Series Review: Homeland Season 5 (2015)

Rating: 8.5/10

So, I saw the latest season of Homeland. It is amazing. It is some of their best work (and season four was amazing as well). It was on my watching list, but I really thought I would finish Supernatural Season three first and then go watch the final season of the love of my life, Downton Abbey. Yet I felt myself inclined to watch this first and I loved it immensely. As usual, I’ve done a Like and dislike section, and sorry for the lengthy post, but I LOVED it 🙂

What I liked:

The new characters. YES all the way. Otto During, Jonas, the bitchy journalist with some very valid points, Miranda Otto’s trademark coolness in her role as Berlin station chief and all the German intelligence workers complemented the main characters very well this season.

I am huge fans of Otto and Jonas especially. The Nazi history and Otto’s determination to rectify his family’s terrible past makes him a complete fucking awesome guy. His clear-headedness in times of big trouble perfectly balances out his philanthropic idealisms – really liked the guy. What I liked the most was that he is a man who has seen how terrible the world is but still believes he can do some good in in.

 

Jonas is in contrast the normal, kind and beautiful man any woman could ever hope to come across. He has such goodness in him and it is so rare to find such a humane and relatable character in Homeland (they are all cooked).

It is really good to see Miranda Otto again in a great role. I, Frankenstein was so terrible I won’t even refer to that as somewhere I’ve seen her. Anyway, I really like the woman. She has this perpetual frostiness of character that makes her seem so dangerous. She seems like such a conflicted person and it is impossible to pin down whether you like or dislike her.

Then there is Astrid – the German police officer that was so adept with dealing with people’s bullshit. One of my favorite new additions to Homeland and keeping it all crossed that she returns in the next season.

The old characters

Carrie is (almost) normal. Can anyone who doesn’t hate Carrie M on an Umbridge level please raise their hand? Thought so. Carrie is impossible throughout seasons 1-4. She has moments where you are like, okay, I’ll deal with her, then she tries to drown a baby she’s crazy again and you’re just like “fuck off you mad fucking lunatic” This doesn’t happen in Season 5. There are a few seconds when you genuinely dislike her, but it isn’t the hate we’ve gotten accustomed to. She’s more normal than she’s ever been and it is miraculous.

 

So much more Quinn. I think everyone was really concerned when our favorite assassin went and did his own thing at the end of season four. Well, he’s back, and his storyline is very well developed. He meshes in and out with Carrie’s drama – because it remains a fact that if you know Carrie M you are going to be in a sticky situation because of her, but he also has an arc that is entirely his own and that I immensely enjoyed. He has a pretty rough season and some parts are actually hard to watch, but it makes great television and very worthy gasps.

Saul Berenson. This guy is still my favorite character in the show. I get a thrill every time he says: “I am a spy” I don’t know why, but it comes through so incredibly confident – he knows how good he is in his job. He made some pretty questionable decisions this season, but I will forgive him because he is great and he is badass.

Homeland didn’t particularly accuse any given country of crimes they really work their asses off to show that they aren’t part of terrorism.

I really love the hell out of Homeland. It is a solid show about real world problems with really flawed characters. It is rough and honest and scary because it is mostly about extremist Muslim organizations. However, and I am inclined to take their side on this, Pakistanis were very offended when their government was portrayed as terrorist-enablers in Season 4. Homeland Season 5 1) only sasses countries that are used to sassing (i.e. Germany, Russia and the USA). They use a legitimate terror organization as their chosen group to focus on, but it more focuses on different cells within ISIS. So good up to the writers to coming up with something that doesn’t offend a particular brand of people who aren’t already used to being offended and focusing on an actual terrorist organization. I think.

The storyline changed completely.

The Brody Arc worked well in season one and two, and was really tiring in three. Season four still had some dregs about that whole scenario (even though four was an excellent season), we were all done with Brody. (Sorry, Damian Lewis). Season five is two years after season four and it allows a time frame to give Carrie to sort herself out – which she miraculously did. There are also new arcs within Homeland that didn’t exist before – focusing on Quinn, traitors in the CIA and the tension between Saul and Dar Adal, billionaires and their philanthropy and how that is not always the best idea.

The storyline went crazy dark Yeah, you are wondering if I’m a lunatic because the previous seasons were already dark. Season 5 deals with such complex and tense situations and I really enjoyed the following:

• The moral dilemma between free journalism and keeping a country safe
• What the Syrian government is actually doing to their people right now
• The insanity that is the Syrian environment right now
• A look into the mind of people who help terrorists and why they do it
  

Not all Muslims belong to ISIS.

Homeland never ever hinted that all Muslims are extremists, but it sure wasn’t anything they loudly vetoed. Season 5 changes that and adds to the growing number of voices ensuring Islamophobia doesn’t become an out of control problem.

