Sorry guys but I have been beyond busy with work and on the road for the last two weeks! I swear I need some down time!
I have seen the season and winter finales of Homeland and Scandal and I promise I will post my thoughts this week. Just make sure you check back.
I should have Homeland up tomorrow and Scandal soon after that. In the meantime, post your thoughts in the comments sections or read up on some of my posts leading up to those finales!
WOW!!! There were many scenarios I pictured in my head about how this season finale of Dexter would play out. I can guarantee you with 100% certainty that how it actually played out last night was no where NEAR what I thought. There were many things building to a head this season. Some things I thought would build little quicker and some things I thought would build a little slower. But I never in a million years saw THAT coming. And it really begs the question, where the hell does the show go from here?
If you’ve ever read any of my Dexter posts in the past, you know there is one character I absolutely love and is my favorite of all time and with every passing episode, his absence pains me more and more. That would be one Sgt. James Doakes. I’ve been refusing to believe for the past 4 seasons that Doakes is really dead. I had it in my twisted little head that he somehow escaped that explosion (General Hospital style) and he is alive and well trying to remember who he is only to resurface when we least (or most) expect. When I saw the title of the finale (sorry Mom for the language!) I thought to myself….HE’S BACK!!! HE’S ALIVE!!! I KNEW IT!!!! Especially since there has been so much Doakes talk lately, I thought that he was absolutely coming back. And I was right!!! Well…..sort of. He’s back but only in a flashback. A recreated flashback I should say. And even though it was not the reunion with Doakes I was hoping for, it was ok. I was so happy to see my main man Erik King back that even though it was only for a short time, I’ll take it just to get my Doakes fill again!
So with my James Doakes/Erik King love out-of-the-way, let’s get into the meat of the episode. What does what we witnessed last night mean and where does Season 8 go from here? First I want to talk about Hannah. I know there were many people not too fond of Hannah McKay. I didn’t hate her character the way some other people have. I thought she was important for a few reasons. First, it showed that Dexter could truly love again. Second, it gave Dexter the chance to fully and completely be himself with someone. We’ve never really seen that before. The closest we got was with Lumen but he was very careful with her because he knew deep down that Lumen wasn’t a killer. She was a victim seeking revenge for her crimes and that once he mission was complete, her “Dark Passenger” would be gone…and it was. But Hannah was different. Hannah’s a killer…just like Dexter. So he didn’t need to lie or hide. He could be himself with her in way he never could with anyone else, even Deb. And finally, she brought some inner feelings inside Dexter out I’m not sure he knew were there. I’m talking about the “Dark Passenger.” One of the reasons we’ve always been able to buy into Dexter as a “lovable serial killer” is because he always had his code (always kill guilty people…never anyone innocent) and because we thought there was no other choice for him. This is who he is. He had a darkness in him that he can’t run from and therefore he needed to find a way to channel it. But Hannah made him rethink that position. Is it possible there is no “DP” at all and that Dexter is just a killer who likes to kill. It puts Dexter in a completely new light. It’s one thing when he’s doing it because he has no choice and the people he kills are bad. It’s a completely different scenario if it’s simply for pleasure and because it’s a lifestyle he has chosen vs. one that was fated. He becomes a much scarier individual because the code is now off the table, if that’s the case. And if that’s the case, how does our perspective on Dexter change? How does Dexter’s perspective about himself change? We saw it with Hannah’s father. While he was a complete scumbag, he wasn’t worth killing. He didn’t fit the code. But he’s not walking amongst the living anymore is he? Dexter willingly broke his code to kill her father. Or you could argue, he adjusted his code to justify killing her father. That’s not the Dexter we’ve grown to care about. So without his relationship with Hannah, these feelings inside Dexter and this turmoil about who he really is, wouldn’t have come to light. It also bring an entirely new layer to Dexter’s character which is quite compelling. The big question is, will Hannah be back? She’s out and on the run and Dexter will be very well aware of that fact when he returns home. How will this make him feel? Because they were very clear with one another that while they both love each other very much and feel only they can understand one another, they also realize that because of who they are, neither one are ever really safe with the other. I hope Hannah returns next season because I think those crazy kids can find a way to work their issues out!
I think the bigger analysis, is how did Quinn survive? I thought for sure he was a goner! No, I’m just kidding!!! Obviously the bigger question is, Debra. She had quite a finale didn’t she? Her character has had such a transformation over the last seven seasons. Where she once started as an innocent cop who just wanted to do a good job and make her dad and brother proud (and Jennifer Carpenter was not a very good actress) she is now a seasoned lieutenant who is very well aware of what is happening around her (and Jennifer Carpenter has become a very good actress.) Poor Deb has had pretty much an insane ride on this show. From falling in love with a serial killer (who happened to be Dexter’s bio brother) to falling in love with a FBI agent who is murdered right in front of her to falling in love with her adopted brother to finding out said brother is a serial killer to becoming a killer herself. Just when you want to say you’ve had a rough life, take a look at the life of one Debra Morgan!
