When we, as TV and movie lovers, buy into a fictional portrayal of the real world, it means a lot when we can identify in some way with the characters we’re seeing on screen. That means representing people of all ages, backgrounds, body types, races, disabilities, personalities, etc. As awareness has increased about Autism Spectrum Disorder, I love that we’ve also seen it more prevalently portrayed on our screens.

In addition to reality shows like Love on the Spectrum that challenge stereotypes that autistic people may face, there are several movies and series that include characters who have autism. Because the spectrum is so broad, no singular portrayal can be accurate of the entire community, and that’s why it’s so important that so many of these characters exist. Below I’ve listed 8 characters from TV shows and movies who are on the autism spectrum.

Christian Wolff (The Accountant)

Both The Accountant (2016) and The Accountant 2 (2025) star Ben Affleck as Christian Wolff, an accountant with savant-level math skills who is also a lethal assassin. The movies show how his autism helps him to quickly and easily “assist” criminals with their finances, but also how he struggles with social interactions. The sequel digs into his upbringing and relationship with his brother, and there are some fun scenes where Christian tries line dancing and even speed-dating.

Shane Hollander (Heated Rivalry)

Heated Rivalry was a spicy smash hit for HBO Max when it came out in 2025, with Hudson Williams portraying Shane Hollander, a hockey player who engages in a relationship with rival Ilya Rozanov. While autism is never mentioned in the first season of the book-to-screen adaptation, author Rachel Reid has confirmed Shane is on the spectrum.

Hudson Williams told THR his father has autism, and he drew inspiration from him on how to play Shane. I think it’s a great portrayal because it doesn’t lean on extreme stereotypes, it’s not made to be Shane’s defining character trait, and still, fans are able to recognize and identify with his neurodivergence. Be sure to check out this authentic performance, but be warned — Heated Rivalry is one of HBO Max’s most sexually explicit shows.

Temple Grandin (Temple Grandin)

This biographical drama, Temple Grandin from 2010, stars Claire Danes as the titular character, who fought speech and sensory issues and grew up to make revolutionary changes to the cattle ranching industry. The TV movie is based on Temple Grandin’s memoirs and seeks to give people a broader understanding of Grandin and autism. It won several Primetime Emmy Awards — including Outstanding Lead Actress for Danes, who also won the Golden Globe for the role.

Sam Gardner (Atypical)

Another example of autistic characters on TV is Atypical’s Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist). The Netflix series is centered around an 18-year-old trying to navigate life as a teenager, including social situations like dating, but it also looks at his family. Through four seasons, it shows — sometimes casually and sometimes in heightened situations — how Sam’s autism affects everyone in the family and how they make accommodations to try to make things easier for him. Atypical is one we think everyone should check out.

Max Braverman (Parenthood)

Max Burkholder portrays Max Braverman, whose autism becomes a main storyline in Parenthood right from the start of what would go on to be six emotional seasons. This series gives us a good look inside the minds of Max’s parents, particularly as they learn to establish routines, navigate behavioral issues, and find Max the help he needs at school. As Max grows up, we also see how his feelings about autism change over time.

Parenthood also features another possible autistic character in Ray Romano’s Hank Rizzoli. Hank discovers that he might be on the spectrum after reading a book about autism to try to better understand Max. He finds that he relates to a lot of what is being described in the book, and autism would explain a lot of what he’s been through in his life. His character seemingly represents the people who don’t realize they’re on the spectrum until adulthood; however, Hank was never formally diagnosed at neurodiverse.

Wendy Welcott (Please Stand By)

Dakota Fanning has been praised for her performance in 2018’s Please Stand By as Wendy Welcott, an autistic woman living in a group home, where she spends her days working on a Star Trek script. After missing the mail-in deadline to submit her script for a screenwriting contest, she flees home to deliver it in person — thus proving she’s more independent than her sister thinks. Her journey is sometimes harrowing, but Fanning portrays Wendy as confident, competent, creative and complex, and it’s beautiful to see her fight for something she cares deeply about.

Shaun Murphy (The Good Doctor)

Despite displaying some stereotypical characteristics of autism — including savant syndrome — Freddie Highmore’s role as Dr. Shaun Murphy on The Good Doctor is generally considered a positive representation. While Shaun struggles with eye contact, can interpret things super literally, and exhibits sensory sensitivity, many fans of the medical drama enjoy seeing him respected in his profession as he navigates workplace dynamics and relationships.

Woo Young-woo (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a fascinating look at one way autism is portrayed in South Korean entertainment. The series (available to stream with a Netflix subscription) stars Park Eun-bin as autistic rookie attorney Woo Young-woo. It’s impossible not to be charmed by the attorney and her special interest in whales, as she navigates plenty of bias regarding her autism, as well as professional rivalries and budding romance.

These are only a handful of characters on the autism spectrum that can be found on TV and in movies. Many children’s shows have come to feature autistic characters, including Sesame Street and Carl the Collector. There are also many characters who seem to display characteristics of neurodiversity but whose diagnoses have not been confirmed, including The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper, Community’s Abed Nadir, Criminal Minds’ Spencer Reid and more.

It’s great to see so many facets of autism represented in entertainment. Hopefully, it will only continue to broaden people’s understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity.

The end of November is nigh, with December still bringing a last slate of shows to the small screen in the 2025 TV schedule. Netflix's Top 10 is mostly unsurprising with just a couple of days left in the month, with the recently-released Stranger Things going strong at #1, plus a pair of holiday shows indicating that post-Thanksgiving streamers with a Netflix subscription are ready to get merry and bright. I was much more surprised to see that Claire Danes is getting a surge in popularity with multiple projects, so the actress is definitely ending the month strong.

Coming off of a hiatus of more than three years and a whole lot of hype ahead of its release, I would have been shocked if Stranger Things Season 5's first volume wasn't #1 on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows in the U.S. on the last Friday of the month, just days after the premiere. There are some interesting elements of the list, however, with The Beast in Me #4 after releasing with Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys back on November 13.

While it's certainly not precedented for a show to stay on the list for a couple of weeks after release, Homeland is currently at #10. The Showtime drama was certainly acclaimed in its time, but that time was between 2011 - 2020. As excellent an actress as Claire Danes is, I didn't expect to see Homeland on the list. Danes is having a bit of a renaissance on Netflix's 2025 release schedule.

With The Beast in Me only running for eight episodes, I have to imagine that many viewers were in the mood to see more of the actress, and nearly 100 episodes of her Emmy-winning lead role in the Homeland cast over eight seasons would definitely deliver. The new show securing a spot on Netflix's Top 10 at the end of November isn't a shock; the show that ended more than five years ago having a slot is more unexpected. Take a look at the rest of the shows on the list:

1. Stranger Things
2. Kevin Hart: Acting My Age
3. Missing: Dead or Alive
4. The Beast in Me
5. Is It Cake? Holiday
6. Mark Rober's CrunchLabs
7. Man on the Inside
8. Absentia
9. The Great British Baking Show: Holidays
10. Homeland

Who knows? Maybe if Matthew Rhys' The Americans (for which he also won an Emmy) was available on Netflix rather than just via a Hulu subscription, his performance in The Beast in Me opposite Danes might also have elevated the FX series to the Top 10. Stranger Things fans may want to keep an eye on the Top 10 if they already binged their way through the four episodes of Volume 1.

The holiday-timed release schedule for Season 5 means that viewers will have to wait until Christmas Day for Stranger Things' Volume 2. Why not check out some of the other hit titles in the meantime? We surely can't spend all of the weeks theorizing about Will Byers. There's no sign that either The Beast in Me or Homeland is leaving the streamer any time soon, so you can check them out at your leisure on Netflix in December if you don't manage it by the end of November.

Spoiler alert! This story will reveal spoilers about the 2005 movie The Family Stone, which is available to stream with a Prime Video subscription or Hulu subscription.

Families coming together for the holidays make for such a good starting off point for so many stories — including several on the 2025 Christmas movie schedule — especially if there’s a twist involved, like introducing your partner to your family. The 2005 flick The Family Stone offered a brilliantly heightened look into such a situation, and I was so excited to find out a sequel is in the works. To that end, there is one thing I’d love from The Family Stone 2, but also, I have a big concern.

The Family Stone featured an ensemble cast of impressive names like Sarah Jessica Parker, Craig T. Nelson, Claire Danes and, of course, Diane Keaton. Still, this one doesn’t find its way onto everybody’s list of favorite Christmas films. The titular Stones are an admittedly flawed bunch, and on top of having characters who are hard to like, this one is practically guaranteed to make you cry.

I get it, I understand every argument against it, and you’ll just never make me hate it. Before I get into my hopes and fears, though, let’s look at what we know about the upcoming sequel.

The Family Stone 2 Is In The Works Following Diane Keaton’s Death

We’re going to get into spoiler territory here, so turn back now if you aren’t aware of how the 2005 Christmas movie plays out. The Family Stone is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and following Diane Keaton’s death in October at age 79, writer-director Thomas Bezucha revealed to CNN that he’d already been thinking of catching up with the Stones.

While The Family Stone centers around Everett (Dermot Mulroney) introducing his uptight girlfriend Meredith (Sarah Jessica Parker) to his judgmental family, the story takes a twist when the Stone children catch onto the fact that their mother Sybil has been diagnosed with a terminal illness (the implication is a recurrence of breast cancer).

Diane Keaton’s death made Thomas Bezucha want to “honor her even more,” with a sequel, despite the fact that it plagued him. He said:

The Family Stone 2 has not officially been green-lit, and none of the ensemble cast has officially signed on, but Thomas Bezucha said he has spoken to everyone and received unanimously positive responses. (Craig T. Nelson and Dermot Mulroney have both acknowledged the project.) The director also said he was only interested in doing the sequel if he could get the original cast back, so we’ll definitely be keeping our eyes on this one.

I’d Love For The Sequel To Feature Another Introduction To The Stone Family

When Everett brought Meredith home to meet the family two decades ago, the next generation of Stones had already begun to form. Susannah (Elizabeth Reaser) was pregnant with her second child, and by the end of the movie, Thad and Patrick (Tyrone Giordano and Brian J. White, respectively) had adopted a son. I think it would be fun to see one of the Stone’s next generation — who would now theoretically be in their 20s — bring home a partner to meet the family.

In addition to the above couples, The Family Stone also saw Everett winding up with Meredith’s sister Julie (Claire Danes), Meredith getting together with Everett’s brother Ben (Luke Wilson), and Amy (in one of Rachel McAdams’ best roles) reconnecting with Brad (Paul Schneider). Any one of these couples could have borne children who could carry out the nod to the plot of the original film.

But here’s the twist: Maybe this time the family members aren’t quite such assholes? Perhaps Sybil’s death has softened them, or Kelly (Craig T. Nelson) has won them over with his “generosity of spirit” mantra that exactly zero of them abided by back in 2005. Here’s my big issue with that idea, though.

I’m Worried Making The Stones Likeable Would Reflect Badly On Diane Keaton’s Character

There’s no doubt in my mind that should The Family Stone 2 actually come to fruition, it will and should be a tribute to Diane Keaton. However, what happens when the Stone family members realize that Sybil was the problem all along? The ending of the first movie even takes a step in that direction, showing a much softer side to all of the family members as they gather for their first holiday without the matriarch.

If we’re being honest, I do believe Sybil Stone was the instigator, and it was an absolute treat to watch Diane Keaton portray this deliciously petty, overbearing, passive-aggressive mother. She mocked Meredith to her face for trying to be polite, she talked openly about Amy’s sex life despite her daughter’s protests and she facilitated pretty much all of the toxic behavior happening at the Stone family Christmas.

(However, I will never fault her for defending Thad and Patrick during one of the most awkward family dinners ever on screen, even if there was probably a better way to handle it. Protect these men at all costs.)

So regardless of whether or not a new person is being introduced to the Stone family in the sequel, I don’t know how you solve this conundrum: Either the family is still illogically mean and unlikeable, or they’ve turned into pleasant people now that Sybil has passed on and is no longer around to encourage the bad behavior. And what kind of tribute to Diane Keaton would that be?

Either way, it’s going to be admittedly difficult to see the Stones reunite without Sybil — the final scene of The Family Stone was already difficult — and I imagine Diane Keaton’s presence will be missed in every scene. Still, even knowing this, and with the concern I talked out above, I’m really hoping The Family Stone 2 comes together.

The 2005 film is available to stream on Prime Video and Hulu, if you’d like to relive the Stone holiday drama. It really can put your own family get-togethers into perspective, and some people say it’s better the second time around anyway!

One of the most fun things to do is think about what could have been if iconic roles were played by actors different from the ones that made them famous. There were a lot of “what ifs” in the 1980s, and just as many in the ‘90s. So, here is our list of 20 actors that almost starred in classic ‘90s films. 

Will Smith – The Matrix

Imagine being presented with two scripts at around the same time. One is Wild Wild West and the other is The Matrix. That’s exactly what happened to Will Smith in 1996 and The Fresh Prince chose… poorly. In a YouTube video posted a few years ago, Smith explained that he did turn down Neo in The Matrix because he didn’t quite understand the pitch from the Wachowskis and made Wild Wild West instead. He admits it feels like a mistake now.

Brad Pitt – The Matrix

Another actor who turned down the Wachowskis and didn't play Neo in The Matrix was Brad Pitt. He has rarely talked about roles he regrets turning down, but at an event with Leonard Maltin at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival in 2020, he admitted to Maltin that he was the first choice to play Neo, but said no. Pitt joked about it, saying, 

At least we go Keanu Reeves in the role, so it wasn't a total loss!

Julia Roberts – Sleepless In Seattle

Sometimes it comes down to timing. That’s what happened to Julia Roberts when she turned down the role of Annie in Sleepless In Seattle. Roberts was committed to another little rom-com called Pretty Woman, so it’s hard to say that she made the wrong choice! Not only did that movie make her a superstar, but even she thinks Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, one of the best on-screen couples ever, were the right combo for Sleepless, telling InStyle (via ABC), 

As she noted, everything really did work out for the best where movie history is concerned.

Molly Ringwald – Pretty Woman

Speaking of Pretty Woman, the movie was originally a much darker portrayal of prostitution in LA, and instead of Julia Robert’s million-watt smile charming audiences, it was ‘80s legend Molly Ringwald lined up to play Vivian. Ringwald didn’t like the plot, however, as she explained to The Guardian,

And, no one can blame Ringwald for following her gut.

