If you follow my Twitter feed or have even talked to me in
the last two weeks, you already know about my Homeland obsession. Homeland—this
most brilliant of a television show that it seems almost an injustice to call it
just a television show; it’s a work of art, to be sure—has cast me under its
spell.
I figured it was worth checking out after it won all those
Emmys (including but not limited to Best Drama, Best Actress for Claire Danes
aka my new girl crush, and Best Actor for Damian Lewis). Plus I get Showtime on
Demand and after a hellish week of tests and projects I was left with a week
nearly entirely free. So it was a perfect storm for me to catch up on the show
just as the second season was getting underway.
I admit a part of me just wanted to see what all the fuss
was about. Plus Homeland is as classy as TV can get really. Watching shows like
Mad Men and Homeland allows me to rationalize by guilty pleasure viewing of
I-can’t-explain-why-I-find-this-so-captivating entertainment like Real Housewives of Anywhere reunions and anything with a Kardashian sister.
But what I got was a show so smart, so surprising, so
intensely good that it’s all nearly all I’ve been thinking about lately. In the
span of three days I watched all of the series’ (then) 14 episodes.
The story, if you’re unaware, is about a Marine sergeant
(played by Lewis) named Nicholas Brody who was taken prisoner in Iraq for 8
years. He is eventually rescued and returns to America, but CIA agent Carrie
Mathison suspects he’s actually been turned and is involved in a terrorist plot
on American soil. Oh, and also Carrie is bipolar so she’s a somewhat unreliable
narrator. But to sum up the show in just a few short sentences would
be to entirely gloss over all of its subtleties and nuances that the writing
and tremendous acting by the cast illuminate.
Claire Danes is simply mesmerizing in this role. She’s so
badass, so I-can’t-believe-she-just-went-there, so utterly awesome. And she
portrays Carrie’s mental illness with such depth and layers, it’s captivating
to watch. In an interview, co-creator and showrunner Alex Gansa described
Claire’s performance: “I got a letter from somebody who said
she’s bipolar herself, and she said Claire’s performance was so real to her
that she worries for Claire’s sanity.” That sums it up pretty perfectly. She
just owns this role, and it’s so fun to wach. Plus, this girl has crazy eyes
and an awesome cry-face.
Claire Danes' rather crazy eyes
But you can’t ignore the amazing work
of the rest of the cast, as well as the team of writers. Their persistence to
just “go there,” to constantly subvert your expectations and realize, Oh this
is so much better than what I was expecting, is probably the show’s greatest
asset. So often with television you think you know what’s coming, what could
be, but Homeland is constantly one step ahead. It’s an awesome ride, to be
sure.
Plus, don’t we all need a reason to
look forward to Sunday nights?
So please, if you’re not watching this
show, get thee to a television ASAP. You can thank me later.
[/end sales pitch]
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