Homeland (Showtime. Sundays at 10. Premieres Oct. 2.) Carrie Mathison is taking antipsychotic drugs, which is not the best situation for a CIA agent. She’s also the only person in the world who thinks the hero prisoner of war from Iraq (the superb Damian Lewis) is a Manchurian Candidate-style terrorist threat, programmed for mayhem.
Claire Danes handles the twists and turns with aplomb in this sophisticated thriller that has some of the appeal, but very little of the craziness, of 24.
Looking for the best new series cable has to offer this fall? The marvelous Claire Danes stars in
Showtime’s terrific and troubling new show as a CIA agent who suspects a returning-from-captivity
hero (the equally good Damian Lewis) has been turned by his captors. It’s clear Lewis’ soldier is no
longer the man he once was, but it’s not clear he can’t be trusted — or that viewers should
automatically trust Danes’ character, who comes with considerable mental baggage of her own. Those
two stars and that complex a battle might be enough to hold your interest, but Homeland also offers
fine performances from Mandy Patinkin, Morena Baccarin and Jamey Sheridan.
When it’s on: Sundays starting October 2
Who’s in it: Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin, Morena Baccarin, David Harewood
What it’s about: An FBI agent suspects that a recently released prisoner of war might actually be aterrorist sleeper agent.
Why we’re excited about it: Ten years after the events of September 11, 2001, the threat of terrorismstill has an impact on our everyday lives. This drama takes our nation’s temperature on the subject.
Are we unreasonably paranoid, or not taking the appropriate precautions? Plus, Damian Lewis is one
heck of an actor.
Other articles:
latimes.com – Claire Danes stars in ‘Homeland’
Variety – Harewood has hairy ride to ‘Homeland’