It’s still hard to comprehend what went down last night because I still can’t believe it was Deb that pulled the trigger….literally. I was pretty sure LaGuerta was going to die (check out my Dexter Death poll in my earlier post). Why I wasn’t 100% sure? Because she didn’t fit Dexter’s code so I didn’t think he was going to kill her. I was right…on both fronts. She died and Dexter didn’t kill her…DEB DID!!! I still can’t believe it. Deb killed LaGuerta. But did Dexter have a hand in it? I think he did.
It’s obvious what was going to go down. Dexter was going to shoot both Estrada and LaGuerta and make it appear as if they shot each other. Enter Deb who spent most of the time trying to convince Dex not to kill Maria. Unfortunately, while Dexter was begging Debra to leave and Debra was begging Dexter not to do this, Maria woke up. I’m glad this happened because, like Doakes, she had her suspicions about Dexter and before she met her maker, her suspicions were confirmed. But when Maria woke up she begged Debra to shoot Dexter. I found this reaction from Maria interesting. Instead of Maria telling Deb to call for back up or turn him in, she yelled at her to shoot him. Hmmm. Meanwhile, Dexter is telling Deb that it’s ok and that she needs to do what she thinks is right. And with a tearful and pained look on her face, with the gun aimed at Dexter….BANG. The shot goes off but instead she shoots LaGuerta. In what I read this morning was an off the script scene, Deb runs screaming to LaGuerta and hugs her and tells her NO while Dexter watches in disbelief at what Debra just did for him. It was such a powerful moment made even more powerful once learning that was all ad libbed by Jennifer Carpenter.
Deb and Maria had always had a difficult relationship. At first, Maria didn’t like Deb because she was threatened by her. She was the darling up and comer with a huge backing in Captain Matthews. And as a result, she made Deb’s life very difficult resulting in Deb not trusting and hating her lieutenant. Eventually, she made Deb detective…which is something she always wanted. Their working relationship improved slightly but there were still moments of tension and distrust. Eventually, Maria got promoted to Captain and in turn promoted Deb to lieutenant. And as of late, they worked well together. Their relationship came full circle last night. It started with Maria holding Deb’s future in the palm of her hands and ended with Deb holding Maria’s future in the palm of her hands. While Deb and Maria had their moments of angst, there is a part of me that always thought they did want the best for the other. As the only other woman in the department, I think if anyone was going to succeed, Maria wanted it to be Deb and in turn, there were many times Deb viewed Maria as an asset and mentor. That’s why it hurt Deb so much to do what she did. Not only because she just killed someone, but because it was Maria.
I read an interview with one of the show runners who alluded to the idea that Dexter was very much in control of the situation with Deb and manipulated her into doing his dirty work. It’s hard to argue with one of the men behind the show, but I’m going to anyway. I don’t buy that. I think Dexter was very distraught over the idea of putting Deb in this position and he was really giving her the ok to shoot him if she felt she had to do it. He was trying to make it easier for her. I don’t think he was trying to manipulate her into shooting Maria. I really don’t. I think he was shocked when she did it because all things Maria said were true…Deb’s a good person, she’s not like Dexter, she’s not a killer. But I guess that didn’t stop Maria from shouting at Deb to kill her own brother! I guess she’s a killer if she’s saving Dexter but not Maria. Anyhoo, Maria was right about Deb. So I don’t think it ever entered Dexter’s mind that she would shoot Maria. He was just as stunned as the rest of us!
So now what? What does this do to Deb? How does this impact her relationship with Dexter moving forward? How do they get out this? I certainly think hearing of Maria’s death will bring Angel back from retirement and this will be his last case before he really does step away. I guess a lot will depend on whether or not Season 8 is really Dexter’s last season. Right now the show runners are planning as if it is. But they did say if Showtime wants more, they can spin it and go longer. As much as I would like to see more Dexter (if the quality holds up) I almost think you’re at a point of no return. I think next season has to be the last because as many people as Dexter has been involved in killing, he can’t run forever. At some point, it has to catch up and I think next season it will. Otherwise, it gets ridiculous and there is no way we can trust any of these cops who would be so blind to what is happening right in front of them.
So what did you think of the season finale and season 7 as a whole? And do you want next season to be the final season? I can’t wait to hear what you think!!!
