# Homeland 2017 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 7, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637 "2017-03-07T18:56:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/1 "2017-03-07T18:56:00Z")
I guess nobody is watching this excellent SHO series any longer. Honestly, it’s the fastest hour in television viewing. Crisp editing and great writing, not to mention Mandy Patinkin, F. Murray Abraham, and Rupert Friend (who is doing Emmy-worthy work this season). This year’s action takes place in NYC, rather than overseas. My only quarrel with this show has been that Carrie has to be the most inept CIA agent ever. She invariably makes the wrong decisions on any given matter. But highly entertaining stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/2 "2017-03-07T19:19:49Z")
I’ve been enjoying this season, up until the last episode where they took her daughter away. That’s such a tired storyline. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2017, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/3 "2017-03-07T19:42:55Z")
What I liked about the most recent episode is In the custody hearing, Carrie Matheson was asked, “So were you really in your daughter’s bedroom with a loaded gun?”, suggesting that she was being paranoid due to her manic-depression. But she and we know that she had completely valid reasons for fearing for her safety and that of her daughter, but she couldn’t explain her reasoning without sounding like a paranoid nutcase and revealing to the conspirators that she was onto them. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/4 "2017-03-08T17:42:24Z")
I peeked at the spoilers and well geez it’s about time, Carrie is the most neglectful mother ever. All I know is that Rupert Friend as “Quinn” needs an Emmy. Good lord he’s awesome this season. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/5 "2017-03-08T17:59:04Z")
I’m liking this season very much. It’s about time she had her kid taken away. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2017, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/6 "2017-03-08T22:48:43Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > I’ve been enjoying this season, up until the last episode where > > they took her daughter away. > > That’s such a tired storyline. Yeah, but then she wouldn’t be able to do the absolute worst thing she could possibly do in response and not get to do the quivery chin thingy. She is really one of the least sympathetic ‘heroines’ in television. ---
**Author:** ![SaharaTea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@SaharaTea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SaharaTea)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/7 "2017-03-09T13:26:21Z")
This season is very “meh” for me. Quinn continues to be the show’s punching bag, and Dar Adal has become a mustache-twirling villain. Just not finding it suspenseful at all. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/8 "2017-03-09T16:51:20Z")
> [@SaharaTea](#): > > This season is very “meh” for me. Quinn continues to be the show’s punching bag, and Dar Adal has become a mustache-twirling villain. Just not finding it suspenseful at all. This show has always done a methodical setup for the season’s plot line, rather than doing some half-assed, badly written episode that confuses more than enlightens. The payoff has always been worth it. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/9 "2017-03-09T18:40:26Z")
In the custody hearing, Carrie Matheson was asked, “So were you really in your daughter’s bedroom with a loaded gun?” Carrie - “Well, yes, but the safety was on!”. Nitpick, but if I’m not mistaken, the pistol she was holding doesn’t have a safety that can be set to off or on. Does she really have to cry (or make that face that indicates she’s on the verge) every episode? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/10 "2017-03-09T18:58:33Z")
> [@MikeF](#): > > In the custody hearing, Carrie Matheson was asked, “So were you really in your daughter’s bedroom with a loaded gun?” > > Carrie - “Well, yes, but the safety was on!”. Nitpick, but if I’m not mistaken, the pistol she was holding doesn’t have a safety that can be set to off or on. > > Does she really have to cry (or make that face that indicates she’s on the verge) every episode? Well, she _is_ bi-polar, and her emotions are never far from the surface. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2017, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/11 "2017-03-09T19:54:25Z")
So, Dar is gay? That was new to me. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/12 "2017-03-10T00:28:31Z")
