Protagonist Against Protagonist. Review: Homeland - "Broken Hearts"

Homeland, S2 E10 – “Broken Hearts”

Air Date: Sunday, December 2, 2012, 10 pm ET/PT on Showtime

Rating: ★★★★★

What a compelling episode of Homeland! Not only does Brody (Damian Lewis) get to confront Vice President Walden (Jamey Sheridan), but Carrie (Claire Danes) faces off against Abu Nazir (Navid Negahban) after he captures her. In the meantime, Dana (Morgan Saylor) and Finn (Timothee Chalamet) talk about their feelings for each other.

Observations:

Protagonist Against Protagonist. Review: Homeland - "Broken Hearts" 1

A very self-controlled Brody on his way to Walden’s office.

Fear plays a large part in “Broken Hearts” for several of our major players. First, for Brody when Nazir calls to tell him what he must do to prove himself again; then, for Carrie, who’s been taken hostage by Nazir as a means to get Brody to do what Nazir wants; finally, for Walden, as he comes to understand why Brody is hell-bent on killing him. I can’t say which actor portrays their fear better as each does an excellent job. If I had to pick just one, though, I’d choose Lewis. Brody’s fear is palpable, practically coming through my TV screen as he realizes there is no way to outplay Nazir this time. What I don’t understand is why Brody doesn’t call the CIA to tell them what’s happening. For that matter, why doesn’t Carrie tell Saul to protect Walden when Nazir releases her?

In an episode that is sure to have fans talking for days (maybe even weeks) we see Brody, after a battle of wills between him and Nazir, fulfill his mission to kill his sworn enemy. But, despite being a powerful scene, I don’t care for the way the writers set up Walden’s death. I was under the impression Walden was a healthy man. After all, he’s planning to run for President, and there’s never been a mention of a heart problem. So, it would have been nice had the writers addressed this a few episodes ago instead of springing it on us so willy-nilly. Then, how convenient is it when Brody finds a magnifying glass to read the serial number on Walden’s pacemaker? And why, oh why, is he allowed free rein to walk around the Naval Observatory that houses Walden’s office? This smacks of a scene from 24, and with Homeland never going down that path previously, I wonder why, at this late stage of the game, does the show resort to something so…convenient? I have one more problem with this scenario. I don’t understand why Nazir is so intent on killing just Walden. I mean, I know why he wants Walden dead but doesn’t this go against the way terrorists normally operate? Their thing is to kill hundreds of people at once (think 9/11), not just one. So why doesn’t Nazir, at the very least, want the Israeli prime minister, who’s meeting with Walden, dead too? What is Nazir’s end game, because I don’t think Walden’s death is it.

Protagonist Against Protagonist. Review: Homeland - "Broken Hearts" 2

Saul meets Dar Adal for breakfast, and answers to his questions.

I love watching Saul (Mandy Patinkin) and Dar Adal (F. Murray Abramson) exchange philosophies. While Dar Adal is more of an action-oriented man, Saul likes to try to work things out. I relate more to Saul as I, like him, believe not only are people basically good, but there’s more strength in words than in fists. But when Dar Adal confirms that Quinn (Rupert Friend) is one of his soldiers, Saul still doesn’t understand why Quinn was put in charge of the mission to capture Nazir. Of course, what he doesn’t know—yet—is Estes’ plan for Brody. But Saul’s not a stupid man; he’ll figure it out.

Protagonist Against Protagonist. Review: Homeland - "Broken Hearts" 3

Check out the rage in Estes’ face when he doesn’t want to answer the question Saul asks.

Harewood more than pulls his weight in “Broken Hearts.” First, he does an excellent job portraying a leader commanding and motivating his team, and then again, when Saul confronts Estes about Quinn. Estes obviously doesn’t want to answer Saul’s questions, and goes so far as to lose his cool, shouting, “Fuck you, Saul! Fuck you!” I think Saul’s question about Quinn being an insurance policy hits way too close to home for Estes.

