn't informing! Or the disgruntled FBI mole Sekou outed! Or the ruskis!
Dar's comments about Frankie's hair was " striking hair." A reference to Brody???
8
I think so, yes.
1
He meant to somehow offend Carrie.
Absolutely. He was reminding her of her past mistakes.
3
Re: The first comments, below.
Perhaps Ms. Warner can tell us when the show will skip a week. Ex: Homeland will not be seen next week due to the certainty that Tom Brady will win the Superbowl.
Perhaps Ms. Warner can tell us when the show will skip a week. Ex: Homeland will not be seen next week due to the certainty that Tom Brady will win the Superbowl.
Since I watched this on Showtime Anytime, I was able to pause the play and see that the vans parked in the lot that Carrie's across-the-street neighbor drove to (and walked toward, carrying a case of some sort) in the middle of the night--followed clandestinely by Quinn--were marked "Medina Medley Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine". The next morning, the vans at Sekou's job, you guessed it: Medina Medley Eastern Mediterranean Cuisine. So we know Quinn is onto something here, that he sensed Carrie was being watched (though he doesn't know it's the CIA that's watching her, because she's advising the president-elect, and they doesn't like what she's advising so far; *we* the viewer are supposed to deduce that, however). And since it was a Medina Medley truck that went up in smoke the next day, we also know that the CIA, or their assigns, are responsible for that bomb--a false flag meant to provoke the president-elect into preemptive terrorist policy announcements, or else the tying up of loose ends (an informant now blown). Perhaps both?
Key, however, is that *we the viewers* are aware of all of the puzzle pieces--and thus have in our minds the whole picture, and that puts us at an advantage over Quinn, Carrie, Saul, Dar, or President Keane, individually. Until they start comparing notes, that is!
Key, however, is that *we the viewers* are aware of all of the puzzle pieces--and thus have in our minds the whole picture, and that puts us at an advantage over Quinn, Carrie, Saul, Dar, or President Keane, individually. Until they start comparing notes, that is!
13
How would the CIA know that he'd get his job back or that he'd drive that particular van?
Seriously? You're asking how the CIA would know something?!
At Sekou's welcome home party, they made a point of having the defense attorney (Reda) tell Sekou that he'd gotten him his old job back. So it was part of Sekou's release arrangements, along with keeping his mouth shut. Anyone privy to those arrangements would be privy to that knowledge. And the CIA is privy to just about everyone's business, as we are increasingly seeing.
As for that particular van, as another commenter pointed out, drivers are often, if not usually, assigned the same van. Certainly with *this* food delivery service they are.
At Sekou's welcome home party, they made a point of having the defense attorney (Reda) tell Sekou that he'd gotten him his old job back. So it was part of Sekou's release arrangements, along with keeping his mouth shut. Anyone privy to those arrangements would be privy to that knowledge. And the CIA is privy to just about everyone's business, as we are increasingly seeing.
As for that particular van, as another commenter pointed out, drivers are often, if not usually, assigned the same van. Certainly with *this* food delivery service they are.
3
If each driver "checked out" a van, they could simply match the van to the license plate Sekou checked out. Or they could've planted bombs on all the vans and only blown up his. Given their vast resources, the CIA (or FBI?) could easily coordinate the right bomb the right van.
Just one word, folks: Quinny.
7
Yes even limping and smelly and brain damaged I think I'd let him move into my basement.
1
Why am I feeling that this season has a decidedly anti-Semetic, anti-Israel tone to it?
4
Because it does.
And the writer never liked Carrie.
And the writer never liked Carrie.
2
Anti-Semitic, anti- Israeli are 2 different things. Many Jews oppose the present government and the settlements.
7
Please be careful about how and when you use the term Anti-Semetic. Anti-Semitism is a moral outrage, and should not be applied to a made up TV show that is light on reality (and increasingly so). The show is stupid fun, that's all
3
This is my favorite episode of the season by far. I have been disappointed in the NY locations and the way the city is being portrayed, almost like the scenes could have been shot anywhere. As a native New Yorker, I don't feel the City's pulsing life come through. That being said, I'm glad that Carrie, Saul and the rest of them are finally getting back to their old selves. Somehow the role of "bleeding hearts" does not suit them- certainly not to those of us who have been fans these many years and who know what they are capable of doing.