Looks that way. I’m wondering if Peter is too, or was he molested by Dar, or maybe a secret agent in training version of “gay for pay.” Loving this season so far. Last season was their best since season 1, and this one is shaping up just as well. Every time I see an episode on my DVR my first reaction is “tired old show that used to be good,” but then it’s always one of the first Sunday night shows I watch and it keeps me riveted. One minor quibble is that I found Carrie’s term “war fighter” very clunky when she was explaining why it would be a bad idea to send in a SWAT team to take Quinn down. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/13 "2017-03-10T00:37:08Z")
> [@EllisDee](#): > > Looks that way. I’m wondering if Peter is too, or was he molested by Dar, or maybe a secret agent in training version of “gay for pay.” Remember that Peter was recruited as a kid (I think we were told he was sixteen?) from a homeless shelter. So I think we’re meant to understand that Dar was molesting him. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/14 "2017-03-10T02:04:57Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Remember that Peter was recruited as a kid (I think we were told he was sixteen?) from a homeless shelter. So I think we’re meant to understand that Dar was molesting him. I thought Dar explicitly said something like “and I never touched you”. I don’ think there was any molestation involved. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/15 "2017-03-10T02:17:53Z")
Here’s their dialogue according to the recap in The New York Times: "‘What the hell is this? Feeling sorry for yourself?’ Expletive by way of a greeting. ‘Because if you are, that would be a first. You grew up in a hard school. No time for self-pity. It’s the first thing about you that impressed.’ ‘Not the first thing.’ ‘Yeah, well. We’re all beautiful when we’re young, aren’t we?’ ‘[Expletive] dirty old man.’ ‘Fair enough. For the record, though, I never forced myself on anyone.’" ---
**Author:** ![Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/section_maker_jupe/32/1424_2.png) [@Section\_Maker\_Jupe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Section_Maker_Jupe)\ **Post date:** [March 10, 2017, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/16 "2017-03-10T05:13:30Z")
I’m liking it, they seem to always be abit ahead of the days news, except for assuming a woman would be POTUS like the rest of “us” did. That business with Quinn and Dar Adal.?.. Probably some payback coming no doubt. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2017, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/17 "2017-03-13T20:12:30Z")
Something I find distracting is Carrie’s expression — she often looks very puzzled. Do others notice this? Is it over-acting or just the actress’ natural expression? (Disclaimer: I’m not a _Homeland_ fan.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/18 "2017-03-14T03:27:58Z")
Another excellent episode. Intrigue and counter intrigue: who’s right and who’s wrong and who’s masking; and what is the end-game? All elements that this show does really well. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/19 "2017-03-14T05:03:48Z")
In _Smiley’s People_, [Episode 1, at the 39:40 mark](https://youtu.be/9vYAyq5l2Bs?t=39m36s), respected top spy George Smiley meets young Mostyn who says **“I heard you lecture at Sarrat, sir – the new entrants’ training course. It was the best thing of the whole two years.”** Shortly afterwards, Smiley arranges a few moments alone with Mostyn to learn what the superiors are concealing. Watching Episode 6 of _Homeland Season 6_ just now, respected top spy Saul Berenson meets a young agent, Nate Joseph, at the 8:35 mark. Joseph says **“I heard your lecture, sir, during my training course… It was the highlight of my whole two years.”** Shortly afterwards, Saul arranges to be alone with the young man to learn what the superiors are concealing. The similarity is huge; the speeches by Mostyn and Joseph are almost identical. (I’ve not finished Episode 6 — Is Joseph, like Mostyn, going to be punished for cooperating with Saul? BTW, Saul showing incriminating photos to a foreign agent in Episode 3 also mimics _Smiley’s People_.) I don’t know if anyone else will find this interesting, and I certainly do not intend to press plagiarism charges! 😛 The connection mainly served to remind me that _Smiley’s People_ is a spy film of the very top drawer, while _Homeland_ is at least a rung or two down. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2017, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637/20 "2017-03-14T13:01:57Z")
I don’t think that was an accident. When Saul meets the guy, Saul says he was glad the guy was paying attention. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-2017/781637.md?page=2)