Homeland

Homeland is the latest big hit American drama to arrive in the UK.  A product of Showtime, rather than one of the networks, it's able to be harder hitting than a lot of American drama, and it wears this edginess and its clearly huge budget very prominently on its sleeve.  For example there's some nudity from the main stars, and outdoor scenes with hundreds of extras, where indoor scenes with few extras would have served just as well.

The concept is that captured soldier Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis) has been released after seven or eight years in captivity.  Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) of the CIA is convinced that he's been turned, and he's actually a potential terrorist.  So far we don't know whether he is or not - and maybe we won't know by the end of the series - so any TWNH moments might not really be TWNHs, depending on the outcome.

The biggest is that Brody has returned from captivity in pretty great shape.  If someone's been chained to a radiator or in a cell for years, they wouldn't be as fit and strong as he is.  Plus the teeth....  Even Andy McNab, who was only in captivity for a few weeks, needed a lot of dental work when he returned.  For all her suspicions, Carrie doesn't seem to have noticed his physical condition or pored over his medical reports.  So is this poor drama, or a sign that he was turned while he was in captivity?  Could he even turn out to be an Agent Zigzag for our times?  Given that American series are often only part made when they first air, it's possible that the writers still hadn't decided by the time this episode was broadcast.

Other than that it was a good drama.  A bit soapy - Brody's wife had found a new lover while he was away - but certainly enough to it to keep us watching.  Most of all, hoping that like various other US series, this doesn't turn a great premise into a strung-out and less than credible drama.  We know already, for instance, that Brody is lying to the authorities and his family.  And would Carrie's CIA bosses not know that she was on medication for bi-polar disorder?

The bit at the end with the fingers was very well done, although let's hope it doesn't try to sustain its welcome simply by pulling a clever moment like this five minutes from the end of the episode every week!