Homeland (TV Series) Long Time Coming (2014) User Reviews

Season 4 finale focuses on character development and sets everything up for season 5

[guy-schellens-41-715308 · 7/10 · 15 March 2015]

Overall I really liked Season 4. Liked the plot, not so obvious as the series came to a full closure in s#3.

Some reviewers have a problem with Carrie. They ask for a more likable character. And then the finale totally focuses on her and has no cliffhanger. Ouch.

Well I guess that's the point of the whole show: move away from the standard good/evil, black/white, sane/sick, the US vs the terrorists and people start to complain. Go see Delta Force. Welcome to the way of the world where nothing is black or white (especially in the Middle East!). Self-preservation in stead of heroics. Even the voice of her conscience (Saul) seems to act in his own self interest.

Her sometimes Machiavellian tactics clash with our ethics and that's a good thing. It fuels the debate about what the West is doing in the Middle East and e.g. what will be the long term effect of the drone attacks. Will it make the "homeland" more secure or create more terrorists? (Don't know the answer either). Solely for this this series deserves a lot of credit.

This episode deals with the aftermath, coming home and facing what Carrie was running away from in the first place. Licking wounds. Utter disappointment.

I saw some solid acting and can't wait for s#5

Huge let down but had a bigger picture to it

[m_lasker · 7/10 · 21 December 2014]

Spending too much time on Carrie's development and her condition as its focus was not the best idea for the writers to use as the point of the finale. The whole time i was waiting for something huge to happen and eventually i figured out that nothing was ever going to happen and if anything we would be left with a cliffhanger. Turns out I, and many other people, were right. Season 4 as a whole was fantastic, so our standards were much higher than usual when it comes to a finale, so we were all let down by the pace and focus of it. I feel like the execs at Showtime gave the writers and producers a set episode count of 12 and they only had enough material for 11, and thus the finale was born. However, this finale did give the audience all the pieces we need to speculate on what season 5 will contain and how it will unfold. If anything this episode is making me anticipate season 5 more so it can fulfill the new standards that season 4 set for the show. I am very unsatisfied, but at the same time I am overall satisfied with season 4 because as a whole it was miles better than everyone anticipated it to be despite the challenge the writers had of creating a completely new plot following season 3.

Sucks as a finale, ok as a mid season episode

[aarongnr · 6/10 · 14 May 2020]

I am currently binging the show, so I do not feel the frustration that many viewers must've felt watching this finale live, excited to have an action packed, satisfying conclusion. There's barely anything happening in this episode, and people are left waiting for the conclusion to this seasons story for a year.

For me, it wasn't too bad. I can just put on the next episode and continue like this was a mid season episode. And for that, it was ok. Still not alot happening, but it wasn't terrible.

Season 4: Suspension of disbelief required, but mostly the tough tone, good pace, and dramatic events keep the season moving very well (apart from a misjudged finale)

[bob the moo · 14 February 2015]

Like many people I'm sure, coming back to the fourth season of Homeland was something done slowly and with caution. The third season had been pretty weak for the majority, and then asked a lot of belief suspension towards the end; it also had a conclusion which could easily have been taken as the end point of the show if you were looking to stop watching, since it ends the Brody storyline. The fourth season does manage to pick things up pretty well though, relocated to Pakistan for the most part, and it reboots itself with the original characters and some good additions.

The story draws heavily on topical subjects, and as such it adds weight to the drama; this is necessary because it also then makes the viewer forget that essentially we are now watching 24, and it does this by virtue of wearing big boy clothes so that the twists and turns maybe do not seem as absurd as they otherwise might. They do work though, and in particular the season does a good job of mixing the character-driven threads, while also building good tension with all the main characters involved. Not all of it works and not all of it is as smart as it thinks it is, but it consistently engages throughout. It seems to forget what it is doing in the final episode of the season though. Part of it is an attempt to be more low-key and serious, which I was okay with, but the family issues were too prominent, and the potential "dirty business" of the spy world was left very late in the episode where it didn't do as much as it should.

The cast do well throughout. Danes puts a lot into her performance and mostly it works; I will say she has to fight the writing which doesn't give her a great deal of help to justify why Carrie's history still allows her to hold the position and influence she does, but on a scene-by-scene basis she is mostly good, with only a few places where she overacts. Patinkin is reliable as ever and support is generally good – in particular Friend's Quinn steps up a lot. Jaffrey, Acar, Boniadi, Kaur, and others are all engaging and deliver as required.