What I didn’t like:

There are a few things that I would have liked more information on. I get that Allison wanted to hide her Russian ties and that her Iraqi (triple) agent was the secret to that, but 1) why was it in the secret documents and 2) they could have developed that more. It was probably hard to get all that into only twelve episodes though.

That’s really it for what I didn’t like. The season was great, and Homeland is really building a reputation as a show that remains good, even when they completely changed large parts of their story – it is a very difficult feat.

What’s your opinion on Homeland? Have you seen it?

January 19, 2016January 17, 2016 by Natasha Categories: 2015, Review, Series, UncategorizedTags: Carrie Mathinson, Claire Danes, Dar Adal, Homeland, Homelande Season 5, Mandy Patinkin, Miranda Otto, Peter Quinn, Review, Rupert Friend, Saul Berenson, Series, Syria, Terrorism Leave a comment

Blindspot 2015: Romeo and Juliet (1996)

Plot: Shakespeare’s famous play is updated to the hip modern suburb of Verona still retaining its original dialogue.

Rating: 7.5/10

The 1996 adaption of the timeless story of two hormonal teenagers made it onto my Blindspot list for three reasons – I love Baz Luhrmann’s work and this is one of the few movies I haven’t seen of him, I adore DiCaprio and young DiCaprio was my dream boy as a kid and I mean Claire Danes was a lady I loved a whole lot before Carrie Matheson (because DIE BITCH DIE).

Baz Luhrmann has a very characteristic directing style.R&J had the same feel of all his movies – straight out flamboyance everywhere compared to the poignant and sweet love scenes. It is such a strong contrast and achieves to highlight that no matter how crazy life can get, romance is still the sweetest thing there is and will remain unchanged through history. The modernization of the classic can overwhelm the senses initially but is well done – there are such ghetto scenes, the Montague’s and Capulets’ are depicted more as mobsters than anything else with both families being overrun with hoodlums.

I think apart from DiCaprio and Danes my favorite performance was that of Paul Rudd. Man, he is such a cutie. He managed to be Paris perfectly – a lovely, vacant pretty boy that was only placed in the story to act as the final catalyst to Juliet’s rash decisions.

Heeeyyyyy

DiCaprio… sighhhhhhh. He is so perfect. Young Leonardo is so beautiful. Old Leonardo has evolved into something like royalty in Hollywood, and is really hot in all his distinguished glory. However, this young Leo is so sweet and his acting is raw and powerful. I doubt that this movie would have been as effective without him as Romeo. He is the perfect personfor this role.

Before crazy-eyes-Matheson, Claire Danes rocked

Claire Danes was also a great choice for Juliet Capulet. She is sweet and innocent and fresh, and an anomaly compared to her gaudy family. She and Leo had wonderful chemistry throughout the movie and there are a few scenes where I held my breath because it was so lovely and sweet.

I can’t tell you how many times I thought “TEENAGERS” throughout this movie, because really – the rampant hormones in this film caused all the drama. I mean – falling in love, getting married and dying seems a little extreme in the span of only three days.  I don’t think anyone on this planet doesn’t know how this story ends – but I kept thinking how horrible I would have reacted if I didn’t know the end and I saw that unfolding – there would definitely have been things travelling through the TV screen!

My Blindspot list has really intense and wonderful movies on, so while I enjoyed this movie a lot and would recommend it to fans of Shakespeare, DiCaprio, Danes and Luhrmann, it won’t ever end up as my number one at the end of the year (because I already know which one is going to be number one!)

August 12, 2015August 11, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Blindspot, Movies, ReviewsTags: Blindspot, Blindspot 2015, Claire Danes, Leonardo DiCaprio, Movies, Paul Rudd, Reviews, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespear 21 Comments

Series Review: Homeland Season 4

Rating: 8/10

(I did strikethrough on plot reveals – BEWARE!)

Once, long ago, I was able to switch a show off and not binge watch it until two o clock in the morning. That is no more because Homeland has no ethical values about normal sleeping patterns. Season four started off fine, but I was very detached from it all. Then the last few episodes happen: stuff blowing up, sieges, people getting abducted, and death all over the place. I could not stop watching, and I have the feeling that I will have a Sherlock sulk because Homeland is done now and Season 5 hasn’t even aired yet. Season four is miles better than season three. This is the order in which I will rand Homeland seasons in order of excellence:

Season 4

Season 2

Season 1

Season 3

The fourth season felt fresh. I enjoyed it because they didn’t have that pesky Nicholas Brody story arc to deal with anymore, and they could focus on what the show does best – the intricacies of counter-terrorism.