Gwyneth Paltrow – Boogie Nights

Howard Stern is famous for getting a lot of information out of the celebrities he interviews. In 2015, he sat down with Gwyneth Paltrow and talked about some of the roles she’d passed on in her career. The most intriguing, by far, was Roller Girl in Boogie Nights, who was played by Heather Graham, of course. If you’re wondering if she passed because of the nudity, you’re correct. She told the shock jock, 

Paltrow wasn’t the only actor to pass on the script either, Leonardo DiCaprio decided to star in Titanic over Boogie Nights as well. 

Michelle Pfeiffer And Jodie Foster – Thelma & Louise

Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon are so good together as the titular Thelma & Louise it’s impossible to imagine any other actors in the roles, but they weren’t actually the first choices of the producers. After the script was finished, producer Ridley Scott signed Michelle Pfeiffer and Jodie Foster up to star as Thelma and Louise, respectively. As the story goes, it took quite a long time for Scott to decide on a director, a role he would eventually take himself, and in the meantime, Foster and Pfeiffer moved on to other projects, opening the door for Sarandon and Davis. 

Tom Cruise – The Shawshank Redemption

This is a bit of a complicated story. Frank Darabont wrote the script for The Shawshank Redemption based on a short novella by Stephen King. Darabont always had in his mind that he would also direct the film. When he sold the picture to Castle Rock, the production company had a different idea. Rob Reiner, one of the principals in Castle Rock, wanted to direct the movie and have Tom Cruise, instead of Tim Robbins, star as Andy Dufresne and in exchange, Darabont would be paid a huge flat fee for the script. Darabont, as he explained to Vanity Fair, stuck to his guns and eventually took a smaller salary and a bigger percentage of the profits. Smart move. 

Billy Crystal – Toy Story

“To infinity and beyond! With a mutton, lettuce, and tomato sandwich!” It’s safe to say the role of Buzz Lightyear would have been played very differently had the original star offered the role, Billy Crystal, taken it. Instead, turning down the part ended up being one of Crystal’s biggest career regrets. Tim Allen got the role he’s hopefully revisiting soon, almost 30 years after the first movie. Of the decision, Crystal told Yahoo!, 

Many would say that Crystal is correct, and on one else could have played Buzz better.

Nicolas Cage – Lord Of The Rings

One actor who doesn’t seem to regret missing out on a big franchise is Nicholas Cage. According to the Con Air star, he turned down the role of Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, a part made legendary by Viggo Mortensen. It doesn’t bother Cage though, as he told Newsweek about it and other roles he passed on, 

Cage is famous for his fandom, so it's good to know he doesn't regret this decision at all.

Janeane Garofalo – Fight Club

Janeane Garofalo is a Gen X icon, so it only makes sense that she would have been up for a role in a great movie (with one of the all-time great Gen X characters), Fight Club. According to Garofalo, director David Finch gave her the script and told her the part was “hers.” Unfortunately, again, according to Garofalo, Edward Norton didn’t like her for the part and lobbied for Courtney Love, who Pitt didn’t like for the role, so they settled on the outstanding Helena Bonham Carter. Norton disputes the claim, but Garofalo has stuck to her story. 

Halle Berry – Speed

It took a while for Halle Berry and Keanu Reeves to work together, finally teaming up in 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parrabellum, but it almost happened much sooner than that. As Berry was promoting that movie, she revealed that she planned to star as Annie in Speed, a role eventually filled by Sandra Bullock, of course. As Berry explained to ET,

The original script was quite different, it seems, and when she saw the final product, she felt the sting, adding "Then I see the movie and I'm like, 'Arrrrghh!'"

Michael Madson – Pulp Fiction

If the Quentin Tarantino Universe is real, then Michael Madson has a big part in it. A role he could’ve played twice. Madson played Vic Vega, a.k.a. Mr. Blonde, in Reservoir Dogs and Tarantino wanted him to reprise the part in Pulp Fiction, however, Madson turned down the opportunity, the role of Vic Vega became his brother Vincent Vega and John Travolta revitalized his career. 

Claire Danes – Titanic

It seems there are stories of almost every actress getting a shot at the role of Rose in Titanic, played in the film by Kate Winslet. While not every claim is accurate, one that certainly is, is that Claire Danes was first offered the part. The Homeland actor has no regrets about not taking the job, and had a pretty good reason why, as she explained to Dax Shephard on his podcast Armchair Expert:

Danes even spoke to Leonardo DiCaprio about it, 

The rest is history!

Drew Barrymore – Scream

You’re probably asking yourself why we included a movie that the actor actually starred in. Well, as it turns out, Drew Barrymore was originally supposed to play Sidney in Scream, whom Neve Campbell turned into a role all her own. Instead of playing the lead, Barrymore suggested they flip the script on the horror genre and cast her as a character that would die at the beginning, leaving audiences to wonder if anyone was safe. Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud. 

Samuel L. Jackson – Boogie Nights

In Season 3 of The Family Guy they make a joke about Samuel L. Jackson being in “everything” including the porn movie Brian is directing. One thing Jackson hasn’t done, is play a porn star, though he almost starred as Buck Swope, the character made famous by Don Cheadle in Boogie Nights. According to director Paul Thomas Anderson in the director’s commentary on the DVD. After getting the script from the then-unknown writer/director, Jackson passed on the project, presumably because of the content of the film, as Gwyneth Paltrow did as well. 

What Ifs…

In most movies, there are “dream” actors that producers, writers, and directors envision in a role, but ultimately are never seriously considered for various reasons. In the ‘90s, there were some seriously big names attached to what would become big roles that aren’t included on this list because it was usually just daydreaming.

Take, for example, Mel Gibson as The Dude in The Big Lebowski. That’s right, the Coen Brothers initially hoped Gibson would play the role, but the script didn’t do anything for him, so the part went to Jeff Bridges and the rest of us abide by this decision. 

How about Leonardo DiCaprio as Will Hunting in Good Will Hunting? That’s what the studio wanted, but Matt Damon says he took a page from Sylvester Stallone and stuck his guns as Stallone did with the original Rocky, and insisted he play the lead role. How’d them apples work out? 

Finally, in one of the most bizarre ideas ever, John Malkovich was approached by the studio to play Robert DeNiro’s role (Jimmy Conway) in Goodfellas. Thankfully, for everyone involved, Malkovich backed off, telling GQ,

Hollywood is filled with near-misses and who knows what kind of butterfly effect these have had on history. It’s good to know that audiences have gotten the best options, but it’s fun to think about what could have been. 

The Law & Order franchise has been around for a long time, meaning that shows have come and gone, stars have come and gone, and actors would appear who would go on to become famous. Revival star Hugh Dancy is married to Emmy-winner Claire Danes, who actually had her first-ever acting job on Law & Order. So what would it take for her to come back?

Before Danes starred in Romeo + Juliet, My So-Called Life, Temple Grandin, and Homeland (to name just some of her roles), she landed her first acting job on a little show called Law & Order back in 1992, for the Season 3 episode “Skin Deep.” Hugh Dancy, who currently plays ADA Nolan Price on the show, spoke to Entertainment Tonight about the possibility of his wife appearing on the series once again:

Not only would it be great for Claire Danes to be on an episode of Law & Order 30+ years after guest-starring, but also to act alongside her husband! While he's "entirely open" to the idea, he couldn't commit to whether or not his wife would be on board. It would be a complete full-circle moment to appear on the series that gave her her first job. 

Whether it could be a one-off guest spot as a new character, a recurring gig, or even a series regular job, I know I'd be excited to see her on Law & Order! She'd hardly be the first actor to play more than one character within the franchise, as her husband's coworker Camryn Manheim portrayed somebody other than Kate Dixon earlier in her career. Why not Danes too?

Of course, Claire Danes may be too busy to pay her hubby a visit in the courtroom. Hopefully Hugh Dancy sticks to his word and talks to Danes about it for a possible future appearances. Since the Law & Order revival has been such a success since its return in 2022, it seems like a safe bet that it will be renewed for another season. 

It would be interesting to see Claire Danes come on as a defendant or attorney and really give Hugh Dancy’s Price a run for his money. He made some questionable decisions recently for a case, so who’s to say that he shouldn’t have someone come down hard on him in the future? I need it to happen.

The couple have worked together before, having famously met on the set of Evening. It would undoubtedly be a dream come true for their fans if they work together again on Law & Order, and Hugh Dancy didn't rule it out. And who better to convince Claire Danes to sign on?

Whether or not it happens sometime in the future, it’s clear that the interest is there for Hugh Dancy, and if anyone can convince Claire Danes to take up the opportunity, it would be her husband.

The FX on Hulu brand has given audiences some incredible shows since FX+ was given a fresh coat of paint and new name in early 2020, with shows like Reservation Dogs, Under the Banner of Heaven, and The Bear being considered some of the best offerings on TV right now. The latest addition to the library, Fleishman Is in Trouble, has all the trappings of the brand’s next big hit, thanks to its story (based on Taffy Brodesser-Akner’s 2019 novel of the same name), style, and a tremendous collection of actors with all kinds of accolades.

If you have watched the first two episodes of the 2022 TV show, which premiered on November 17, 2022, or you are planning on catching up later on, there’s a good chance you are wondering where you’ve seen the members of the Fleishman Is in Trouble cast before. Well, you’ve come to the right place because we’re about to break it all down now…

Jesse Eisenberg (Toby Fleishman)

Jesse Eisenberg leads the Fleishman Is in Trouble cast as Toby Fleishman, a recently-divorced 40-year-old doctor in Manhattan who is getting used to the app-based dating world and a single parent after his wife ups and leaves without notice.

Throughout his career, Eisenberg has played an intelligent and overly-ambitious billionaire in The Social Network and an over-the-top version of Lex Luthor in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, respectively, while also playing more sincere characters in titles like The Squid and the Whale, Adventureland, and the Zombieland franchise. The new FX on Hulu miniseries is Eisenberg’s first major TV role since his days on Get Real more than 20 years ago.

Claire Danes (Rachel Fleishman)

Multi-time Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy winner Claire Danes appears in the Fleishman Is in Trouble cast as Toby’s ex-wife Rachel, who, after years of marriage, decides she needs something new and different from life.

Danes is no stranger to the medium of TV, as she first rose to prominence on the quintessential ‘90s series My So-Called Life, and then later on with the decorated Showtime original series, Homeland. She has also appeared on Temple Grandin, Master of None, and The Essex Serpent over the years. Danes’ film credits include Baz Luhrman’s reimagining of Romeo + Juliet, The Hours, Shopgirl, and The Family Stone, to name only a few.

Lizzy Caplan (Libby Epstein)

Taking on the role of Toby’s best friend Libby Epstein (who also provides the show’s narration) is Lizzy Caplan, who brings years of experience to the Fleishman Is in Trouble cast.

Just like the co-stars listed above, Caplan got her start in show business on TV, with a four-episode run on Freaks and Geeks, the short-lived dramedy series that helped launch the careers of some of today’s biggest stars. Over the years, Caplan has landed leading roles on Party Down, Masters of Sex, and Castle Rock, to name just a few. She’s next set to take on the role of Alex Forrest in the upcoming TV-adaptation of Fatal Attraction.

Adam Brody (Seth Morris)

Adam Brody appears in the Fleishman Is in Trouble cast as Seth Morris, one of Toby’s best friends who helps guide him through the post-divorce life.

Brody, who came into prominence with his portrayal of Seth Cohen on the Fox teen drama series The O.C., following appearances on shows like Grounded for Life and The Sausage Factory, has continued to be a go-to name over the years. Movies like Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, Sleeping with Other People, Promising Young Woman, and Ready or Not have all featured the actor in some capacity. He is next set to reprise his role of the superhero version of Freddy Freeman in the upcoming Shazam! Fury of the Gods.

Christian Slater (Archer Sylvan)

Christian Slater appears on Fleishman Is in Trouble as Archer Sylvan, a character Deadline described as being a “Tom Wolfe-esque” figure who writes an article about the dissolution of marriage, reflecting the show’s central conflict.

Slater is mostly known for appearing in movies like Heathers, True Romance, Interview with the Vampire, and Stephen King’s Dolan’s Cadillac, but he has more than a few TV credits to his name that are worth mentioning. First, there’s his decorated performance on Mr. Robot that earned him a Golden Globe and multiple nominations, but he has also appeared on Dr. Death, The West Wing, Alias, and a few dozen other programs going back to the early 1980s.

Josh Radnor (Adam Epstein)

Josh Radnor also joins the Fleishman is in Trouble cast as Libbey Epstein’s husband, Adam. 

Whenever Radnor’s name (or face) comes up, it’s hard not to instantly think of Ted Mosby, the character he played for nine seasons on the CBS sitcom, How I Met Your Mother. After that, he landed a major role on Grey's Anatomy. Randor’s other TV credits include Rise, Hunters, Mercy Street, and Six Feet Under, to name a few. He has also popped up in movies like Liberal Arts, Social Animals, and Not Another Teen Movie.

Michael Gaston (Dr. Bartuck)

Taking on the role Dr. Bartuck, Toby’s overbearing boss, is Michael Gaston. 

Throughout his career, Gaston has appeared on shows like Five Days at Memorial, Jack Ryan, For Life, The Leftovers, Mad Men, Jericho, The West Wing, and a few dozen others, including brief, one-off roles on shows like Law & Order and The Sopranos. His film work includes W., Inception, First Reformed, and Cop Land, to name just a few.

Meara Mahoney-Gross (Hannah Fleishman)

Meara Mahoney-Gross appears on Fleishman Is in Trouble as Hannah, the daughter of Toby and Rachel who finds herself caught in the middle of her parents’ divorce and new lives.

Mahoney-Gross has only been acting for a few years, but she has already appeared in movies like The Tender Bar and Don’t Look Up.

Maxim Swinton (Solly Fleishman)

Maxim Swinton shows up on Fleishman Is in Trouble as Solly, the young son of Toby and Rachel.

Over the course of the past few years, Swinton has made appearances on shows like Halston, NOS4A2, Blindspot, Bull, and The Blacklist: Redemption, to name a few.

The first two episodes of Fleishman Is in Trouble are currently available to stream if you have a Hulu subscription, and new episodes are set to premiere every Thursday through the end of the year.

When it comes to relationships, these celebrity couples met on the sets of some of their most famous movies. From romantic films such as The Notebook to action movies like Daredevil, through the power of film, many of these couples were brought together. Here are 25 couples who met on the set of a movie but ended up dating in real life. 

