Homeland: The Showtime Series

Homeland is a Showtime series starring Carrie Mathison, a bipolar CIA Agent who attempts to keep her mental sickness hidden from the CIA. She works with others to stop terrorist attacks on America, all formulated by the terrorist leader Abu Nazir. During her undercover work, she hears that an American prisoner of war has been turned. This causes much suspicion in her when Sergeant Nicholas Brody is uncovered and returned to America after eight years as a prisoner. None of her other colleagues believe her suspicions, so she pursues this question with the help of a freelance operative, Virgil. As the viewer, you find our she is correct early in the series, but she cannot find the information to prove it. With dramatic twists and a breakdown that leads Carrie to using shock therapy treatment, this show keeps you on the edge of your seat.   

In my opinion, this show is phenomenal and one of the best shows on television. Claire Daines, who plays Carrie Mathison, plays an incredible character because she acts like she is actually bipolar. Her character is so convincing, that it makes the show that much better. In addition, Damian Lewis’s character Nicholas Brody, the turned POW, pushes the plot along so well because of all the questions his family and the CIA ask. He thickens the plot even more when Abu Nazir pushes him into running for Congressman. The combination of these two characters creates a thrilling show, and combined with the underlying methods of characters, such as David Estes and Abu Nazir, this show is a must see. 

Best Director?

The nominations for the 2013 Academy Awards came out earlier this month and as always there quite a few movies that were left out. I think the biggest snub of all the nominations was that Ben Affleck was not even nominated for the Best Director category. I found it shocking that Affleck, who won Best Director at the Golden Globes and his movie Argo won Best Picture, was not even nominated for the Oscars. He seemed like the front runner to win the Best Director award but I guess the Academy saw it differently. Argo is a brillant and excellent film about a CIA agent who helps six American fugitives in Iran escape the country during a revolution. It stars Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, Alan Arkin and John Goodman. I think Affleck did an incredible job and him not being nominated is a shame. Personally, I think Argo was the best movie of the year I'm rooting for it to win Best Picture at the Oscar's.

Argo

Homeland.. Finally!

This week I finally started the television series Homeland. My friends have been after me, often telling me that this is one of the best shows on TV. Being a TV-R student I figured I had to see what all the talk was about.

Homeland, which was created by Gideon Raff and runs on Showtime, quickly draws you in with a compelling plot line. The first episode has many clips of main character Nicholas Brody, a Marine Sargent, held captive by al-Qaeda. After being imprisoned for eight years he is finally rescued by an American Delta Force raid. However, after so many years as a prisoner his life had been completely altered. As he returns home almost everything has changed with his family, and peoples perception of him. He is now a hero to the American people. His family, who assumed he was dead, now has the chance to build a relationship with their father/husband. However, the most interesting plot line is CIA agent Carrie Mathison, who has her own feelings about Brody. She has suspicion that Brody is coming to America as a possible terrorist threat and launches an investigation. The show creators have kept me guessing weather Brody is a hero or a terrorist. I am completely intrigued and will continue to watch more of this series in the upcoming weeks. I am officially hooked on my new show.