It is an arresting season, and a strong one despite the requirement to suspend belief, and a fairly misjudged season finale. The base of topical relevance and patient drama, allows the viewer to go with the more "24-esque" moments and get caught up in a quite thrilling and dramatic season.

A season finale that felt more like the episode before a mid-season break

[Tweekums · 6/10 · 3 January 2015]

Following the death of her father Carrie is now back in the United States, she is soon reunited with two people; Quinn and the mother she hasn't seen or heard from in fifteen years. It is this latter person whose presence dominates the episode. After Carrie tells her mother to leave she decides that she needs to talk to her after all so traces her back to her home in Missouri. He she learns why her mother left and that she now has a half-brother. Meanwhile Quinn is being recruited for another mission in the Middle East. The fact that Dar Adal was in the car with series bad guy Haqqani is dealt with in a brief conversation between Adal and Saul.

After a really good season this season finale proved to be quite disappointing; there was no resolution; just more questions being raised. I was so surprised I thought the announcer must have been wrong when he called it the season finale; surely it was just a mid-season break but no it is indeed the finale. It wasn't even an exciting episode; no sense of danger, just the sort of family drama I thought had been dispensed with when the Brody clan stopped featuring. Over all this was an okay TV episode but distinctly disappointing as an episode of 'Homeland'; doubly so as the season finale.

Worst episode of Homeland so far

[webmaster-1100 · 1/10 · 22 December 2014]

I thought season 4 of Homeland was mostly excellent - especially episodes 8, 9 and 10 were amazing. The attack on the embassy and the run-in to this massive showdown was brilliantly executed. I was therefore thoroughly excited to see how the season would end. Imagine my surprise when the last episode turned out to be 53 minutes of the most frustratingly pointless moments of television I've ever experienced. My Lord. What the hell happened? Well, nothing happened, basically. Absolutely nothing. There was no plot development in this final episode whatsoever.

For some reason, more than half the episode is devoted to Carrie's family - including her mom who has now suddenly become a new character on the show. Why introduce her in a season finale? There's absolutely no point to it. Watching what seemed to be endless scenes with Carrie and her child, sister or mother talking about her dead father was an exercise in futility at best - a complete waste of time at worst.

Nobody seems to care that Dar Adal was in a friggin' car with Haqqani in Islamabad, or that they are seemingly working together. Even Saul seems to be on board. Hey, he got an SD card with the video, so what the hell! Let's work with the terrorist who wiped out most of the CIA field office, among other things.

It was not really explained why the CIA and the US government have apparently more or less given up on chasing Haqqani. Who was the secret group that Quinn went away with? How come Carrie was suddenly all over him when displaying no romantic interest in him previously? Why would Saul suddenly sell out and basically work with a terrorist only to get his job back? What happened to Dennis Boyd and what were the consequences of him being partially responsible for the attack on the embassy? Why did nobody care that Tasneem was his source in ISI? Or that she is working with Haqqani so closely? What is Khan's role in all of this? What happened to all the Taliban prisoners who were released, and why did nobody try to recapture them? What about the briefcase with crucial intelligence that Haqqani got away with as part of the CIA/Embassy attack? Aside from the US severing diplomatic ties with Pakistan, what were the official consequences of the attack (which is basically an attack on US soil)? None of these questions are answered in the finale. Nothing close to it.

Instead, the season finale is about Carrie and her family - absolutely tedious, long and pointless scenes where she confronts her mother (who is apparently the worst person of all time) and she suddenly figures out that she likes Quinn in a romantic way.

I don't remember ever being so frustrated over a season finale. The show doesn't have to be action and tension all the time - even though it does it so incredibly well - but saving this snooze-fest for a season finale is absolutely ridiculous. Most of this season didn't focus on Carrie's family life or her personal demons. It focused on the situation on the ground in Islamabad, starting with the station chief who was killed in the streets, and what Haqqani was planning to do to get his revenge on the US. It was focused mostly on tension, espionage, thrills and action. On this point, the episode did not provide any closure at all, and we can only hope the trail will be picked up properly in season 5.

Frustrating but understandably so

[dierregi · 6/10 · 16 April 2021]

After a couple of action-packed episodes that left many loose ends dangling, I would have expected some closure. Even more so because of the CIA colossal failure, with huge losses and repeated humiliation.

Instead, all the main characters walked the walk of shame, making it back home without causing any damage to the enemy, Martha and her traitor husband fell through the cracks and Carrie mourned her father and discovered her mother's instinct (about which most audience probably cared nothing).

