'Homeland' Season 6 introduces a female president-elect, but whose side is she on?

Picture: JoJo Whilden/SHOWTIME

By Andrea Reiher2017-01-16 06:19:08 UTC

This recap accommodates spoilers for Homeland Season 6, episode 1, titled "Truthful Recreation."

Homeland is again for Season 6 with "Truthful Recreation," an episode that finds the important thing gamers a bit scattered when the season begins — nevertheless it's solely a matter of time earlier than they converge.  

Carrie's struggle

After years of globetrotting so as to wage a conflict on terror, Carrie (Claire Danes) has settled down in Brooklyn and is making an attempt to boost Franny whereas helming a corporation that protects and defends Muslims from unjust prosecution.

It is a noble trigger, to make certain, as viewers are launched within the premiere to Sekou Bah (J. Mallory McCree), a Muslim teen who seemingly needs solely to share a counterpoint view to heinous U.S. army actions, however whose web site is one thing the FBI has deemed "materials help" for terrorism. FBI Particular Agent Ray Conlin (Dominic Fumusa) — who must be a enjoyable mustache-twirling a-hole for this season — claims that they fear Sekou's rhetoric will incite others to violence. So Sekou is arrested and Carrie and co. are introduced in to symbolize him, and already we odor one thing else brewing with this storyline.

Certainly Homeland would not be so cliched as to make Sekou a nasty man sooner or later down the road — this present is way extra nuanced and sophisticated than that — however common TV watchers know that there's in all probability one thing else happening with Sekou that we do not but find out about.

Maybe it is going to have one thing to do together with his father. When the story finds him, Sekou was planning on leaving to go to his father in Nigeria, who lives there after being deported from the U.S. in 2002 (one thing the U.S. did loads of within the wake of 9/11). Or perhaps it should do with Sekou's sister Simone (Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut), launched within the premiere as a foil to Sekou's proud Muslim beliefs.

Whatever the what, we really feel pretty assured that there's greater than meets the attention with Sekou and his household, as a result of Homeland loves nothing greater than a very good twist — so maintain your eye on the Bahs.

Quinn's flight

Once we discover Quinn (Rupert Good friend), the soldier is in a nasty place after the occasions of Season 5. In fact, that is to be anticipated after struggling a mind hemorrhage brought on by publicity to a chemical weapon. Nevertheless it's nonetheless extremely unhappy watching Quinn maintain Carrie at arm's size, refuse to take part in bodily remedy after which get robbed of a whole lot of dollars by a hooker and her boyfriend after am ill-advised drug journey.

Nevertheless, watching Quinn transfer in with Carrie and Franny — which is certain to get dangerous earlier than it will get higher — we will not assist however want the present had simply let Quinn die. Carrie doesn't have to be coupled up with a person to be an fascinating TV character, but the present appears unable to let that go.

Her relationship with Brody (Damien Lewis) was compelling in its shades of grey and ethical ambiguity, as was Quinn's journey of going from somebody meant to assassinate Brody (and later, Carrie) to Carrie and Saul's ally.

However forcing Carrie and Quinn collectively romantically appears somewhat trite. Do not get us incorrect, Quinn is a superb character and Good friend is implausible in his portrayal. However perhaps kicking Season 6 off with a kinder, gentler Carrie who simply needs to do her personal factor, increase her daughter and assist individuals, solely to be dragged again into the world of the CIA, would have been extra fascinating than saddling her with Quinn and all of his baggage.

Alas, that practice has left the station, as a result of Quinn is now dwelling downstairs in Carrie's condo. The one factor we will hope for is that sooner or later Quinn turns into concerned within the overarching Season 6 plot, since proper now, the Quinn scenes really feel like a completely totally different present than the remainder of the premiere episode.

Dar's slight

Within the storyline that's clearly Homeland's bread and butter, Saul (Mandy Patinkin) and Dar (F. Murray Abraham) are assembly with President-elect Elizabeth Keane (Elizabeth Marvel) as a part of the transition course of between the election and inauguration.

Keane is probably probably the most fascinating character within the Season 6 premiere, as parallels might be drawn between Keane and Hillary Clinton (former junior senator from New York); Keane and Donald Trump (lack of overseas coverage expertise and a mistrust of the CIA); and Keane and Cindy Sheehan (anti-war activist whose son was killed serving in Iraq).

Saul thinks that Keane's suggestion that "not each drawback within the Center East deserves a army answer" is probably not that loopy. He is at the very least prepared to discover that line of considering, which apparently places him at odds with Dar.

Any season the place we get to observe Patinkin and Abraham spar on reverse sides of a battle is engaging certainly. Add in the truth that at episode's finish, Dar has a gathering behind Saul's again with Gen. Jamie McClendon (Robert Knepper) and we're undoubtedly all in for this storyline.

General, it looks like Season 6 goes to be a little bit of a sluggish burn, as a result of getting Carrie and perhaps Quinn concerned in what Saul and Dar are as much as goes to take some maneuvering. However we belief Homeland to make it an fascinating journey.

Homeland airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime.