Homeland: Rebel Rebel proves crazy Carrie is the best Carrie

Political allies and enemies jostle for position on Homeland. As usual, Carrie is positioned dead center of all the chaos.

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If we’ve learned one thing about Homeland, it’s that a crazy Carrie (Claire Danes) is good for the show. She’s more manic, and her choices are more unpredictable. Additionally, she’s vicious and promiscuous. Other than the whole terrorism and spy aspect of the show, her bizarre behavior is the foundation of everything exciting on Homeland.

There are multiple current conspiracies afoot, and Carrie will eventually get to the bottom of them all. In the meantime, nobody is safe, and trust is about as valuable as gold.

Welcome to the tinfoil hat podcast.

O’Keefe (Jake Weber) talks about General McClendon (Robert Knepper) in his latest broadcast. McClendon had six tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, and O’Keefe suggests a conspiracy considering the General’s health. He doesn’t believe the heart attack story one bit. In fact, he claims the assigned guard grew up alongside Wellington (Linus Roache). O’Keefe’s message is stronger, bolder. No dancing around the issue, in his eyes the President is the same as Hitler. The reason for his revitalization is the protection of his new militia friends.

Meanwhile, the President appears to be none the wiser about the death. Wellington, however, suggests she release Saul and the 200 or so people incarcerated in the second wave. It’s a good will offering to get at least a few allies. Otherwise, the entire town becomes her enemy.

Is Carrie crazy again?

During treatment, Carrie learns lithium sometimes looses potency in a small part of the population. Her countenance fissures display her belief in the relapse. Nonetheless, Wellington surveillance continues, and a new mysterious figure has entered the picture at his house.

Carrie’s subsequent investigation involves 4chan for some reason, despite the abundance of trolls, hackers, and morons. After uploading a photo of the mystery woman, a response compels her to click a link. Rookie move.

After a bit of negotiation and blackmailing, Carrie is reduced to a cam-girl, taking orders to perform for credits or flowers. Or in her case, the security of her laptop’s contents. She gives the hacker a quick tease, but shuts it down quickly.

Ultimately, she arranges a face to face for some quid pro quo.

Saul takes a lead in the administration.

Surprisingly, Saul takes the National Security Advisor position. Carrie is incredulous about his appointment, and appears betrayed. She can’t believe Saul has gone to the dark side. Saul has apparently overcome the acrimony and fully supports the President’s mission plan. Now Carrie is upset about two different things.

The build up to Waco 2.0 has started.

Saul’s first mission is to track down and stop O’Keefe, who the administration is calling a terrorist. He backtracks to the mattress store, the source of the last broadcast. Outside the store, an anti-government group has amassed to jeer the authorities. Saul quickly proves his years of experience by squeezing information out of a complicit police officer.

Simultaneously, O’Keefe is bonding with his new protectors. The group has an arsenal, and at least one member has an O’Keefe tattoo. Needless to say, they’re supportive.

Another showdown ends quickly.

Why a computer nerd wouldn’t fully understand the implication of hacking a computer linked to the Chief of Staff is beyond me, but it nonetheless happens. Carrie meets the hacker, and he’s like a more pedophile looking version of DJ Qualls. In less than a minute, Carrie breaks his nose with a head butt and cripples him with a few well placed blackjack strikes.

Mission accomplished. Laptop unlocked, info secured, pants soiled. Before leaving, however, Carrie unleashes perhaps the most threatening and terrifying version of her spy persona we’ve ever scene. While holding down her weakling adversary, she lets him know she has his identification and will end him if he tries any BS again. It’s straight out of the “Raymond K Hessel motivation“-playbook. One look at his eyes confirms he has as strong a belief in the threats as does any insane flat-Earther of the planet’s resemblance to a saltine.

Next: Who is enemy of the state?

Has the Carrie of old returned? Is the fierce but crazy warrior back on the job? More importantly, however, there appears to be a showdown between Saul’s government forces and O’Keefe’s militia on the horizon.

Homeland airs Sundays on Showtime.