Final Showdown


"It was you or Walden, and it wasn't even close." — Brody (Damien Lewis) to Carrie (Claire Danes) during Sunday's "Homeland."

Two years and 23 episodes have been building to this. "Homeland," Showtime's excellent cable drama, has its second season finale Sunday and a lot is riding on the outcome. After sweeping the Emmy awards in September and an explosive first season, "Homeland" was something of a critical darling.

This season has stretched common sense at times, and it has certainly tested audience good will. So, hard as it might be to believe, the show is actually coming to something of a crossroads in its second season finale. The big question is, how will this arc end and what will be set up for season two?

The logical answer to both is that Brody has to go. It's nearly impossible, now, to imagine a scenario in which the character fits an ongoing narrative, despite the wonderful work from Lewis. It's time to get some resolution, make a break and set up the future for Carrie Matheson.

That quote from above was meant to be a tender moment, but it was also indicative of how lost Carrie has become due to her obsession with Brody. What did he mean it wasn't even close — how could it be since he hated Walden and wished to kill him. Wasn't the idea of saving Carrie more a convienient excuse?

And what of Carrie's country ahead of all mantra? Isn't that gone now? She not only knows what Brody did — helping a terrorist kill the nation's Vice President — she's actively helping cover it up. Her supposed patriotism has vanished as her love for Brody has grown. This is something I actually saw foreshadowed last week. Some thought it was a plot hole that Carrie didn't warn her co-horts of the danger for the Vice President. I thought it was a reflection of Carrie's changing values and priorities, and it didn't take long Sunday for that to be revealed as the truth.

So what lies ahead Sunday? Who's to say for sure. But if "Homeland" is to stay true to the course it seemed to set last season, Carrie's in for a rude awakening when it comes to Brody and her nearly absent former love of country.

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