Homeland had a new and viable direction with the Pakistani government and their views on terrorism. Homeland is expert on creating situations where you have no idea who to root for. In season one and two it was Nicholas Brody – a pitiful character that went through probably one of the worst things anyone will ever go through, but I never really had a handle on if he was good or bad. The only villain that I can say I successfully wanted to be popped is Majid Javadi back in Season Three. He was the only character in Homeland that I could hate one hundred percent (maybe that is why Season Three wasn’t so powerful for me). This season’s chosen terrorist, Haissam Haqqani, was revolting and cruel, but he said some things that made me think twice about what he thought of the world.

What I liked:

All the sass that was thrown to Carrie’s side: “There is not even a disease for what is wrong with you”, and “it’s not about you” were two of my favorite lines. Carrie always messes up but no one, except Saul, ever told her exactly what they think about her actions. Not anymore though. Carrie is getting it from all sides, and it is maybe the one thing that can make her character more bearable.

Episodes 6-10: The season started off with the slow pace Homeland is known for, and then exploded with Saul’s kidnapping. The last two episodes had me biting my nails and exclaiming out loud – not something  I usually do when watching a show alone.

Quinn’s character development:  Quinn and Saul are my favorite characters in this show. I feel about them like I feel about Tyrion Lannister – pop him (or them) and I’m out. A big flaw in Homeland’s makeup was that they started season three with possible character development for Quinn and then just dropped it when they had other things to put up on the screen. Quinn began this season with a traumatic experience but luckily this time around he is developed. I appreciated his German friend’s opinion on Quinn that he will always try to leave the CIA but will never do it – accept that about him or walk away. I do not appreciate the Quinn loves Carrie storyline at all. As I mentioned to Zoë, Quinn needs a real nice person to save him and Carrie doesn’t even qualify as a real person in my eyes. Him hooking up with his apartment block supervisor gave me quite a start, I’ll admit, but I would still prefer him with that lady instead of Carrie.

How the hell did I start liking Director Lockhart? He was such a pig in Season Three when he stole the CIA directorship from Saul. I did not think I would ever like him, and suddenly he is a guy you start feeling sorry for and respecting, especially with the invasion of Embassy and him attempting to save Farah’s life.

Ambassador Martha Boyd: She was classy and kept a cool head during everything. I liked her the entire season through, especially when she refused to let Carrie run amok in the Embassy.

I would have enjoyed more of John Redmond, the second in command at the Istanbul station. He was such a no-nonsense guy – you knew he was good, hardworking and loyal, and once he dealt with not being Chief of Station he got over it and helped Carrie where he could.

Aasar Khan:  I very much enjoyed the addition of Raza Jaffrey as Khan. It was also unclear if Khan was good or bad, but I did start leaning towards good once he kept Carrie safe after she was drugged. He seems like the only good man in the ISI right now, and I would love if he could come back in Season 5. Also, isn’t he just dapper in his military uniform?

Saul’s relationship with Haissam Haqqani during his capture: You have got to have deep admiration for a man that speaks his mind when he is locked up by terrorists. What I liked about Haqqani was his good treatment of Saul (I am sure he didn’t extend the courtesy of that to all his prisoners though) and how they had their debates about their extremely different views on life and freedom.

Dafuq, PLOT TWIST: There was this one moment where I was so WHAT THE FUCK. It messed up my mind completely and I was shocked for about five full minutes until the producers deemed it fit to let you understand what you are seeing. If it HAD been true, I would have recommended the writers start up Days of Our Lives again, because it was such a soapie thing to happen. But WOW was I shocked.

What I didn’t like:

Carrie Mathison. More shows should have strong female leads. That includes Homeland, because Carrie is not a strong female lead. The things she did in this season far eclipses everything she did in the previous three seasons combined. I did not take kindly to her deserting the child she had conceived with the man she apparently had loved so much, and her seducing a vulnerable young man nearly made me retch, she just doing what she wants with not a thought of who gets hurt. Clare Danes should be applauded for being able to portray such a horrific woman.I’ve stomached so much from her in the past three seasons but she really went to a whole new level with her molesting that kid. I don’t care what anyone says, she was way too old and experienced for him.

Terrorists getting away: As with Javadi, Haqqani also gets away. It may be unrealistic, but I would have loved if Quinn had managed to blow up the terrorist that had killed Farah.

Carrie’s mom making an appearance: This arc may be an indicator that the focus of Season 5 can be shifting to Carrie’s domestic problems, and I don’t have the patience to deal with that. Her mother came across just as selfish and petty as Carrie was, and we don’t need someone else like that right now. The one thing I do agree with Carrie is that what her mother did, whatever reason, was unfair toward her and her sister as children.

Well, there wasn’t much that I really disliked. I will even go a bit further and say that Carrie wasn’t as horrible in the last fifteen minutes of the 4^th season as she usually is. Homeland Season 4 is a must watch, a saving grace after the poor season three and as nail-biting as you could ever hope it to be.