I just read that the actor playing Carrie's father actually died, so this episode was also a tribute to him, which is an understandable gesture. However, the whole family theme was played a bit too far, with Carrie's estranged mum coming out of nowhere with her absurd story ("Hey Carrie, I abandoned you and your sister to take care of yet another child")

Most unfortunate was also the fact that Saul, albeit disgraced was able to sneak back into the CIA thanks to an agreement with Haqqani, which besides being extremely callous and unethical, also seemed far-fetched at best.

What were the writers thinking?

[suhbsmc · 1/10 · 21 December 2014]

Before watching this Homeland episode, I often felt mixed feelings about the fourth season of Homeland. It began slowly, but around the 6th episode, I began to like it. The 9th and 10th episodes are the best of the season, and I didn't mind last week's episode even though it was a slight bit weaker. Words can't even explain how painful and anti- climatic the season finale of Homeland's fourth season has been. For most of the season, Homeland had been a robust thriller that always managed to entertain me, despite being pretty weak for the first five episodes. Although I was against the idea of Homeland rebooting itself as a thriller rather than more of a psychological drama, it somehow paid off with the ninth through eleventh episodes. Unfortunately, the steady ride that Homeland has been on just crashed, descended into flames, and was reduced to nothing but ash.

This episode was painfully boring to watch, halfway through I began to ask myself the question, "What in the world were the writers thinking?" I haven't seen any Season finale as bad as this. After all the tension and chaos in Pakistan, and the foundation the writers were setting up for the Season finale, we get 52 minutes of a boring, soap-opera like Mathison family drama, and plenty of awkward moments throughout. As far as this episode goes, it does nothing to set up a solid foundation for the fifth season of Homeland. As suggested by the title, the redemption of Homeland is a long time coming.

Season Four

[zkonedog · 8/10 · 4 July 2019]

(Warning: this review will include spoilers from earlier seasons of Homeland).

Coming into this fourth season of Homeland, my expectations really couldn't have been any lower. After a rollercoaster third season where the finale really felt like a series finale rather than a season finale, I didn't know what to expect from a show that seemed like it was starting back from square one. After a few episodes of finding its way, however, this season really kicks into high gear and proves that (though rare) a show can sometimes re-invent itself on the fly.

For a basic plot summary (only minor spoilers here), this season begins with Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) trying to come to terms with the absence of Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), what with the daughter she now has that is his. She decides to run from that particular responsibility by taking an assignment overseas in Islamabad, where she investigates a terrorist bombing. A young man named Aayan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma) is the best asset to solving that mystery, but that investigation leads down a completely new path involving figures of the foreign government, a restless Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), and a Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) who is about as unstable as the mission itself.

The first few episodes of this season are truly pretty bad. Just a couple of episodes in, I almost questioned whether I wanted to continue with this show. It was that much of a struggle for me to get through. The absence of Brody is glaring, and the writers don't quite seem to know yet how to move on. Even when Carrie arrives in Islamabad and begins an investigation, the show seems like just another run-of-the-mill procedural drama.

But then, about 4-5 episodes in, a few events transpire that really set the action into motion. I don't want to spoil everything, but suffice it to say that there is a scene with Damien Lewis, as well as a shocking event that will completely change the direction the show takes. From there, the show kicks into high gear and I couldn't wait for each Sunday night.

Basically, what happened in this fourth season of Homeland was that the show was able to completely re-invent itself on the fly. For the first two seasons, the show is an intense character drama revolving around Carrie & Brody, with the political landscape of international terrorism in the background. That arc stutter-steps to a close in the third season, and the door is slammed shut when Brody is hanging from a rope in the finale. What happens in this fourth season, though, is that the political drama comes from and center while the characters slide to the background just a bit. Not to say that there isn't intense character drama at times, but the "front lines" of the war on terrorism are showcased more during this campaign.

One HUGE reason why this season impressed me so much, specifically, was the growth of Peter Quinn's character. Carrie & Saul are such good characters that they practically write themselves, but Quinn was a breath of fresh air into the character storylines.

Overall, then, I was very surprised that I enjoyed this season as much as I did. I even thoroughly enjoyed a rather strange finale that many viewers did not like, but to me really set up the stage for a Season Five that could potentially be just as interesting as this one. Bottom line: I came into Season Four expecting absolutely nothing. I came out with my interest in Homeland totally revived.

Underwhelming but

[henrycoles9 · 6/10 · 7 June 2020]

It goes without saying this looked more like a long-drawn-out epilogue than a high-octane season finale, but I can't say it wasn't good to see Carrie come to grips with her family troubles at last.

Worst episode of Homeland

[esd209 · 2/10 · 23 December 2014]

The episode was slow. The dialog was dry. The acting was poor. The plot lines were contrived. It was an extremely poor choice for a finale. If the producers want to highlight the humanity of the characters, or they want to grow the series into something more than a international espionage thriller, they have to find a way to weave these elements into each episode. They can't just abruptly shift to those themes in a season finale and almost entirely ignore the gut-wrenching plot lines of the current season. The only reason that this episode earns a two star rating instead of one star, and the only redeeming quality that makes it worth watching at all, is the complex situation involving Saul and Dar Adal's deal with the devil. Overall, a disappointing betrayal of the devoted fans.

In memory of James Rebhorn

[fdutrey-198-66479 · 9/10 · 29 December 2014]

Given the fast pace of the season, I was, like many, a little disappointed some 10 minutes into this episode. Then it struck me. Like Michael Douglas in The Game: "He's an actor, he's an actor on television". And a great actor at that, perfectly playing his part every time. Although not physically present, this final episode was about his contribution, as a character, to Clare Danes'. A well deserved tribute to someone who has dedicated the last weeks of his life to his passion, for our enjoyment. Many thanks to his family for understanding that acting was his livelihood. A long time coming, a brave battle. May you rest in peace Mr Rebhorn.

This is why Homeland is such a great show, with clever plots and subplots. It even seems that everyone is a protagonist and could potentially be in a spin off. Managing the depth of characters, the span of intrigues and the intensity of action is no easy task and can only be done with the dedication of all involved. The only downside is that the richness spoils us...

I do however understand those who disliked this finale. Not liking a song when it's part of an opera would be a good analogy. They will probably change their minds during the next season, for I have good faith in the Homeland's team ability to surprise us all, once again.

This was so bad I'm writing my first review on IMDb in 10 years

[archangel1688 · 1/10 · 8 January 2015]

I've never written a review of anything on IMDb before, because everything that needs to be said has usually already been said. With this episode, there's no number of reviews that can make it worse, and the writers and producers of the show need to know that. This made no sense at all. How did Dar know Haqqani's location a day after he bombed the embassy. How could he have been authorized to strike a deal with him. How could Saul even pretend to play along with that? Who cares about Carrie's mother and new half brother? Who jumps to conclusions like Peter did? Nothing in this episode made any sense. I would really like to hear an interview of the producers/writers explaining this episode and what their thought process was.

So horrible I'm actually considering boycotting Season 5 just on principle

[kris56 · 1/10 · 29 December 2014]

What are they thinking? This episode seemed to be from a completely different series than past episodes and was better suited for a cliché, poorly-written soap opera. (If you've noticed, the other episodes from this season range between a rating of 7.7 and 9.7..... this episode limps in at an unimpressive 5.1. Enough said.) The editing (or extreme lack thereof) was so non-existent the viewer is forced to watch Carrie drive, roam around the house, think, walk, and sleep, along with all the other mundane events in her day, in hopes the episode will pick up; it never does. To think the episode was intentionally constructed this way is baffling (this is fiction- do *something* interesting!!) When *every* scene should contribute to the plot or enhance the quality of the episode or series, somehow not a single scene in this episode did so.

The writing was so cheesy and reflected a domestic drama Snooze Fest, rather than the action-packed, political thriller we tuned in for (*cough* ahem, Meredith Stiehm, what were you thinking?). A family member and I were actually yelling at the TV in disgrace throughout the episode. I could easily go scene by scene and describe what was so horrible about this awkward attempt at an emotional season finale, but I'd rather go rearrange my sock drawer or watch paint dry instead. I shouldn't have invested any more time into this episode by writing this review, but I was so baffled and appalled after watching it that I had to get it off of my chest. I consider this episode a complete failure and waste of 45 minutes of my life, after which I gained nothing but a bad taste in my mouth for the writing and skepticism about the effectiveness of the head honchos running this production.

Painful Episode

[smith-192-156696 · 1/10 · 21 December 2014]

Just awful as far as season ending shows go. All character development, no action. Awkward dialogue, pointless plot tangents, and wholly without climax or purpose. This episode belonged in the 3 or 4 spot in the season, not in the end spot. Perhaps the director was trying to scare the viewer into thinking something dramatic was about to happen, but after 4 or 5 instances of action starvation, the story flat-lined and we are left hallow and annoyed. We don't care about Carrie's family, her ugly kid, or her missing mom... what about getting the bad guy? having the good guys win one for God and country? giving purpose to Carrie's existence and tireless pursuit against evil? No, instead let's sit around and eat lasagna. How strange.

Well, I guess we know where Season 5 is going now. Good for Sal I guess, but Carrie is more annoying than ever and extremely unlikable as our protagonist. Perhaps Quinn should assume that role next year. Perhaps the writers will remember that spy shows need some spying.

Homeland surprises again

[851222 · 9/10 · 29 December 2014]

Greetings from Lithuania.

"Long Time Coming" was a great entry to "Homeland" saga. Before you will start throwing rocks at me, here is why i think it was great. Being the last episode of the superb season 4, it took a bit unusual plot for usually groundbreaking last episodes of the seasons (i talk about shows in general).

Spoilers alert.

By the end of "Long Time Coming" nothing of "BOM BOM" happens. And i wasn't disappointed, because in this season a lot of "BOM" stuff already happened, and not every day in real life (witch "Homeland" always represents in first place) groundbreaking things happens! Thing for which i love "Homeland" in first place was always realistic approach to real life, not overblown with twists and plausible events. I liked "Long Time Coming" for exact things - everything was realistic and plausible and hey, like i said, not every day something unusual or groundbreaking happens. In real life, bad guys not always dies at the end. Watching this episode i also like many viewers expected that in this or this second something will blow up and etc. but at the end it left me surprised and satisfied of how smoothly they finished the season but not the story which will continue in season 5. Chapter closed.

Overall, huge applause for creators of this truly unique show, which i think deserves to be placed as one of the best TV shows ever created. I will look forward for next season even more now, because for 4 seasons i was witnessing amazing show, and i believe it will continue for many more years.

Put me to sleep

[drbarbc-526-517466 · 1/10 · 23 December 2014]

I was looking forward to the finale, it has been a greet season. I cannot, for the life of me, understand what the writers were thinking. What a snooze-fest! The absolute worst episode of the entire show. I came on here while watching it, hoping for relief. Hoping to see high ratings to ensure me I wasn't wasting an hour of my life, only to find out I was. I can't imagine what else I could say about this boring mess, but my review won't get published without enough text. So, I'll say, what an incredible waste, this could have been the crown jewel on this remarkable season. A wise man advised -- Do not go gently into the light. This season went way too gently and bored us to death!!

Another sub-par episode which happens to be seasons finale.

[Dr_Sagan · 22 December 2014]

When I wrote an almost bad review about the previous episode and comment about the huge difference it had with the previous 3 which were great, I saw many fans react and voting my review as not helpful.

Well my fears for the seasons finale that comes next were confirmed. Here you go. Another bad and uninspiring episode with meaningless subplots that no one really cares.

I wrote in my previous "you need a couple of sub-par episodes just for ...balance". Someone could think that they gave up their budget to the previous episodes so the next two (including this one) would look cheap and boring in comparison.

So. Not an actual cliffhanger to make you think for season 5. Nothing new or extraordinary. A good series having a couple bad days I guess...

Worth Watching

[rexwakeling · 10/10 · 7 June 2020]

I have watched all episodes and I recommend to watch it all. Great series

Sorry Homeland, but this time I am not buying any of it

[tombombadil1 · 3/10 · 22 December 2014]

After watching the episode I get the idea about what others have been feeling. This episode was a let-down in every way.

A minor drop in the intensity seemed to provide a grand conclusion in the final episode thanks to the last second revelation of Dal Adar in the penultimate episode. But two lines of dialogues, and he is in the clear. Wow, that is some writing.

Secondly, What about the Carrie family? The problems which Carrie had with her sister appeared real only at times. And now this mother popping out of someone's belly without any prior hints in the season. I would bu none of it. Claire Danes is good actress, but selling something that stupid is an ordeal that no actor should go through. Sometimes, it all appeared like an un-aired pilot of some mediocre series.

Bummer. Season ending deserved more

[mph-22 · 2/10 · 1 February 2015]

I think season 1 and 2 were outstanding. Most exciting stuff to hit television in a long time. Season 3 I thought was disappointing and wasn't contemplating watching season 4. I did however because I was told it was back up to par with the first two. And I wasn't disappointed. Great drama, unexpected twists and turns, great new cast members (Suraj Sharma - Life of Pi, The elegant Pakistani intelligence commander Raza Jaffrey and what to think of the great find of Numan Acar as USA arch enemy - Haissam Haqqani). But like most honest reviewers and fans of the show, I thought the ending was a disaster. Nothing of any interest happened. No climax, just a sorry aftermath of the preceding episodes. I would give good money to hear the writers explain why they let this great season go out like a slow burning candle. I'm lost.

