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POLL : What did you think of Homeland - The Smile?

Oct 1, 2012

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25 comments:

  1. DarqueModeOctober 1, 2012 at 4:49 AM

    Interesting to watch the 2 Showtime series back to back...
    Dexter feeling he needed to kill to regain some sense of normalcy in his life, and Seeing Carrie fighting going back to work for the CIA every step of the way, but cracking a smile once she eludes capture. Both characters getting back to their old routines for different reasons, but with similar results.


    The writing and direction on this series is just so good, and of course the acting shines because of that. Even the young actors like Morgan Saylor (Dana Brody) give great performances. I wish networks would watch and learn how to write non-cliche lines for their young actors so. Great work all-around.


    I have to admit though, this season's story feels a little contrived to me. So many coincidences requiring Brody and Carrie to both be in play again. Of course it was going to go down that way, but it still feels a bit too convenient to me I guess.


    A VERY strong start to the new season, let's hope they don't lose their compass like they did lat the end of the season last year!

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  2. shortguy457October 1, 2012 at 6:40 AM

    Gave it an ok... Liked seeing Ilana!

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  3. LuckoX10October 1, 2012 at 11:09 AM

    Did anyone see Carrie's smile when she hit that guy that was following her in the nuts and ran away? Very funny.

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  4. David GalliOctober 1, 2012 at 2:29 PM

    Liked it very much! Especially how Morena (a firefly fan here o/) portrayed so well a figure who fears prejudice.

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  5. the daneOctober 1, 2012 at 4:05 PM

    It is so good to have Homeland back on TV. I thought it was a strong start. Not like the Pilot ofcourse, but still, it was a good start. This year will be a little different, but I´m sure they are gonna pull it of. The cast is so amazing, it is such a pleasure to watch C D. portray Carrie. Loved that little smile in the end (though my favorite Carrie is the slightly frustruated one).
    I have to agree with Darquemode, the young people are also very talented.

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  6. tsavonglah08October 1, 2012 at 4:54 PM

    I wonder if she will be as careless and leave Homeland how she did LOST. :D

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  7. tsavonglah08October 1, 2012 at 4:56 PM

    Agreed, I also was reminded from last season how good the writing for and the acting of Morgan Saylor was. Loved every scene with her.

    Regarding the time coincidence...yeah, that is contrived. On the other hand they want both storylines going on at the same time so Brody and Carrie could clash again.

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  8. tsavonglah08October 1, 2012 at 4:57 PM

    Besides that "Douche" of course! lol

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  9. LouOctober 1, 2012 at 5:41 PM

    Ahhh so some TV critics who saw this a while back mentioned the significance of the episode title and they were not kidding, Carrie's smile/smirk was fantastic She is back in the game even if the game will destroy her because it is what she needs, what she loves. Claire Danes gave yet another stellar performance showing just how scared Carrie was to go back in the field.


    Loving Dana again this season, all the secrets she has to keep no wonder she blurted out about her dad being a Muslim. Absolutely loved their scene at the end.

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  10. shortguy457October 1, 2012 at 7:05 PM

    oh my god! of course i notice that! No wonder the episode is called The Smile!

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  11. shortguy457October 1, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    I am so pissed at how she left Lost!! Totally wanted to see how Jacob met a wife and how he decided to raise a child! DAMN IT so many missed opportunities!!

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  12. LuckoX10October 1, 2012 at 7:15 PM

    I ran it slowly (pressing pause all the time) and she even looked at the camera once which I completely don't mind since she did an amazing job on that scene otherwise.

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  13. shortguy457October 1, 2012 at 7:40 PM

    Honestly I thought it was a blooper until I saw your comment. What do you think it means? That she's off her meds?

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  14. LuckoX10October 1, 2012 at 7:47 PM

    I don't think it was a blooper, there was even music still running which shows that they've edited that part too.
    And yes, she's off her meds but that's not why she's laughing, she's not bi-polar anymore. She just felt the thrill of working for CIA again so she started smiling. The look at the camera was pretty brief too; as I said, I had to run it slowly a few times to even notice it so it's not even a big deal.

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  15. laura3341October 1, 2012 at 8:57 PM

    Everyone noticed that! Didn't you smile right along with her,i did!

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  16. laura3341October 1, 2012 at 9:04 PM

    Agreed! Even though it was contrived,it was still a great start and better than anything on the networks at the moment!

    Loved Carries smile at the end!

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  17. DarqueModeOctober 1, 2012 at 9:26 PM

    Agreed.
    Sometimes a series need to have a somewhat contrived plot when continuing from a previous season so that is almost expected. Like you said, despite that, they manage to overcome the contrived elements with solid writing , directing and acting. It's amazing how much a show can overcome with brilliant actors, directors and writers!! XD


    I can accept Carrie conveniently forgetting everything due to her ECT last year, and Brody being pulled back into his web of lies for Season 2. However, I think Season 3 needs to end this Brody story arc and have him arrested, outed, and/or killed. As much as I love Lewis and the character of Brody, I think for the show to retain its credibility and realism it needs to move on to a different main threat.


    I may change my mind depending on how Season 2 plays out, but they would need a much, much better finale to accomplish rationalizing bringing Brody back for another season in my mind. I won't worry about that too much though since this season has just begun and it will be great by all appearances.