I too was glad to see Javadi return, hopefully to add as much intrigue and excitement as was found in Season 3. I think that Carrie finally saw a glimmer of light in her last convo with Sekou when she tried uselessly to explain her own viewpoint. Nice bit of honesty on the part of the writers.
Quinn needs to get better fast. I can't stand the grungy look and the struggles he has just to seem halfway normal. He is too valuable to keep out of play; I hope they have better things in store for him.
As far as Dar Adal- I never could stand that creep ever since he was seen in the car with Haqqani (sp?) just before Carrie and Quinn were stopped from assassinating him. He is a truly evil guy and I can't wait to see what his ultimate fate will be.
Meanwhile, the NY Times reviewers are always the best. Judith- you rock.
I too was glad to see Javadi return, hopefully to add as much intrigue and excitement as was found in Season 3. I think that Carrie finally saw a glimmer of light in her last convo with Sekou when she tried uselessly to explain her own viewpoint. Nice bit of honesty on the part of the writers.
Quinn needs to get better fast. I can't stand the grungy look and the struggles he has just to seem halfway normal. He is too valuable to keep out of play; I hope they have better things in store for him.
As far as Dar Adal- I never could stand that creep ever since he was seen in the car with Haqqani (sp?) just before Carrie and Quinn were stopped from assassinating him. He is a truly evil guy and I can't wait to see what his ultimate fate will be.
Meanwhile, the NY Times reviewers are always the best. Judith- you rock.
12
Carrie should have taken Dar out at that moment and not have listened to Quinn. When will we find out what Dar's really all about?
2
It is interesting to consider the ethical leanings of when-in-doubt,-kill and when-in-doubt,-hold-off, and how and when they are differentially applied.
3
Dar Adal is still Salieri. The sly, jealous, schemer whose motives are always suspect.
1
While I liked this episode very much, there were a couple of implausible points I I'm willing to ignore for the sake of a good story:
1) Israel, most people seem to forget, already has nuclear bomb capabilities and can annihilate Iran anytime it wants. IOW, they posses the "flash of light."
2) Keane, once she takes office, can fire Dar and appoint her own CIA director. So no need to "gain leverage." Just dump him.
Thoughts?
1) Israel, most people seem to forget, already has nuclear bomb capabilities and can annihilate Iran anytime it wants. IOW, they posses the "flash of light."
2) Keane, once she takes office, can fire Dar and appoint her own CIA director. So no need to "gain leverage." Just dump him.
Thoughts?
10
1) It's always better to have an advantage rather than be on equal footing with your enemy. At least, that's the traditional military belief. Iran also sponsors terrorism, and that could make Iran having nuclear capability far more dangerous. Also, Israel is required to maintain support of US for security, but US would not approve nuking Iran unprovoked, while Iran wouldn't have such restrictions. Also, why would your most dangerous (and nearby) enemy gaining a nuke *not* be upsetting?
2) Can she? He's probably got a lot on the US government, if not on Keane, which would make firing him perhaps too risky. And he surely has much support within the CIA, so he could possibly still continue to exert influence without officially working there.
2) Can she? He's probably got a lot on the US government, if not on Keane, which would make firing him perhaps too risky. And he surely has much support within the CIA, so he could possibly still continue to exert influence without officially working there.
I think Keane would keep him on perhaps to keep an eye on him.
to Luke's point no. 2, Allen Dulles was fired by JFK but continued to run the CIA ex-officio from his Georgetown manse.
1
I was also glad to see Javadi's return, for two reasons: 1) It reinforces that, as in real life, Homeland is a continuum that doesn't start anew at the end of each season. What happened before, even long before, will return. 2) It gives us an explanation for why Saul is such a strong supporter of the Iranian nuclear deal: Clearly, we are meant to believe that this was his handiwork with Javadi.
