We've had Carrie flashback to her torturous Russian detention; we've had had Saul kidnapped, hooded, and dumped in a cell; we've had helicopters carrying the presidents of two countries crash; we've had Max, the nerdy tech guy stand up unarmed and surrender to the Taliban. (If it really is the Taliban. We'll see. They're heavily armed with automatic weapons) with the black box (it's orange) from the presidential helicopter at his feet to await his fate as a captured combatant.
Just as peace with the Taliban was ready to be trumpeted to the world, aviation disaster happens. What the hell were the U.S. President and the Afghan president doing in the same bird? Giving something away, there's a new president in Washington. There are more administration changes in Washington than in Italy.
Perhaps to show should have taken a page from real life and told us there are two Afghan presidents, because in reality two have been sworn in this week. Always good to have backup.
But what I really get out of the episodes is the universality of the word "fuck." In the episode that aired prior to Sunday Carrie thwarts a kidnapping by the Taliban of an asset who doesn't want to be dragged back to the village to serve her brother-in-law just because her husband has been killed.
This is an independent woman who recoils at the prospect of being kept barefoot in the kitchen of someone with a floppy hat and rat's nest facial hair.
She calls Carrie, who of course will do something, and she does. There is nothing tame about Carrie when she whips out her automatic pistol, clutches it with two hands and points the business end at your face.
Carrie figures out the vehicle the kidnappers will use once they escort the woman out of her house, disables it, and then rushes the driver's side, while her driver does the same to the passenger side, and tells the Taliban baddie: "Don't fucking move." You feel your own heart stop.
It's amazing what words people understand. Here's a bunch of rascals who have been speaking Pashto to each other, but clearly understand the word "fuck."
Okay, maybe it's the weapon pointed at their temple, but you have to admit, the word "fuck" does makes itself known around the world.
The new U.S. President is the third actor to portray that officeholder. We've had Elizabeth Keane, played by Elizabeth Marvel, who resigned, then Ralph Warner played by Beau Bridges, and now Benjamin Hayes played by Sam Trammell. It's enough to confuse any third-grader. It also means if Homeland's producers come calling and give you the part, you're not going to last too long.
President Hayes is a dilettante, a spineless caricature of a politician. Do the writers have someone in mind? They tried to anticipate Hillary becoming president by having a woman president, now they got a confused former VP who seems more interested in moving into the Oval office than taking a command position. Is he Joe Biden?
So, did Haqqani betray Saul and send the Taliban after the presidential helicopter? Did the helicopter just develop mechanical trouble and crash on its own? Did Afghanistan's new president, General G'ulom, arrange the hit so he could succeed President Daoud? Will Tasneem Qureshi light another cigarette of satisfaction? Will the producers finally off Max after all this time? Will there be peace with the Taliban even after all this?
As always, come back to the movies next week and see for yourself.
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