Since 9/11 there has been a burgeoning new category of
entertainment programming dealing with the war on terrorism and the civilized
world’s way of containing and preventing another
catastrophe of that magnitude.
There has been a plethora of titles both in film and
television dealing with these issues: “Zero Dark Thirty,” “The Hurt Locker,” “The
Kingdom,” “24,” “MI-5,”etc. But the best of these offerings is Showtime’s
“Homeland,” which had its season premiere on Sunday. The taut writing, dramatic story
lines and characterization has made this show the apotheosis
of the genre.
For the uninitiated, “Homeland” revolves around the lives of
two star-crossed lovers. One a bi-polar, CIA Analyst, Carrie Mathison; the
other, Nicholas Brody, a Marine turned Islamic extremist while in captivity in Syria where
he sees first hand the atrocities
perpetrated by his own country. This is the Stockholm Syndrome to the max. Upon his
return home he is feted as a hero. The political establishment seizing
on an opportunity to create a new star helps get him elected to
a seat in the U.S. Congress where, unbeknownst to them, he continues to
plot against his homeland. Or, has he seen the light, after being exposed and the
requisite amount of threats, as his lover contends?
In last year’s season ending cliffhanger a bomb is detonated
in front of a CIA facility killing more than 200 people. The bomb is planted in
a car. The Congressman’s car. Was he complicit in the attack? Did he turn back
to the dark side? Don’t think we’ll know
until the season plays out. But this psycho drama is most compelling.
I’m not sure what makes it so but I think (and I’m not a
psychiatrist; never even have played one on television) it has something to do
with our collective need to know that at any given time our people are out
there keeping us safe 24/7 to best of their ability. Do we find solace in their
efforts; or is it the revenge factor; does it help to provide some measure of
closure for all our lost loved ones?
In episode one of this season, to atone for the
attack on the CIA facility, six complicit bad guys are taken down on three
different continents in a razor sharp operation.
Is it life imitating art or art imitating life? The line is
blurred. And I think that’s what makes shows like “Homeland” so thought
provoking and entertaining.
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