Despite how afraid Carrie is, she doesn’t hesitate to go toe-to-toe with Nazir, when each passionately explains their beliefs in what this war is all about. According to executive producer Alex Ganza, this scene was the most difficult to write as they wanted both “Carrie and Nazir to have compelling and understandable reasons for where they fell in this antagonism between them.” I have to say, the writers hit the nail squarely on the head. Nazir defends his actions in a speech that left me terrified. If this is what real terrorists believe in their hearts, our country has a long and dangerous fight ahead of us, and no one is safe. As an aside, I was absolutely mesmerized during Nazir’s speech so kudos to Negahban for that.

While I thought we had seen the last of Finn, he pops up again in “Broken Hearts,” with a broken heart of his own. You can’t help but feel sorry for him when he relates to Dana how he feels when he gets up every day. With Dana being the only one he can talk to about his situation, I understand how she feels. But they both have to face a harsh reality and nothing can fix what’s now broken.

Additional Thoughts:

When Carrie calls to outline what’s next for Brody, his entire facial expression changes, as does his body language. It’s obvious he is more comfortable speaking with her than he’s been with anyone else since returning from captivity. You can sense genuine emotion in his whole being.

***

Protagonist Against Protagonist. Review: Homeland - "Broken Hearts" 4

Chris playing cards with his father before Brody gets the call from Abu Nazir.

It’s nice to see Jackson Pace with lines that aren’t sports-related. He’s a very cute young man, and if given the chance, might make something of himself. But so far, in Homeland, that remains to be seen. And truth be told, with his character Chris being so under-developed, his presence on screen is somewhat annoying. Chris brings absolutely nothing to the show, and I’m not sure why he’s even there. At least Dana, who, I admit, has been annoying at times, brings out the emotional side of Brody that is very much needed to balance his otherwise agitated state in Homeland.

***

Brody acts like a cornered rat when he relates his last conversation with Carrie to Saul after Saul finds her cell phone at the scene of the accident. I don’t understand why Brody doesn’t tell Saul the truth. Anyone care to offer up any opinions on this? Have I mentioned how supreme Lewis’ acting is in “Broken Hearts?”

***

I think Carrie is genuinely insane. Why, after being freed by Nazir, would she go back to the abandoned mill after contacting Saul? Is she that intent on bringing Nazir down? I know the majority of his terror cell was eliminated last week, but he still has people. Why set herself up to be captured again?

Memorable lines:

Nazir: “Generation after generation must suffer and die. We are prepared for that, are you?”

Carrie: “Whatever it takes.”

Nazir to Carrie: “He can bomb us, starve us, occupy our holy places, but we will never lose our faith. We carry God in our hearts, our souls. To die is to join Him. It may take a century, two centuries, three centuries, but we will exterminate you.”

My questions this week are: Why does Estes stop Saul from going to the abandoned mill to capture (or kill) Nazir? Doesn’t he want Nazir, and if so, why not? Where was Saul taken and what’s going to happen to him? With Brody fulfilling his initial mission, there’s nothing left for him to do. So will Quinn kill Brody now, or will Brody be allowed to go home and work things out with Jess? For that matter, will he work things out with Jess, or will she leave him for Mike Faber (Diego Klattenhoff)?

Only two episodes to go, peeps! I can’t wait because they are sure to provide an exciting and suspenseful conclusion to season two.

Tune in to Homeland, Sundays at 10:00 pm ET/PT, only on Showtime.

Follow Homeland on Twitter @sho_homeland and cast members Damian Lewis (Brody) @Lewis_Damian; Morena Baccarin (Jessica) @MissMorenaB; David Harewood (Estes) @TheHarewood; Navid Negahban (Abu Nazir) @NavidNegahban; Jackson Pace (Chris Brody) @JacksonPace; David Marciano (Virgil) @davidmarciano; and Zuleikha Robinson (Roya Hamad) @ZuleikhaR.

LIKE the show on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/HomelandOnShowtime and don’t forget to check out Homeland’s official webpage at http://www.sho.com/site/homeland/home.sho.

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Linda

Love TV, movies, and books--mostly mysteries, with a good love story thrown in every now and then. I have four adopted dogs who I adore. I love trying new recipes, and enjoy eating what I make. English language perfectionist. Reading in bed, Italian food, warm weather, the beach, all types of games = favs!