A Courageous, Character-Driven Finale

[RyanCShowers · 22 December 2014]

"Marine One", "The Choice", and "The Star" tore up the viewer's hearts and minds with its emphasis on the emotions and more importantly the massive moments of action. "Long Time Coming" is being maligned by those with their hearts set on the big "BAM" moment that never came last night. I was expecting something to happen, but what we got instead is a perfectly good replacement for the blockbuster moment. After a run of episodes where the suspense drove the episode's arc, the writers toned it back so far to exclude all the action that most of the season relied upon.

Instead, the writers proved and reaffirmed the soul of "Homeland" is about—Carrie—and spent an hour probing her. "Long Time Coming" reminded the fans that none of the terrorist plots matter if we do not care about the person driving them. Carrie's development centers around two areas: 1) being a mother to Frannie and how she sees her own reflection in her estranged mother 2) how the men in her life are changing in what they mean to her (her father's dying, her disappointment in Saul, and the possibility of a future of with Quinn). It's an excellent piece of writing from a character viewpoint, and a courageous path to take for the finale.

While I was absorbing the finale, I realized the strength and weakness of season four. "Homeland" was able to have these, at times, amazing episodes that are adroit in their own time and space, but the cogency across the season does not come off with clarity. "Kreig Nicht Lieb" and "Long Time Coming" were both terrific hours of television, yet the do not unite evenly like pieces of a puzzle. That's where the season is weakest, besides utterly misfiring with some early episodes. Those two big mistakes are not enough to abate this great season of television. Though season one and two are better, the tonal identity the show, at this very moment, is the best it has ever been. Once it found its groove this year, "Homeland" season four rammed its audience like an angry bull.

Worst of the lot. Very disappointing.

[dehdave · 4/10 · 22 December 2014]

This season 4 finale was by far the worst episode of the series. It went no where and accomplished nothing. I believe it was just phoned in by writers, actors, and director. They must have been tired and just threw this out to get the season finished. Of course the whole of season 4 has been below the standard set by the first three season. I watched this episode on showtimeanywhere.com and pay for internet by the gigabyte. I feel like I have been taken and wasted an hour of my internet access. Season 5 better hit the street running or I am done. This season 4 finale was by far the worst episode of the series. It went no where and accomplished nothing. I believe it was just phoned in by writers, actors, and director. They must have been tired and just threw this out to get the season finished. Of course the whole of season 4 has been below the standard set by the first three season. I watched this episode on showtimeanywhere.com and pay for internet by the gigabyte. I feel like I have been taken and wasted an hour of my internet access. Season 5 better hit the street running or I am done.

Worst season finale ever!

[jalbert3-194-359187 · 1/10 · 24 December 2014]

I was in disbelief when I watched the finale. Thought for sure I must have made a mistake and there was one more episode after this one. I kept waiting for something to actually happen and nothing. Carrie's mother was awful. Not only in the way she was dropped into the finale but just awful casting.

Over the last couple of days I thought I must have missed something. Surely I missed something that made it all make sense. So last night I started to re-watch it and couldn't even make it 15 minutes until I started falling asleep and turned it off.

Undoubtedly the worst season finale of any show I have ever watched. What makes it so bad is that the season was so great right up until this point. After episode 11 I couldn't wait to see the finale and it was nothing short of a giant let down.

A poor end for even this pointless season

[kcmurphy88 · 1/10 · 21 December 2014]

Nothing happens. No, really. A few pieces are moved about the board, and there's a big reveal. No wait, that was last week.

Carrie continues to prove how wrong she is for the job she has. I would not trust her to walk my dog, and I don't have a dog. Not only has she made no right decision the whole season (except the one at the crossroads that got belayed) but they are ALL made in a state of emotional crisis. Perhaps she needs different drugs, but this is NOT the kind of person in whose hands you place extreme power.

What are the writers thinking? Worst case of estrogen poisoning I have ever seen.

An infuriating, incoherent and bewildering episode involving nothing of interest, and the cap to a season that is EASILY the worst in the show's run. Good thing they already got green-lit for Season 5, because on the basis of Season 4 it would be over.

Simply amazingly and unremittingly bad.