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  18. laura3341October 1, 2012 at 10:02 PM

    Oh i agree! You know i love Damian but Brody has to be dealt with! I can't begin to tell you how much its killing me seeing him play this role,its almost to painful to watch! :P

    Your right we don't know how this season is going to play out,for all we know he might get a 3rd season with him but its going to have to be something extraordinary if they plan on keeping him...

    Clarie makes everything look easy,and since Carrie had her ECT its like starting fresh,finding all the clues to lead her back to what she found out about him at the end of last year! This should prove to be an interesting season,i hope,lol.! :)

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  19. andy sOctober 1, 2012 at 10:29 PM

    I can see Brody being involved for more than a season or two if timeline of the episodes contracts and does not correspond to when they are aired. So, if a convention is in a matter of months, and elections than within six or eight, with strong eventful storyline those are two seasons. And Nazir's plan is now for Brody to influence policy as high up as possible (which, if that indeed stays a plan, could be a terrific season 3 or 4). Moreover, I see an endgame (s4 or s5) for Brody being a sort of Manchurian candidate, which means become a vp, then kill p so that you become p yourself. This could be done within a season or within four seasons, depending on what happens in between.

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  20. DarqueModeOctober 1, 2012 at 10:57 PM

    Oh I can see some connecting arcs like that too, but they need to be designed that way from much earlier in the season than last year.


    Last year they did not know how they were going to end the season until the last few episodes. I think that is the reason the beginning of Season 2 feels so contrived. If they go into this season knowing that Brody will get the VP and that Season 3 will revolve around Brody trying to kill the Pres like Manchurian Candidate, they need to set the foundation in Season 2 for the Season 3 plots. Easy to do if they know what they will do ahead of time and do not make it up on the fly like the second half of last year.


    That said, I still think Brody has a very limited run of no more than 3 years. To continue him being a spy or terrorist inside the US government and under suspicion (or not) by the CIA would go beyond my suspension of disbelief. That is one reason 24 worked so well, each season had a contained plot.

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  21. andy sOctober 1, 2012 at 11:19 PM

    I agree about 24. As for season arcs, these showrunners are known for not setting out with a concrete big picture (I think Sutherland told they sometimes gave their scripts the day before shooting). Prison Break had two-season arcs so that might work here too (though, again, I see potential for 4 or 5 seaons, but it would really have to be a strong and packed story). If indeed they finish with Brody sometime soon (s2 or s3), that would make Carrie the anchor of the show which is a strong enough premise to last for as long as they can creatively work, but somehow I would like it only to last as much as Brody. The dynamic set last year worked perfectly for me

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  22. DarqueModeOctober 1, 2012 at 11:36 PM

    I think Daines could be the solo lead herself, however if they were to move on to a different threat after Brody I would think there would be another new lead actor/actress to fill Lewis' void. IT is always risky to switch leads like that and I understand why networks and showrunners like to stay with a known commodity, but some stories need to run their course and end.


    Showtime had another terrorist drama called Sleeper Cell that was pretty good. It ended after only two seasons, but I think it was originally designed as a one off, so the second season was just not as strong as Season 1.


    I know the showrunners history of changing scripts up until filming... or even during filming! XD


    I guess it can work well, and it worked well enough for Season 1. I just think that type of ad hoc writing has major issues with multi-seasonal arcs. I can see Brody as the lead for multiple seasons (maybe more than 3), but the writers would really need to step up their game and plan ahead (like you said) making long term outlines that have flexibility for short term changes.


    I heard somewhere there are two types of writers, gardeners and architects. The architects plan it all out and plan everything including the endgame.... and then they fill in details working backwards. The gardeners start with a story and keep adding to it growing the story and pruning where they think it is necessary not always thinking of the end product.


    I think the architects have a definitive advantage in multi-seasonal arcs. Problem is there are just not many writers like that around and some networks sadly attempt to break them down along the way forcing them to change aspects of their vision.

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  23. Bruce_FOctober 1, 2012 at 11:42 PM

    Good start. Every aspect of the premiere was thoroughly enjoyable.
    - Carrie's crazy smile as she was running from the gunman was both creepy and amusing at once.
    - Brody's home life continues to get more interesting. All of Brody's scenes with his mother and daughter are great. I'm hoping the mother and daughter will also start crossing paths with Carrie.
    - At first I thought the way Carrie was drawn back into things was a bit far fetched but, after thinking about it, it really isn't. Neither is the way Abu Nazir continues to pull the string on Brody. Once someone in that situation is on the hook, they're very rarely ever let off.
    - The only thing I thought was too obvious and lazy was having the reporter making a date with Estes to distract him. That line of progression is always pretty obvious.

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  24. celineOctober 3, 2012 at 11:16 PM

    I agree and if we're talking about the show being realistic, how unrealistic is it that brody would run for vice president?He's been a congressman for what five minutes ?

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  25. omabinOctober 14, 2012 at 9:23 PM

    it wasnt as good as the pilot but it was still very very good. everything about it was enjoyable. And as always, Claire Danes and Damien Lewis (not to mention the supporting performances of Morena Baccarin, Mandy Patinkin and the girl who plays Brody's daughter) were incredible and could always carry on the hour. I still have not a clear image of the where the season is going and felt the premiere was just to get things moving and people back in action, but I like the feeling of unknown. This is one of those in which I stay completely away from spoilers.

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