Marine One
- Episode aired Dec 18, 2011
- TV-MA
- 1h 24m
While Carrie is near catatonic, Saul investigates her unsettling timeline; Brody makes final preparations for the Vice President's policy summit at the State Department.While Carrie is near catatonic, Saul investigates her unsettling timeline; Brody makes final preparations for the Vice President's policy summit at the State Department.While Carrie is near catatonic, Saul investigates her unsettling timeline; Brody makes final preparations for the Vice President's policy summit at the State Department.
- Mike Faber
- (credit only)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDamian Lewis won the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work in this episode.
- GoofsEstes, a CIA official and civil servant (not a presidential appointee), attends a closed partisan political gathering at the Vice Presidential residence, a career-destroying violation of the Hatch Act.
- Quotes
Carrie Mathison: Why did he do it?
Saul Berenson: Who?
Carrie Mathison: Brody. Why?
Saul Berenson: Do what?
Saul Berenson: Call Estes and... rat me out like that.
Saul Berenson: Honestly, I can think of a hundred reasons. The man's running for Congress, in case you forgot. Think about it. You're the last person he needs in his life right now. And vice versa.
Carrie Mathison: But, Saul...
Saul Berenson: Listen to me. This man has poisoned your thoughts. He has cost you almost everything. Forget him.
Carrie Mathison: I can't, Saul. I can't.
Saul Berenson: My God. You're in love with him.
- ConnectionsFeatured in The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards (2012)
Mostly this works very well because you are held as things are steadily revealed, twisted or changed in your understanding – the flashbacks are a big part of this as they present a muddling effect that enhances the already muddled present. I'm not sure how the show would play on a second or third viewing though, because the mystery is the all here and it is that sense of not being sure of anything that makes it as engaging as it was. The constant twisting when things are muddled helps later when things start becoming clearer and more "known" – because by this point the viewer is used to having half-truths in front of them so I was still sort of wary of fully believing everything that I was being shown.
The downside of this even pace is that occasionally we have sections where it feels like time filling – cougar moments if you will. Some of these are still engaging as side-threads informing the characters but sometimes they do feel like they are in there or extended to be able to fill a little bit more time that they should have done. This is a minor quibble though, because they are rather covered by virtue of the show being of a steady pace in the first place – so it isn't like moments in 24 where the constant forward motion would just seem to stop for the sake of stopping.
The cast play well with the constant sense of grey area. Carrie may well be a hard character to like but Danes plays her really well – she is a deeply flawed character and she works as such. Some of the plot contrivances don't full work in regards her character but Danes does well with them despite this. Lewis is by far the strongest of the cast – no matter what we think of him at any point in the show he is really well done, always giving enough to all points of view so that you never totally know where he sits or how to feel about it. Baccarin is stunning of course but also gives a good support and keeps the family side interesting although with good child performances – particularly the key relationship for Brody of Dana (Saylor). Patinkin is a real good presence, as is Harewood – even if it is a little odd for UK viewers to see him over there with an American accent! Homeland, despite the rave reviews, is not a perfect show and I don't think it would be as good coming back to it for a second or third viewing, but it is a well-paced and satisfying show that engages by having a constant sense of doubt about what everyone's motivations and aims are. Some of the red-herrings and cougar moments don't work particularly well but they don't disrupt the flow too badly and therefore are easy to forgive. I wonder how they can continue it into a second season while still maintaining the strengths from this first season, but for now this an enjoyable and engaging show.
- bob the moo
- Apr 1, 2012
Details
- Runtime1 hour 24 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 16:9 HD