We are certainly building to something major in the last two episode of Homeland this season and did we just find out who the mole was all along? This episode really asks you to suspend much disbelief but when it comes to Homeland, I don’t care. I trust the writers and I am completely along for the ride. So I don’t care how unbelievable it is that Brody would be able to Skype Nazir on his cell phone, right outside his safe house door without SOMEONE knowing about it. It doesn’t matter to me. What does matter to me, is how this story is going to wrap up.
Let’s start with the VP. This all went into motion back last season, when the show premiered. Brody was brain washed and manipulated into killing VPOTUS Walden after Nazir’s son Issa was killed in a drone strike orchestrated by the VPOTUS and David Estes. I’m not sure if Brody and Nazir are aware of Estes involvement. Signs indicated they are not, but other actions might indicate it’s possible (more or that later.) After several failed attempts to kill Walden, an opportunity arises out of a pretty scary situation. After Carrie hangs up the phone from talking to Brody, she is broad sided by another vehicle. Turns out the maestro behind that was none other than Nazir. Nazir has Carrie and he is using her as leverage to get Brody to do his bidding. He tells Brody he needs the serial number for the VP’s pacemaker so he can attack him by making it appear as though he had a heart attack. Nazir tells Brody exactly where to find it and that if he wants to see Carrie alive again, he will do as he asks. Brody takes a pretty hard-line with Nazir, knowing how driven he is by revenge, and tells him that he’s going to kill Carrie no matter what so he refuses to give him the number until he sees that Carrie is free and alright. Nazir acquiesces and Brody sends him the number. A remote tech dude starts doing something with it and when the VP shows up in his office (where Brody had to get to, to get the pacemaker) Brody tells him he’s not running with him and he slowly starts to watch the VP, die. At one point even telling Walden “You still don’t get it. I’m killing you.” He then runs to the top of steps and screams for someone to get a doctor because the VP is having a heart attack. But it’s too late, Walden is dead.
Where to begin. I guess the first thing is that the show has basically come full circle in one sense. Brody’s mission upon returning to the US was to kill the VP. I think Nazir would have liked it better if he killed him and someone innocent American’s as well, but I digress. So Brody’s mission is complete. He did what Nazir set in motion for him to do. And did it in a way in which no one else got hurt. I think what we learned about Brody is that he is certainly not a terrorist. And I would go out on a limb and say that the writers have done an excellent job of presenting Brody as a character you can empathize with. This was a man tortured and brain washed into doing what he thought was right. Is it right for him to take matters into his own hands? No. Did he help rid the country of really bad, corrupt, and vile politician? Yes. Not to mention, we have seen many instances where Brody wouldn’t do certain things because he doesn’t want to hurt innocent people. To him, there is no collateral damage. The only person he wanted to pay for his crimes, was Walden. And now it’s happened. The thing I loved about the first season, is that we were never really sure if Brody was wearing the black or white hat. Even up through a few episodes ago, we still weren’t sure. But I think we learned that Brody’s hat was a very pale grey. He was by no means innocent, but he was not the insane, diabolical terrorist that was certainly possible. Brody is a broken man who has, for all intents and purposes, been driven insane by everything that’s happened to him. I know I would be! And now it’s time for him to put the pieces of his life back together…or not.
I have to say though, there were some pretty questionable things that happened that led to all of this. First, there is no way in hell an accused terrorist and traitor to his country (Brody) wouldn’t have a tap on his phone. Someone would have heard/seen that conversation between himself and Nazir. Second, how did Nazir know where Walden kept his pacemaker? Didn’t that seem awfully convenient? Third, why isn’t Carrie being tailed? Estes doesn’t trust her so you would think he would have someone on her. Especially after the surveillance showed how “close” she’s gotten to Brody. Fourth, how was a known terrorist like Nazir able to rent a car, smash into a CIA operative’s car, and leave the scene without a trace? Again, very convenient. Unless he had computer boy do it all for him.
As for what’s happening within the CIA? That might juicier than what’s happening with Brody, if you can believe it. Saul tracks down Dar Adal in a diner where he has his weekly waffle lunch. Before we dissect this meeting, I have to say, really? One of the men in charge of Black Ops who is so hard to find because he changes his address every few days goes to the same diner every week for waffles? Seriously? It had to be said. Anyhoo, Saul wants to know why Quinn was sent into run his operation…he’s a soldier, not intelligence. Adal basically questions Saul’s backbone and tells him that when tough decisions need to be made, Saul is too soft. Quinn can take care of the hard stuff. Saul’s not too happy about that so he leaves. He confronts Estes about Quinn’s presence. What Quinn was originally tasked to do has happened…they thwarted the terrorist plot…so why is Quinn still around? He bluntly asks him if it’s to keep Brody from talking about the drone strike. But as this conversation is progress, the man himself, Quinn, comes racing over to tell Estes and Saul that Carrie was in an accident and that she’s now missing. When Saul takes off, Estes tells Quinn that Saul knows.
