On the agenda: is manic Carrie a trope at this point? How did Jonas deal with everything, all things considered? Can anyone explain what's going on with Quinn? Did this episode actually happen? Did we all mass dream it? 

... and then we get to Saul. 

If you ran this episode through a word cloud generator, here's what it would return: 

"gross"

"so gross" 

"problematic"

"like"

"disgusting"

"friend" 

"hate"

"i don't hate" 

"why" 

Melrose and I delve into last Sunday's episode. Really good, we agree, but does any of it make sense?

Also on the agenda: How ambiguous was Quinn's reaction? Or Carrie's? Does Saul want to kill Carrie? Why does anyone want to kill Carrie, really? 

Then we talk about some mid-week news:

Homeland -- is it Islamophobic and racist? 

Is Carrie happy to be back in Beirut? 

Saturday publishing means your weekend gets to be twice as Homeland-y! 

Oh... not really sure why I needed to go this far. 

It's the first episode of the season! Join us in this expression of our shared obsession. 

On the list: the progression of Carrie Mathison, the regression of Peter Quinn, various transgressions of Saul Berenson (can he leave pls???), first impressions, repressions, confession of confusion, anticipated depression, and more than one digression.  

The gang is in Berlin and I'm listening to Nena -- it's an 80's jam session! 

(Alternate title: 99 Luftballoon Hats)

Melrose and I convene for a pre-season session in which I explain my split personalities. We talk about Carrie and Quinn, Saul, boyfriends and wigs and just what the heck is gonna happen this season. Spoiler alert: neither of us knows but that doesn't stop us! 

. . . . 

"It's been a while," she said sheepishly. 

"Yeah." So startled, both of them. One more than the other.

"So are you back here?" he asks in his best nonchalant way.

She brings a hand to her forehead, anticipating every question.

"Yeah, in a way."  

#homelandlamp 

Melrose and I discuss PaleyFest and what we think season five is gonna look like. We talk about straight white males, real and fictional, and just how problematic they are. It's a lively discussion, and Melrose is a lot funnier than I am. 

Melrose and I wrap up the podcast season by talking about season four as a whole. We discuss the characters and storylines we liked (Carrie and Quinn! Lockhart and Martha!) as well as the ones we didn't (demon Saul!), address season five rumors and speculation, and daydream about a Homeland-less life. It gets kinda #dark. 

Thanks everyone so much for listening throughout the past few months. This was a lot of fun to make and hopefully we can keep it up next year. 

Not discussed: the true identity of tumblr user carriequinndaily. 

Melrose and I talk about the 45 minutes of hell that was “13 Hours in Islamabad,” from those who died, those who survived, and those we wish had died. RIP John. You died as you lived: sitting down.

We discuss our predictions about the final two episodes, what we want from the end of the season, and get meta about the blog and fandom. 

Ever wonder how we can generate so much conversation from episodes so short? 

Melrose and I talk about episode 9, “There’s Something Else Going On” … for about ten minutes. 

We spend the remaining hour and change talking about theories for what comes next, why none of these theories makes sense, why we’re not sure if we want these theories to make sense… And hey! what about a theory that explains the entire critical reaction to Homeland? 

We go deep, but also broad, and it’s one of my favorite conversations we’ve had on the podcast yet this season — about the characters, their relationships, what this show is (and isn’t), and what this show means. 

In this episode Melrose and I talk about the season finale. And by talk I mean discuss at length. Everything from Saul being a monster, motherhood (good and bad), Carrie's arc, Lockhart's lasagna, and of course... The Kiss. 

We both have a lot to say and can't even believe it's over. Stick around for a "would you rather" that's kind of fun (or depressing) and reveals just how much Melrose likes to feel pain. 

Also this quote: "they switch sides with their faces." 

(and see if you can spot the episode's title!) 

Melrose and I talk about the fourth season's penultimate episode, hitting the big three: Dar, Frank, and Carrie/Quinn. I explain my upcoming dread and Melrose counters with calm and sane logic. Contrast! 

We both wax poetic about the wonder that is Claire Danes and struggle to articulate the sheer surprise of what happened this week with Carrie and Quinn.

We close with what we're most looking forward to in the finale and Melrose talks about the experience of her first season in the Homeland fandom. Things get heated!