Episode Title: “Gerontion“
Writer: Chip Johannessen
Director: Carl Franklin
Previously on “Homeland”:
There was a moment in this week’s “Homeland” where I was afraid… that Fara Sherazi (Nazanin Boniadi) would use the scissors in her hand to stab Majid Javadi (Shaun Toub) before he made it out of the CIA safehouse.
That fear was not born out of affection for Javadi. Instead, I was worried that “Homeland” was going to pull a play straight out of “24.” The connection between those two shows runs deep, as Howard Gordon, Alex Gansa and even this week’s screenwriter, Chip Johannessen have worked on both “24” and “Homeland.”
“Homeland” is not “24,” nor should it be. It has its own identity, even if the creative team can’t necessarily nail down exactly what the show is going to be on a week-to-week basis. Note that this week’s episode had no sign of the Brody family at all and it kept its focus entirely on three of the main characters as they tried to salvage the Javadi situation after the bloodbath in last week’s episode.
That was far more compelling than any plotline the Brody family has had this season for a simple reason: the “Homeland” writers know how to write exciting stories about over-the-top espionage angles. But they aren’t nearly as good when it comes to writing about ordinary people and mundane problems. Every time that “Homeland” shifts towards a story with Dana (Morgan Saylor) or Jessica (Morena Baccarin), it feels far more forced than any of the other plotlines.
That’s never been a problem with the plotlines surrounding Chris Brody (Jackson Pace)… because he hasn’t had any.
There are full spoilers ahead for “Gerontion,” so if you missed last night’s episode of “Homeland” then you should probably skip this review or else Senator Lockhart will figure out how to dial 9.
One of the more intriguing ideas in this episode was Saul Berenson’s (Mandy Patinkin) half-crazy attempt to remake the politics of Iran (and possibly the entire Middle East) by sending Javadi back home as his newest asset. First, Saul has to convince Javadi that he has power. In truth, Saul has no power, at least not for long. His authority as the acting director of the CIA has only a few days remaining and Saul is already powerless to prevent his wife, Mira (Sarita Choudhury) from shacking up with another man. If Javadi knew just how helpless Saul really was, he’d laugh in his face.
Regardless, Javadi verbally lashes out at Fara and Saul while playing mindgames with Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) because that’s what he does. Javadi has no other leverage than the doubt he can create. Saul’s been around long enough to see through his lies, but Javadi’s words are all the proof that Carrie needs to revive her attempts to clear Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) of the 12/12 CIA bombing.
The only thing that strikes fear in Javadi is the idea of returning to Iran, where he would meet a particularly gruesome end if his government was notified of his graft. “Homeland” has only had a few episodes to build up the history between Javadi and Saul. Fortunately, both Patinkin and Boniadi sell it like the veteran actors that they are. Saul’s offer to Javadi was also very interesting, as he openly states his intention of putting Javadi into a position of power within Iran’s government.
I never thought I would say this, but Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham) played into a truly hilarious moment between Senator Lockhart (Tracy Letts) and Saul. Adal seemed so fully on the Senator’s side that it was a genuine surprise when he went along with Saul’s unspoken plan to lock the Senator in a conference room while they allowed Javadi to fly out of the country. The celebratory drink between Saul and Adal was another priceless moment as they realized how short their time in the agency may be if Lockhart is confirmed as the new CIA director. They’re both on his s***list now.
Meanwhile, Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) had the misfortune of being photographed by a security system; which made him the prime suspect in the murder of Javadi’s ex-wife and his daughter-in-law. Surprisingly, Quinn seemed almost relieved by the opportunity to confess to the murders he didn’t commit; perhaps because he’s still feeling guilty about accidentally killing a boy in the season premiere. Yet the disgust that the local PD show Quinn in their interrogation mirrors his own feelings about himself and his line of work. As far as Quinn is concerned, nothing justifies what the CIA does and he’s basically done with it.
Except for Carrie, who is apparently the only one that Quinn feels any emotional connection too. Quinn reluctantly agrees to help Carrie pursue her latest Quixotic quest to clear Brody’s name. Does anyone else remember that Quinn had an ex-wife and a child that Saul uncovered last season? We never see Quinn reflecting on the family he lost. Instead he focuses on Carrie almost in the same way that she fixates on Brody. Not exactly the foundation of a healthy relationship, is it?
Speaking of healthy relationships, that’s something that Saul is lacking with his wife. Even as Saul pours out his heart to Mira over the phone she’s getting dressed after sleeping with another man. That 33 year old photograph of Saul and Javadi with their wives in Iran is the closest thing that we’ve ever seen to a loving relationship between Saul and Mira. Saul’s trip through memory lane seems to stir up some guilty feelings in Mira, but not enough to confess her sins. So, which will collapse first: Saul’s marriage or his CIA career?
Given what this show is about, I’d bet on Saul finding a way around Lockhart’s nomination before patching things up with his wife. A happy marriage is just not in the cards for Saul.
