The Hell Yeah Homeland Podcast

As promised, this week we’re talking about loose threads from the finale (as well as revisiting some points from last week) and reflecting on season eight as a whole. We address The Franny Situation, why the way in which Carrie and Saul’s relationship ended is so significant, what it means for the ending to be hopeful (versus not), this season’s most pleasant surprises, and more. Oh, and knee touch.

(Alternate titles: “Her Hubris,” “It’s Not Gonna Be in the Movie,” “Yada Yada,” “Problems B, C, and D,” “New Paradigm,” “Did You Take Out the Garbage? No, You Killed Max,” “I Think It’s Literally Called ‘Dress,’” “I Don’t Need That in My Life,” “I Don’t Have Any More Thoughts… Currently.”)

This week we discuss the series finale of Homeland and struggle to come up with synonyms for the word “perfect.” Our discussion focuses on the show’s central relationship between Carrie and Saul (don’t worry, we’ll cover the rest in the next podcast). We talk about our reactions to the episode, from that devastating betrayal to “two years later.” How does their journey end? And how might it also be a new beginning?

To everyone who’s tuned in the last five years, thank you thank you thank you. We have more podcast episodes planned over the next few weeks, but for now we want to say how grateful we are to all who came along for the ride. We had a time. 

(Alternate titles: “The Last Bridge,” “Perfectly Carrie,” “Jazz is Crazy. Period,” “A Point That I Forget Making But Still Agree With,” “Two Years Later? Let’s Talk About Two Years Later!”, “Not Not Real,” “A Revelation,” “Ok So Here’s What I Have to Say About the Knee Touch.”)

This week we discuss the penultimate episode of the series, “The English Teacher,” and attempt to answer the age-old question of just what the heck Carrie will do next. We examine in depth her relationship with Saul and how this episode uniquely highlighted what makes it so special, so maddening, and so damn compelling. What can we learn from previous seasons about how this all might wrap up? What questions will be answered and which will be left open-ended? Will any of us actually be ok when it’s all over?

(Alternate titles: “Carrie Gonna Carrie,” “What the Fuck Is Happening with These Fucking Books,” “DRAMATIC PAUSE,” “Where You At,” “Surprise, Bitches!”)

This week we're discussing the antepenultimate episode of the series, "Designated Driver." We analyze Carrie's motives and attempt to predict not only her fate but that of her relationship with Saul. Will she actually betray him? If so, is the human toll of that decision ultimately worth it? Also: an emotional and parallel-heavy ending, the payoff to Carrie and Jenna's relationship, and the question of whether Carrie and Yevgeny will ever see each other again. Finally: which Homeland characters would we like to quarantine with? 

(Alternate titles: "The Hangover," "Scottsdale," "Yes Man," "She Needs Propranolol," "It Remains Quinn's Fault," "She Still Has Yevgeny," "But Where Is Lynne Reed?")

This week we discuss the delight that is “In Full Flight” (hey, that rhymes!). First things first: the Carrie and Yevgeny of it all! We dissect their scenes and interactions and try to parse what it all means. Is Carrie growing? Has Yevgeny been playing her the whole time? We also talk about the ramifications of last week’s episode re: Saul and Carrie, check in on Tasneem and Jalal, and decide which IRL (or 24) president Hayes is modeled after.

(Alternate titles: “[Crosstalk]”, “Aftershocks,” “She Blinked First,” “Semi-Genuine,” “Age Appropriate,” “Harry  Potter Movie Extra,” “That’s One of My Biggest Problems with You.”)

This week we're discussing the brightest and sunniest Homeland episode there ever was! Just kidding, "Threnody(s)" was a one-two-three gut punch. We reflect on Max's legacy and what his character meant to the show and to us. Plus: the transformation of Haqqani, a brewing betrayal between Carrie and Saul, Yevgeny's potentially ulterior motives, and what this season's resident baddies are going to get their hands in these last four episodes. 

(Alternate titles: "Ugh, John Zabel," "Ominous Beard," "Hell in a Handbasket," "On a Not Really More Cheery Note.")

This week we discuss “Fucker Shot Me,” and it’s fair to say it’s the most divided we’ve been this season. Was it just a transitional episode or will this end up being more relevant down the line? We discuss Carrie and Yevgeny’s road trip, Saul’s rapidly declining career, and Max’s ongoing nightmare. Plus: where can Carrie go from here and will Saul be alongside?

(Alternate titles: “Bravo Sara,” “Solar Calculators Are Also Important,” “Reverse Soul Patch,” “The Benefit of the Doubt,” “Oh My God RIP,” “The Negative Nelly of This Podcast.”)

This week we talk about "Two Minutes," aka the episode where Homeland turned into a comedy series all of a sudden. We dive into all the ways shit hit the fan, from Hayes finding his ~presidential moment~ to Haqqani surrendering himself and a climactic Carrie/Saul fight. Also: how many ways was Carrie a teenager? Do we trust Yevgeny? Will we ever see that flight recorder again?! Plus plenty and plenty of PARALLELS. 

(Alternate titles: "Gullible Ninny," "Being Carrie," "A Good Bookend," "Let's Be Canonical," "Hot Evil Person," "Because of Reasons," "So What is the Truth?")

This week we discuss "Chalk Two Down," the second of two major set-up episodes this season. We agree it was well-executed television... but did we like it? Then we put the puzzle pieces together and chart our predictions for what will come next. Also on the docket: the fine line between a warning and a threat, twin VPs rising to power, and a possible "let's tie it all up with a bow" series ending. 

(Alternate titles: "People Shooting Guns," "Two Things," "Carrie's Fault," "#SaveMax," "My Taxes.")

This week we discuss the various converging storylines in the final season’s fourth episode, “Chalk One Up.” We offer predictions on who was behind the episode’s tense final moments and what that means for our girl Carrie. How might the president’s acknowledgement of Carrie’s patriotism play into future episodes and how does it fit into her overall arc? Finally, we discuss Carrie’s subplot with Samira and Max’s with his soldiers and debate the merits of both stories.

(Alternate titles: “Overanalyzing,” “A Sentence In,” “Not Good Optics,” “Two Things,” “That Episode Ruined My Birthday,” “My Tin Foil Hat Is Large and In Charge,” “What is the Context of This?!”)