Ryan Gosling And Rachel McAdams (The Notebook)

While you may know The Notebook as one of the best romance films out there, the two leading stars actually met on the set of the film, Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams. In an interview with GQ in 2007, Gosling confirmed he was thankful for the movie, as he met her through it despite the fact that their relationship ended.

While they did eventually break up in 2007, no one can quite forget this romance, both on and off screen.  

Emma Stone And Andrew Garfield (The Amazing Spider-Man Series)

When Andrew Garfield was Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man series, he and his on-screen Gwen Stacy, played by Emma Stone, ended up dating for four years after meeting on the set of the first movie. While they split back in 2015, Garfield recently said that he’s still her biggest fan during an interview with Vanity Fair’s “Little Gold Men” podcast:

Angelina Jolie And Brad Pitt (Mr. And Mrs. Smith) 

On the set of the spy-movie, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (which is getting a reboot), Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt met. In an interview with Vogue (via People) in 2006, Jolie confirmed that they developed feelings for each other while filming, but didn’t start thinking of getting together instantly. 

Jolie and Pitt married in 2014, but later filed for divorce.  

Robert Pattinson And Kristen Stewart (The Twilight Series)

The Twilight series was a huge hit for Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart, who played Edward and Bella in the adaptation of the popular vampire series, and they began dating after the first Twilight film released in 2008, according to an interview Stewart did with The New Yorker. They did eventually break up. 

Freida Pinto And Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire)

The 2011 Academy Award-winning film, Slumdog Millionaire, brought together its two stars, Freida Pinto and Dev Patel, after they starred in the film together. In an interview with The Guardian in 2015, Patel talked about his past relationship with Pinto, and how close they were during their time together. 

The pair split in 2014. 

Michelle Williams And Heath Ledger (Brokeback Mountain)

While filming Brokeback Mountain, co-stars Michelle Williams and Heath Ledger starred as husband and wife, and that love ended up coming off screen when the two began to date. In an interview with GQ in 2012, Williams talked about meeting Ledger for the first time, and how she felt she was always meant to meet him.

The two had a child together, but later separated.

Blake Lively And Ryan Reynolds (The Green Lantern)

These two are couples goals. Ever since Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively met on the set of The Green Lantern in 2010, these two have been inseparable and eventually ended up getting married. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2021, Reynolds admits they were seeing different people at the time, but their friendship slowly turned into a relationship. 

They’ve been married for several years now, and have four children. 

Eva Mendes And Ryan Gosling (The Place Beyond The Pines)

In The Place Beyond the Pines, the stars of the film, Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling ended up getting together. Rumors of them being together popped up originally when they were spotted going on a date to Disneyland (via Us Weekly) in 2011, and now more than a decade later, they’re still together and have two daughters. 

Gosling, in an interview with Harper's Bazaar in 2016, gushed about his family. 

Elizabeth Taylor And Richard Burton (Cleopatra)

Famed legendary actors Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton had a whirlwind romance after filming Cleopatra, which released in 1963. Their love was highly publicized and even turned into a limited series, called Liz & Dick. It spanned thirteen years, eleven films together, as well as two marriages and two divorces, according to Vogue. 

Natalie Portman And Benjamin Millepied (Black Swan)

While filming her Academy Award-winning movie, Black Swan, Natalie Portman met Benjamin Millepied, who is a famous choreographer and co-starred with her. Two began dating and married not that long after in 2012. 

In an interview with People, Natalie gushed about her husband and how much she loved working with him again on a new film, called Vox Lux in 2018.

Matthew Broderick And Jennifer Grey (Ferris Bueller’s Day Off)

While they may have played siblings in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Matthew Broderick and Jennifer Grey were actually entangled in a relationship during their time on set. Jennifer Grey spoke about her relationship with the actor in her memoir, Out of the Corner, and how it was hard to keep it a secret from everyone else. 

Once filming ended, according to the memoir, they separated temporarily before getting back together, and dated in 1988. They were also briefly engaged but called it off not that long after. 

Johnny Depp And Winona Ryder (Edward Scissorhands)

While they originally met in the lobby of a New York theater in 1989, according to Rolling Stone (via Cheat Sheet), Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder’s relationship only grew more after co-starring in Edward Scissorhands in 1990, so much so that Depp proposed to Ryder only five months into dating. 

However, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times in 1993, Depp confirmed they had split up due to the privacy the media wouldn’t let them have. 

Claire Danes And Hugh Dancy (Evening)

Both Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy met on the set of Evening, according to an interview Dancy did with London Evening Standard in 2013, saying that marriage to the star, as well as fatherhood, is treating him “very well.”

Goldie Hawn And Kurt Russell (The One And Only, Genuine, Original Family Band)

This long-lasting partnership started way back when in 1966. Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell originally met on the set of The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, but it wasn’t until Swing Shift in 1984 that they began dating. In an interview with People, Hawn admits that the two don’t see a point in marriage.  

The pair have been together for 40 years, and recently starred in The Christmas Chronicles 2 together in 2020.  

Taylor Swift And Taylor Lautner (Valentine’s Day)

The ultimate Taylor-ship, actor Taylor Lautner and singer Taylor Swift worked together on the romantic comedy Valentine's Day and were seen out together at sports games (via People). The two reportedly dated for a couple of months before breaking up in December of the same year. 

Channing Tatum And Jenna Dewan (Step Up)

One of Channing Tatum’s best movies led to him meeting Jenna Dewan, his co-star and later wife on the set of Step-Up, as confirmed by an interview Tatum did with Elle in 2013. Tatum admitted that he almost didn’t ask Dewan out because he had just gotten out of a relationship. 

While they share a daughter, the two divorced in 2019.  

Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz (Dream House)

While the two had actually first met at university together, both Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz were brought back together while filming Dream House. Weisz spoke with The Evening Standard in 2018 on her relationship, and how she never thought she would get married, until she started dating Craig. 

Jennifer Lopez And Ben Affleck (Gigli) 

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are back together, but their first run at a relationship was while filming Gigli, where the two became close friends, and later began to date after Lopez divorced from Chris Judd in 2003.

Vanessa Hudgens And Zac Efron (High School Musical Series)

The High School Musical series was a huge hit for the Disney Channel, and onscreen love interests, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, turned that love into a long relationship offscreen, according to Hudgens during an interview on The Hollywood Reporter’s “Awards Chatter” podcast (via People) in 2019.

The two were together for five years before breaking up. 

Jennifer Garner And Ben Affleck (Daredevil)

Both Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck first met while filming Pearl Harbor, but started to date after being co-stars in Daredevil, according to an interview with Playboy Magazine in 2017, saying that this set was where they fell in love.

They later married in 2005 and then divorced in 2018. 

Liam Hemsworth And Miley Cyrus (The Last Song)

While filming The Last Song together, Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus became very close, according to Seventeen (via MTV News) where Cyrus said he was her “best friend.” Their relationship was later confirmed after they walked the red carpet together. They were together for years, marrying, before divorcing in 2020. 

Tom Cruise And Nicole Kidman (Days Of Thunder)

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met at her audition for Days of Thunder, according to an interview she did with Harper’s Bazaar in 2021. The two stars co-starred, fell in love, married in 1990, and then divorced in 2001. 

Zendaya And Tom Holland (Spider-Man Series)

Tom Holland and Zendaya met while filming Spider-Man: Homecoming together, but it wasn’t until closer to the release of Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021 that speculation about a romantic relationship between the two seemed to be confirmed. 

Since then, the two have been very public about their relationship, especially when Tom Holland shared a post on Instagram on her birthday, saying that Zendaya was “his MJ.”

Sarah Michelle Gellar And Freddie Prinze Jr. (I Know What You Did Last Summer)

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Freddie Prinze Jr. met originally on the set of I Know What You Did Last Summer, but didn’t begin to date until 2000, according to an interview Gellar did with People in 2002, saying they weren’t even originally supposed to go on a date - turned into one. 

They have been together for twenty years and have two children. 

Penelope Cruz And Javier Bardem (Jamón Jamón)

The two actually met for the first time as co-stars while filming Jamón Jamón, they wouldn’t get together until they reunited again filming Vicky Cristina Barcelona, a Woody Allen film, according to an interview Javier Bardem did with GQ in 2017, and started dating after filming was done. 

The two have been married since 2010, and have two children. 

There are so many celebrity couples out there - some that have stood the test of time and others that have not. And I’m sure over time, only more and more will start to pop up with even crazier romances. 

For never was there a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo. Yet, Baz Luhrmann gave both literature lovers and cinema fans a new interpretation of what might very well be William Shakespeare's most famous and studied text with 1996's stylish, modernized retelling, Romeo + Juliet, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes at the onset of their fame. Featuring supporting turns from John Leguizamo, Paul Rudd, and Jesse Bradford, this ‘90s time capsule gave audiences a new appreciation for the Bard’s famous words. Following its 25th anniversary, let’s take a moment to see what the star-studded cast is doing now. 

Before we get ahead of ourselves, we should note that Pete Postlethwaite, who played Father Laurence, has since passed away. We will also take a moment to remember Brian Dennehy, who left us last year, near the bottom of this article. 

Leonardo DiCaprio (Romeo Montague)

As Romeo Montague, a handsome and sensitive young man caught between the dividing factions of his family and love, Leonardo DiCaprio certainly stole a lot of hearts in Baz Luhrmann’s retelling of Romeo + Juliet. Best known for his starring and supporting turns in Titanic, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Catch Me If You Can, The Departed, Gangs of New York, The Aviator, Inception, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Revenant, for which he won an Oscar, the A-list actor-producer is easily one of our biggest working movie stars. He also reunited with Luhrmann for The Great Gatsby. DiCaprio's other notable film credits include Django Unchained, Blood Diamond, Shutter Island, J. Edgar, and Revolutionary Road. 

Most recently, Leonardo DiCaprio gave a great performance in Once Upon a Time … In Hollywood and made an uncredited appearance in Grant, where he served as an executive producer. He was also seen in this year’s short film, Welcome Back Future. Next, DiCaprio will star in Adam McKay's star-studded Don't Look Up. The actor-producer also reunited with Martin Scorsese for Killers of the Flower Moon. Outside of acting, DiCaprio is producing the biopic, Atari.

• Romeo And Juliet And 9 Other Romantic Movies About Forbidden Love

Claire Danes (Juliet Capulet)

In the role of Juliet Capulet, a quiet, observant young woman who is swept up in a steamy love affair with the romantic Romeo, despite her family’s wishes, Claire Danes plays a bleeding heart in 1996’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actress won an Emmy for her lead performance in HBO’s Temple Grandin, along with two more trophies for her long-standing part in Showtime’s Homeland, which she also produced. Moreover, Danes is known for her Emmy-nominated starring role in ABC's My So-Called Life. She also appeared in Master of None, Portlandia, and Law & Order. Next, Danes is slated to star in Apple TV+'s The Essex Serpent.

Additionally, outside of TV, Claire Danes starred in Shopgirl, Stardust, The Mod Squad, and Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines. Moreover, the actress' other notable film credits include Little Women (1994), Home for the Holidays, The Family Stone, The Rainmaker, Igby Goes Down, The Hours, and Les Miserables (1998). Furthermore, Danes is heard in the English dub of Princess Mononoke.

John Leguizamo (Tybalt Capulet)

Playing the part of Tybalt Capulet, Juliet’s fiery cousin, John Leguizamo has a prominent supporting part in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actor was Golden Globe-nominated for his supporting turn in To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar. Also, Leguizamo starred in Super Mario Bros., Summer of Sam, Carlito’s Way, The Pest, and Spawn. Leguizamo’s other notable film credits include Chef, The Happening, Land of the Dead, The Lincoln Lawyer, and the first two John Wick movies. Additionally, Leguizamo reunited with Luhrmann for Moulin Rouge. As a voice actor, furthermore, he was heard as Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age movies. Most recently, Leguizamo was seen in Waiting for Godot, Dark Blood, and The Survivor and heard in Batman: The Audio Adventures. He also recently directed and starred in Critical Thinking. Next, Leguizamo will be heard in Encanto. Currently, he’s filming The Menu. 

Moreover, on TV, John Leguizamo was Emmy-nominated for Waco and When They See Us. He also won an Emmy for HBO’s John Leguizamo: Freak. Next, Leguizamo will be seen in The Green Veil and The Power and heard in Fairfax. 

Paul Sorvino (Fulgencio Capulet)

As Fulgencio Capulet, Juliet’s father, Paul Sorvino plays a proud patriarch in 1996's Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actor is best known for his portrayal of Paulie Cicero in Goodfellas. Sorvino’s other notable film credits include A Touch of Class, The Rocketeer, Nixon, Reds, The Panic in Needle Park, The Gambler, Dick Tracy, The Firm, and Bulworth. Most recently, he appeared in The Birthday Cake. Sorvino’s other recent film credits include Bad Impulse, Welcome to Acapulco, Beneath the Leaves, and Acts of Desperation. Next, he’ll be seen in Pursued and Most Guys Are Losers. Also, Sorvino is filming My Jurassic Place. 

Additionally, on television, Paul Sorvino played Sergeant Phil Cerreta in NBC’s Law & Order and Frank DeLucca in CBS’s That’s Life. Moreover, the TV actor's other notable credits include Still Standing, Chiefs, The Streets of San Francisco, and We’ll Get By. Currently, Sorvino can be seen in Epix’s Godfather of Harlem.

Diane Venora (Gloria Capulet)

In the role of Gloria Capulet, Juliet’s mother, Diane Venora plays a matriarch in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actress was praised for her portrayal of Chan Parker in Clint Eastwood’s Bird. Additionally, Venora’s other film credits include Heat, The Cotton Club, The Jackal, The Insider, Hamlet (2000), Wolfen, Ironweed, The 13th Warrior, True Crime, Self Medicated, Surviving Picasso, The Substitute, Three Wishes, F/X, and All Good Things. Most recently, she was seen in Star-Crossed: The Film. Next, Venora will appear in First Love. 

Furthermore, on television, Diane Venora had recurring roles in Chicago Hope, Thunder Alley, and Threshold. Her other TV credits include Grey’s Anatomy, Law & Order: SVU, and Medium. Most recently, Venora was seen in Cherish the Day. 