Later when Carrie is freed (see above) she tracks down and truck and steals the guy’s cell phone to call Saul and let him know where she is so they can go get Nazir. Once Saul and crew have the plan in place, they head out to where Carrie is. But before they leave, Quinn and Estes exchange a glance and Estes picks up the phone. Flash to the CIA lobby where security grabs Saul and ushers him upstairs, no wait downstairs, no wait…those guys don’t know…they just know one thing…get Saul.
So here lies the big question…is Estes the mole? Are he and Quinn working with Nazir? It would make sense since they are trying to kill Brody because I can see Nazir wanting to silence Brody after his bidding is complete. The big question would be, why Estes and Quinn? But if it’s true and Estes and Quinn are working with/for Nazir, that would set up a monster Season 3!!!!
I think at this point, it’s a given conclusion that Brody is going to die at the end of the season. I’m not sure what they would do with him at this point since his storyline has basically come to an end. Other than the Jessica/Carrie triangle. But I guess that’s one question I have looming…do Carrie and Brody love each other or are they still playing each other? The romantic in me says they love each other. The skeptic in me says I’m not sure. Carrie seems very black and white with her convictions so I can’t see her building a life with Brody. I don’t think the government’s deal with Brody would allow for it even if she wanted to. And now that Jess has pretty much solidified the idea of going back with Mike, what does that mean for Brody? Dana has no interest in her father anymore. It’s really just Chris. And if Mike, who raised him practically his whole life, is back in the picture, Chris will have his father figure. So I think Brody, sadly, will be a goner at the end of the season. If I had my choice, it would be the most annoying teenager ever in Dana but I don’t think that will be the case. I mean really, have you ever seen a stranger, more annoying person in your life than Dana Brody? Because I haven’t.
Only two episodes remain. What will happen? What do you think and how do you think Homeland will wrap up this season? Sound off below!
Is it wrong that I’m a little sad that Issak is dead? I really liked his character and I was hoping he’d be sticking around a little bit longer. He was a great foil for Dexter and their chemistry was fantastic. But it was inevitable that he had to die so I guess I can’t be too upset.
How do you all feel about Hannah? I really want to like them together because of what she gives Dexter…someone he can completely be himself around. She knows all about who he is and she doesn’t judge him because he doesn’t judge her. In many ways, she’s the perfect person for him. But I worry that she can’t be trusted. One false move from Dexter or maybe he doesn’t put the dishes in the dishwasher correctly and poof! She poisons him and he’s a goner. I can see why Deb is so concerned about that. Because she has no code like Dexter. She’s just a killer. Whatever her reasons or motives are, she’s more unpredictable and that’s very dangerous.
It appears as though the Deb being in love with Dexter story is finally put to rest. I guess the writers felt they couldn’t just walk away and ignore it so this was a way to acknowledge the fact that it was there, it was addressed and now is handled. Basically Dexter gave Deb the “don’t worry you are so screwed up you’re in love with me” speech. He told her that while he can’t reciprocate, he can understand why her feelings went there. Deb is still creeped out by the whole thing (as are we all) but is going to move past it and just go back to normal with Dexter. Thank God. I give Dexter mad props here because if it were me and my sibling told me they were in love with me, I don’t think I could ever be around them again. But since Dexter is asking Deb, a police detective, to accept the fact that he’s a serial killer, I guess it’s only fair he learn to accept and move past the idea that his sister’s in love with him.
LaGuerta and Matthews are working together again…well, kind of. I thought it took a lot of balls for Maria to go see Tom after she destroyed his career. But to her point, kill or be killed and he was after her just as much as she was after him. She just ended up winning. We’ve already talked about how Maria never believed Doakes was the Bay Harbor Butcher. Now she’s on Dexter’s trail. The scent is getting stronger and stronger and now she’s strategizing with Matthews over the Butcher case and who the actual perpetrator is. My question is, why does Matthews care? I know why Maria is invested in this but why, with Matthews career destroyed, care? He cares because he wants Maria to get him reinstated so he can work just long enough to get his pension. She agrees and so their investigation begins. This is sooo bad for Dexter. It’s one thing to have Maria on your trail. Now he’ll have former Captain Matthews as well? It’s really getting for ugly. To the point of, what the hell is he going to do? He can’t kill them, they don’t fit his code. So what does he do when they find out?
Other Random Thoughts:
Only three episodes left. How will this season end and what will the set up for the final season be? I can’t wait to find out!!
I don’t think I’ve ever sat through a more cringe worthy scene than the one I watched on Sunday night between Dexter and Deb. I literally squealed during that scene. And I thought Carpenter and Hall played the hell out of it. There have been many jaw-dropping scenes this season on Dexter. But NONE as “HOLY SHIT” as that one!!