5
How did the bomb planter know which truck Sekou would be driving?
4
Delivery drivers are usually assigned to the same vehicles.
1
Not necessarily ! against all odds carrie and saul survived the fireball of Haqani’s RPG attacks on their convoy in islamabd. The show would be lost without F M Abraham’s dark ops character. The forays in Somalia “we don’t talk about”. and who would bring quinn doughnuts ?
4
Quinn seems to be making a miraculous recovery. Episode one had him hallucinating and barely coherent. Now he has a limp and a slight stutter. Are his meds that good?
13
that nigerian weed Dar gave Brody for cold turkey worked miracles !
3
Yet, it remains illegal in most states. Sigh.
1
No - he came off all the meds that were no-doubt keeping him placid and institutionalized. Amazing, isn't it?
1
Even with Trump (er, Bannon) as real life examples of the sort of reptilian creatures who can get into the White House, I have trouble believing President-elect Keane's character. High-minded but already devious, wanting to trust Iran but comfortable with using the tactics of Iran's brutal secret police, SAVAK, to shut down Dar Adal. To me, she is utterly without credibility.
5
As you are to her.
4
Just because you disagree with someone you don't get to attack them. I think you're on the wrong website if you want to talk to someone this way.
2
"You'll never do a day in prison.". Oh, boy. Et tu, madam president-elect? Who would think a newly elected president could be capable of such treachery? Ok, never mind that. But we once again find our Carrie back in the middle with betrayers on every side. Except that she has Quinn watching her back again. A somewhat impaired Quinn but, even at half speed, he's still formidable. He has yet to conclude that the guys across the street are CIA. So we have to consider that they could be another agency or another country or...? Let's not trust anyone.
So Saul went into Palestinian territory to meet Javadi. Saul's trust in him, despite their deal, might be misplaced. And can we assume that Dar and Etai were in cahoots leading to Saul's detention? Possible but too convenient. And would Dar mastermind an attack in Manhattan? Doubtful unless he is working for another power (Russia?).
My hunch is that we're in for a very big surprise and probably more than one. Homeland's writers haven't kept us enthralled all this time by creating conventional story lines. Caution: slippery roads ahead.
So Saul went into Palestinian territory to meet Javadi. Saul's trust in him, despite their deal, might be misplaced. And can we assume that Dar and Etai were in cahoots leading to Saul's detention? Possible but too convenient. And would Dar mastermind an attack in Manhattan? Doubtful unless he is working for another power (Russia?).
My hunch is that we're in for a very big surprise and probably more than one. Homeland's writers haven't kept us enthralled all this time by creating conventional story lines. Caution: slippery roads ahead.
30
Don't we think that the guy across the street from Claire's apartment (the guy who may or may not have planted the device in Sekou's truck) knows who Quinn is and is tolerating him? Otherwise why would he just say "well, don't do it again" when he finds Quinn lurking in his lobby?
9
I was puzzled about that. Either he is a completely incompetent detective, or he knows and is pretending not to, for now. When a weird looking dude is at your mailbox and says he lives across the street, and you are spying on "across the street," don't you get suspicious?
That so-called "friend" of Sekou... is the author implying that he is an agent in cahoots with Dar Adal? At least, the camera wants us to think that he is likely involved in placing the bomb to eliminate this possible informant. If he did, he also set in motion a massive reaction against his very own cause. Very perceptive about the timing of the bomb, that would not go off on the bridge. I agree that Dar Adal's visit to Carrie at the school seemed genuinely caring. No doubt, all the while warning her who knows what he is capable of of crossing the line, wherever that is. Poor Quinn. What a disaster.
3
Nice thought Cantor. interesting sekou means sheikh in the Fula language. We know informant Saad has gangster form and many step fathers (e01). Dar recruited Quinn off the street when he was 16. Who is the unidentified person Saad wanted sekou to meet (e01)? It makes sense Saad would have planted the berm, but is he one of Dar’s ? The plot stirs. Viz the bridge, wouldn’t the berm do more gruesome damage by flying glass in the street?