Paul Rudd (Dave Paris)

Playing the part of Dave Paris, Juliet’s fiance, Paul Rudd had a pre-fame role in Romeo + Juliet. Prior to this part, the actor stole hearts as Josh in Clueless. Later, Rudd starred in Role Models (which he co-wrote), I Love You, Man, This Is 40, Dinner for Schmucks, How Do You Know, Our Idiot Brother, Wanderlust, Prince Avalanche, They Came Together, The Catcher Was a Spy, and Ideal Home. 

Additionally, Paul Rudd plays Scott Lang, i.e. Ant-Man, in several MCU movies, including Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp, both of which he co-wrote. The famous actor's other notable film credits include the Anchorman films, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Meyers, and The Cider House Rules. Most recently, Rudd was heard in Disney+’s What If …? Next, he’ll star in Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Apple TV+’s The Shrink Next Door. Currently, Rudd reprises his titular role in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania. Outside of acting, the A-lister was a producer on 2021's documentary, My Beautiful Stutter. 

Jesse Bradford (Balthasar Montague)

As Balthasar Montague, Romeo’s cousin, Jesse Bradford plays a supporting role in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actor is known for Bring It On, Flag of Our Fathers, Swimfan, Presumed Innocence, Clockstoppers, and King of the Hill. Additionally, Bradford was seen in My Blue Heaven, Hackers, and W.

Furthermore, on television, Jesse Bradford had a recurring role as Ryan Pierce in NBC’s The West Wing. He also had main roles in short-lived series like Outlaw, Guys with Kids, and Sequestered, which he also produced. Moreover, Bradford starred in, produced, edited, and directed 2018’s short film, The Day of Matthew Montgomery. Most recently, the TV actor was a guest star on CBS's Magnum P.I. 

Harold Perrineau (Mercutio)

In the role of Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, Harold Perrineau plays a loyal pal in 1996's Romeo + Juliet. Prior to this film, he was acclaimed for his supporting turn in Smoke. Additionally, Perrineau played Link in The Matrix Reloaded and The Matrix Revolutions. The actor's other notable film credits include Zero Dark Thirty, 28 Weeks Later, The Edge, King of New York, Snitch, Dumplin’, The Best Man, and The Best Man Holiday. Next, Perrineau will be seen in Without Ward. 

Additionally, on TV, Harold Perrineau is best known for playing Michael Dawson in ABC’s Lost and Augustus Hill in HBO’s Oz. His other TV credits include Sons of Anarchy, Constantine, Goliath, Criminal Minds, Claws, Star, Constantine, and The Rookie. Most recently, Perrineau was heard in Bronzeville. Currently, he's filming Epix’s From. Next, Perrineau will star in Peacock’s The Best Man: Final Chapters. 

Christina Pickles (Caroline Montague)

Playing the part of Caroline Montague, Romeo’s mother, Christina Pickles is our lady matriarch in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actress received five Emmy nominations for playing Nurse Helen Rosenthal in NBC’s St. Elsewhere. Additionally, Pickles was Emmy-nominated for her recurring role in Friends. In 2018, she won an Emmy for Vimeo’s Break a Hip, which she also produced. Most recently, Pickles lent her voice to Adult Swim’s Tuca & Bertie. 

Away from TV, Christina Pickles' other film credits include The Wedding Singer, Legends of the Fall, Masters of the Universe, Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love, and It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. Next, she’ll star in Finding Hannah. 

Dash Mihok (Benvolio Montague)

As Benvolio Montague, Romeo’s cousin as well, Dash Mihok has a supporting part in Romeo + Juliet. Away from this film, the actor is best known for playing Brendan “Bunchy” Donovan in Showtime’s Ray Donovan. Mihok’s other TV credits include Felicity, Chicago P.D., Blue Bloods, Grey’s Anatomy, NYPD Blue, and Hawaii Five-0. Most recently, he appeared in NBC’s Law & Order: Organized Crime. Next, Mihok reprises his role as Bunchy in Showtime's Ray Donovan film. 

Away from television, Dash Mihok was seen in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Silver Linings Playbook, The Day After Tomorrow, I Am Legend, Hollywoodland, and The Thin Red Line. Additionally, the film actor will star in Deep Water and Deception Road.

Zak Orth (Gregory Montague)

In the role of Gregory Montague, another one of Romeo’s cousins, Zak Orth had a supporting part in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actor played J.J. in Wet Hot American Summer, as well as Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. Orth’s other film credits include Vicky Cristina Barcelona, In and Out, Music and Lyrics, Spanking the Monkey, Loser, Down on You, The Ten, The Other Guys, and They Came Together. Also, he narrated You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. 

Additionally, on television, Zak Orth played Aaron Pittman in NBC’s Revolution. He also appeared on Fringe. Most recently, Orth was seen in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend and Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist.

Jamie Kennedy (Sampson Montague)

Playing the part of Sampson Montague, Romeo's other cousin, Jamie Kennedy had a comedic role in 1996’s Romeo + Juliet. Most notably, the actor played Randy Meeks in the Scream movies. Kennedy also starred in Malibu's Most Wanted (which he co-wrote), Son of the Mask, and Kickin' It Old Skool. Most recently, the actor starred in Last Call. Currently, Kennedy is filming Don’t Suck.  

Additionally, on TV, Jamie Kennedy is the creator, writer, and star of The WB’s The Jamie Kennedy Experiment. He also co-created Living with Fran. Furthermore, Kennedy played Professor Eli James in CBS’s Ghost Whisperer. As a voice actor, he's heard in The Cleveland Show, King of the Hill, and Fanboy & Chum Chum. 

Brian Dennehy (Ted Montague)

As Ted Montague, Romeo’s father, Brian Dennehy played a lead role in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. The actor won a Tony for his lead performance in Death of a Salesman. Additionally, he was Emmy-nominated for his work in A Killing in a Small Town, The Burden of Proof, To Catch a Killer, Murder in the Heartland, and Our Fathers. Dennehy’s other TV credits include The Blacklist, Hap and Leonard, The Good Wife, Birdland, Star of the Family, and Dynasty. 

Furthermore, away from TV, Brian Dennehy’s other film credits include First Blood, Cocoon, Silverado, Tommy Boy, Gorky Park, Presumed Innocence, She Hates Me, Summer Catch, and Driveways. He was also heard in Ratatouille. On April 15th, 2020, Dennehy died of cardiac arrest at 81. The actor was last seen in Son of the South. Dennehy's final film appearance will be in Long Day Journey.

Romeo + Juliet is available to stream on Amazon Prime.

For eight seasons and nearly 100 episodes, Showtime's Homeland was one of the most acclaimed and politically suave shows on television, especially during its first two seasons. Starring Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Morena Baccarin, and Mandy Patinkin, the multiple Emmy-winning drama series was celebrated for its tense plotting, urgent storytelling, strong characterizations, and some of the most shocking moments in television history 

Now that the show has been off the air for nearly a half-decade, it’s worth taking a look at the Homeland cast to see what everyone has been up to since. Let’s take a look at all the major players…

Claire Danes (Carrie Mathison)

As Carrie Mathison, a CIA case officer assigned to the Counterterrorism Center, Claire Danes gave a two-time Emmy-winning performance as the protagonist of Showtime’s Homeland. The actress best remembered for roles in classic ‘90s movies like Romeo + Juliet, The Rainmaker, and Little Women, has remained quite busy in the years since the Showtime series’ finale. Though Danes hasn’t made any film appearances since 2018’s A Kid Like Jake, she has gone back to her small-screen roots with a trio of limited series in recent years, including The Essex Serpent, Fleishman Is in Trouble, and Full Circle.

Mandy Patinkin (Saul Berenson)

In the role of Saul Berenson, Carrie’s mentor, Mandy Patinkin had a long-standing part on Homeland, receiving four Emmy nominations. Prior to joining the series, he played Jason Gideon on NBC's Criminal Minds, Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in CBS's Chicago Hope, for which he was also Emmy-nominated, and most famously, Inigo Montoya in the beloved ‘80s movie, The Princess Bride. In the years since the Homeland finale, Patinkin has landed roles on TV shows like The Good Fight, Benjamin Franklin, where he played the titular American icon, and Death and Other Details. He also appeared in the 2023 animated film The Magician’s Elephant.

Damian Lewis (Nicholas Brody)

Playing the part of Nicholas Brody, a retired U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant who is rescued after being a POW for eight years, Damian Lewis won an Emmy for his career-defining performance in Homeland. Since his character’s shocking death during the Season 3 finale, the Band of Brothers star has remained busy with various small-screen and big-screen projects. 

Lewis’ most notable TV series in the past decade has undoubtedly been Billions, which completed its decorated run on Showtime in 2023, but he has also popped up on Wolf Hall and A Spy Among Friends. The actor also famously played Steve McQueen in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood back in 2019.

Rupert Friend (Peter Quinn)

As Peter Quinn, a CIA operative and assassin, Rupert Friend became a prominent Homeland character starting in Season 2, also receiving an Emmy nomination. Additionally, Friend starred in the Disney+ original series, Obi-Wan Kenobi as The Grand Inquisitor after also appearing on shows like Strange Angel, Dream Corp, LLC, and High Desert on Apple TV+.

Friend’s film work has really taken off in the past seven years, and the actor has given great performances in various Wes Anderson films, The Death of Stalin, and At Eternity’s Gate. He most recently appeared in the 2024 satirical comedy, The American Society of Magical Negroes. 

Maury Sterling (Max Piotrowski)

In the role of Max Piotrowski, a freelance surveillance expert who often works with Carrie, Maury Sterling was a resourceful character. Since the show’s conclusion, Sterling has continued to be a working hand in TV, appearing on shows like The Rookie and NCIS: Hawaii.

F. Murray Abraham (Dar Adal)

Playing the part of Dar Adal, a black ops specialist, F. Murray Abraham gave a two-time Emmy-nominated performance in Homeland. After leaving the series back in 2018, Abraham didn’t waste any time getting back on screen, as he appeared on shows like The Orville, Moon Knight, The White Lotus, and most recently, The White House Plumbers.

Abraham, who famously won an Oscar for his portrayal of Antonio Salieri in Amadeus, has remained a driving force on the big screen as well, appearing in movies like Lady and the Tramp, The Magic Flute, and the upcoming Mother, Couch.

Morena Baccarin (Jessica Brody)

As Jessica Brody, Brody’s strained wife, Morena Baccarin appeared in the first three seasons of Homeland, receiving an Emmy nomination. The actress is known for her role as Inara Serra in Fox’s Firefly and the spinoff film, Serenity. After leaving the show back in 2013, Baccarin popped up on series like The Flash, Gotham, The Twilight Zone, and most recently, The Endgame.

In recent years, Baccarin has also become a major part of the Deadpool franchise and is set to once again play Vanessa Carlyle in the upcoming Deadpool & Wolverine film set for a July 2024 release.

David Harewood (David Estes)

In the role of David Estes, Carrie’s boss and the director of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center, David Harewood appeared in the first two seasons of Homeland. In more recent years, Harewood has landed pivotal roles on shows like Supergirl, The Flash, Legends of Tomorrow, and numerous others.

If you are a fan of the critically acclaimed 2023 video game, Alan Wake 2, then you should definitely recognize Harewood from his portrayal of Warlin Door, a performance that showed off his singing and dancing skills. 

Diego Klattenhoff (Mike Faber)

Playing the part of Mike Faber, Brody’s best friend who begins a relationship with Jessica when they think Brody's dead, Diego Klattenhoff can be seen in the first three seasons of Showtime’s Homeland. After his short run ended, Klattenhoff played Donald Ressler on The Blacklist, and was a part of the series for all 218 episodes. 

Klattenhoff, who played Shane Oman in the original Mean Girls, has continued to appear in films like Pacific Rim and Radius since his departure.

Jackson Pace (Chris Brody)

As Chris Brody, Jackson Pace was a main character in the first three seasons of Homeland. Since then, the actor had recurring roles as Gage in AMC’s The Walking Dead, Luke in Netflix’s Grace and Frankie, and in the Apple TV+ original, The Right Stuff. Most recently, Pace had a recurring role on 9-1-1: Lone Star.

Morgan Saylor (Dana Brody)

In the role of Dana Brody, Morgan Saylor was also a main character in the first three seasons of Homeland. In more recent years, Saylor has shown up in movies like Blow the Man Down, You Mean Everything to Me, and Spoonful of Sugar.

Elizabeth Marvel (President Elizabeth Keane)

As President Elizabeth Keane, a New York junior senator who’s elected into the Oval Office, Elizabeth Marvel joined the main cast in Season 6. Since her time on the show ended back in 2018, Marvel has appeared on shows like Manifest, The Dropout, and Love & Death. She is also set to appear in the upcoming Presumed Innocent adaptation starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

Marvel’s more recent film appearances include movies like Dark Waters, News of the World, and The Color Purple.

If you want to go back and revisit Homeland from the very beginning and remember why these characters (and the actors who played them) are so beloved, you can do just that with a Hulu subscription, where the series is streaming in full.

Stream Homeland on Hulu.

With Marvel's WandaVision having wrapped up its mind-boggling first season on Disney+, paving the way for The Falcon and the Winter Soldier to come blasting through, MCU fans are waiting somewhat patiently for Tom Hiddleston's highly anticipated return for the time-jaunting Loki series. With Season 1 still filming, the sometimes-villain will be back in the saddle in early June when it debuts. But Hiddleston is already lining up projects to jump into once Loki has wrapped, and his next big TV show will see him joining Homeland vet Claire Danes.

While still in the midst of laying out the trickster god's narrative for the MCU, Tom Hiddleston has agreed to co-star opposite Claire Danes in the Apple TV+ streaming series called The Essex Serpent. (It kind of sounds like a euphemism that Loki would be fond of using, but that's neither here nor there.) The new show will be based on Sarah Perry's bestselling 2016 novel of the same name, which won the British Book Award that same year.

In The Essex Serpent, Claire Danes plays a newly widowed woman named Cora whose recent marriage was an abusive relationship. In the aftermath, she goes to Victorian London to the small Essex community of Aldwinter. Not necessarily for a relaxing vacation or to find a new lover or anything, but rather to look into the local superstition about a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent, because there are rumors that the creature has returned... [Dun dun dunnnn.]

Tom Hiddleston will be playing the role of Will Ransome, the leader within the small village of Aldwinter. Nothing else is said about his character, but we can be sure he'll get into some kind of relationship with Claire Danes' Cora that gets turned upside-down once some kind of big reveal happens connecting him to all the superstitious factors. Check out the first look at Will Ransome's character below!

