Homeland – Episode 10 “Representative Brody” (Review)
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Last week’s episode of Homeland revealed the depth of the relationship between US Marine Nicholas Brody and Al-Qaeda leader Abu Nazir, and why Brody is now following Nazir’s orders. Nazir has told Brody that the vice-president will ask him to run for office, and if he does so, Nazir will know that Brody is still with him, and will continue to carry out Nazir’s orders. So the question now is, which side will Brody choose?
Before we get to that, the episode begins with the CIA working out how to get to Mansour Al-Zahrani, the Saudi diplomat involved in Abu Nazir’s plans and who is giving information to Tom Walker. Saul is in his element as he explains to Estes and other CIA agents how they will get to Al-Zahrani. He’s deeply in debt after some bad business deals, but is also gay, despite being a devout Muslim, with three wives and 10 children, in other words, Saul says, ‘he’s a very naughty boy’. Carrie then sets up a fake business deal with Al-Zahrani.
Elsewhere, Brody is reading the morning newspaper when a people carrier with blacked out windows pulls up outside his house. More follow, and Brody prepares himself for the worst. But it’s not a threat, instead the secret service sweep his house before Vice President Walden walks in to speak to Brody. Walden tells Brody that he wants him to run for Congress, and Brody agrees, although he wants to speak to Jessica first. She doesn’t want Brody to do it, as they are trying to keep their marriage alive, and she knows that the media will dig for dirt until they find it, including their affairs with Mike and Carrie. This prompts Brody to go and talk to Mike, explaining to him why he needs to run for office, and that he understands and forgives him for being with Jessica. He thanks Mike for looking after his kids, and asks him to speak to Jessica to convince her that he needs to do something, anything apart from return to Iraq, and that he can make a difference as a politician.
Al-Zahrani believes he has a business meeting with Carrie and Saul, but immediately realises what is happening. He has diplomatic immunity and wants to call his embassy, but Carrie takes control, showing him photos of his liaisons in a local bath-house. But Al-Zahrani is defiant, claiming his wives already know, and that he doesn’t care who else knows. Carrie wants to know why he visits Switzerland so frequently, but he won’t talk and gets up to leave. Carrie is forced to threaten the future of Janine, Al-Zahrani’s favourite daughter, telling him that she will make sure Janine is sent back to Saudi Arabia to ‘get fat and be miserable’. Al-Zahrani breaks, and tells Carrie and Saul everything he knows. This results in Carrie and Saul telling him to arrange a meet with Tom Walker, set to happen the next day.
Brody calls Carrie, telling her that he wants to meet. Carrie agrees, hoping Brody has forgiven her. But Brody only wants her to promise to keep their affair a secret. Mike visits Jessica and tries to persuade her to side with Brody’s wishes to run for office, but she knows that Brody sent him to do it. Nevertheless, when Brody returns home, she tells him that she’s discussed it with the kids, and they all want him to do it.
The arranged meeting between Al-Zahrani and Walker ends with an explosion, with 5 people killed and many injured, including Carrie. She watches from the hospital as Brody announces his intention to stand for office.
As the end of series 1 of Homeland nears, the plot strands are beginning to gather together. Tom Walker and Nick Brody seem set to cross paths very soon, and the CIA is lagging behind. Abu Nazir’s plans may soon be executed, can Carrie recover from the explosion and stop them? It’s a gripping show and continues to be great.
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