I'm inclined to think that Sekou's "friend" will be incriminated for the bomb but not in cahoots with Dar Adal... My thought is Dar is the mastermind of the bomb with the objective to undermine Carrie's civilian work and her role as advisor/friend to the President elect. BTW, in these times we are leaving, with so many divided opinions about homeland security and immigration strategies, I'm afraid a scheme like this could be implemented in order to validate a "stronger" stance against terrorism.
But going back to HomeLand, note there was a black SUV following Sekou's van at a distance. It's visible when Sekou turns and looks through the side mirror. That may be a lead to the detonator.
But going back to HomeLand, note there was a black SUV following Sekou's van at a distance. It's visible when Sekou turns and looks through the side mirror. That may be a lead to the detonator.
2
Javadi is back. Maybe being British gives me a different perspective, but I found him a completely unbelievable character, running rings round the Iranians, but wrapped round the fingers of the CIA. Why did he come to America anyway? Season 3 is best forgotten. After the moral ambiguity of seasons 1 and 2, with all those "If you cut us do we not bleed?" speeches, we had just Good CIA, Bad Foreigners, and no suspense at all, any threat immediately ended by the CIA's easy triumphs, even in Tehran.
I want moral ambiguity and rounded characters.
I want moral ambiguity and rounded characters.
7
Javadi is an excellent actor from the chilling movie The Kite Runner - please credit his real name - Shaun Toub. Abigail - he went to USA because he wanted to know how his 6 banking buddies got bumped off. But the worst thing about seasons 1 & 2 was the drop dead boring Dana side show - complete waste
6
I have no objection to Shaun Toub, he seems a good enough actor, but was writing about the character Javadi, who lacks any believeability.
We do not speak of the horrible but typical badly acted Teen Brat storyline.
Saul should stay out of cars. That's at least the 3rd time he's been kidnapped.
44
Ha ha I think it's more than three if you will include the previous seasons
Return of Majid Javadi - yes!!!
8
Homeland is entertaining only when Carrie Mathison isn't on camera. It's painful to watch her fumble about, always with the appearance of one who's experiencing gastrointestinal combat with barbed wire.
6
There are those of us who -- admittedly, our kind of sick -- are attracted to that. Sort of a My-So-Called-Celebrity-Attraction thing, I suppose.
5
Homeland is entertaining only when Carrie Matheson isn't on camera. It's painful to watch her fumble about, always with the appearance of one who's experiencing gastrointestinal combat with barbed wire.
Carrie is an interesting multi-dimensional character.
It makes me uncomfortable to see her on screen, which makes her effective
It makes me uncomfortable to see her on screen, which makes her effective
16
Things are starting to tie together. Not completely but the web has begun. We'll see how it unravels.
When Dar told Carrie that she was vulnerable, I think he was threatening her and spoke of Frannie as her vulnerability. And remarking of her hair, Dar knows Brody is the father. He's again pushing buttons.
When Dar told Carrie that she was vulnerable, I think he was threatening her and spoke of Frannie as her vulnerability. And remarking of her hair, Dar knows Brody is the father. He's again pushing buttons.
32
I had the same throught about Dar's ambushing Carrie outside of Frannie's school and his remark about Frannie's hair.
7
What was the writers room thinking when they took their best character (in my opinion) gassed him for no good reason and returned him as tom cruises born on the 4th of July reincarnation? I have no interest in seeing our characters behave so wildly out of character. Here's to hoping by some miracle Quinn becomes Quinn again and they can all head back to Pakistan soon.
18
I have to disagree. It's been interesting seeing Quinn in a vulnerable state, makes him more interesting. We can't have him brooding and skulking 24/7. Where's the fun in that.
1
When is the next new episode. Getting lost in the reruns
3
Next Sunday at 9pm.
1
Tonight was new. Next Sunday is new. Finally something happened!
2
Maybe you should skip this series if your confused about when it's on ....
3