That's about what I'd expect Tom Hiddleston to look like as a village head. It's like he's a priest that lives by his own rules – or commandments in this case – and even though the wind seems intent on re-parting his hair, he keeps his hands in his pockets because he's just that cool, man.

This latest high-profile original series from Apple TV+ will be written by Anna Symon (Mrs. Wilson), with Clio Barnard (Dark River) serving as director for the series; both will also serve as executive producers. See-Saw Films will be the production company behind The Essex Serpent.

Now that we've had our first look at Tom Hiddleston in The Essex Serpent, let's relive the very first trailer for Loki while awaiting its debut.

While waiting for The Essex Serpent to spice up Apple TV+'s library of originals, Loki will premiere on Disney+ on Friday, June 11, so be sure to tune in to see just how much the character's actions will change the MCU's course on the small screen.

With 11 Oscars to its name and over $2 billion grossed worldwide, James Cameron's ambitious romantic epic, Titanic, was an incredible success, the likes of which are very rarely seen in Hollywood. It was a sweeping sensation, staying in theaters for over a year and continuing to charm audiences all around the world with its tragically beautiful love story. While it pushed Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into stardom (and superstardom for Leo), they were among several A-list stars who were considered for these parts. Let's take a look at all the actors who could've appeared in the Titanic cast.

Matthew McConaughey Could've Played Jack Dawson (and Cal Hockley)

The casting process for Titanic was a long, extensive one, with several talented actors and actresses being considered for the various roles that needed to be filled. One of the toughest casting decisions was picking the man who would play our romantic lead, Jack Dawson. James Cameron had originally considered River Phoenix for the role, but the young actor tragically passed away before he could be asked to play the leading man part. And Paramount had several actors in mind, including Chris O'Donnell, Billy Crudup, and Stephen Dorff, but the studio's top pick was Matthew McConaughey. Apparently, Kate Winslet even auditioned with McConaughey originally. But Cameron felt he was too old to play 20-year-old Jack, and Cameron also thought the looks DiCaprio got from all the women around him made him an easy pick. He fought to have him in it.

Furthermore, in addition to be sought for the role of Jack Dawson, Matthew McConaughey was also considered for the villainous Cal Hockley, but the actor reportedly turned down this part. It ultimately went to Billy Zane. Alas, it apparently wasn't meant to be for McConaughey in Titanic, though he'd star alongside Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorsese's The Wolf Of Wall Street several years down the road.

Winona Ryder Could've Played Rose Bukater

There's no doubt that Titanic was a star-making role for Kate Winslet. The then 19-year-old actress fought hard to play the part of Rose Bukater, and it paid off splendidly. Particularly since there were several big-name actresses who were up for the part, including Winona Ryder. As Winslet admitted in a 2012 interview with USA Today, when Titanic was brought back into theaters for a 3D re-release, she was up against some formidable talent, and that included the rising Ryder. The former child star had already proven herself with roles in Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Little Women, the latter for which she was nominated for an Oscar, but Winslet ultimately got the part. No matter. The Stranger Things actress continues to prove herself in a number of roles.

Christian Bale Could've Played Jack Dawson

Christian Bale is one of the most transformative actors in the business today, taking on various challenging roles and continuing to prove himself as a chameleon of a performer. Alas, in his early years, notably before he broke out with 2000's American Psycho, the former child star was turned down for a number of major roles, including several that went to Leonardo DiCaprio. Those include What's Eating Gilbert Grape, Romeo + Juliet, and Titanic. He auditioned for Jack Dawson, as it was noted in the 2012 biography Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman, written by Harrison Cheung, his former assistant and publicist, but Bale lost out for the role. Of course, it'd only take a few years after Titanic's release for Bale to rise up with other projects.

Uma Thurman Could've Played Rose Bukater

In addition to name-dropping Winona Ryder as a possible candidate for the part of Rose Bukater, Kate Winslet also mentioned in the aforementioned 2012 USA Today interview that Uma Thurman was also being considered. The Pulp Fiction star and future Kill Bill actress was still riding off the former film's success and pushing herself into bigger, more commercial efforts. Certainly, Titanic would've been her biggest film at the time — and probably to date if she had gotten the gig — but it wasn't meant to be. Thurman would go on to star in movies like Gattaca and Batman & Robin, both of which came out the same year as Titanic, before she was given one of her biggest roles to date in the aforementioned Kill Bill movies.

Johnny Depp Could've Played Jack Dawson

In the 1990s, Johnny Depp made his transition from TV star to matinee idol. The transition took place through a number of artistic movies, both big and small, though the actor had to turn down some roles in order to take on some of these titles. The biggest film that he turned down, as he revealed in an interview, was the chance to play Jack Dawson in Titanic. In a phone conversation with Howard Stern back in 2001, Depp revealed that he "labored" through the first few pages of the script, but he ultimately couldn't get into it. Suffice to say, if he had trouble reading the script for the first go-around, it'd be difficult for him to take on this leading role in this blockbuster. The role ultimately went to his What's Eating Gilbert Grape? co-star, Leonardo DiCaprio.

Claire Danes Could've Played Rose Bukater

In 1996, Claire Danes starred in Baz Luhrmann's contemporary re-imagining of Romeo + Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio. If things had gone another way, they would've shared the screen yet again in James Cameron's Titanic. Alas, Danes turned down the role of Rose Bukater in the epic romantic weeper because she didn't want to make another romantic melodrama with DiCaprio. Not because they had a bad experience together, mind you, but because she felt it would've been retracing the same steps she just took; both movies were also filmed in Mexico City. So, it would've felt even more like deja vu for Danes. She admitted on the Armchair Podcast that she "didn't have it" in her. And she ultimately doesn't regret turning the role down.

Paul Rudd Could've Played Jack Dawson

For some actors, getting a role is — among other things — simply a means of furthering your career. But some roles are personal. At least, that was the case for Paul Rudd when he auditioned for Titanic. Although he wasn't quite as famous then as he is today, and he was going up against some of the biggest A-listers in the biz, he really wanted to get the part of Jack Dawson. And he wanted the role for one very specific and wholesome reason: he wanted to honor his father. As Rudd revealed on The Late Late Show with James Corden a few years ago now, Michael Rudd, i.e. Paul Rudd's father, is a member of the Titanic Historical Society. The eldest Rudd has a deep appreciation and fascination in the tragic history of that fatefully cursed ship.

In fact, Michael Rudd has travelled the world to witness key sights relating to the Titanic's voyage. He even served as a tour guide for certain locations. Paul Rudd not only wanted to get this part in this huge movie because it would obviously do wonders for him as an actor, particularly working for director James Cameron in this major blockbuster, but he knew that playing this part in this film dramatization of this historical story would make his dad proud. Alas, while he knew his stuff about the Titanic's doomed history, the casting directors didn't think Paul Rudd was the right fit for this part. There were no sour feelings from Rudd's camp. In fact, on The Graham Norton Show, Rudd claims he was the one who convinced (or, at least, encouraged) DiCaprio to take this part. They worked on Romeo + Juliet together at the time.

Gwyneth Paltrow Could've Played Rose Bukater

During a 2015 interview with Howard Stern, Gwyneth Paltrow revealed many details about her past, including two major roles that she didn't play: Rollergirl in Boogie Nights and Rose Bukater in Titanic. Regarding the latter, the Academy Award-winning actress claimed that she was "really in contention" for Rose and believed she was "one of the last two" actresses up for it. Ultimately, she turned down the role. While she didn't explain the reason why she opted not to play Rose, she admits that in this business, there are times when you accept roles you'll later regret and times when turn down other roles that might've been worthwhile. Alas, Paltrow doesn't seem to regret it much, notably as she won the Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love in 1998 (in a role Kate Winslet reportedly turned down, ironically enough) — just one year after Titanic's release.

Michael Biehn Could've Played Cal Hockley

Having starred in The Terminator, Aliens, and The Abyss, Michael Biehn and director James Cameron have established a long working history together, and it appears that the two of them almost collaborated once more on Titanic. As it was reported in the Chicago Tribune back in 1997, Biehn was in the running to play Cal Hockley, in the role Billy Zane eventually played, and there might've even been a meeting about it, but it didn't pan out for Biehn. To make matters worse, Biehn later claimed that he spent nine months thinking he would play RDA Col. Miles Quaritch in Avatar, but that antagonistic role ultimately went to Stephen Lang. Hopefully, Biehn and Cameron find the chance to work together again someday.

Reba McEntire Could've Played Molly Brown

Throughout the years, Reba McEntire has split her time being a musician and an actress. Sometimes, those two professions collide and they result in Reba making some tough decisions. That was ultimately the case when it came to Titanic. Although she was previously set to star in James Cameron's three-hour epic as Molly Brown, the production timeline kept getting delayed and it ultimately interfered with her touring schedule. Instead of rescheduling the tour and making the people on her payroll jobless, she opted to turn down the part and focus on her music instead. Ultimately, Kathy Bates ended up playing the unsinkable character instead. Certainly, it must have been a tough decision, but it was certainly noble of Reba to think of her employees and fans first.

Rob Lowe Could've Played Cal Hockley

In addition to Matthew McConaughey and Michael Biehen, Rob Lowe was also considered for the antagonistic Cal Hockley. However, he ultimately lost the part to Billy Zane. Lowe admitted this bit of movie trivia in a conversation with E! News back in 2015, and though there isn't a direct reason given for why he wasn't cast in the part, he suggests that his infamous sex tape might've possibly had an impact on the movie/TV actor not being cast here.

Robert De Niro Could've Played Captain Smith

While Bernard Hill played the part of Captain Smith in Titanic, the small-but-pivotal role was reportedly once set to star one of the biggest acting titans in the business. Indeed, according to a report from The Mirror, De Niro was offered to play this part, but he had to turn it down. Apparently, the Oscar-winning star had a gastrointestinal infection at the time, which prevented him from accepting this brief-but-key role in James Cameron's romantic epic.

In addition to these big name stars, there were several other actors who may have been considered to play a part in Titanic, including (but not limited to) Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Angelina Jolie, Madonna, and Reese Witherspoon for Rose and Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Jared Leto, and Jeremy Sisto for Jack. Lindsay Lohan also reportedly auditioned for Cora Cartmell. Suffice to say, this blockbuster's cast might've once looked completely different.

With 20 seasons, Law and Order is one of the longest running dramas of all-time. It spun several spin-offs, including--the still going strong--Law and Order: SVU. Law and Order helped make procedural dramas more popular and it made the cast very recognizable. It even launched the career of some very famous Hollywood names.

In September of 2020, Law and Order celebrates its 30-year premiere anniversary. Part of what made the series successful was its episodic nature. Each episode felt like a contained show, movie, or play. Turn on any Law and Order episode to enjoy actors bringing intense drama, stunning intrigue, and a dash of deception. With Law and Order: SVU still on the air and Dick Wolf’s shows continuing to dominate television, Law and Order remains a coveted gig for up and coming actors.

Claire Danes

In 1992, two years before My So Called Life would air, Claire Danes landed her first major acting gig: an episode of Law and Order. Claire Danes’ Law and Order episode was the Season 3 premiere. She was barely a teen on her Law and Order episode where she played a 15-year-old tied into a secret prostitution ring. Her displaying so much talent at such a young age likely helped Claire Danes’ accelerate her acting career.

The short-lived My So Called Life gave Claire Danes’ career a major boost. She then went on to star in many motion pictures, including Romeo + Juliet, The Hours, Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, and Stardust. Danes gained even more recognition and praise in 2011 when she landed the lead role of Carrie Mathison in Homeland. But before all of that, she was on Law & Order.

Adam Driver

Adam Driver appeared in Law and Order in 2010, during Law and Order’s final season (Season 20, Episode 15) “Brilliant Disguise.” This Law and Order role came two years prior to him landing his breakout Girls role. Law and Order was one of Adam Driver’s first screen roles. In his episode he played a lab technician accused of murdering a secret escort. He had theater roles before Law and Order, but he had only appeared on one TV show and a short film before the police drama. Appearing on such a massively popular show might have help give him the confidence to audition for even bigger roles.

Since 2009, Adam Driver has taken on a variety of stage and screen roles. He has blended big blockbuster performances, like his role as Kylo Ren in the new Star Wars trilogy, with an array of arthouse film projects like Frances Ha, BlacKkKlansman, and The Report. Adam Driver had a very successful 2019, appearing in the critically acclaimed Marriage Story, and receiving his first Best Lead Actor Academy Award nomination for the same film.

Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell played two different characters in multiple episodes of Law and Order. His first episode was Season 2's “Intolerance,” and his second episode was Season 3" 21st episode, “Manhood.” in "Manhood," Rockwell plays an officer who doesn't show up when a fellow officer needs him. This leads to that officer's death and accusations of homophobia on their police force. In "Intolerance," he plays a member of a family accused of murdering a Chinese-American student to help one of the boys win a science award. Sam Rockwell had at least a dozen screen roles before appearing in Law and Order. However, it was still quite early in his career. Rockwell had only been consistently booking gigs for four years when he had his Law and Order premiere.

Since the early '90s, Sam Rockwell has forged a very diverse acting career--appearing in major motion pictures like The Green Mile, Charlie’s Angels, Iron Man 2, and Seven Psychopaths. In 2018, Sam Rockwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. He has also appeared in three recent Academy Award nominated movies, Vice, Richard Jewell, and Jojo Rabbit. In 2019, Sam Rockwell also appeared in the limited series Fosse/Verdon.

Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan had only appeared in one thing prior to his Law and Order debut in 2003. He appeared in Season 13's “Sheltered.” In the episode, Stan played a boy abducted and raised by his abuser. Modern Family’s Ty Burrell played his abuser. This role led to a steady stream of small roles until he landed his 2007 Gossip Girl role.

Sebastian Stan appeared in the hit TV series Gossip Girl and Once Upon a Time. However, most people know him for his roles in the Marvel movie franchise. Sebastian Stan plays Bucky Barnes aka The Winter Soldier. He’s been playing Bucky Barnes in the Marvel franchise since 2011, and later this year he’ll have his own Disney+ and Marvel series, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier.

Samuel L. Jackson

Samuel L. Jackson appeared on Law and Order Season 1, Episode 14, “The Violence of Summer" as Defense Attorney Louis Taggert. He had only made limited television appearances before his Law and Order episode. However, he had already been appearing in films for nearly 20 years before the show. Samuel L Jackson at least appeared in over fifteen films from 1972 to 1992, including films like Do The Right Thing, Coming to America, and Jungle Fever. It was definitely not a career-making role, but it was before Samuel L. Jackson became one of the most recognized names in cinema.

