# Homeland - Emmy wins - is it really that good? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 24, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684 "2012-09-24T16:50:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/1 "2012-09-24T16:50:40Z")
I haven’t watched _Homeland_ yet. Last nights Emmy wins for season 1 got me interested. I know there’s 12 episodes to get through and Season 2 starts Sept 30. Is it really this great? I was skeptical that a story about a CIA agent and a possible Marine traitor could make a series. A 2 hour movie? Sure. Is there more to this series than Claire Danes giving this guy the stink eye for 12 episodes? I’m having trouble imagining 12 hours of “is he a traitor or isn’t he”. Is there some good character development? What makes this show so good? Lets discuss, but try to avoid spoilers. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/2 "2012-09-24T16:55:36Z")
Yeah, it’s really that good. Breaking Bad continues to get the shaft in Emmy wins, but Homeland is an incredibly well done show. The first couple episodes should be all you need to determine if you want to keep watching - it’s not a “you gotta give it 6 episodes before it really takes off” kinda thing. ---
**Author:** ![PacifistPorcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PacifistPorcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PacifistPorcupine)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/3 "2012-09-24T16:56:57Z")
I’ve really enjoyed the series. The first season managed to keep me guessing. Plus it’s filmed around here so that’s new and cool. Mandy Patinkin was about 10 yards away from me at Symphony in the Park earlier this year, and I almost bumped into Damian Lewis at IKEA. Plus I’m pretty sure it’s them that have taken over the fire station a couple of blocks away from my office for the past few months. ---
**Author:** ![Rollo\_Tomasi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/58956e/32.png) [@Rollo\_Tomasi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rollo_Tomasi)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/4 "2012-09-24T17:36:29Z")
Yes, it’s absolutely that good. I was glued to it pretty much from the opening scenes. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/5 "2012-09-24T17:37:13Z")
Yes it is excellent. Both Lewis and Danes give very realistic performances (to what I’d call difficult characters). ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/6 "2012-09-24T17:37:48Z")
I will go so far as to say that it’s a better show than Breaking Bad, and I love Breaking Bad. It’s really good. I don’t think I can say more without spoilers. Just check it out. ---
**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:** [September 24, 2012, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/7 "2012-09-24T17:42:47Z")
I agree that the show is very, very good, but I think it loses a few points for being a remake. (It’s an adaption of an Israeli show.) I’d have preferred to see Breaking Bad, Mad Men or even The Good Wife win. ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/8 "2012-09-24T17:46:55Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > I agree that the show is very, very good, but I think it loses a few points for being a remake. (It’s an adaption of an Israeli show.) I’d have preferred to see Breaking Bad, Mad Men or even The Good Wife win. From what I can tell it is a very very different show from the Israeli version which was more about dealing with shell shock after being a POW. More inspired by than a remake. ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/9 "2012-09-24T17:50:09Z")
It’s good because the actors are phenomenal and the writing is great. But… > [@](#): > > Is there more to this series than Claire Danes giving this guy the stink eye for 12 episodes? I’m having trouble imagining 12 hours of “is he a traitor or isn’t he”. Is there some good character development? … this is pretty much what it is. It works because the characters are interesting and honestly portrayed. If you’ve ever seen **24** , then you’ll be more or less prepared for how the major beats unfold. Howard Gordon, one of \*\*Homeland’s \*\*creators, was also a major contributing writer to **24** and it’s easy to see that experience coming up time and time again when you’re watching **Homeland**. It feels like **24** for adults, basically. Not to denigrate **24** ’s audience, among whom I would count myself, but network television requires that a show appeals to the lowest common denominator. The characters broader, more cartoonish in network television; the writing is very easy to grasp, sometimes juvenile, and more often than not, patronizing in the way that it’s always, **always** dumbing everything down. Homeland doesn’t do most of that. ---
**Author:** ![theR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@theR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/theR)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/10 "2012-09-24T17:53:09Z")
Homeland is good, particularly the acting. I don’t think it should have won for best drama or writing. It’s a very good show, but I find it difficult to suspend disbelief at certain points, which I believe is because of not-quite-great-writing, and I feel it could definitely be a notch better than it has been. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/11 "2012-09-24T18:33:35Z")
