The Star - HL - Part 2

Homeland episode 3-12 "The Star" - Season Three Finale - Part Two

Aired Sunday December 15, 2013

This is part 2 of the raw data for this post.  Read part 1 from yesterday and Part 3 on Thursday.

So there it is.  A frustrating character's story ends, which also ends the most frustrating relationship on the show.  If the show made a major mistake it was revealing its hand too early and forgoing the suspense that comes with them knowing more than us.  Look at how well it worked in Season One and in the first four episodes of Season Three.  

Brody's death is the only outcome from the season I could have accepted and still taken the show as high quality drama.   With the Brody family relegated from the main cast and a change of scenery for Carrie, the show can get a major reboot next season.  Ideally, the show will be populated by new, strong characters in Istanbul rather than simply giving new titles to existing characters, like Alias did every year.  Carrie being in a leadership role presents new opportunities as well, especially if she employs Saul as a contractor which would bring a whole new dynamic to their relationship.
Not only does Brody's death end his story*, but it will hopefully free Carrie from what causes her most obnoxious behavior.  That can only fully happen if Carrie gives Brody's Terror Baby ** up for adoption.  If TB is with her dad or another relative, then there's the chance she'll still be in contact.  Otherwise, TB is a daily reminder of Terror Dad and I don't think we can take Carrie raising Brody's offspring. I've mostly pretended this story didn't exist because pregnancy is one of those things a show will do if they don't have any other ideas.

* I look at it more as putting an end to this nonsense.

** There appears to be some debate about whether TB really is a TB, or belongs to that Cycle Bro.  I believe TB is TB.  It's the whole reason Carrie kept it, because she's still hung up on Brody and wanted a piece of him.  In the safe house, she's hesitant to tell him about it, and I don't think she's using it as a ploy to keep his spirits up.  Rather, the spy in her justifies the assassination by listing the atrocities their target committees.  Only later does she shift into Carrie's personal life mode and tell him about the baby.

Homeland still has all the elements that compose high quality drama.  The acting and direction is still it's strongest point.  The season had a story and focus with a beginning, middle and end.  It has individual episodes that stick out both for the good ("Good Night") and for worse ("One Last Time").  It contrasts with Boardwalk Empire, which ran concurrently each week a few channels over.  Boardwalk is always good but rarely great, while Homeland has a lower floor, but arguably a higher ceiling.

With cases like Javadi and Lockhart, Homeland brings the characters along, allowing your opinion of them to change over the course of the season.  I always knew barring something terrible that I'd return to watching Homeland in 2014, but it was a question of if I'd do so grudgingly or eagerly.  With Istanbul on the horizon and no Brody, I'd say cautiously eager.  Depends how much Quinn is around.