'Q&A' - Homeland, Season Two

Homeland

Season Two

Episode Five

'Q & A' - 9.5

I had so much trouble locating an interesting image from this episode, so endure a photo of Morena Baccarin. 

Like 'The Weekend', 'Q & A' shows Homeland doing what it does best: showcasing its uber talented cast and crew, with the writers and actors being at the forefronts of their respective fields. Claire Danes and Damien Lewis have been almost consistently fantastic, so it would be almost redundant to heap praise on them like dirt on a fresh grave, but they truly, truly deserve it, especially considering that most of their scenes tonight are spent in one location, having one extended dialogue.

Oh, and what a dialogue it was. When Carrie walks into her home once it's all said and done, then takes out a bottle of wine and pours herself a glass it was possibly the most deserved drink of all time. That was some prime delivery of some amazing writing, it is possibly impossible to pick which one of the two actors was stronger. I can imagine how tough that would have been to film. Well, I can't really, but it sure as hell didn't look easy. 

I actually stopped taking notes during the interrogation because it was all in the eyes, and looking down at a page I was just missing out on the awesome. Just the sheer emotion, weariness and desperation that was contained in both pairs was astounding, and I was happy to see the tears took forever to come out. Tears are the easiest emotion to fake, in my book. I can fake cry and I've never had a single acting class outside of compulsory school drama. Luckily 'Q & A' waited until the tension and drama reached an absolute peak before bringing out the water works in both Carrie and Brody. 

It was highly pleasing to see Brody give in and admit to it all. Sure, it leaves us wondering where we can go from here, but I have been wondering where we're going since about the third episode. One ultimately negative aspect about this series is the finite premise, which will one day be forced to retire or fade into dragging, convoluted nonsense that people will eventually give up on. Looking at the speed of the major arc, especially over the last few episodes, Homeland may only last one or two more seasons before it will have to gracefully bow out of the ring. Heaven forbid they try to shift the focus to another major plotline - Maybe Jess has been a terrorist this whole time! - *shudder*. 

I have to wonder the feasibility of allowing Brody back out into the world. It makes sense from an audience perspective, I mean they aren't just gonna shove off one of the two major players just as his story hits its high, but in reality I don't know if a confirmed and confessed would-be terrorist would be granted the ability to walk freely amongst the non-Jihadists. And no, I'm not saying all terrorists are Jihadists, just this one. Of course, I guess he hasn't actually committed any acts of terrorism yet. And he is a direct (ish) link to Abu Nazir, and their first man on the inside. I can definitely see the advantages in letting him go about his business, but what about the risk of him being a triple agent and just going in and telling Nazir that he's a part of the CIA now?

In terms of plot, I wasn't sure how I felt about Dana and the Vice President's son getting into some potentially life changing shit, as Finn Walder accidentally runs down a pedestrian before not-so-accidentally driving away from the scene, against the initial protests of his young date. This focus on young love - perhaps squandered now - is a tad bizarre to me, and feels largely out of place in this tale of terrorism and political intrigue. I'm happy for there to be little references to it or the odd line of dialogue, but really I don't care. Dana's pretty annoying as well, and Finn's kind of an ass. Hopefully he'll be put in jail and never heard from again.

Obviously the focus of 'Q & A' was the interchange between the down-and-out Brody and the high-horse-hoisted Carrie, and I'd say two thirds of the episode was devoted to them in some way. My favourite bit was when Carrie began talking about monsters, and how Brody's decision to not blow himself up demonstrated that unlike Nazir, he isn't one. Nazir on the other hand kills civilians, or as she puts it 'Danas and Chrises and Jessicas'. Carrie then goes on to warn him about the weight of lying, and decides to demonstrate the power of honesty by telling him the flat truth: she wants him to leave his wife and children and be with her. 

Dialogue and performances meld together so soundly it's immaculate, and unfairly intense. You aren't gripping the armrests in agonising discomfort, but you're unable to avert your gaze as these two amazing people and amazing actors manage to create something truly spectacular, and you can just tell that Danes and Lewis will no doubt take the Emmy's again next time. Fuck, they are so awesome. I wish I was one of them.

It seems that's why we watch Homeland, not for the Brody family drama, not for Abu Nazir's winding staircase of a terrorist plot and not for Carrie's insanity. We watch it to see Claire Danes and Damien Lewis deal with the Brody's, Abu Nazir and their failing psyches, because what would this show be without the two best lead actors on television?