Samuel L. Jackson has appeared in nearly 200 films and television shows. His most famous work includes the Marvel movies, The Incredibles, the Star Wars prequels, Kill Bill II, The Long Kiss Goodnight, Pulp Fiction, and School Daze.

Sarah Paulson

In 1994, Law and Order was Sarah Paulson’s first screen acting gig. She appeared in Season 5, Episode 4, “Family Values.” Sarah Paulson played a teen who claimed that she was having an affair with her murdered mother’s new husband. A year later, she landed a series regular role on American Gothic.

Sarah Paulson appeared in Bird Box, Ocean’s Eight, The Goldfinch, and Glass, but most people know her from her work with Ryan Murphy. Sarah Paulson has appeared in most seasons of American Horror Story and a few seasons of American Crime Story. Ryan Murphy and Paulson also will team up once again for a Netflix series about the infamous One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest character Nurse Ratched.

Ellen Pompeo

Law and Order was Ellen Pompeo’s first TV gig. She appeared in Season 6, Episode 16, “Savior” and Season 10's “Fools for Love.” The first episode involved a case about a man being accused of murdering his wife and son. The Season 10 episode involved a man accused of killing and raping his girlfriend’s sister and another victim. Prior to her first Law and Order episode, Ellen Pompeo had only appeared in one short film. She had a few movies and TV roles before her 2000 return to Law and Order.

Grey’s Anatomy fans best know Ellen Pompeo for her lead role as Dr. Meredith Grey. She has also appeared in Life of the Party, Friends, and Catch Me If You Can.

Allison Janney

Allison Janney had appeared on As the World Turns and Morton & Hayes along with a few movies before making her Law and Order appearances. She appeared in 1992 and 1994. The first episode Season 2, Episode 12, “Star Struck,” and the second episode was Season 4's “Old Friends.” In "Old Friends," Allison Janney plays a character scared to testify about a murder because it could lead to dangerous consequences for her. In "Star Struck," she plays someone interviewed about a murdered soap opera actress.

Allison Janney is an Academy Award and Emmy winning actress. She has appeared on hit series and critically acclaimed movies; her list of work includes 10 Things I Hate About You, The Hours, Finding Nemo, The West Wing, Masters of Sex, I, Tonya, and Mom.

Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum appeared on Law and Order when she was only a preteen. She played a young girl who became the target of a female circumcision. This Law and Order episode, "Ritual," aired during Season 8. This was Emmy Rossum’s first TV acting gig, but the following year she would appear in several screen projects.

Emmy Rossum is best known for her role as Fiona Gallagher in Shameless. She has also appeared in the films Mystic River, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Phantom of the Opera.

Vera Farmiga

Vera Farmiga appeared in Law and Order Season 8, Episode 12, “Expert.” She plays a character accused of trying to murder an expert witness in her father’s case. Prior to Law and Order, Farmiga had only appeared in two other on-screen things. One was a short lived TV show starring Heath Ledger called Roar and the other a TV movie called Rose Hill.

Vera Farmiga is an Academy Award nominated actress, best known for her role as Nora Bates in Bates Motel. Vera Farmiga has also appeared in Up in the Air, The Conjuring series, When They See Us, and The Departed.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

Philip Seymour Hoffman made his screen debut with Law and Order. He appeared in Season 1, Episode 14, “The Violence of Summer.” He plays one of the men involved in a rape case. Samuel L. Jackson also appeared in this episode.

Philip Seymour Hoffman was an Academy Award winning actor who appeared in The Hunger Games movies, The Master, Almost Famous, Doubt, and Capote. He won his Best Lead Actor Academy Award for his role in Capote, and he received three Best Supporting Actor nominations for The Master, Doubt, and Charlie Wilson’s War.

Law and Order is available to rent or buy on most major streaming platforms, including Amazon Prime Video. Law and Order’s most successful spin-off, Law and Order: SVU, is currently airing season 21 on NBC. Hulu has all seasons of Law and Order: SVU available to stream. Stream it HERE.

Major spoilers below for everyone who hasn't yet seen the Season 8 premiere of Showtime's Homeland. You have been warned.

Homeland fans endured a massive hiatus between Season 7 (which wrapped up in April 2018) and Season 8, which marks the Showtime drama's final installments. The last time we saw Claire Danes' Carrie Mathison, she was a fragile husk of her former self, having spent 7 months in medication-free captivity. As Season 8 kicks off, Carrie is unsurprisingly attempting to get reinstated back at the CIA, but an unforeseen hiccup stands in her way: Carrie was possibly compromised while in Yevgeny Gromov's custody.

The ramifications of such a reveal are widespread if proven to be true, not only for all government agencies showcased within Homeland, but also for Carrie herself. She is not a character who takes self-doubt lightly, especially in the face of her occupational pride. Speaking with CinemaBlend at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour, Homeland executive producer and premiere director Lesli Linka Glatter talked about taking Claire Danes' beloved character to such a dark place.

Homeland totally turned Carrie's world upside-down and back around in the season premiere. She was finally regaining ground both physically and mentally when David Hunt's Jim Turro clued her in on her questionable polygraph test, doing little to hide his suspicions that Carrie conspired with Yevgeny in some way, wittingly or otherwise. (The fact that he spread those suspicions to others was a low-blow by any stretch.) To be expected, Carrie was thrown, and with derisive anger taking center stage.

To make matters more complicated, Saul immediately found himself in a situation where only someone with Carrie's skills can make magic happen, so she got sent back into the field perhaps before she should have been, where she learned she may have given up the name of a confidant, Roshan, while a prisoner. And in speaking with EP Lesli Linka Glatter, I brought up how the field is everything for the character, because without the government and her career, Carrie is something of a ghost of herself. Here's how Glatter responded:

Perhaps unexpectedly, Homeland's creative team is calling back to the show's first seasons by drawing distinct parallels between Carrie's situation and the initial arc for Damien Lewis' Nicholas Brody, whose loyalty was questioned (for far too long before the show moved on). You just know that's bouncing around in Carrie's head as all this is going down, too.

During the Homeland panel at the TCA press tour, co-creator Alex Gansa talked about the Carrie and Brody connection being a major force of the final season, saying:

Claire Danes herself also talked during the TCA panel about the final season kicking Carrie's story off in such a Brody-centric place.

The main political story at the center of Season 8 brings familiar faces back into the Homeland fold – as well as some new ones – and there's a lot to pull apart on that level. But the show's longtime fans can take comfort in knowing the drama's focus will keep things as character-based as ever in closing things out for good.

Speaking to prioritizing Carrie and Saul's story during the final stretch, Lesli Linka Glatter told me this:

Carrie and Saul may go down as one of TV's most complicated and rewarding relationships, especially for a pair of characters that never exploited any romantic tensions. Let's just hope both of them survive the rest of the season and are able to find a semblance of happiness in doing so, which won't be easy if Carrie get pegged as some kind of traitor.

One of several awesome shows kicking 2020 TV off in style, Homeland's final season airs Sunday nights on Showtime at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Titanic was a behemoth, and I don’t just say that because of the eponymous ship’s size. Not only was it the first movie to cross the $1 billion mark and ranked as the highest-grossing movie of all time for over a decade, it catapulted stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet to worldwide fame. But in a different reality, Homeland star Claire Danes might have been the Rose to Leo’s Jack.

Claire Danes recently recalled how she believes she was offered the role of Rose DeWitt Bukater (later Dawson) in Titanic, but ultimately turned down the opportunity, saying:

The movie Claire Danes is referencing is 1996’s Romeo + Juliet, a contemporary take on the William Shakespeare tragedy that saw Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio in the title roles. So those two had already had experience playing romantic interests opposite one another, and that could have continued with Titanic.

But as Claire Danes laid out during her appearance on the Armchair Expert podcast, Titanic’s similarities to Romeo + Juliet led her to realize that the former just wasn’t the project for her. Danes explained how she ran into Leonardo DiCaprio driving donuts around the parking lot of their mutual manager’s office, and she learned he was “wrestling” over whether or not to do Titanic. The actress continued:

“Another stratosphere” is certainly accurate, if not an understatement. While Leonardo DiCaprio’s notable pre-Titanic credits also included Growing Pains, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape and The Basketball Diaries, the romance/disaster movie was a worldwide phenomenon and paved the way for him to become one of Hollywood’s most famous actors.

Claire Danes also mentioned how after Titanic’s release, she noticed that people were treating Leonardo DiCaprio differently, and sensing that she was “courting” that level of fame, or at least “proximate” to it, she didn’t want to have to deal with everything that came with it. So while Titanic could have also significantly raised Danes’ professional profile, she has “zero regret” about turning it down.

Of course, it’s not like Claire Danes hasn’t had a successful career without Titanic. In the years since, she’s appeared in movies like Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, Shopgirl, The Family Stone and Brigsby Bear, as well played professor and autism spokesperson Temple Grandin in an HBO movie, for which she received an Emmy.

However, Claire Danes in unquestionably best known for her time as Carrie Mathison in the Showtime series Homeland, which begins its eighth and final season. Danes has collected two Emmy wins and three Emmy nominations for her Homeland work, so while she’s not at Leonardo DiCaprio’s level of prominence, she’s done quite well for herself in the decades since steering away from Titanic.

Homeland returns to Showtime on Sunday, February 9, and stay tuned to CinemaBlend for news on what Claire Danes will work on next. Don’t forget to also plan your trips to the movie theater accordingly with our 2020 release schedule.

Why has the premiere for Homeland’s final season been delayed until February 2020? Fans of the Showtime series have been enduring a considerable wait for Season 8, only to learn the series’ final installment will not arrive until early next year. Leading one to wonder why that is. Well, there is a reasonable explanation.

Going out on a high-note takes time. At the TCA summer tour, Showtime’s entertainment president, Gary Levine, explained the hold-up. It turns out that Homeland’s multi-location production is part of the worthwhile wait. Homeland’s creator has a lot planned. Here's what Levine said (via TVLine):

This makes a lot of sense. Traversing the world to deliver an epic final season takes time. Hence, Homeland’s delay. Showtime’s entertainment president reassures that there have been “no missteps.” Indicating that the series has not run into anything wrong. In other assuring news, he said that Homeland’s showrunner is prepping the show to go “out proudly.”

Having to bring a final chapter home requires a lot of effort. As multiple shows that have ended their runs can likely tell you. It sounds like it should be worth the wait, and what is a little extra time? Once Homeland is over ... sadly, it is over.

News of this most recent delay is still undoubtedly upsetting for fans. It is the latest in a couple of schedule changes. Homeland’s final season was initially set to premiere during June 2019. Yes, the month before last. Then came a Fall 2019 date, which has now been pushed to February 9, 2020. (Interestingly enough, that is also the current date of the 92nd Academy Awards. So the Homeland premiere will apparently compete against the 2020 Oscars. Counter-programming alert?)

For reference, a new episode of Homeland last aired during April 2018. Putting the currently scheduled release date almost exactly two years after the Season 7 finale. Thankfully, there has been no shortage of news about what the drama’s final season will involve and who it will include.

Hannibal vet Hugh Dancy will star in Homeland’s final season as John Zabel, a “savvy” Washington D.C. consultant. Zabel will act as the foreign-policy adviser for Beau Bridges’ President Warner. Trivia time, in case you did not know: Dancy is the husband of the show’s lead, Claire Danes.

Also starring in the final season will be a True Blood fan favorite in a highly intriguing role. Last year, Homeland announced that it would be ending with Season 8. After Claire Danes had said it would. The reason for Homeland’s delay is not in the same vein as Starz’s rationale for holding back Outlander until 2020. Showtime’s move sounds strictly production-related.

Homeland will conclude with twelve episodes. Its story will reportedly take place in Afghanistan. The show coming to an end marks the end of an era. The thriller premiered in 2011 and became a massive hit for Showtime, both in the ratings and with critics. Time will tell how Carrie Mathison and her fellow characters’ stories will end.

Homeland's eighth and final season is currently scheduled to premiere on February 9, 2020, so watch this summer’s premieres to help deal with the wait.

Homeland Season 8 is furthering its progress. The Showtime drama has cast a fan favorite from True Blood to take on a pivotal role. They will be playing the freshly-minted vice president. Who is "they?" Sam Trammell is heading to Homeland.

Yes! Sam Trammell will star in the upcoming and final season of Homeland. The actor has signed on to play Vice President Benjamin Hayes, per a THR exclusive. It is not a short-term role either. Trammell will recur on the series for a season-long arc. Based on what is said about his character, that makes sense.

Sam Trammell will play the vice president to Beau Bridges' president. Bridges' character gets more than he bargained for with his pick for VP. In the pithy description, Trammell’s Benjamin is said to be a "political survivor." So he has seen his share of political dramas and come through them on the other side.

Based on his position, it would be fair to say he not only survived that tumult, he thrived in the face of it. Benjamin possesses a keen skill for "optics." His vice presidency will require a leap from him, as he has had to cross the aisle to serve as vice president. Someone really wanted the job.

"Keep your friends close..." because Beau Bridges has underestimated his vice president. He believes he has made a safe choice with Sam Trammell’s character. He chose Hayes to help heal the rift between party lines. Well, Trammell’s Benjamin turns out to be for more of a threat than he thought.

Does this mean Benjamin Hayes will become more popular than Beau Bridges' president? Maybe. Will he scheme to become president? Again, maybe. Sam Trammell is perfect for this role, as it sounds like a complicated one. This kind of character requires charisma, and Trammell has that in spades. It will also be a fun genre departure for the actor.

He can currently be seen in the newly released Netflix series The Order. Like True Blood, it deals in the supernatural. Heading to Homeland will be a chance to handle something new. Unless Homeland has saved its biggest shocker for last and everyone is a supernatural entity.

It will be interesting to learn how Sam Trammell’s character intersects with the overall storyline for Season 8. Homeland’s final installment was said to take place outside of Washington D.C. Instead, the show is believed to have its setting in Afghanistan, per Deadline.

Homeland is filming in Morocco and the season’s release has been pushed from its earlier summer debut to sometime in late 2019. Thus, it will probably be a while before viewers get to find out how Sam Trammell’s character fits into the action.

Homeland’s eighth and final season will premiere at some point in 2019 on Showtime. In the meantime, there are a lot of new shows set to arrive on the cable network and others during the midseason.

