Homeland 2 - Revenge of the Beards

[Hassled]

We're running out of space on the previous thread - thanks to HalleLouja for the inspired thread title.

No spoilers please! I'm all braced for the Bearded Iran Invasion. And maybe, just maybe, tonight's the night Silent Chris will get that speech therapy he so badly needs.

And another pathetic link to those Homelanded album covers because if someone doesn't tell me what at least one of them originally was then I might well go pop.

No objections to the new thread as long as someone links. But please can we keep a beardy title? I really like this title.

I'm not sure we need a new thread (mostly because I like the title of this one so much) and the nasty spoilers have been deleted now; it's not like the arses aren't going to find a new one is it?

Anyway, in advance of the final, I think it's pretty clear that there are 2 possible outcomes, Brody will live or he won't. Shall we discuss what outcome we'd like and what we think might happen (ignoring any knowledge gleaned from any spoilers we might have encountered, which may, or may not be true)?

I think it will be difficult for the scriptwriters to keep Brody in because it is becoming increasingly hard to find ways to make him relevant to the script. Having said that, they know that Brody is a key character to a lot of the audience and so they will be reluctant to remove him altogether as there is a risk that a lot of the viewers will just stop watching. Personally, Brody is my favourite character because he has been written in such an interesting and complex way and because the chemistry between him and Carrie is quite compelling (and I don't mean shagging, I mean the way that they have become almost co-dependent through their circumstances).

From what I've read about the show (no spoilers) Brody was only intended to be a foil to Carrie's character and was disposable at the end of season 1. The writers were apparently quite surprised at how the relationship developed on screen and how the viewers really took to it. I guess that's how he survived season 2, but they've kind of painted themselves into a corner by making the season 2 ending so dramatic. I suspect that's where the 24 influence comes into play, but on 24 Jack Bauer was a lone wolf, and plausibility left the building in season 1. A more interesting, slow-burning thriller might have had Brody ascending the political heights with the CIA still unsure about him. That doesn't mean that he's disposable now though, not least because I'm sure that the network has some views on these things. (Although they didn't manage to dissuade the writers from spending many pointless minutes this season on Brody's family).

So i don't want Brody to die this season, but I also don't want the writers to dredge the depths of plot plausibility to keep him in the story. Clearly Carrie and Brody are never going to get their happy ever after as that would be a preposterous ending for a show like this, but how long are they going to keep the possibility open?

I think Brody is going to commit suicide in the finale (though I really REALLY do not want him to be written out!!) as the writing has been on the wall for a while now - he doesn't want to carry on; has been in so much pain for so long; and he hates seeing the effect his actions/reputation have had on Carrie and Dana.

Not sure how this will come about though. I hope Carrie rescues him and they have a decent reunion first :(

For me it wouldn't be the same without Brody - but I can quite see it would be almost impossible to rehabilitate him in the US. Perhaps next season they'll develop the Quinn character. I can't wait for Sunday's finale and I wonder if Carrie will reveal her pregnancy to Brody. As someone else said, the father-daughter relationship has been central to this series and perhaps the prospect of begin a parent again will offer the hope of redemption to Brody. So, yes, I hope there is a reunion between Carrie and Brody on Sunday night.

I can't see how Brody can survive. The show does seem better with him in. As someone said the whole Dana thing could have been cut down to increase time on him. Her attempting suicide was enough for us to know the pain she suffered.

Maybe some of the beards will feature in the final episode? Apart from the dead doc and the one who lost his legs. I liked them.

I agree - can't see how Brodie can be kept, but then they invested so much time in Dana this season and surely that's going to lead to something bigger than the scene in the motel room? I dunno. I sort of wish now that we'd had more of the "is he?/isn't he?" a terrorist stuff of Season 1 - they could have taken that further. The Vice President nomination etc - it would have been fascinating to see how he used his political power.

Re the new thread - we seem back on track, don't we? And there's plenty of space left here - although Ho Ho Ho Homeland is probably too good a thread title to waste. Someone make a decision - I can't even decide if I want tea or coffee anymore.

But if anyone posts another spoiler I will Hunt Them Down, using not Hot Bearded Marines but Javardi himself - and then I will unleash Carrie's Crying Face alternating with Dana's Crying Face. It won't be pleasant.

Ho Ho Homeland

Oh, I think there's plenty of scope for more Crying Face, even if Brody doesn't make it to Season 4. I think one of the most interesting aspects of Homeland has been the psychological element of whether Brody is a "real" terrorist or not at heart. Though he doesn't seem to ever know himself.

I think Brody has to die. Whether that's suicide, Javadi or even Saul sanctioned death I don't know.

I didn't realise Sunday was the finale. Definitely want Brody to find out about the baby it might give him more of a reason to live. Also if beardy Saul gives a kill order I will NEVER forgive him

I think even if Brody dies, we'll still get some Damien Lewis footage in the next series. Even if it is via carrie's hallucinations. I think he signed up for 7 series, but said himself he could get killed off at any point.

On the plus side, I'm hoping for some Quinn plot development next series. So much we don't know about him. Even his name isn't his name.

I think most of them sign up for more series than they are likely to be in. Estes was signed up for 5 and look at him now searches through the ashes at Langley.

Am I the only one who didn't miss Brody?

He's got to die-he's a baddun!

I'm with you diddl . I won't miss him at all.

Assuming he does peg it of course.

The whole Brody/Carrie thing got too much for me tbh.

I loved the first series-is he/isn't he?

But then once he was, maybe it should have ended then?

Personally I think it should have ended at season one when it was brilliant with its twists and kept us all guessing. Now the highlight is the sight of Quinn with his kit off and a selection of interchangeable beardy hot men rather than a fantastic plot line.

Could we lead a campaign to keep Quinn's clothes off for the whole of season 4?

Meanwhile, I think Brody's still after re-instating himself as agreed with Saul, who could still help Carrie get him out and use something like witness protection programme for the future, but what kind of relationship would Saul and Carrie have if he refused to help Brody now? Their relationship has always been central to the plot, but I really doubt it could survive.

I stupidly opened that fecking Daily Fail article in the week but I won't give away anything, nah uh, my lips are sealed. The finale is going to be epic though and leaves so much for the next season...

Signing out of this thread now until after Sunday. Toodles.

Are we all getting ready? Can we cope with the tension?

Have wrapping to do to while away some time.

I've been in hiding so I don't see any spoilers!
DH is at the pictures with DD and he thinks I won't watch Homeland without him.
Poor deluded fool.

Well I did.
I could happily strangle Bubbles.