The showrunners did make sure there was a reference to ‘survivor cockroach’ in this finale…so perhaps they ARE keeping their options open. (And as you say: no broken neck.)
As for Dana becoming an avenging angel: to accomplish it, she’d have to stop whining. And that would be worth seeing. ^_~
Am I wrong in seeing Brody as a victim from start to finish? Tortured and held captive for eight years then used by everyone to further some cause or mission. His whole story was just sad.
Oh my God, they killed Brody. YOU BASTARDS!!!
Well, they brought Brian back last night so there is hope for Brody…. 
Who is Brian on the show?
Sorry, E-DUB made an oblique reference to an animated series (South Park) and so did I (Family Guy).
Fuck life imitating Art, apparently today there’s a story on CNN of an American in Iran, supposedly CIA and supposedly the govt has left him for the “greater good” of having cordial relations with the Iranians. So Brodyesque…
Of course you’re not wrong. While instinctive to just call him a traitor or selfish survivor, he was pointedly tortured and brain washed for 8 years. It’s like a guy getting his leg cut off and complaining he doesn’t walk right anymore.
I thought the “4 months later” would have Brody show up after a faked death. Shows how much I know…
I’m still waiting for Carrie and Quinn to hook up.
Has Damien Lewis left for the fame and fortune of Hollywood movies? Any news on him being unhappy on the show?
I agree his storyline had pretty much wrapped up. Not much else they could do with the poor guy. Brody is such a tragic character. They did everything except castrate the poor guy.
I’m just not seeing how Homeland can continue. Are they turning it into a standard Spy of the week show next season? I could see a spin off show using these characters. But Homeland was all about Brody and his return from captivity. The suspicions that he had turned traitor. Without Brody what’s the point of the show next season?
Yeah. If they continue the series it is basically a new show/spinoff.
Seemed like a good way to end. Season was kind of a “Spy that came in from the cold” sort of affair. X 2 or really X 1 1/2.
I think he left not for Hollywood, but the comforts of Narcissa Malfoy’s arms.:p. He has stated he found living in the US for 5 months put offing.
He is a superb actor, but they really could not have brought his story forward at all. He was initially supposed to die in the first season. Even this season, when his storyline was silly, his performances were brilliant, the episode of him in Caracas was some of the best TV I have seen this year.
This show has since season 2 the amazing combination of superb acting and ridiculous stories.
It’s true that the Brody story was the hook that brought people to the show. But, arguably, “Homeland” is about protecting (or failing to protect) the Homeland–from any and all plots and plotters. (The title-term was virtually never used in reference to the USA until after 9-11-2001. Its context is pretty much always about dealing with terror attacks.)
Another season is already in the works.
I liked it very much, but put me in the “call it a day” camp.
While British TV “series” (the word they use to mean “season”) can be maddeningly inconsistent ( 4 epsiodes one year, 7 the next, two the following… WTF?) the good thing about them is that they don’t always try to milk the hell out of everything. They are much more sensible about recognizing when a show has run its course.
I think Homeland ran its course, and it is very, very hard to imagine what they could do next year, given the story, that would be half as compelling as what came before.
I expect I’ll watch season 4 but I’m not hoping for much, to be honest. I wasn’t hugely impressed with season 3, although it certainly had its moments, and the last episode felt like it should be the end. They’ll need a great idea to make the next season worth it.
I agree with Stoid. But Showtime has a popular brand and production particulars in place, so it’s hard for suits to scrap all that and say, “Bring me a new idea.”
Yeah, Hollywood in all its flavors tends to go more with “let’s beat the shit out of THIS idea first…”
I think upcoming season four has a good chance of being really great!
You have a completely clean slate - now you can add new villains, a new crisis or two or three, bring together Saul and Carrie, and get a whole new storyline going. And Istanbul is right there in the thick of things, near all of the hot spots and already a magnet for refugees. Perfect location!
For the naysayers - come on. That is like saying they should have quit after the first Bond film, or after the first Bourne film, or any of those franchises with the same characters, but new action adventures.
If I were a writer on this show, I would be doing cartwheels for joy - you have your main characters and now you can go crazy with coming up with some good spy/thriller/adventures to put them into.
I’m glad they killed Brody (though I will definitely miss Damian Lewis), and I like the “starting over” idea. The only thing that bugs me is that Carrie seems to suddenly be both stable and trustworthy; my eyes rolled at the idea of her being a station chief. I’m also not crazy about the pregnancy storyline, especially now that daddy’s dead. I’m not sure how interested I’ll be in “single mom case officer abroad.” But you can bet I’ll watch the season 4 premiere!
This interview with the showrunner pretty much confirms what DMark said: Homeland is about Carrie and Saul.
From the article: “One of the ideas that we’re really toying around with next year is to have Carrie go and do what she was trained to do, and that is be a case officer in a foreign country.”
More articles/interviews regarding the finale and next season can be found here.