Homeland

[dangermousie]

So, I just watched the pilot and loved it. It's intense and messed up and Damien Lewis is knocking it out of the park (is he making a career of playing soldiers?). My heart both breaks for him (the man is horrifically and understandably messed up) and yet I feel scared/on edge (is he a terrorist? I would still find him sympathetic if so because if he was turned it was only after years and years of horrific torture). My favorite character so far is probably Morena Baccarin's army wife who has built a new life for herself assuming her husband is dead (and I cannot blame her - it has been 8 years, even if the romantic in me is kicking in the corner) and now has to deal with the fact that he's back.



I ship it like crazy even though it's never going to work.

My one problem?

I loathe the protagonist, i.e. Claire Danes' character. I don't mean she's boring or mildly irritating. No, every time she is on screen I get rageful and want to go scrub her off my screen. Nobody is going to convince me that wiring and videotaping a person's entire house, without a warrant and against explicit orders is moral. Or that watching someone's entire life without their knowledge (including their most intimate moments!) is anything less than disgusting. She is a sick sick woman and ugh...what does it say that I like potential terrorist more than her? At least he's had the excuse of torture for being a human failure. What's hers? UGHHHH. Maybe there is a reason even your CIA boss (who is presumably not burdened with human rights concerns) thinks you are a psycho, lady! There is a reason one needs a warrant before surveillance, with good proof as to why you need it, proof that convinces a neutral third party, i.e. a judge. UGHHHHHHH.

Comments

[elvensapphire.livejournal.com]

The only episode I watched of this show was the pilot, and I haven't gone back to it because of Claire Danes' character. And I actually really LIKE Claire Danes, but this character just seems like such an unlikable person and she makes me uneasy for exactly the reasons you mentioned. The premise is intriguing but I'm not sure I can deal with her as the protagonist.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. I am going to keep up with this because I love everything else except for her, but my problem is that the show clearly wants us to see her as this screwed-up but ultimately cool/positive/likeable character we should sympathize with and root for and I just can't. She is loathsome. I think it may be realistic someone in her job is this way but there is a reason spook goons wiretapping people aren't my heroes. There is a reason I don't watch 24.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched the show for this reason; from the advertising I got the feeling I was supposed to root for the Claire Danes character, but I just can't. And if it turns out that this is all part of some TV argument that this is the sort of person we need with power...well, there would be shrieking at the screen.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yes - honestly, I have no idea if the guy is just a PTSD victim or a terrorist who plans to kill every third child in the country. Whatever. There are lines you should not cross and expecting me to sympathize with someone who crosses them - no way. Let me put it this way - no judge who knows any law or has a mind would ever give her a warrant based on the evidence she has. We are supposed to see her as nutty but brilliant but all I can see is a person who should never have any access to any position of power or ability to get hands on private data.

[kaena.livejournal.com]

For me her actions are a part of exactly why I find the show so compelling. I don't think the show wants the viewers to see her as moral or right. She is broken and messed up just as much as Brody but for different reasons. And everything that is shown is raw. Things are complex and uncertain, similar to what I would assume is happening in real life. Many other spy shows sweep them under the rug and go for a more cartoonish action oriented portrayal of the spy life.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I do not know what goes on in real spy agencies, but there is a reason CIA is not allowed to operate on the US soil. Not to mention that someone on antipsychotics should not be able to pass the rigorous screening to get the clearance she got. The thought of her being in any position in power is horrifying to me. I don't care of Brody is a terrorist or not - what she is doing is both illegal (for a reason!!!) and immoral. And yet the show expects me to see her her a sympathetic character - flawed, a bit nutty, but ultimately one we care for. But I cannot. All I want is her behind bars.

One ep and I am hoping the guy is not a terrorist simply because if he is, it would give support to the appalling idea it is ok to violate every legal and moral and privacy principle on a hunch.

[popaddict.livejournal.com]

What? You hate Carrie?
For me, she is the most fascinating character on the show. My interest in her actions and her motivations are what keep me coming back, well that and the show had fabulous plotting and characterizations.

We can't agree on everything, I guess, see below with your Channing Tatum love (though that film does look cute).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think she is horrible - what she does is so illegal, it sets my teeth on edge. And not 'illegal but morally right,' it's both illegal and immoral. At least Brody, if he is a terrorist (a) was tortured into it (b) is not in a position of power. Neither applies to Carrie.

[artic-fox.livejournal.com]

I've only seen the pilot so far too. Which I liked a lot - mostly because Damian Lewis is awesome and always will be. But I haven't found the motivation to watch the rest of the episodes yet. It would require me to think INTENSELY and instead I just end up watching Hart of Dixie, or something.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Damien Lewis makes the show for me. The man is amazing. I mean, I am half-convinced the character is a terrorist and I still am intensely invested in him.

It is incredibly intense show though.