Claire Danes has opened up about reading bad Homeland reviews while she was in labor and hiding her second pregnancy from her co-stars. Now the actress is sharing that, as it turns out, playing a genius on television can lead people thinking you are a genius in real life. In a hilarious interview with Seth Meyers on Late Night, she explained the funny moment: a father told her he had learned about "her" intellect. When asked if people confuse her Homeland character's knowledge with her knowledge, she said this:

There are certainly worse things than being falsely thought to be a genius. But this hilarious anecdote does shed light on how people can get a character's attributes confused with that of the actor playing them. Of course, Google did not help matters. Did the guy Google "women geniuses" and Claire Danes' picture came up and he assumed it was her and not her character? We do not know. Still, that is an understandable misunderstanding to have.

Claire Danes does have to give herself some credit though. Not every actor could have been so convincing in the role of the ingenious Carrie Mathison, which has been crucial to the show's success. Danes has won multiple Primetime Emmys for her portrayal of the character.

Plus, being mistaken for a genius is not the worst job perk in the world. If Claire Danes is familiar with the meme of Carrie doing math, then she probably knows how synonymous the Homeland character has become with intelligence. People will commonly post the now-iconic image of Carrie working through an intricate equation. The point is usually to symbolize how the person is trying to piece together an elaborate piece of information.

Claire Danes remaining so humble in spite of her success is just part of her charm. While the actress has brought to life one of television's most indelible characters, she will not be doing so much longer. In the interview, Seth Meyers mentions that she will be starting her eighth season of the show. And Danes has previously said that Season 8 will be the final season of the intense drama.

The internet has a way of remembering things though, and the fact that it considers Carrie a genius will not go away, even if the show does. In her interview with Seth Meyers, Claire Danes did not mention the downsides to playing the character. For what she did spill, you can find out by watching the clip below:

For new upcoming and returning television shows you can watch in the coming months, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres. If you are curious about upcoming TV shows that are set to stream on Netflix, CinemaBlend has you covered with our 2018 Netflix premiere rundown as well as our guide to Amazon Prime's premiere schedule.

Claire Danes will never forget what she was doing when she was in labor with her first child. In a striking bit of serendipity, the night she went into labor was the same night a season finale of Homeland aired. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Danes revealed what happened when she read bad reviews of the season ender, saying:

Talk about bad timing. Imagine experiencing excruciating pain while reading bad reviews about the show you have put a great deal of time and energy into helping create. There is really no other way to describe that kind of experience than to say it bites. Thankfully for Claire Danes, who is currently expecting her second child, she does not have to worry about reading bad reviews of another Homeland finale when she welcomes baby number 2.

The series ended its seventh season at the end of April, and Season 8 will premiere well after she has her second child. Claire Danes has said that Season 8 will be the final season of the series, which is news the creator of the series has echoed. Whether the show will continue without them remains to be seen.

Claire Danes could not recall exactly which of the show's season finales she was reading about when she was telling the story to Jimmy Kimmel, but we can solve this mystery. Per People, Danes and her husband, Hugh Dancy, welcomed their first child on December 17, 2012.

While many of the early seasons of Homeland aired their finales in December, the Season 2 finale aired on December 16, 2012, making it the only one it could have been. As fans will remember, that season concluded with Danes' Carrie on a quest to clear Brody's name.

Claire Danes may be one of the best late-night guests of all-time. Her animated storytelling abilities are remarkable. It kind of makes you hope that she will utilize her innate comedy skills to pursue something more light-hearted in tone once her time on Homeland ends.

In case you were wondering, Claire Danes' Jimmy Kimmel interview is not the first time the actress has opened about pregnancy and Homeland, having hidden the news of baby #2 from her co-stars. Her bad review revelation is also not the only pregnancy-related story she shared on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Danes also shared a hilarious story about how her second pregnancy has been going. You can see her talk about that and reading the bad Homeland reviews in the clip below:

For more television content, check out CinemaBlend's guide to TV's summer premieres. If you want to get a better idea of what to expect when fall arrives, check out the 2018 network TV rundown to find out which shows have been cancelled, and which ones have been renewed.

Claire Danes shocked Homeland fans when she revealed her pregnancy to the world. Now, she's revealed the struggles of being pregnant and keeping the news from the co-workers. Danes, who was in her first-trimester during the filming of Season 7 of Homeland, revealed that she was able to keep the secret from the show's cast and crew, but it didn't always work out so well for her. The actress shared with Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show one specific instance that resulted in a halt in production all because of some drowsiness:

Pregnancy can be rough, and sleepiness is something that often can't be avoided. Unfortunately, neither can long days on the set of a series like Homeland, when a show is in production and even an actor at the height of their fitness can get pretty sleepy after a 10-12 hour day of shooting scenes. Danes' body decided to take a cat-nap as she was waiting for takes, and she told The Tonight Show the next thing she remembered was being woken up by production staff after using a crocheted bag a crew member made her as a pillow.

Danes certainly felt bad about holding up production, but now that her pregnancy is out and public knowledge, surely most of the Homeland cast and crew who weren't already in the know are far more understanding then they may have been at the time. After all, there had to be at least one person grumbling that they had to spend an extra 30 minutes at work that day as the lead actress got her face massaged. What's really impressive about this story is that Danes was able to go from a sleeping stupor to ready to act that quickly, although one would imagine having a blow dryer blasted in her face probably served as a decent wake-up call.

As embarrassing as it may have been, Claire Danes managed to get through filming Season 7 of Homeland with her secret intact and managed to surprise the fanbase. Danes also managed to surprise fans recently with the news that Season 8 of Homeland will be the show's final season. Ironically, the end of the series will grant Danes some much-needed rest, as the show has been one of the longest projects she's ever been a part of. As sad as that may be for fans, at least Danes will finally be able to sleep on all the crocheted things she wants!

Homeland airs on Showtime Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET. With Season 7 winding down, be sure to check out our midseason and summer premiere guides to see what else is headed to television.

Homeland has taken viewers on an intense journey for the better part of the last decade, and fans have watched Claire Danes go on a wild ride as leading lady Carrie Mathison. Although the story has gone relatively strong with some crazy plot twists over the years, a big question has been when the story will come to an end. Rumors that Season 8 will be the last have now seemingly be confirmed by none other than Danes herself, who said this about Season 8 as the last season and how she's feeling about it:

Rumors have abounded for a while that Homeland would come to an end after Season 8, and Claire Danes sounded pretty certain in her comments during a recent chat on The Howard Stern Show. Although a representative for Showtime has said that the network has yet to make an official decision for the show potentially going beyond an eighth season, fans probably want to start preparing themselves for the end. Danes' comments don't leave a lot of wiggle room about her readiness to move on from the role of Carrie Mathison, and there's no Homeland without Carrie Mathison.

Of course, we shouldn't rule out the show trying to reboot itself with a new team behind the scenes and in front of the camera, but the time really may have come to let the show come to a graceful end. Besides, if the plan is to make Season 8 the last, the show should have plenty of time to craft a solid finale that ties off loose ends and delivers something satisfying to longtime viewers. Season 7 is currently still on the air.

That said, there's not a whole lot of Season 7 left. The Season 7 finale will hit the airwaves on Sunday, April 29 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. The good news for fans is that they haven't had to worry even a little bit about Homeland getting a premature axe and ending after Season 7. Homeland scored a huge renewal from Showtime back in 2016. The network ordered Season 7 and Season 8 of the series before the sixth season went into production! The huge renewal may be a sign that Showtime won't want to let Homeland go, but there's also every chance that Showtime is simply waiting until the time is right to hand down the official news that the show will be done after Season 8.

We can only wait and see at this point. The remaining episodes of Homeland Season 7 air on Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. For your viewing options once Homeland is finished for the season, swing by our midseason TV premiere guide and summer TV premiere schedule. If you need to know which network shows have had their fates already decided for the 2018-2019 TV season, swing by our rundown of TV renewals and cancellations.

Claire Danes is good at a lot of things. She’s good at acting, currently starring in Showtime’s Homeland. She’s also good at looking good, as her spot-on outfit and blowout choices from last night’s episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon indicate. However, one thing she’s definitely not good at is playing Family Feud. You can watch Claire Danes curse her way through a round of Family Feud, below.

You have to appreciate Claire Danes’ enthusiasm when faced with playing a round of Family Feud on The Tonight Show. She really wants to be in the game, so much so that she totally interrupts Jimmy Fallon after his buzzer lights up during the category “Name Something You Call Someone When You Can’t Remember Their Name.” She hollers “dude,” which Jimmy Fallon immediately steals, because he’s a gentleman like that. Honestly, it is all fun and games for a while until Claire Danes gets frustrated and starts dropping all the cuss words. Then it’s not so tame anymore.

At one point, Jimmy Fallon even has to talk her down a little bit and inform the Homeland actress that there are certain words that don’t fly on TV, even during a taped episode of late night TV. (Since it is taped, the words are bleeped out.)

I’m not sure that Claire Danes is as bad at this game as Jimmy Fallon is good at Family Feud, but it’s not a good look. When asked to “Name Something You Bring Home From Spring Break,” Danes takes a pause and then answers “homework.” Even she knows that’s not a good answer, as she covers her face with her hands while Jimmy Fallon has a laughing fit on the floor.

Claire Danes is not the first celebrity and she certainly won't be the last celebrity to play a game of the Feud on late night, but she does get some redemption at the end when she correctly guesses words that can be used in place of curse words. (That category was definitely fitting). If you'd like to catch other odd games like this one, Jimmy Fallon's late night show is certainly the place to do it. New episodes of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon air on NBC, weeknights at 11:35 p.m. ET. Homeland will be back for Season 6 later this year.

Moving forward, Showtime’s CIA drama Homeland is changing things up. Season 5 of the international procedural is heading to somewhere they’ve never been, Germany, and they’re adding a bunch of new characters, including a love interest for the lead, Carrie Matheson (Claire Danes).

According to Deadline, Homeland is adding Miranda Otto (The Lord of the Rings), Sebastian Koch (The Lives of Others), Alexander Fehling (Inglorious Basterds), and Sarah Sokolovic (Cold Comes the Night) to the call sheet that already includes returning stars Danes, Rupert Friend, Mandy Patinkin, and F. Murray Abraham.

The next season of Homeland, which is the fifth for those of you keeping score, finds Carrie still dealing with the aftermath of her disastrous turn as the CIA station chief in Islamabad, Pakistan. If you watched season 4, you’ll remember that things did not go particularly well for her there. It’s now two years later, and she is wracked with guilt, disillusioned from her time involved in what she thought was the good fight, and she lands in Berlin, working for a private security firm and estranged from her previous home at the CIA.

Otto is slated to play Allison Carr, who is the station chief of the CIA’s Berlin branch. She works directly under Saul Berenson (Patinkin), and it’s easy to see that Carrie could view her as a threat, or at least as usurping her spot as Saul’s Golden Child.

Koch plays Otto During, who is a well-to-do German philanthropist. He also happens to be Carrie’s boss, and odds are that her security firm has been hired to protect him from some kind of threat, the kind of threat that will lead her to seek out advice and intel from her former employer. You can also imagine him involved in some unsavory business.

Fehling is set to take the role of Jonas Happich. He’s a lawyer for During’s charitable foundation, as well as Carrie’s love interest. Considering her track record, you can only imagine that he’s either bad news and involved in something sinister, or she’ll find a way to fuck everything up.

Last but not least, Sokolovic will play Laura Sutton, a journalist, and fellow American, living in Berlin and working for the During Foundation in some as yet unspecified capacity

Season 5 of Homeland filming entirely in Germany marks the first time that an American series has done so, thanks in large part to a hefty bonus from a local fund that promotes film and TV production in the country. The new episodes are scheduled to hit Showtime in September of this year. After going off the rails some, season 4 was a definite turn in the right direction, and let’s hope the new season continues this trend.

Tonight, the politically strangling Homeland returned to Showtime as a newly revitalized drama, with a near-complete overhaul for both the central characters and the series’ focus. Many TV series have ordered up major changes in the past, but Homeland revamps almost everything, except of course for Saul’s beard. There are a million ways this might have gone sour, but Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa are talented storytellers, and Season 4 quickly reminds us why we fell in nailbiting love with this show in the first place.

While most of what we remember about these characters is still intact, they’re each under different strains and nothing is quite as it was. After two episodes, it is foolishly too soon to say that we’re in for a spectacular season, but here are three ways this quasi-reboot brings Homeland back to the dramatic forefront. And the biggest change between Seasons 3 and 4 is the top of the heap.

No More Brody!

In Season 1, when Damien Lewis was first introduced to audiences as Nicholas Brody, the central concept was “Is he a terrorist or isn’t he?” And two seasons later, the writers were still playing on that trust/distrust to draw out Brody’s story, although he technically should have bitten the dust long before. Luckily, that case of arrested development is in the past, as Season 3 concluded with Brody’s public execution, as Carrie (Claire Danes) was in the viewing audience. Rare is a hanging the silver lining in a situation.

With the Brody clan finally out of the picture, the episodic plots can mature beyond torrid love affairs and uncomfortable side-family drama. (Seriously, Chris Brody was the worst TV offspring ever.) I’ll definitely miss Lewis’ presence in and of itself, as he’s a fantastic actor, but his continued presence lost this show some acclaim by its third year. And odd as it may seem, I’d much rather all of that camera time go to other characters like Quinn, even if it’s just to watch him impulsively defend his lady’s honor in a restaurant. Will popular opinion for Homeland revert back to reverence in the future? That all depends on the story, which has so far avoided even using his name.

It Introduces a Dangerous New Storyline

The season starts off with Carrie and the CIA chief of station Sandy Bachman (Corey Stoll) targeting a Pakistani terrorist, taking out an entire wedding party of civilians in the process. A public relations nightmare folds in on itself when the U.S.’ claims that the wedding was bogus are turned around by the online spread of a video taken by the attack’s sole survivor Aayan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma). Sandy’s doomed fate points to his connections on opposite sides of the planet, and Carrie makes it a point to figure out where he got all of his information. (By the by, that scene where Sandy gets taken out of the car by the angry mob is one of the most intense events Homeland has ever delivered, so more of that will help.)

