As the fifth season of Homeland finally boils down to the cusp of the cat and mouse game between the CIA - BND alliance and the bad guys, it finds one of its best episodes with a perfect script and terrific performances by it's ensemble cast. Each plot advance effectively advances the audience too towards the edges of their seats. The episode feels so realistic even at its peak,thanks to the great cinematography and crisp editing.It even very briefly manages to pull off some dark humor in this grim episode. All the plot elements built parallelly mix effortlessly into what's going to be the final episode of this epic thriller saga. This might be one of the best pre-finale episodes Homeland has ever had after its first season.
9 Reviews
Excellent! Feels like real world.
steven9866414 December 2015
Homeland is just outstanding again. We have watched it since the beginning and this season felt a bit disappointing in the beginning few episodes. Seasons 1-4 were an exciting roller coaster each time. It was just too confusing and a far split from the past, beginning of season 5. With s5e11, it has really gotten back in the swing of things. We are on the edge of our seats and waiting for next weeks episode. Saul is back in his old role (kind of), Carrie is back in her old type of role and I don't think this gives away plot. I think the show conveys the messiness of the real world. From his beginning on the show, who would have thunk Quinn's role would be so pivotal? Still the case this season.
I have heard commentary from government officials they watch this! They feel it is very far from reality, but there has been public commentary on it! Amazing.
I have heard commentary from government officials they watch this! They feel it is very far from reality, but there has been public commentary on it! Amazing.
Nearing the end
Tweekums21 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
As the last episode ended we learnt that Quinn wasn't dead but it is far from clear that he will survive; especially when Saul orders the military doctor to bring him out of the coma so he can be questioned. He is unable to speak but the fact that he had been treated for a bullet wound outside the official healthcare system leads Carrie to the man who treated Quinn. This ultimately leads her to believe the terrorists are planning to attack Berlin's underground
unfortunately by the time she finds this resources have already been deployed to the airport after Allison deliberately sent then in the wrong direction as her Russian paymasters want the attack to go ahead to spur Western powers into utterly destroying Islamic extremists.
As we approach the season finale the tension is rising nicely. There is plenty of excitement and some impressive shocks in this episode. The best of the shocks comes when Allison murders her CIA bodyguard and the man she was meant to be questioning before shooting herself in the shoulder and deliberately sending the authorities to the wrong place to look for the bomb; Miranda Otto does a really good job in the role. It was fun to see that while the authorities were trying to find the terrorists the terrorists were having their own problems when they realise that the remote detonator for their device doesn't work this nicely set things up for a confrontation between Carrie and the terrorists' leader that I'm sure we'll see in the season finale. Overall a solid episode that sets things up nicely for next week.
As we approach the season finale the tension is rising nicely. There is plenty of excitement and some impressive shocks in this episode. The best of the shocks comes when Allison murders her CIA bodyguard and the man she was meant to be questioning before shooting herself in the shoulder and deliberately sending the authorities to the wrong place to look for the bomb; Miranda Otto does a really good job in the role. It was fun to see that while the authorities were trying to find the terrorists the terrorists were having their own problems when they realise that the remote detonator for their device doesn't work this nicely set things up for a confrontation between Carrie and the terrorists' leader that I'm sure we'll see in the season finale. Overall a solid episode that sets things up nicely for next week.
Poor Medical Consultant
valfedox17 January 2017
As a practicing anesthesiologist, I am often wondering who supervises the medical details. This episode has an extremely unrealistic scene in the ICU when Quinn is awakened from his drug induced coma. Starting from the taping of the endotracheal tube, to the drugs called out in the code that follows the extubation, and to the obstructing airway that every ICU practitioner would correct with a chin lift (but in the sequence is left obstructed), there are gross errors in the recreation of a realistic scene. It is a pity, because one is left wondering how many could be the technical errors in the other specialized areas, like hacking, shooting and communicating securely.
While we know that the excellent Homeland is "just a movie", technical realism, as the one pioneered by Michael Crichton in his "The Andromeda Strain", usually adds to the overall feeling of quality of the product.
While we know that the excellent Homeland is "just a movie", technical realism, as the one pioneered by Michael Crichton in his "The Andromeda Strain", usually adds to the overall feeling of quality of the product.
Exciting
Abdulxoxo18 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Allison is a messed-up individual, how can she be soo selfish as to let hundreds of people die instead of just going to jail at worst. why would the Agency trust her with such delicate matter after being accused of treachery? it's just nonsensical. I'm sure Carrie will find a way to stop the attack that we all knew from the get-go isn't happening lol.
Am I supposed to believe this?
aarongnr16 May 2020
Warning: Spoilers
An amateur detective could see that Allison killed her babysitter about 1 second after entering the scene, it's so dumb. I mean, she gets caught later anyway, but that whole scene was just so god damn dumb.
Other than that, great episode, but all of the Allison stuff is just ridiculous
Other than that, great episode, but all of the Allison stuff is just ridiculous
This is the stupidest episode ever
jorgesanzt22 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Spoilers ahead.
Such a disappointment that a well written series has episodes like this. I mean, they caught Allison red handed, and they still let her carry on running missions on her own. Then Allison still believes the Russians will continue to support her. And Saul completely mishandles the interrogation to the guy who is allowed to just jump off a window. Really absurd.
Such a disappointment that a well written series has episodes like this. I mean, they caught Allison red handed, and they still let her carry on running missions on her own. Then Allison still believes the Russians will continue to support her. And Saul completely mishandles the interrogation to the guy who is allowed to just jump off a window. Really absurd.
An aimless, pointless show, full of contempt for its audience
kingdaddy-3792015 December 2015
Warning: Spoilers
NOTE: In this review, I will discuss the plot of this episode. Technically, that information constitutes "spoilers," but that term presumes there is something to be spoiled.
After the top-notch first and second seasons, Homeland has sputtered. There were some compelling moments, but they felt as though the plot was just a vehicle for stringing together these moments. Between them, there were improbable plot twists, pointless scenes, and lots of shots of Carrie's eyes bugging out.
Whatever made Homeland worth watching has not only sputtered this season, but died. The writers are not even trying to create a plot that makes sense. The latest episodes breaks the cardinal rule of genre writing: don't make the story depend on everyone behaving stupidly.
If you have any doubts, here's what happened this episode:
Alison, previously revealed as a probable Russian mole, is working for the CIA to help track down the Berlin terrorist cell. It's not clear what her special skills are that would compel the CIA to do anything with her beyond putting her on the next plane to the US to face trial. But the Agency needs her for something, so...
The CIA assigns her a single bodyguard. This person declares that he doesn't believe that she is guilty of spying for Russia. Is this appropriate for someone doing this job?
Alison and her bodyguard go to a building. She goes to the bathroom, unattended. In the bathroom, she fines instructions left for her in one of the stalls. When she leaves the stall, a Russian agent is waiting for her. (Why give her the message in the stall, then?) She and the Russian agent have a conversation in this public restroom, conveniently empty, about the upcoming terrorist attack, and Russia's desire to let it go forward.
Later, Alison and her bodyguard go to interrogate a key suspect in the terror ring. Why not send someone more reliable? I dunno.
In the course of the interrogation, Alison asks her bodyguard for his gun. He gives it to her. She then shoots him in the head.
After murdering the terrorist suspect, Alison tries to fake a shoot-out by pressing the gun to her shoulder and shooting herself. Powder burns? Apparently not.
When the German police and the CIA show up, she misleads them about the target of the terrorist attack. The suspect she killed told her it was the train station; she tells the authorities that the airport is the target.
Everyone believes her, and an evacuation of the airport begins. No one questions the reliability of her story.
In the hospital, no keeps a watch on her, and she escapes.
Meanwhile, Carrie is the only person who suspects the target is really the train station. Of course, when she goes there, she spots one of the terrorists. It's part of her amazing run of luck, including last season's discovery of Quinn, in one of 47 possible locations. Why does she find Quinn, and the other 46 search teams don't? Sheer luck!
This series of ridiculous events is just a small sample of the idiocy of this season of Homeland. I'm only watching it out of perverse fascination with how bad it has become. It's not funny bad, like something you might see on Mystery Science Theater 3000. No, it's just depressingly bad, in a show that depicts some very serious topics.
After the top-notch first and second seasons, Homeland has sputtered. There were some compelling moments, but they felt as though the plot was just a vehicle for stringing together these moments. Between them, there were improbable plot twists, pointless scenes, and lots of shots of Carrie's eyes bugging out.
Whatever made Homeland worth watching has not only sputtered this season, but died. The writers are not even trying to create a plot that makes sense. The latest episodes breaks the cardinal rule of genre writing: don't make the story depend on everyone behaving stupidly.
If you have any doubts, here's what happened this episode:
Alison, previously revealed as a probable Russian mole, is working for the CIA to help track down the Berlin terrorist cell. It's not clear what her special skills are that would compel the CIA to do anything with her beyond putting her on the next plane to the US to face trial. But the Agency needs her for something, so...
The CIA assigns her a single bodyguard. This person declares that he doesn't believe that she is guilty of spying for Russia. Is this appropriate for someone doing this job?
Alison and her bodyguard go to a building. She goes to the bathroom, unattended. In the bathroom, she fines instructions left for her in one of the stalls. When she leaves the stall, a Russian agent is waiting for her. (Why give her the message in the stall, then?) She and the Russian agent have a conversation in this public restroom, conveniently empty, about the upcoming terrorist attack, and Russia's desire to let it go forward.
Later, Alison and her bodyguard go to interrogate a key suspect in the terror ring. Why not send someone more reliable? I dunno.
In the course of the interrogation, Alison asks her bodyguard for his gun. He gives it to her. She then shoots him in the head.
After murdering the terrorist suspect, Alison tries to fake a shoot-out by pressing the gun to her shoulder and shooting herself. Powder burns? Apparently not.
When the German police and the CIA show up, she misleads them about the target of the terrorist attack. The suspect she killed told her it was the train station; she tells the authorities that the airport is the target.
Everyone believes her, and an evacuation of the airport begins. No one questions the reliability of her story.
In the hospital, no keeps a watch on her, and she escapes.
Meanwhile, Carrie is the only person who suspects the target is really the train station. Of course, when she goes there, she spots one of the terrorists. It's part of her amazing run of luck, including last season's discovery of Quinn, in one of 47 possible locations. Why does she find Quinn, and the other 46 search teams don't? Sheer luck!
This series of ridiculous events is just a small sample of the idiocy of this season of Homeland. I'm only watching it out of perverse fascination with how bad it has become. It's not funny bad, like something you might see on Mystery Science Theater 3000. No, it's just depressingly bad, in a show that depicts some very serious topics.
Like I said....
mihmichael20 September 2022
Warning: Spoilers
They can't get rid of Quinn! He was shot, he was poisoned with sarin and yet - he lives! I would love to take a look at his contract with Homeland crew because it looks like he is unbeatable. Quinn, with his 60 kilograms is the meanist and toughest spy ever! Huge nose Dane is also a huge laugh because she was burnt by all the people she new, yet she came back stronger than ever! This television show is going down faster than anyone would imagine so I will stick around so I can have reasons to smile and laugh because HOMELAND is now awful, people are laughing while watching this "tv show", this "drama".
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