Homeland - Finale

craigmcdermott:

This season started off alright but I'm on the verge on not watching the finale. The last few episodes have been terrible and there's not a single interesting story line left. Next season will be miserable, especially since we know Brody won't be killed next week (they already announced he'd be back next season).

Next season will likely be a rehash of the ones past. Didnt see that announcement of Brody being back. Surprised they would release that as that effectively kills any suspense going into the final episode.

IamObama:

Dana pisses me off.

Dana is a completely useless character. Jessica is too - she used to be fine in the beginning when you got to see her in the nude at least once an episode, but now all she does is yakety yak and be annoying as hell. If this show had been better written, they would have picked better characters for the family members and gave them suspenseful side plots that actually mattered in the overarching story, not some irrelevant time sink about a bunch of clueless teenagers running over a lady and then spending the next 7 episodes pondering how they should feel. Oh how I miss the days of 24, when not a second was wasted.

Going Concern:

Homeland reached its peak in The Weekend, which was one of the best episodes of anything. It kind of plateaued from there, with some vicissitudes along the way, and has been on a decline since they caught Brody in that hotel room. I'm still watching intently, and I'm hoping they layer on some new twist that revitalizes the show, but most of the original allure is long gone. Also I'm not sure how knowing that Brody is returning for the third season makes the finale any less good because there was always zero chance that Brody is going to be killed...he's the focal point of the show. I think for the show to continue either Abu has to live on somehow (David Blaine style) or another antagonist has to be introduced. Also, I say this without any jest - I think Saul is a genuinely good character.

Without Brody's death, there is zero payoff. There was no attack, no Brody death and a ridiculous series of episodes where Abu Nazir ended up dead. Not sure where the continuity or thinking lies there.

A new protagonist makes sense but I'm not sure how thats going to work. We probably should have had some introduction to someone by now, with the finale this week. And if it turns into a procedural show where a new villain is introduced each season, its no different from any other show.

TheKing:

[MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW]

I think the writers just basically didn't know what to do after Brody didn't detonate the vest near the end of Season 1.

I honestly think this show would've been best as a 12 episode mini-series culminating in either:

1.) Brody detonating the blast, he's dead along with the VP and all the other head dudes. Cut to an extreme breakdown amongst the CIA team (with Carrie possibly offing herself in the middle of an emotional frenzy), followed by a full playback of Brody's suicide bomber confession tape, then a fade to black

2.) Brody stopping last minute because of his daughter and turning himself in on the spot

Either way, series ends with twelve episodes and is extraordinarily satisfying.

I'd even argue that you could have made it a show in the same vein as American Horror Story. Meaning, each season follows totally different characters and new story lines. You could switch venues and follow a mission in a foreign country. Or even set a season in the past, follow Carrie or Estes or a younger Saul on a mission from their past.

Instead, we've got a marginally entertaining show with a ton of filler and zero suspension of disbelief. I watch it still, but only because I've accepted that most of it won't be believable. The entire bullshit with Abu Nazir coming to the US was so beyond retarded. Even if you accept him getting here, which is remotely plausible because he just looks like an average everyday accountant or some shit, it's still absurd. Did he really need to be here to blow up the troops at the homecoming as he explained was his big plan?

I had assumed that the entire "blow up the troops at their homecoming and have CNN (or whatever it was) tape it live" was a red herring. Nope. That was it. Completely retarded. Talk about crashing to Earth after an absolutely monumental Season One.

Completely agree. The opening few episodes were pretty good but I'm feeling like what's Brody's motivation to kill anyone now? He has his own family, his own children. Are we really expected to believe that he'll throw that all away. I gather he's distant from them but if it was me emerging from a 8 year seclusion in the bottom of some cave in some shithole, you better believe family is the only think keeping me going.

I find it incredibly annoying that Carrie has to fuck Brody to 'handle him'. I mean, she's borderline nuts herself, how is she supposed to handle anyone?

Not sure if anyone remembers, but Showtime had another show a while back, Sleeper Cell, which was essentially what you suggested; a 12 episode arc, with a fresh cast each year (aside from the star). And that was pretty damn good but finished after a few seasons.

Brody had to die in the first season otherwise the show was flawed. Its almost like they feel they have good actors (2nd season really showed they are overrated) that any bullshit product will work.

The last few episodes have been dreadful. Perhaps they salvage it with the finale, but I doubt it.

Western:

Carrie looks horrible whenever she starts crying/breaking down.

they need to kill dana, that fucking idiot vp son, and like half of the cast

i don't know where they're going to go with the next season (is there one?) but i also didn't know where they could go with a second season too. brody either dies and there's going to be a weird transition to a new story line or dude like fucking escapes and becomes some head terrorist dude or some ridiculousness. either way...

IamObama:

Also, Jess is such a bitch. How can she act the way she does when Brody talks to Carrie when she was fucking Mike the night before? Sloots going to sloot

LOL, she acts like it's all okay because Mike makes a few pancakes for the kids. What a slut.

IamObama:

Most likely scenario is that there is another Abu Nazir out there who they bring into the picture.

Also, Jess is such a bitch. How can she act the way she does when Brody talks to Carrie when she was fucking Mike the night before? Sloots going to sloot

Yep, Jess is essentially a slut and only in the show for getting naked. Why is Mike even still around? Brody, kill the dude.

Would be ridiculous if there is another Abu Nazir out there or someone beyond him on the hierarchy, with it being never mentioned before.

craigmcdermott:

There's a pretty comprehensive spoiler on the IMDB forum for the show. I'm annoyed at myself for reading it and it makes the finale seem stupid. Suffice it to say, next season will suck.

Can't seem to find it. Link?

[quote=craigmcdermott]It looks like they removed it but here's a synopsis if you're interested. SPOILER ALERT: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/13550/20121211/homeland-season-2-…]

Silver banana for you.

I expected it to be terrible, and it wasn't THAT bad, I mean I didn't weep as I was expecting to. But still, nothing impressive or spine tingling in the slightest, basically just a setup for the third season. Assuming it's true.

[quote=craigmcdermott]It looks like they removed it but here's a synopsis if you're interested. SPOILER ALERT: http://www.idigitaltimes.com/articles/13550/20121211/homeland-season-2-…]

Yeah, agreed, it doesnt sound so bad. Really depends how they execute it on screen but it seems like a decent payoff (i.e. Brody is still suspected). At least they have direction for season 3 but I would probably end it after that. Not much more to do. Glad Saul doesnt die.