Kodumaa Redux (2011– ) Online

HOMELAND: "Redux" (Season 4, Episode 7)

I have come to the conclusion that "Homeland" is the most inconsistent show on television. After roaring its way to the title of the best show on TV with its first two seasons, it has not been able to maintain a common ground in week-to-week quality since the beginning of season three. Yes, season four has not sunk to the lows of season three, but it has not been a fluid ride so far. After a stunning, season-best episode last week "From Point A to B and Back Again", "Redux" continues to race on "Homeland's" roll. Saul is finally being put to great use, and the writers seem to have a a firm direction in which they are taking him. His one-on-one scenes with Haqqani are very interesting and add another layer to the investigation of foreign affairs "Homeland" conducts every Sunday.

I can beat around the bush, but I won't…let's talk about Carrie's delusions. The centerpiece and selling point of the episode is Carrie's descending into a state where her bipolar syndrome is agitated by an nefarious drug. It's a sensational collection of scenes, the kind of scenes I want to see Claire Danes sink her teeth into, the kind of scenes I want to see Carrie struggle through. It reveals quite a bit of Carrie's inner thoughts. The appearance of Brody obviously can be tracked back to Aayan's death, her "grief", guilt, and how she probably should not have been sleeping with someone (even if it was without an emotional connection) so soon after Brody's inexplicably sorrowful exit from her life.

Prior to watching this episode, I literally posted an open forum to IMDb members asking if they thought Danes's spot in the lead actress category at the Emmys was in jeopardy. She was not getting the level of material she used to get in the first three seasons, material that made her the frontrunner to win 2/3 years, and because Carrie is being written as so unlikable this year. However, it's my theory that "Redux" was written directly after the Emmys this year, after Danes lost to Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" for a much quieter performance than the one acted by Danes. The amount of craziness that happens to and around Carrie in this episode leads me to believe the writers were enraged by the loss and conspired to write the juiciest, most actor-friendly Emmy tape Danes would ever see to ensure another win. And Danes eats this episode up, it allows her to capture everyone's attention quite easily. It's her most potent episode of the entire series after "The Vest", of course.

Danes's seismic effort is brought to a close by Damian Lewis's appearance in the final scene. I love Brody; I understand why he had to leave the show, but that does not mean seeing him for two minutes in a hallucination is not thrilling and emotional for Brody fans. (A little part of me wanted to believe he was actually there, that it wasn't Carrie's imagination.) The touching scene shared between Danes and Lewis defines the greatness of "Redux".

Grade: A-

Following on from the decision, against Carrie's orders, not to strike against Haissam Haqqani and this save Saul the team work to figure out how they might extract him. Carrie knows that Haqqani needs medication so starts investigating to find out what is wrong with him. She does not know that Pakistani Intelligence already know what medication she is on and have replaced it; this leaves her getting more and more irrational until she starts to hallucinate. Meanwhile Lockhart turns up in Islamabad intending to strong-arm the Pakistanis into getting Saul back in a way that forces the American ambassador to consider her position.

After some great episodes this one didn't feel quite as good… this was partly down to Carrie's hallucination featuring Brody which felt like it was there as a 'treat for the fans' who I suspect were pleased that this once great character was no longer in the series… on the bright side they hadn't come up with a convoluted reason for him to be alive! That said I thought Claire Danes' performance as Carrie as she lost her grip on reality was very good. Away from the activities in Islamabad I liked the interaction between Saul and his captor Haqqani; it was nice to have an antagonist who wasn't ranting like a madman. Overall even though I didn't think this was as good as previous episodes I still enjoyed it and continue to want to know what will happen.

Season 4 has been trying to find an interesting build of conflict and what better can you expect than Carrie fighting her inner demons in mayhem while Saul's still a captive of a happy Haqqani. The entire sequence of Carrie's freak-out is brilliantly done both technically and acting wise. The dialogue between a Jewish ex-CIA head and a Taliban leader provided a chance to make this a unique television moment but the writers have wasted the opportunity only to enhance an American viewer's perspective. All in all this is one of the better episodes of this season and Claire Danes' performance in this episode in itself is a reason to watch this well crafted piece of television drama.

PS: Brody's appearance in this episode was sheer brilliance. The writers have found a clever way to do some post-season3-damage-control without compromising on the plot.

I'm new to this series and am now on Season four and just finished "From A to B and back again. When they hung Brody the show lost a lot for me. Some part of me kept thinking that the Iranian spy guy arranged for him to have a halter on and fake the hanging because he kept his word and killed the top spy guy...that he would show up again later. Now I know he's gone for good and the show just got less engaging. Wish the writers could find a way to bring Brody back or at least let his family know that he was a hero in the end. Carrie's constant self-destruction is getting really old. Disease or not she really never learns. All the actors give it their best and are compelling, and the sense of how real this world they live in is transferred to the viewer. Makes me realize that in today's world there is no place to hide.

-(spoiler warning!)-

scene1: Haqqani arrive to see his family, and take hug his wife! in REAL Islam that Jahad groups do that command in complete version of Islam (no every Muslim), women or wife has no emotional value or respect. this drama scene like Sci-Fi! It's not even close to real. It's just American drama!

scene2: when Haqqani and his wife had sexual intercourse, Saul was in the room! this is impossible in Islam and Muslims! even in Islam commands for rape enemy's women and Koffar, recommended keep privacy. this scene is just false imagination!

This was one of the worst episodes yet. It's hard to stay engaged with the characters. Bringing Brodie back (even as a hallucination), that seemed like a desperate way to make you think you were watching one of the good seasons.

Haissam is talking with Saul about all the atrocities committed by Christian over the years, and Saul comes back with something like "Yeah, well I'm a Jew".. and that's it? Thank goodness Jews and Muslims don't have any problems or that could have gotten awkward.

The story is no longer very interesting. Maybe it needs ISIS to come in a cut off Saul's head. I hope next week is better.

Each episode ends with a big twist grabbing you to watch the next one. Very good actors