First, we have Deb asking Dexter to kill Hannah because she’s going to get away with another murder. Other people have mentioned how the season has been a good, slow build to that point. I disagree. While this may be 6-7 weeks in our time, it’s probably only 2 weeks, maybe, in Dexter time. So I don’t think Deb would jump on the “hey can you pick up some beer and kill the suspect I can’t nail? Thanks Bro!” bandwagon just yet. I think Carpenter has done a fantastic job showing all the ranges of emotion Deb is going through this season. But I still don’t think her character would succumb to Dexter’s dark passenger that fast. I just don’t. I think it’s too soon. And while I do think Dexter denied killing Hannah because of his feelings for her, I also think he did it to protect Deb. He knows she’s not that kind of person and she would regret it. She can’t be responsible for the death of someone else..intentionally. And that’s what this would have been.
It all comes to a head when Dexter goes over to Deb’s place and he throws down keys on the desk and Deb recognizes them as Hannah’s keys. Dexter borrowed her van to spy incognito on Issak. Oops. So then the tiny detail of Dexter and Hannah doing the horizontal mambo together is revealed and Deb is beside herself. She asks if they’re in love and Dex says he isn’t sure. At this point, it seriously would not have shocked me if Deb’s head exploded right off of her body. How much more can this girl take?
So while all this is happening, Deb decides now would be the absolute perfect time to reveal to Dexter that when she went to see him last year, when she caught him killing Travis Marshall, she was going there to tell him that she is in love with him. WHHHHHHHOOOOOOOAAAAA!!!! And..EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWW!!!! I was really hoping the writers forgot that horrible storyline existed and were dropping the whole thing. Nope. No apparantly Deb really needed to share that information with Dexter and the look on Dexter’s face was priceless. He looked as creeped out as the rest of us feel with this God awful storyline. Even Deb said to him, you’re a serial killer in love with a serial killer and I’m more fucked up than you because I’m in love with a serial killer who happens to be my brother. Well, geez when you put it that way, she’s right. I can’t even begin to tell you how much this grosses me out. I’m not sure why the writers felt the need to go down this path. It is beyond disgusting. But they are so, ok.
On the flip side, I LOVE the character of Issak. Ray Stevenson is brilliant in this role. And I’m sort of disappointed because Issak is right. In any other circumstance, he and Dexter would be great friends because they understand one another. Why is that? Because we learned tonight that Viktor was not Issak’s son but his lover. Our boy Issak is gay. So Issak and Dexter bond over losing the person they love and the revenge they wish to seek on the person that took their loved ones away. Unfortunately for Dexter, he killed Viktor. So while Issak can respect Dexter, he’s going to kill him. And while Dexter respects Issak, he’s going to kill him. That’s quite the conundrum for this budding bromance. But I don’t want Issak to die. You can kill Jason Gedrick’s character but let’s keep Issak around? He’s quite entertaining!!
I think we need to start a “death pool” for the final 5 episodes this season and the 12 for next. Who is going to die? Let’s look at the main cast and place some % chances:
Dexter 50%
Debra 0%
Angel 0%
Quinn 100%
LaGuerta 50%
Masuka 0%
As for the secondary cast:
Issak 75%
Hannah 100%
Jamie 25%
George 100%
Astor 5%
Cody 5%
Harrison 0%
It’s hard to list a second tier cast for next season since we don’t know who’s in play so we have to go with this for now. But these are my best guess for who’s dying at some point before the end of the series. I’m pretty sure George, Hannah, and Quinn are goners at some point and I have a sinking feeling Issak is going to have to go. I think Dexter and LaGuerta could go either way. LaGuerta doesn’t fit Dexter’s code but we all know Dexter has killed people who don’t fit the code. But I can’t see him killing her. But what does he do when she puts all the pieces together? As for Dexter himself, it could go either way. I can see the show having him escape or I could see the show putting him behind bars or I could see the show killing him. So it’s a toss-up. Jamie and the kids, I don’t really care but since they’re around I put some % and that would really be storyline dictated but I don’t think anything will happen to any of them. But you never know!!!! Maybe I’m just hoping someone takes out Rita’s annoying kids.
What did you think of Dexter? This season is the best in a long time but the creep factor is at an all time high on this show and I really wish the writers would abort the mission.