February 25, 2015February 24, 2015 by Natasha Categories: Reviews, SeriesTags: Aasar Khan, Carrie Mathinson, Claire Danes, Homeland, Homeland season 4, Peter Quinn, Raza Jaffrey, Reviews, Rupert Friend, Saul Berenson, Series 4 Comments

Series Review: Homeland Season 1

*Beware, there might be some spoilers shared*

A Bit of Background:

CIA agent Carrie Matheson (Clare Danes) manages to obtain information from a man just before he is executed in Iraq. He whispers that an American prisoner of war has been turned against his country, moments before Carrie is discovered in the prison cell and causes international upheaval.

Years later, with Carrie back in America, she and the team she works in are congratulated on their efforts when an American prisoner of war is found alive during a raid. Sergeant Nicholas Brody (Daniel Lewis) returns to the States after eight years of capture and torture, and he is immediately a national hero. The only person who suspects him is Carrie, who is certain that he is the man her informant told her about. No one is willing to listen or even investigate a war hero and the only person who will give Carrie’s mad suggestions a second of thought is Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin), Carrie’s mentor and old boss. Together they set up surveillance, but they can’t find any information that links Brody to al ’Qaeda or Abu Nazir, a high ranking, unorthodox member of the terrorist organisation.

Brody has to deal adapting into the first world again, having two teenage children and a wife who moved on after having to accept that her husband will never return to the. Can they make their marriage work again? Has Brody turned against the USA? Can Carrie prove her theories in time before terror strikes?

Rating: 8.5/10

I’ve wanted to watch this series now for quite some time, because I have always thought Clare Danes is such a good actress.  When I finally found the time to pop it in to watch, I was hooked from the get go. I have never met a more compelling pilot episode! I went in completely blind, I had no idea what to expect. You should try that if you can because it makes the impact that much more. Homeland switches between Saudi Prince’s harems, Afghanistan, Iraq, heroic and corrupt militia, the dynamics between couples and mental problems with such finesse you are left a bit slack jawed at the excellent pace that is created. The storyline, for everything it contains, is clear and the only things left unaddressed are the obvious plot twists that you have to be patient to see. You don’t feel the hour pass as you watch, because each character has such an interesting story that you NEED to know what is cooking with them. Right now, the only person I am not suspecting of being Abul Nazir’s leak within the CIA is Carrie, and that is because she is way too involved with the job to even think of betraying what she needs.

Right on the list of favourites right now is Daniel Lewis. He plays his part with intensity and is utterly convincing. It is anyone’s guess what is going on in his mind, I couldn’t even guess a bit if he is good or bad – I’m not telling, go watch it yourself! This man is Golden Globe material. I went from admiration to pity to suspicion to heartache so quickly and most of the time in ten minutes. You never know what he is or isn’t – mostly he seems sad and confused and grappling to deal with a world that changed drastically in eight years, while having to deal with media attention and fixing his troubled marriage. He is so convincing that you start rooting for him even when you suspect he may have dodgy motives!

The only adult I have 100% sympathy with is Jessica. She thought her husband was dead, finally managed to move on, then to hear he is returning as a war hero and very much alive. I would have run and flipped and thrown my toys out of my cot, because how the hell do you deal with such grief, joy and guilt all at once?

What I liked:

Homeland went to great lengths to show that there are good Muslims and that not all Westerners, especially those in power, are honourable and ethical in warfare. War heroes are used as political tools and little thought is given to what they must have gone through during captivity.

Even the good guys are flawed. All of these men and women are so out of line most of the time, and the fact that you are a Marine (a highly glorified position in most situations) does not mean you don’t lose your shit, become broken or do the unethical.

Carrie Matheson: How flawed can one character be? Carrie has dubious ethical values, and yet I can’t help but root for her. Her life is anything but easy, and her mental problems are constantly beneath the surface waiting to reveal itself.

Actually, all the characters: ROCK. Saul Berenson is my favourite character at the moment, he is a man who carries himself with such dignity and honour and he is genuinely one of the good guys. David, Jessica, Mike, Carrie, Brody, they are all interesting even though they can be such pains in the ass. I had a dream where I was a CIA agent working with Saul and we kicked butt so well together. It was fun!!

THIS CAR:

#loveeeeeeeeeeeeee

What I didn’t like:

HAH. Nothing.

Recommendation: BESTIE GO WATCH THIS!!!!!

November 5, 2014October 30, 2014 by Natasha Categories: SeriesTags: Carrie Mathison, CIA, Claire Danes, Daniel Lewis, David Estes, Homeland, Mike Faber, Nicholas Brody, Review, Saul Berensen, Series 9 Comments