After narrowly escaping last episode’s attack, Carrie is finally able to meet with her intel. Having been assured a $5 million reward as well as freedom from war-torn Lebanon for information on Abu Nazir, the woman reveals her husband is meeting with Nazir the following day.
At an official congress function back in the United
States, Vice President Walden informs Brody that Israel’s attacks on Iran were
not entirely successful. Within his religious beliefs still hidden from the
public eye, Brody tries to stay as calm and focused as possible – however the
news has clearly left shocked and distressed. Having been a militant officer,
the Vice President asks Brody to use his experience to convince the President
to allow for Israel to use U.S military weapons to finish off their job on
Iran. Attempting to avoid bringing his beliefs into the conversation Brody
looks at the possible decision from a holistic approach, claiming it would
ultimately look as though the U.S were behind the attack on Iran. However his
argument goes unheard, with an ignorant and arrogant Walden showing little
sympathy for the Middle East. Absorbing what just occurred Brody is momentarily
lost in time but eventually, after Vice President Walden questions his
commitment, agrees to his requests.
Back in Beirut, Carrie returns to the safe house
following her meeting much to the delight and relief of Saul. However after
finding out that Carrie had already engaged in contact with the intel rather
than the two of them going together, Saul questions Carrie’s ability to follow
protocol but is more concerned about the source’s reliability. However after
Carrie informs Saul of the information on Nazir, he is somewhat more accepting
of her actions.
Estes on the other hand, back at CIA headquarters, is not
as impressed as Saul. Having broken the agreement to meet the intel together
with Saul, it seems as though Carrie is going back to old habits – basing her
judgement off other people’s word and her own suspicions. Her inability to
completely prove that the capture or death of Nazir is certain does not sit favourably
with the head of CIA. Estes consults Saul for his judgment and a decision on
the situation. Not realising that Carrie is on the verge of a mental breakdown,
his demeaning comments about her presence in Beirut as well as her
participation in the operation on a whole could not have come at a more bad
time. However in justifying that the Carrie of old (at the time of recruiting
her intel 8 years prior) was more trustworthy and reliable than her current
self, Carrie manages to persuade Saul to go ahead with the operation.
For the first time in Season 2, Brody’s old mate Mike is
reintroduced in to the story. Although having had their differences in Season
1, the pair seem to be making up for lost time. That is until Mike brings up
Tom Walker’ death and the attempted assassination of Vice President Walden,
claiming that the whole situation made no sense especially when Walker had the
best sniper shot out of their whole military group. Having been made public
that Walker acted alone, Mike asks Brody to use his authority to look further into
the case. Trying his best to avoid the conversation and dismiss any conspiracies,
Brody half-heartedly agrees to look into the case.
As the operation regarding Abu Nazir begins to unfold in
Beirut Brody is informed of the major breakthrough for the first, joining other
cabinet members to oversee the possibly historic event play out. Having had to
eventually question who the prime target was, Brody quickly realises the
seriousness of the situation for Nazir. Out of sheer desperation to save Nazir’s
life, Brody sends him a sly message just in time to avoid being gunned down.
Confusion and frustration begins to generate in the room as the operation fails
to take down Nazir.
If the failure of the operation wasn’t bad enough, Carrie
jeopardises the cover and lives of her colleagues as she flees from the escape
car and ventures into the building complex of her intel looking for any more
information. As the situation on the street begins to get out of hand and
fearing for their own safety, Saul and the team are forced to drive on –
leaving Carrie behind. Having had to momentarily fend for herself from the
hostile local men, the team fortunately crosses paths with her and move on to
their exit point.
Having agreed to look into Walker’s file Brody falsely
claims there was nothing being covered up, much to the disgust to one of his
former military partners who questions again the facts behind the attempted assassination.
Again, as he does so well, Brody reverses the line of attack, cleverly using
his experience as a prisoner of war to justify his actions and ease the burden
of guilt.
The episode concludes with Carrie returning back to her
sister’s suburban home whilst Saul is left to search through what she retrieved
from the intel’s building complex. For those that remember, in Season 1 Brody
made a video tape of himself (what it looked to be) confessing to his actions.
However his actions at the conclusion of Season 1 were not successful. With
Saul finding this tape stitched into the seam of a backpack coming from Carrie’s
intel’s building, next weeks episode is sure to provide viewers with a few
answer but many more questions!
Stayed tuned and be sure to check out next week’s posts for more Homeland material!
- Written By: Mike Duffy
Image Source: ten.com.au