Holy Crap!!! Can you believe this season of Homeland??? Talk about going all in on a season. I can’t remember the last time I watched a show that kept me on the edge of my seat as much as this show has. I love the way the writers are handling this show. Many shows have a handful of “wow” episodes that are usually saved for season premieres, mid-season finales, and season finales. And there is nothing wrong with that blueprint. It works. But I think Homeland is showing us the blueprint of “why wait for the wow episode.” Instead of having a bunch of filler episodes until we get to the “wow” episodes, Homeland is going for the “wow” and the “Holy Shit” episodes every week!!! Certainly there are people who will then question, “how can they keep that pace up?” And it’s a valid question. But we won’t know the answer to that until maybe another season or two down the road. Until then, I’m completely along for the ride.
Brody is now made and is in the custody of the CIA. The CIA is trying to break him and get him to admit to who he is what Nazir’s plan is against the United States. At first I was laughing at this. I mean come on. This guy was a POW for 8 years. Do you really think you can break him with your scare tactics? Carrie knows this and asks to go in and try to go a completely different route. The scene between Claire Danes and Damien Lewis was literally a masters class in acting and should be shown in every school that teaches acting across the country. It was and they were amazing. What also helps is that the chemistry between the actors is outstanding.
The thing I love most about Homeland, is the chess match that happens between the characters. In the scene with Brody and Carrie, it’s sometimes hard to tell if they are being sincere or if they are 100% playing each other. I think it’s a bit of both. I believe Carrie loved Brody (I believe she still does and it kills her inside.) I believe Brody fell for Carrie. But also believe that they want to use those feelings against the other. It’s incredible to watch. Because only one person can win.
Eventually Carrie does get through to him and he admits that Nazir is planning on attacking the US. In order for Brody to not to go jail and ruin his family’s life, he agrees to work with the CIA as an undercover asset to be able to take down Nazir. Brody doesn’t want to do this but it’s the only way he’ll receive Immunity and save his family. Once Brody is done serving his country, he’s out and he’ll have to move his family away from the lime light and into boring suburbia. Don’t know how Jessica will feel about that since she is really starting to like the spotlight of being a powerful politician’s wife.
So the question is, will Brody align himself with the CIA and by extension his family to take down Nazir or will he stick with his allegiance to Nazir and bring down the Vice President and by extension his country? Normally I would say it’s a no brainer…he’ll pick the CIA. But with this show, I have no idea…and I love that!
What do you guys think we’ll happen and where do you think this season ends up? Are you happy with the pace of the show or do you wish it would slow down a bit. Let me know what you think!
This bit of news made me very happy this morning!!!! Showtime has renewed Episodes for a nine episode Season 3 run. Yeah!!! I don’t know why it couldn’t have been more but beggars can’t be choosers. I’m just happy one of my favorite comedies will be back next year!!
Another 30 minute “comedy” I didn’t like. I was so excited about this cast and the premise, but it was really not good. I was so disappointed because I was really looking forward to this one. They delayed the premiere of Episodes for this? Ugh. I felt like I was watching a show about how much sex could Marty and the people around him have while every once in a while touching on the business aspect of the show. I kid you not, it was almost like I was watching a show that realized it was on cable and therefore allowed to show boobs, so they showed as many boobs as they could as often as they could. Same with the F bomb. I’m no prude. Cursing and nudity don’t really faze me. Except when it’s done for no other reason than because it can.
You know what else drove me insane? Marty Kaan (played by Don Cheadle) constantly stopping and talking to us while the story was going on. It was so distracting and took away from the little amount of momentum the show had going for it. I don’t need someone explaining to me what a “data dump” is. And it’s not because I already knew, but because it’s ridiculous. Do the doctors on Grey’s Anatomy stop in the middle of the show to explain every bit of technical dialogue unique to their industry? No. It’s silly and we don’t care. Unless the dialogue is so technical I can’t even understand what’s going on without explanation, then maybe it would be helpful. But here, it’s just a ploy. And a bad one. It comes across as the writers not having enough material to carry a 30 minute show and they need some filler. The only time I liked it was during the initial presentation to Metro Capital when Kaan was holding up the flash cards showing how he charms the client and flipping through them when the usual methods weren’t working. That worked well. If Kaan only addressed us in the beginning, for that segment, and at the end, I wouldn’t have had a problem with it. It was just too much.
Overall, watching House of Lies was like watching a Howard Stern radio show…it was shock for the sake of shock (which made more stupid than shocking) with absolutely no substantive value. You have Kaan and his associates, who are all rich, arrogant, money grubbers hired to rework the image of a bank and it’s CEO who is also a rich, arrogant, money grubber. Throw in the strangeness that is Kaan’s family and you have House of Lies. I really have to question the writers on this one. You choose to have your first storyline be about Marty’s firm going in and repairing the image of a bank who was responsible for putting hard-working people on the street and whose principals took bonuses after needing bailout money. Basically Marty and his team figured out how to make the bank look like they cared about the people who were struggling but it’s all a sham so they can still keep taking their ridiculous bonuses without feeling guilty. Really? That the storyline in the pilot you want to go with? With so many people struggling right now with that very issue, that’s the story you want to use to entice people to watch this show? Wow. Ok. Can you say…FAIL!!!! Then add in the storyline with his son. Is this a real issue of gender identity or is this another one of those “shocking” elements the story incorporated because wouldn’t it be fun to make Marty’s kid think he’s a girl. I guess we’ll have to see. Then you have Marty’s ex-wife whose the head of his #1 competitor who’s got a major drug problem, hates and ignores her kid, and has hate sex with her ex. Wow this show just oozes likable people, doesn’t it.