Every clip I’ve seen features Claire Danes chewing up the scenery and SHOUTING all of her lines with EXTREME URGENCY. I assume she’s not always like that, but it seems to be what they choose to showcase, and my god, that makes me never want to watch, ever. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/12 "2012-09-24T18:39:15Z")
She’s supposed to be a manic-depressive. Her performance as such has been praised by people with experience of this. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/13 "2012-09-24T19:11:50Z")
I just finished the pilot. There are some good characters. Claire Danes is really, really intense. She alienates nearly everyone that she meets. It gets in the way of her job. Her secret anti psychotic drug use is a nice twist. Brody’s family is interesting. The wife screwing his best friend. Teen daughter doing drugs. Welcome home daddy. LOL It is weird seeing the guy from Band of Brothers as a possible traitor. I’ll keep watching. So far its off to a good start. ---
**Author:** ![Ibn\_Warraq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e19b73/32.png) [@Ibn\_Warraq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibn_Warraq)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/14 "2012-09-24T19:27:38Z")
I loved the first season. Fantastic characterizations. I also liked the way the writers were often willing to look at it from the point of view of “the terrorists” and the “terrorists” we meet were neither humanized nor demonized. The only other Hollywood production I’ve ever seen do that was Sleeper Cell, unless you want to classify Paradise Now as such. It’s certainly a nice break from seeing them as either mustache twirling villains or good people who went nuts when the saw their parents/wife/kids/family slaughtered(IE Brad Pitt in The Devil’s Own). I also loved the leader of an radical Islamist guerilla group having a son named Issa(Jesus in Arabic). ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2012, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/15 "2012-09-24T20:24:39Z")
I thought returning long held POW’s got extensive counseling for months or years. Brody could still be helped even if he got turned in captivity. I’m enjoying it so far. I watched two eps today. I should be caught up in a week or so. Just in time for the new season. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/16 "2012-09-25T00:41:36Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > Lets discuss, but try to avoid spoilers. > [@aceplace57](#): > > I just finished the pilot. There are some good characters. Claire Danes is really, really intense. She alienates nearly everyone that she meets. It gets in the way of her job. Her secret anti psychotic drug use is a nice twist. > > Brody’s family is interesting. The wife screwing his best friend. Teen daughter doing drugs. Welcome home daddy. LOL > > It is weird seeing the guy from Band of Brothers as a possible traitor. > > I’ll keep watching. So far its off to a good start. So much for avoiding spoilers. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Snupzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/54ee81/32.png) [@Snupzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snupzilla)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/17 "2012-09-25T01:05:24Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > So much for avoiding spoilers. > mmm Actually, I think these are all things you could learn in the extended commercials for the show they’d play on Showtime before the first season started. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/18 "2012-09-25T01:54:29Z")
Yeah, any review of the show revealed what I wrote. I don’t _know_ any spoilers after watching only 2 shows. The plot has barely gotten started for me. ---
**Author:** ![phxjcc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8491ac/32.png) [@phxjcc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phxjcc)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2012, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/19 "2012-09-25T08:25:06Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I thought returning long held POW’s got extensive counseling for months or years. Brody could still be helped even if he got turned in captivity. > > I’m enjoying it so far. I watched two eps today. I should be caught up in a week or so. Just in time for the new season. Yes, but do not bring reality into a fictional show. Ditto our protagonist’s issues, oh and the antagonist’s army buddy boinkin’ his wife, oh–and… But it is a very effectively manipulative drama. ---
**Author:** ![HenryGale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b782af/32.png) [@HenryGale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HenryGale)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684/20 "2012-09-26T17:01:18Z")
Just had to chime in and say that I was one of the people who had never seen Homeland, and was cursing its name on Emmy night as it nearly swept the Drama category, stealing awards from all of my favorites. Yeah, and now I’m six episodes in and completely hooked. I don’t know if I’d call it a better show than Breaking Bad, or Damian Lewis’s performance better than Brian Cranston’s or Jon Hamm’s… but it has six episodes left to change my mind. (as a side note, I’m also very happy to finally find Mandy Patinkin in something that I’m interested in watching! The beard suits him.) If anyone else is perusing this thread and considering watching Homeland, I’d recommend giving it a try. I agree with whoever said that you’ll know if you’re going to like it after an episode or two. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homeland-emmy-wins-is-it-really-that-good/635684.md?page=2)