Homeland (S8E2) “Catch And Release”: An Explosive Escalation

Episode 2 of Homeland‘s eighth season presents the beginnings of what promises to be an insane rabbit hole. It looks like the writers are wasting little time hurling viewers into what so far looks to be as explosive a story as we’ve seen since season five. Traditionally, Homeland has spent a few hours into each season laying story foundation before we start to see tighter scenes, furious pacing, and explosions worthy of the biggest action films, but we’re already seeing all of these and more after just two episodes.

Episode Summary

Episode 2 of season 8, Catch and Release, opens with a dumfounded Carrie (Claire Danes) staring after Yevgeny Gromov (Costa Ronin), Russian Intelligence Agent and principle antagonist from season 7, as he exits the office of Afghanistan Vice President Abdul G’ulom (Mohammad Bakri), with whom Carrie has scheduled a meeting. Once Gromov leaves and Carrie recovers from the shock of his sudden appearance, she enters G’ulom’s office and wastes no time asking why he insists on “parading” Gromov in front of her. G’ulom dismisses her concerns, claiming that Gromov was but one of several “businessmen” meeting in his office. When she presses him, however, he reveals what seems to be a comfortable certainty that Russian interests are on his side.

Carrie’s meeting with G’ulom is at the behest of Saul (Mandy Patinkin), who hopes she can get the ball rolling on the prisoner exchange that is a critical piece of the peace talks between Afghanistan and the Taliban. The exchange was publicly decried by G’ulom in the previous episode, and Carrie is there to convince him otherwise. G’ulom is less than willing to listen to her, however, especially considering she has nothing to offer him in return.

Her meeting unsuccessful, Carrie turns her attention to finding something that she might be able to use against G’ulom as leverage. An option for exactly that suddenly appears in an anonymous tip left on her desk, a slip of paper with nothing but a name: “Samira Noori.” After doing a little digging, Carrie learns that Noori (Sitara Attaie) had spent some time investigating G’ulom, and that her husband had been killed by a car bomb meant for her. Putting two and two together, Carrie concludes that G’ulom must have been behind the attempt on Noori’s life, which meant that Noori must have found something incriminating.

Carrie hatches a plan to get her hands on the information, but the attempt goes south, and she ends up pleading with Noori directly, asking for her help in forcing G’ulom to reconsider his position. Noori reluctantly agrees, and brings Carrie to what is supposed to be a military base, but instead is little more than an empty lot. This “paper army” is damning evidence against G’ulom, proof that he had intentionally overstated the financial need in maintaining the country’s military, and pocketed the millions America had sent in response. Incriminating evidence in hand, Carrie visits G’ulom again, and threatens to go public with the information unless he gives a statement rolling back his negative comments regarding the prisoner exchange and peace treaty.

Meanwhile, Saul has learned through Max’s new surveillance equipment that the Taliban leader, Haissam Haqqani (Numan Acar, reprising his role from season 4), is genuinely interested in ending the war. Saul enlists the help of a prisoner, Talib, to deliver a message to Haqqani, asking to meet. Saul and Talib travel to Peshawar, where Talib is set free in order to deliver the message, while Saul waits.

Suddenly, Saul gets an emergency call from Max, who tells him that comms traffic has spiked, and is converging on Saul’s position. Despite the danger, Saul decides to continue waiting, unaware that Haqqani is watching him from a nearby rooftop. Word arrives that Vice President G’ulom has made the announcement in support of the prisoner exchange, meaning, as Haqqani says, “Berenson fulfilled his promise.”

At this point, as a viewer, you’re feeling comfortable with where things are going. It seems like Saul’s and Carrie’s plans may just work. But once again, Homeland‘s writers are enticing us with what will ultimately be another fantastic bait and switch. Saul watches as Haqqani’s caravan approaches, a look of satisfaction on his face, when suddenly, he gets another call from Max, who tells him that ISI (Pakistani intelligence) comms have spiked in his area once again. His face turning from satisfaction to terror, Saul realizes that Haqqani’s caravan is in danger. He runs to try and turn the caravan around, but is too late. An RPG from a nearby building hits Haqqani’s vehicle, and the situation descends into chaos. In the confusion, Saul is kidnapped.

At this point, viewers are left shaken, but the episode’s surprises are just getting started. As Carrie takes a much-needed break at a bar (wisely drinking only water), she is shocked to once again see Gromov, who approaches her. Carrie reacts with anger, to which Gromov replies: “I thought you were gonna thank me.” He then reveals himself as the anonymous source behind the tip that led Carrie to Samira Noori. So, Yevgeny was there meeting G’ulom just before Carrie, and we’re led to believe the two men’s interests align. But now, he admits to giving Carrie what she needs in order to bring G’ulom to his knees. The rabbit hole deepens, as we’re once again left wondering if the Russians are behind everything, using Carrie as an unwitting pawn.

