Homeland (TV Series) Gerontion (2013) User Reviews

Turning the enemy

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 21 November 2013]

Majid Javadi may now be in Saul's custody but he still needs to be turned into a double agent. He's assumed Saul would just want to learn what he knew before letting him retire into protective custody; he certainly didn't think Saul would want him to return to his job as Deputy Head of Iranian intelligence in Tehran. Meanwhile the police investigation into the murder of Javadi's ex-wife and daughter-in-law has turned up security camera footage of Quinn entering the house making him a prime suspect. Once Javadi understands that he has no choice but to work for Saul he gives up another piece of information: Brody was not responsible for the CIA bombing. With the operation beginning Saul just has one more thing to do; he must keep Senator Lockhart from shutting it down before Javadi can leave the country.

This was another quality episode; it make have lacked the shocks of the previous instalment but it was still gripping; it helped that we didn't have the distractions of the problems in the Brody family. Unusually there were some amusing moments as well; watching Saul turn the tables on Lockhart was priceless! As always the acting was good and once again Rupert Friend's portrayal of Quinn stood out as his character dwelt on some of the things he'd done in the service of the CIA. After the previous couple of episodes I'm sure anybody who considered dropping the series during the less dramatic opening episodes will be glad they stuck with it and those that did drop it might want to reconsider now we have returned to the classic espionage thriller.

Good follow up from previous one and a good effort to resurrect the season

[jigsaw-91 · 8/10 · 13 November 2013]

I am one of those who says that Homeland should came to its end last season or even in the first one. I am proud of Season two and its twists and turns although it wasn't the same from the first season. But this third entry in Homeland show proves that the plot doesn't hold more time. With almost all the main arcs ended in the second series, this one had so high expectations. And a disappointing beginning, a lack of that attractive doubt, lack of Carrie & Brody's chemistry and a depressive darkness that doesn't live up to the original plot have made this Season 3 the worst of the show yet.

But, this is the point: it's entertaining and effective in some ways. I still want to watch next episode and I'm guessing how this story would end. And if the first three episodes were not the expected, from the fourth one the series began to pressing the accelerator and start trying to be Homeland again. That spy thriller style. That engaging plot. And this episode is another proof of it. This one is a good follow up from the previous in which we discover what happened after the police arrived to the house so fast and the sacrifice that Quinn has to suffer in order to keeping Saul's plan to Javadi under covered.

The goal of Saul is to send Javadi to Iran and working to CIA (a plot that used with Brody in season two in a more attractive and professional way). Meanwhile, Quinn charges with the killing in Javadi's house in order to protect Carrie and the agency with no more consequences that an angry line from the police detective.

But the highlight of this episode appears at the end: Javadi confirms Carrie that Brody is innocent. His car was moved by someone who remains in United States. So, that promising plot to clean Brody's name roars back mostly with a bang. By one side, this could be a great opening to the mostly promising ending of this season with 5 episodes left. By other side, it confirms that there's no more doubt, no more shadows in the show. And that could be a character/series killer.

We know that the writers can find a way to impress us, even being in a weak form this time (or in a strong one, but not allowed for this show). But despite this stuff is good and better than most of the installments of this season, the only shadow of doubt now between Homeland fans is how this is going to continue from now on (and knowing that the show has been renewed despite the cold reception). Or the the final episodes give us a shocking revelation which connect everything happened so far, or the Homeland that we loved and wanted won't came back anymore.

The key of the keys

[acatala · 8/10 · 18 November 2013]

***** SPOILERS *****

I must confess that I was disappointed with the third season, but the story is improving with time, at least the main story. There is a detail that I have been thinking about for a while. Javadi told Saul, and Carrie after that in the car, that Brody did not put the bomb. But in the car, Javadi asks Carrie if she does not wonder who gave the car keys to the Abu Nazir man. Suddenly, I remembered in the last episode from the second season, just when Brody arrives at CIA building and he parks the car, it seems he wears the car keys in his hand, then he greets in a weird way a couple of military men that stand there, and it seems he delivers something that he is wearing in his hand (the car keys??, who knows).

As Javadi states, the Abu Nazir's man did not die with the attack, so who could be this man: Saul ? Quinn? Ardal? a still unknown character ?

slowly getting a bit more exiting, but ........

[sergio-kreeft · 12 November 2013]

Alright, these last couple of episodes have been better than the start of this season but still it's far from the excitement we used to know from Homeland. We have several angles that are not all very interesting if not pointless. The whole Brody family angle doesn't appeal to most viewers and there is no real attachment. Brody himself is a joke in this season as he just appeared in 1 episode and it makes us wonder why he appeared at all. Homeland pretty much turned into a classical CIA/Government soap series. An Iranian intel officer that is being turned is hardly moving us to the edge of our seat and Saul's relationship troubles as well as Carrie's pregnancy are hardly interesting.

People, forget it ... These last 3 episodes can NOT save this (probably last) season, unless they fire the story writers and make each remaining episode 2 hours long. There is no way this complete mess can somehow merge, make sense, and make up for all the disappointment we have seen so far.

Slow and no excitement!!

[calebyash · 7/10 · 15 November 2013]

This episode seems very sloppy. Saul's relationship problem and Carrie's pregnancy seems irrelevant to this episode. However, these two aspects show the real struggle in the personal affairs even in the midst of saving country. It has realistic touch. The plot does not seem so exciting. With regard to Broody, we do not know what is happening with him. I began to think, that he is no more needed in the series. Writes should think out of the box and add the originality that Homeland used to have. There are so many lose ends that writers must think of reconciling them. Another character that seemed pointless to me is the would-be CIA director. I hope this character will be developed further. with all its negativity, I hope this series will excite us.