That’s the ultimate problem with the show…no one is likable. Not even the amazing Don Cheadle can work his magic here. And the adorable and delightful Kristen Bell? She barely made an impact in the pilot so I don’t know what to make of her character yet. The other two guys, I don’t even care about them. For a show like this to work, you must have someone you can root for. To go down the controversial road, you have to believe in the protagonist. I don’t. I wasn’t give one reason to like Marty Kaan or understand why he does what he does. The only thing I know about Marty, is that he likes to have sex…A LOT. I think the show is trying to make him complex and dark, but it didn’t. It made him an ass. An ass who didn’t give me one reason to say “I don’t like what he did, but I can understand why he did it.” Maybe this show needs a few more episodes to build that complexity in not just Cheadle’s character but in all of the characters. I just don’t think I’ll be around to find out whether they succeed or not.
DVRs: 1
Ok so it took me a little longer to get to this than I would have liked. So what did I think of the season finale? It was overall a good, solid finale. There were some answers I would have liked to have had, but moving into Season Two, I think those answers will come out and it’s always good to have some questions moving into the next season. Personally, with shows like this, I like it tied up in a neat little bow at the end of the season with new questions arising. But it certainly didn’t detract from how good this episode or the season as a whole was.
Were My Three Main Questions Answered
Yes and no. Two out of the three were answered…were Brody and Walker working together and will Brody go through with it. Let’s take the first one. Brody and Walker were working together….Brody just didn’t know it. As we saw in the finale, Walker was the sharp shooter set up to distract everyone and break down security so that Brody could get inside with the vest and through security without an issue (the metal detectors were all going off because of all the secret service going through them with their weapons. Therefore Brody was undetected.) So it looks like Walker was also turned and working for Nazir but without Brody’s knowledge. More on this in a minute. As for the second question of whether Brody would do it or not, it was a yes and no answer…which I liked. He tried to go through with it, but the vest malfunctioned. He went to go through with it a second time (after fixing the vest) but then his daughter called and made him promise to come home. He makes the promise and doesn’t go through with it. It’s a moment like this that you REALLY have to suspend your disbelief. There is NO WAY after a shooting involving the Vice President that secret service would allow Brody to take a phone call. I’m sorry, there is just no way. It’s too much of a security risk. But hey, they had to stop him somehow right? I loved Damien Lewis in this scene. I’ve loved him all season but the breadth of his emotions was so incredible to watch in this scene. You see his pale, sweaty, panicked face. You can tell he doesn’t want to go through with this but he has no choice. He HAS to and not for Nazir, but for his love of country. The finale opened with the video he made explaining why he did what he is about to do. You learn that, in Brody’s mind, he is not turned and he is not a terrorist. He loves his country and will do anything for it. As a result, he exposes the what happened behind the drone attacked and who suffered as a result. So he wants to rid the United States of these corrupt, disgusting politicians because he feels we are better than that. It’s fascinating!!!! Now it makes sense why he is doing this. It also shows you how diabolical terrorist leaders can be. Nazir knows how good a person Brody is and how loyal he is to his country. He is able to spin his goodness and loyalty in such a way that he gets Brody to do his bidding in the US. Words can’t even begin to describe how scary that is.
After the mass murder plot doesn’t happen, he meets up with Walker in what looks like an underground sewage area to discuss what happened. Brody is still stunned to see his former partner alive and is confused by what has transpired. He had no idea Walker was in on this but it appears Walker knew the entire plan. When he questions Brody about what happened, Brody tells him that there may be another way. Unbeknownst to him, Walker his him on speaker phone (there is a cell phone attached to his shoulder) and Nazir is on the other end of the phone listening to every word. Brody reveals to Nazir that since the VP is in Brody’s corner and wants him to run for congress, he can get at him from the inside, which is much more powerful. Nazir likes the idea and tells him to move forward with it. However, there is one big obstacle in their way who knows too much. Brody give the phone back to Walker and promptly shoots him in the head. Walker’s really dead now.