Meanwhile, Saul is dragged to an undisclosed location by ISI agents, or so the viewer assumes. The hood on Saul’s head is removed, and Saul finds himself looking up at Haqqani, very much alive. Shocked and relieved, Saul smiles. “Thank god. You’re alive.” Haqqani knocks him out with the butt of his gun, ending the episode.

Homeland‘s Final Season

With a second episode worthy of most season endings, Homeland‘s writers continue to craft a brilliant thriller, weaving the delicate political threads into an increasingly fantastic tapestry. Questions are answered, only to give way to others. The depth of Carrie’s possible culpability in these twists and turns is anybody’s guess at this point. While it seems that Saul’s goals with Haqqani have little to do with Carrie’s goals with G’ulom (two distinct parts of the mission for peace), Yevgeny Gromov’s shadow seems to loom over everything, and chances are, these seemingly disparate storylines are both part of an overall Russian plot. Therefore, to the question of whether or not the writers and showrunners have so far been able to rise up to the challenges of Homeland‘s longevity, we have a resounding YES!

As always, however, the question of Carrie’s being compromised is a serious one. An ominous line, as-yet-unheard in actual conversation from either of season 8’s episodes, is spoken during the show’s opening credits. It’s Saul’s voice, and based on context, the viewer is clearly meant to assume he’s speaking to Carrie: “I believe you. But no one else will.”

This disembodied single line is a tantalizing clue to a puzzle we don’t yet fully understand. Still, it seems to indicate that Saul will continue to follow Carrie to hell and back, even as the rest of the country either figuratively or literally burns. However, while in previous seasons Carrie’s predicaments have usually been her own fault, such is not the case this time. While in this case, Saul’s choice to stand by Carrie makes sense, the question of her overall position in intelligence still hangs over the show as a whole. Why is she there in the first place? She’s clearly far too much of a risk, and her presence is an inference, dubious at best, that the CIA doesn’t have anyone better. This offers precious little persuasion for the discerning viewer to continue in suspending their disbelief. As Mike (Cliff Chamberlain), her current station chief, keeps saying: “Seriously, when are you getting the f*ck out of my hair?”

Remaining in the Middle East

Finally, we come to the question of culture, both within the show and without. It seems that Homeland‘s writers and showrunners are committed to the Middle East, at least for the early part of this final season. While the story is well served by doing so, providing for example a natural reason for the return of season 4 favorites Nimrat Kaur and Numan Acar, the question of racism by omission still remains. So far, it seems the writers and showrunners are less concerned with this question than they are with telling a good story, but there are still a few clues dropped throughout this episode that indicate they may at least understand the delicate task before them, whether or not they plan to actually address it in future episodes.

Kaur‘s character, Tasneem Qureshi, a Pakistani intelligence agent, is clearly hatching some plot of her own, but we’ve yet to see how the main storyline will merge with hers. In a scene dripping with real-world commentary, Qureshi visits Bunran Latif (Art Malik), a retired Pakistani general and another returning character from season 4. He and Tasneem talk about preventing or controlling a “breakthrough” in peace talks, and Tasneem asks plainly: “How far am I allowed to go?” Latif’s considered reply has very real ramifications, both in Homeland‘s world and in our own. We would therefore do well to listen. “The Americans despise our God. They despise our prophet. They despise us for the very attempt that we are trying to put this country on a self-reliant, independent path. Go as far as you must.” Will this subplot be a commentary on the real-world conflict between Pakistan and Israel, a country America has unquestioningly continued to support despite questionable action by Netanyahu and his predecessors? Time will tell.

Perhaps the most powerful moment so far in terms of real-world commentary comes during Carrie’s initial conversation with Pakistani Vice President Abdul G’ulom. G’ulom and Carrie discuss the need for unity in order for the peace talks to work. Carrie presses him, saying plainly: “We’re partners.” In a brilliant moment, G’ulom looks at her incredulously and says, just as plainly: “Are we?”

These four simple words deliver a brilliant moment of social commentary on the lasting damage American warmongering has caused in the Middle East. America continues to enforce its will in foreign nations, and then expects the leadership of those nations to simply roll over and consider their invaders as “partners.” G’ulom’s statement is powerful in its mocking simplicity, and once again, we’re left wondering if perhaps, Homeland‘s writers and showrunners may finally be coming to understand the responsibility they’ve taken upon themselves in commenting on such a volatile real-world situation. It’s a tall task, to be sure. By the time the finale airs in April, we’ll know if they only succeeded in writing themselves into a corner, or if they’ve fulfilled Homeland‘s potential in becoming something truly great.

Is Homeland on its way to greatness, or are the elements they’ve so far chosen to neglect holding the show back? Let us know in the comments!

Homeland Season 8 Episode 2: Catch and Release, aired on February 16, 2020, on Showtime.