Homeland

It seems that with crap weather pretty much guaranteed until at least May next year everyone's getting into watching TV again.

If you've not seen Homeland yet you are in for a real treat.

Series 3 is 4 episodes in and they've managed to keep the high standard of writing and acting going brilliantly.

The plot twist at the end of episode 4 was incredible. One of the best I've seen in any show and I *never* saw it coming.

You have to watch this.

Are you cheating and watching them as they screen in the US? Channel 4 isn't showing episode 4 until Sunday night.

Hmmm. I have a massive problem with Homeland - it is unforgiveably inaccurate. I'm a huge fan of Damien Lewis and everything was in place for this to be a well-balanced, intriguing thriller.

Series 1 is OK up to a point (apart from some laughable mistakes about locations and people and debriefing those extracted from hostage situations), but episode 1 of season 2 is just comedy. With some cringeworthy and all-too-predictable depictions of Mooz-lims.

I sincerely hope it gets better in the later seasons, we just couldn't bear to watch any more.

If you like your political thrillers "24" style, this is for you, if you want a bit more "Wire", look away!

Well perhaps ignorance is bliss, Jim.

I'm not all that clued up on military protocols or the Middle East but, now that you mention it, the stuff you point out is perhaps a bit implausible.

I've watched all of 24 and enjoyed most of it, but similarly I loved the slow burning nature of The Wire and The Sopranos. For me, Homeland is somewhere in between.

The leading performances alone will keep me watching.



Yes. I couldn't wait.

Sorry Ali, I got a bit carried away there! I'm just really disappointed that after all the hype it was not up to the standard I'd hoped.
But that shouldn't and doesn't necessarily ruin it as drama.

Me and the missus loved the first 2 series of Homeland, but have been a bit disappointed with the first 3 episodes of Series 3. Looking forward to the twist in episode 4 now.......

No apology necessary, Jim. You have a point.

Season 3 has been a lot slower to unfold thus far (we don't even see Brody until episode 3, for example) but I've a feeling it will pick up pace after the latest plot turn.

I can't really understand loads of these American series kicking around at the moment.

Surely the writers sit down at the start and have a story to tell, with a beginning, a middle and an end...but they seem to have to leave it as if there may or may not be a subsequent series, leaving everything a bit half arsed.

Homeland should have ended with him blowing the shit out of everyone at the end of series one.

Series 2 was pretty dreadful, and this one....well, has anything actually happened yet?

Loved the first series.

Enjoyed the second series

The thrid series is so slow at the minute

I agree with you, Steve, and Homeland isn't the only example. To go back a couple of years, Heroes had a brilliant first series and then got itself into a complete muddle of time-travel. Also, I loved the first series of The Big C; it was funny and poignant and ended with a perfecty good wrap-up of the storylines... then they made at least 2 more series.

Sometimes it's fine just to end things while they're good and popular, they don't need to be dragged out forever.

If we're doing series losing their way, Twin Peaks springs to mind. I was completely bewitched by it for the first 15 episodes (the ones directed by David Lynch) - where unprecedented weirdness mixed beautifully with nasty murder. Then it just went randomly bonkers.

Sometimes with modern American series, you see it coming; I never watched Lost, because you knew that - as Steve says - there was never a story arc with a beginning a middle or an end.

Life on Mars, that's how you do it. One brilliant series, one decent follow-up then drop it.

New Misfits is alright though...

The original LoM had 2 series, surely. They were both good, though.

The end of AtA was a bit wanky as well.

Very true. Even though it was going downhill I was still really disappointed to never have a satisfying ending to this show.

I guess the writers get pressure from the money-makers. This is popular so let's keep milking it. It's a real shame.

Homeland has just been renewed for a fourth series.

Heroes does have a proper ending - it's right at the end of the first series. The baddie is defeated, all of the time travel is resolved, the personal story arcs are concluded and there was absolutely zero requirement for a 2nd series.

AtA wasn't a patch on LoM. Alex Drake was just an irritation.

Financial requirement, on the other hand...

One brilliant one plus one decent follow up does make 2 series in my book... I wasn't talking about Ashes to Ashes, about which - IMHO - the less said the better.

CIA Bird: "He's a terrorist, trust me, I'm not a mentaller. Though, yes, I did sort of have sex with the bloke, dunno, just seemed like a good idea. Weeeee, I'm off my meds!"

Former Hostage bloke: "I'm not a terrorist, honest. Er, can I become President or Vice President, or something where I can influence Foreign Policy and get close to lots of important people? Oh, and Allahu-Akbar"

Everyone in positions of responsibility: "Of course, help yourself! What was that last bit?"

CIA Bird: "No, really, he's a Moozlim and a terrorist! Woop-woop!"

Former Hostage: "I'm really not, trust me."

CIA Bird: "He is. Ffffsss. Biiing!"

Former Hostage: "Am not"

Etc.

Series 5, anyone?

Do I get a writing credit?

LOL

Sorry, but having now seen episode 4 I don't share your optimism.

OK, the twist was unexpected, but that's because the first 3 episodes have been deliberately misleading. For example, we've seen Carrie's reaction to events when she has been alone which were as we'd expect them to be.

The series has lost its way and is now obliged to keep blundering on to please studio execs, rather than coming to a proper and dignified conclusion.

True, I've been trying to find justification for certain bits of that episode, for example...