I know it’s not huge on the list of questions to be answered, but I want to understand what happened to Walker. How is he still alive? Where did he go all that time? What happened to him? What made him want to turn? I read a column by a TV critic who said what this show is about perfectly…it’s 100% a show about the characters and about how what is happening affects them and their relationships. This is not a who done it show or a show driven by the plot. Yes the plot is intriguing and captivating, but it doesn’t drive the show…the characters do. I couldn’t agree with him more. And as a result, I wanted to learn more about Walker and what happened to him. So I am disappointed that it seems we won’t get any resolution to that.
I know a lot of people were unhappy that it seemed the show took the easy way out in letting Brody live and having his daughter’s phone call “save him.” Well I already told you what I felt about the phone call. But I don’t think the show took the easy way out. As we have all agreed, since this show is about driving the characters, isn’t a much more interesting storyline watching Brody become a congressman and see how he plans to take down the VP or anyone else involved in the drone attack, from the inside? To see how it would pull at him and how it would affect his relationship with his family? I do! Now I think you can only take this story so far with these characters before you do have to do something drastic and move on, but we aren’t there yet. There is still a lot of story to tell and therefore, I think it makes sense that Brody lived. You can tell Brody, while really believing in what he is doing, is very torn about how his decisions will affect his family. He doesn’t want to hurt them for anything in the world. Yet this drive to do what his right for his country is strong (even if it is twisted) that he can’t ignore it. He can’t turn it off no matter how much he may want to. Add in the Carrie element and there is still SO much more to tell. And I can’t wait. Speaking Carrie…..
Thoughts on Carrie and Where Her Character Goes From Here
I think Claire Danes sowed up her Golden Globe win and Emmy nomination (and possible win) with these last two episodes. What happened with her is incredible. Here is this “disgraced” former CIA operative, who has no idea that everything her instincts and experience were telling her were 100% right, finally coming to the realization that she is mentally unstable and that she needs help. She is even going to the extreme of doing shock therapy to treat her mental instability. And how about that last scene where right before she goes under, she remembers that Brody knew Issa and that there was a connection. Hopefully she is able to remember that or her sister heard her.
But looking at next season, where does Carrie go from here? Let’s assume she comes out of shock therapy in tact. She is on medication regularly to control her bi-polar disorder. And she is taking better care of herself physically and mentally. It all doesn’t matter if she is out at Langley for good. Let me rephrase that. It does matter for her own sanity and well-being (which is the most important thing.) But from a professional standpoint, it doesn’t matter. If she doesn’t get back into the CIA, what does she do? Does she go rogue? Does she open her own spy agency (she should team with Chuck and Sarah at Carmichael Industries!!!!) What does Carrie do? Without all her resources, how does she stop Brody?
Carrie is another amazing character. She is exactly like Brody in that there is NOTHING she wouldn’t do for her country. It drives her every decision. To hell with everyone and everything else because protecting her country is second to nothing and no one. She cannot let 9/11 happen again and she will die stopping it if she has to. Well, in Brody’s mind, isn’t he doing the same thing? Isn’t he making decisions to better the country? I love how these world parallel each other in so many ways but yet are so markedly different at the same time. It’s probably why they are so drawn to each other. And while I love Moreana Baccarin, Jess and Brody’s chemistry can’t even touch Brody and Carrie’s with a 20 foot pole.
Ultimately, I’d like to see Carrie back at the CIA in some capacity so she can do what she does best…stopping killers.
What Didn’t I Like…A.K.A. What Question of Mine Wasn’t Answered
Who is the mole? All season long, I said it was Saul. Then it was looking like David but it’s not David. I don’t think it will be Saul because I don’t think the writers would do that to Carrie’s mental state. Can you imagine what THAT would do to her? But until I am proven wrong, or find other clues, I have to stick with Saul because there are so many signs pointing toward it. I just hope it’s not someone like Galvez because that would be really lame.
With so many references to the mole, I really thought he/she would be exposed in the finale. But they weren’t. See, I would rather, as the audience, know who the mole is, but the characters on the show have no idea. It’s still great story telling because we can try to find out why they are the mole and why they are working for who they are working for. How did it come about? Were they already part of the CIA when turned or was that person a plant? What is that person’s end game? I would have LOVED that going into next season. But no, I was denied. So that was my only disappointment.
The only other slight twinge I had with the finale is that I thought it moved slowly at times. The other 11 episodes had me on the edge of my seat the whole time. This episode did as well but I also thought there were many filler moments. So maybe Homeland didn’t need 90 minutes for the finale. Maybe they only needed 75. Again, not a huge issue, but enough that I had to bitch about it!
So what did you think of the Homeland season finale and where do you think everything goes from here? Sound off below!
I unfortunately fell asleep before the finale last night..I was so mad when I woke up at 3am!!! But I will watch it today and have the recap up later tonight. I’m dying to know what happened!!!
