Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland (Season 2, Episode 11).
Tierney: Roya's smack down of Carrie — "I've never been that stupid, you idiot whore!" — was pretty epic. She was definitely a little cocky rolling into that interrogation, thinking she could turn Roya the same way she did Brody. It was a good lesson for Carrie to learn: Not everyone is the emotional mess she and Brody are.
Even though Nazir is dead, I still have a lot of questions about his narrative. Nazir has been the object of Carrie's obsession for so long that I don't see them just letting go of his story line just yet. Was the Walden heart attack plan a cover for a bigger operation, in the way that Walker's sniper attack was an impetus for Brody's suicide vest in Season 1? Does he have agents that will be implementing something larger (perhaps in season 3)? I don't buy that Brody told the whole truth about his barn meeting with Nazir (we know he lied about them praying together). Remember, Nazir said that if all went to plan they would never see each other again. Though I doubt Nazir dying was part of that plan, it does make me think there is a longer game here, one put in place in case Nazir didn't make it out alive — he seemed pretty confident with Carrie that his jihad would continue for years after his death. Though, who will hold Brody accountable, now that Nazir, and his foil, (Walden) are gone?
In terms of the romance stuff, I would be far more open to it if there was something more going on under the mushy, star-crossed, 'Spy Who Loved Me' story. If I'm right, and there is something more going on with Brody's devotion to Carrie — if he realizes that, personal feelings aside, manipulation is his best plan for survival — then I think the show has plenty of ammo to carry into the third season. If it really is just devolving into a Nicholas Sparks novel, then I think Homeland will burn out pretty quickly.
Greg: Both of those plot lines, which would help the third season move along, seem way too plausible for the insanity we've been fed throughout Season 2. However, something has to come out of left field (other than an attempt on Brody's life, which is clearly coming) to keep the ball rolling, otherwise everything seems to be falling into place in a neat and tidy order. That's not how this show has ever worked. Every action, every consequence, every character has a grey area, and when those grey areas mesh, we get something that looks like Carrie's rainbow flow chart from Season 1. Something completely unpredictable is on the horizon for next week, but I can't begin to guess what that will be based on how we got to where we are right now. I'll play along, if only being entertained by Saul's gruff and agitated state. He's had some great moments as we come to a close on the season.
Tierney: It was not lost on me the irony of Estes yelling at Saul, "You continually undermine me," when a few episodes ago, Estes was depending on Saul to make the tough decisions in Beirut. By playing politics at the cost of national security, Estes has undermined himself. He can try and blackmail Saul all he would like, but I think the revelation of the drone cover-up and the plot to kill Brody will make up a big part of Season 3.
Speaking of said plot, was it just me or did Quinn seem a little hesitant to move forward with the assassination plan the second time around? I would love to see the season end with Quinn abandoning his job as Estes' angsty lap dog, and going rogue, Mathison-style.
Greg: Even as we are led to believe that Quinn is a rogue mercenary, I think he understands the gravity of what Brody's death would mean inside and outside the CIA. The weight of a U.S. congressman suddenly dying isn't going to be something that Estes and the CIA can gloss over, and that's not even taking into consideration that Brody would have died within days of the man who held him in captivity for eight years. Also, I don't think Carrie would handle that well. Do you think the Internet could handle the scene where Claire Danes discovers a dead Brody? It would live on an infamy.
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