We finally get to see Carrie in the field, which she wanted so badly for herself for three years, and though she doesn’t do anything particularly outstanding (besides reacting to a surprise birthday celebration), it’s still good to see her happy with her situation. Of course, the second episode spins that right back around and sends her home to the United States, but Carrie finagles her way back to her position in Pakistan. The two episodes even give us fakeouts of “the gang’s getting back together” moments with both Saul and Quinn, but it seems at least for now that Carrie might be on her own for a while. Still, the all-around change in location is working nicely, although I indeed cringed when Carrie parked at the place where she first met Brody and reminisced.

Carrie has to Learn be a Mother

Being on her own for a while allowed Carrie to avoid maturely accepting that she now has a daughter whose father is dead, one that is currently being taken care of by her sister Maggie (Amy Hargreaves). Even the knowledge of the infant responsibility is enough to make Carrie shudder, so it’s both amusing and frightening once she actually has to share physical contact with her daughter. Usually, watching Carrie get uncomfortable involves her screaming at people, wide-eyed and pushing her hair all over her head. Here, it’s watching her give extended consideration to just drowning the baby in the tub. She would never intentionally do such a thing, probably, but one has to wonder whether or not she would just turn and walk away if the situation were different. It's a strange side of Carrie that hasn't been touched upon so explicitly before.

The process of Carrie leaving her daughter yet again is given ample camera time, so I wonder if this means we won’t be seeing this familial connection at all again for the rest of the season, or at least until an emotional final episode reunion. Maybe Carrie will become something of a mother to Aayan, which will lead her back to her own child. (Groan.) I’m perfectly fine with not having to sit through Skype conversations with that baby making gurgling noises, but I always find it engaging to watch Claire Danes appear to be the most miserable person on the planet for entire sequences at a time. If I’m only going to get six minutes of Saul per episode, with two of them being awkward exchanges between him and Mira, there needs to be balance with everything else I like.

What did you guys think of Homeland’s brand new start?

We’re still almost a month away from the Season 4 premiere of Showtime’s Homeland, but I’m already a complete lack of all things Nicholas Brody. Sure, we might hear about him when Carrie gets shitfaced and divulges too much information about her past to a one night stand, but Homeland’s history is gloriously absent from the first full trailer seen above. Oh, okay, so Carrie’s daughter is a fairy significant reminder that “Brody Wuz Here,” but Carrie ends up leaving the child behind, so it’s like she isn’t even there, right?

Say good night, Carrie. “Good night, Carrie.”

Now let’s get into Carrie’s new location: the Middle East. As the U.S. has pulled much of its military out of Afghanistan, there is still a pressing need for government spooks to remain present, and Carrie is just the person for the job. She spent three seasons bemoaning the fact that she was held to a domestic setting, so it’s time to see if she’s still got her front line chops. And having her car completely overrun by angry mobbers is a good way to do that.

One angle she’s working involves a bomb strike in Pakistan meant to take out “Number 4 on the Hitlist,” but it’s soon discovered innocent people were killed in the bombing. The evidence is a viral video that somehow survived the explosion, but we'll allow it for now. The son of the family killed becomes Carrie’s new pet project.

On the more official side of things, info about the terrorist came from Sandy Bachman (Corey Stoll), a CIA chief whose sources seem to be at odds with giving away good info. This, of course, puts him in Carrie’s crosshairs, but it also looks like Senator Lockhart might be “complicit” in some of the clusterfucks arising. My money is on Bachman doing some smooth talking to throw everyone off of his scent.

The rest of the trailer is basically everything we’ve come to expect from Homeland, only with 75% more civil unrest. Carrie disses Saul and then needs his help. Carrie and Quinn get into verbal arguments. Carrie gets into an argument with her sister. The only thing missing is Carrie admitting/denying that she stopped taking her medication. But you just know it’s coming. Also, we get to see Claire Danes' Popeye impersonation.

Find out just how far off the beaten path Homeland will go in Season 4 when Showtime brings viewers a double-episode premiere on Sunday, August 5.

Homeland spoilers ahead!

While Homeland saw part of its fanbase turn from rabid to reviling during Season 3, Showtime just released a Season 4 trailer that should put a cork in anyone who wanted this series to leave it’s more soapy storylines behind. The network also announced that Homeland will return to Showtime on Sunday, October 5. Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) is finally back in her element, just when I was starting to wonder if her element was only “being in denial of everything and everyone.”

In Season 4, Carrie heads to the Middle East to try and keep things calm in the days after the U.S. has pulled its military forces out of Afghanistan. This season will largely take place in those overseas settings, with Carrie back on the front lines that she’d been yearning to get back to for years. This presumably means we’ll get to spend less time with good ol' Saul (Mandy Patinkin), but it looks like Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) will be in Carrie’s neck of the woods, wondering what the hell her problem is. Buddy, she’s got tons!

For one, she’s mentally fragile, and not for a single second should anyone assume she’ll ever be on her best behavior, simply because she’s in a foreign land where she’s not exactly a beloved presence. Tack on huge public explosions and burial sites, and Carrie just might snap harder than we’ve ever seen. And she snapped pretty hard when Brody died.

Speaking of Brody, one of the bigger mysteries going into Season 4 is: where the hell is their kid? While this trailer doesn’t go into specifics, we are treated to at least an image of the little cutie on Carrie’s nightstand.

Showtime announced the premiere date and unveiled the trailer and some key art for the show at this year’s Television Critics Association press event. According to EW, stars Danes and Patinkin weren’t there, but sent in a video where they promised that showrunner Alex Gansa “has promised to only kill most of your favorite characters this season.” I’d be perfectly fine if they just randomly showed audiences that Chris Brody was killed, probably from a TV falling on his big dumb head. Check out the striking new poster below.

Will you guys be watching the Emmy-winning Homeland when it returns on October 5?

Is it just us or has Homeland been beating us over the head with foreshadowing about the fate of Nicholas Brody? The show has thrown us for many a loop this year, teetering on the edge of sanity and reason for much of its thrilling third season. Sunday night’s episode “Good Night,” however (I mean, that title: c’mon!), felt like a series of suspect verbal signals to Brody's death that left all questions, no answers.

OK, seriously though: are you just fucking with us, Homeland? Played fast and loose with potential lines of doubletalk and foreshadowing surrounding Brody’s fate, it seemed all but certain that this would be the hour of his death.

But it wasn't, leaving us flummoxed. Was it all just one big red herring? Another instance of Homeland being the smartest and the dumbest show on TV? Or is it a smokescreen of different color: namely, a bigger deception? We’ve pulled some quotes from tonight’s episode (and one from last week for good measure), to suss out our suspicions the only way we know how: by over-thinking word choice to death.

“The key is to relax the goat before you cut its throat.”

Are we talking about a goat here, or Nick Brody, sacrificial lamb? Not to downplay how bad a guy Brody was-slash-maybe-is, but such an MO would allow reprieve for the murderer if it involved a little tenderness. Sort of like when the CIA got Brody clean, too, don't you think?

“I know what I’m here to do.”

Brody’s confidence in that line was quiet and contented; as if he knows death is certain. He would be one to know what a suicide mission looks like. Not to mention he's seen it first hand: Abu Nazir knew heading to America would get him killed, and it did. If Brody still believes in a greater purpose, it feels like reason enough to go through with it, regardless of his own well-being.

“I’m not going back.”

Sure, Brody was referring to the aborted mission’s fallback plan…but was he, really? Or was it more about how he's not going back to being a hero? Or to America? (Or are we reaching? Don't answer that.)

Special Ops: “We’re all moving out.” Brody: “Not me.”

Brody proved himself to be just as nervous and bumbling in this mission (i.e. the murder of the Iranian policemen) as he was prior to the suicide bombing: until the border was within his sights. Is it because he sees the mission has a future, or because he sees freedom on the other side of that line?

“I’ll see you on the other side.”

With Carrie’s last words to Brody in last week's “One Last Time,” the gift that is/was his death was ribbon-wrapped and tied with a bow. The build-him-up-to-tear-him-downness that's inherent in Brody’s turn from heroin addict to ready-and-willing agent (thanks to the totally-real ibogaine) all but sealed his fate as dead man talking, especially when you consider that the show is on a much-discussed, purposeful season-long trajectory. And let’s be real: the other side? What is this this word choice from, Touched By an Angel or Homeland? (Unless it's foreshadowing for something much darker coming in the future...oh!)

While some may argue that words are meaningless, there are also the actions of the operation’s central figures to consider. Saul, Lockhart, and Adal all spoke in vague terms about Brody and his role in the mission. At one point, Lockhart — who knows "everything" about the mission, "including Brody" — quipped that Carrie “must be one hell of a salesman to get Brody to do this.” Lockhart's silence following Carrie's reaction felt telling. Silence was also the name of Dar Adal's game, what with his insistence on waiting for the dust to settle, to see how things play out.

Not to mention the continual deceptions of Saul. While the rest of the staff in the war room was surprised, Saul told Lockhart he was informed the senator would show up. Coupled with Saul’s decision to remove himself from the room, turning the mission over to the military when it seemed all-but-certain that Brody was about to die? And his declarative, almost parroting statements back to Carrie when she revealed Brody made it across? Conclusions feel easy to draw.

And then there's this: What if Saul knows about Carrie’s pregnancy? He’s shown himself to know more than lets on numerous times: could he also know about — and be using — Carrie’s pregnancy as an inoculation against blowback from Brody? Considering Carrie feels it is just as much her mission as Saul’s — there is no way she would allow the willful murder of the father of her child and the man she loves — it would be easy for the CIA to pivot should the mission's true machinations come to light. After all, Carrie's love for Brody is already out there thanks to the hearings.

And one thing must never be forgotten: Saul's a manipulator, regularly putting work ahead of those he loves: is this just more of the same? Saul is well aware of the love and trust Carrie puts in his hands.

Brody’s death either as a pawn of Saul's or a true-blue terrorist reborn would send Carrie into an epic tailspin, with the former causing disillusionment towards the agency she has sacrificed her life for, and to question, well, everything. By no means guaranteed, it does seem like an increasingly enticing ending heading into the season finale.

After Homeland’s explosive sixth episode “Still Positive,” it may be easy to cast aside a more nuanced one like Sunday night’s “Gerontion.” And — forgive me, I’m a former English major — through its seemingly innocuous look at events following Javadi’s arrival in the United States, a definition of roles was exactingly unfurled. And in “Gerontion,” the Showtime series is doing some of its best work (no wonder it got renewed). Honestly, this might be my favorite episode of the season to date, because the drama is ALL in the words both said and unsaid.

The title of the episode, as previously mentioned, comes from the 1920 poem of the same name by T.S. Eliot, a kooky American expat with a major thing for cats. In it, an old man waxes nostalgically — and unreliably yet idealistically, proving that he is mostly all talk — on his own history, ultimately creating a cozy little world for Saul Berenson and his still-so-secretive backstory to morph into something else. Something useful for him.

After all, Saul is at the crux of his season-long career gamble thus far: he’s letting Javadi return to Iran, hopefully as a spy for the other side. Saul’s side. Because Saul and Javadi have a history, you see. But sometimes not even history can keep a house from falling down.

And history looks more and more to be the culprit: the one thing that will ultimately bite Saul in the ass. Because truth is never found in history, but rather nature and the acute existence of things. In “Gerontion,” ours is "an old man in a draughty house," and this "house" has corridors, passages, drafty holes, and issues. All rarely seen until it’s too late.

“Gerontion” (the poem)’s history is embodied in Mira Berenson. So often spoken to as a “she” by Eliot, the old man’s history is his ultimate blind spot, because he’s been too busy running around with a “cutlass,” never once taking into account alternative views. And it’s been Mira running with him all these years. Read these lines and imagine them as a description of Mira: “Think now / She gives when our attention is distracted / And what she gives, gives with such supple confusions / That the giving famishes the craving. Gives too late / What’s not believed in, or if still believed, / In memory only, reconsidered passion.” Works, right?

In Saul’s eyes, Mira is infallible, even though she’s proven time and time again to cause him grief and madness. Just like history, Mira constantly deceives and plays with Saul while he sits willingly unaware of her misdeeds. (To say nothing of her vague cover stories when she is away.) Who’s to say she hasn’t been deceiving him since their days in Iran when they were friends with Javadi?

Which brings us back to the story of Homeland as a whole. A lot of its earliest questions point to such an answer. Who’s been there from the beginning? Who was oh-so-conveniently away when everything went down at the CIA? Who just agreed to stay with a man she no clearly longer loves? Mira. To say nothing of their shared history — something that seems to be all-the-more entwined with that which is at the center of Homeland’s doings. And the incredulousness with which Javadi emphasized not once, but twice, the idea of being “beaten by a girl” also leads me to believe that a girl (Mira Berenson) will be Saul’s downfall, but not the obvious one (Carrie Mathison). Ooh doubletalk!

As for “Christ the tiger”? Well that is undoubtedly Quinn. Thoughts of his true involvement in Homeland have always been rife with speculation: he’s someone who’s been employed by Estes (to murder Brody) and Dar Adal (from the beginning, we’ve now discovered) and forced upon Saul. He’s proven to be an incredible hothead, but also able to use that as a manipulation tactic, leaving us without a proper conclusion on who or what he really is in the grand scheme of things.

So, too, is the curiosity behind the Christ tiger. “Signs are taken for wonders. ‘We would see a sign’: / The word within a word, unable to speak a word, / Swaddled with darkness. In the juvescence of the year / Came Christ the tiger.” Quinn is sick and tired of the crimes he’s committed in the name of some greater good he feels he’s yet to see. And from this realization comes a bit of seeming honesty: he admits that he isn’t sure he believes “that anything justifies the damage we do.” Is this the first time we’ve gotten a glimpse inside Quinn’s honest-to-goodness mind?

“The tiger springs in the new year. Us he devours. … I have not made this show purposelessly.” John “Paul Quinn” (not his real name): secret black ops murderer of bad guys. And also maybe a catty pariah.

Clearly, the culprit has always been at home. This is a show about home turf, home wars, and what’s happening at home — in the bigger, United States sense, and also in the smaller, more intimate character-by-character sense. So it would be logical that the biggest potential (and also metaphorical) bomb would be at home, in Mira, and Quinn, and Dar, and Carrie. This home is a drafty one.

After Sunday night’s sixth episode of Homeland titled “Still Positive,” I’m fairly positive about one thing myself: we’re watching the origin story of a future terrorist/serial murderperson, Chris Brody, and how he came to be as such. Sure — most folks out there will want to talk Carrie’s crazy-and-apparent pregnancy (more on that later), Dana’s exit from the Brody House of Modern Horrors, How Saul is having his Worst Life Ever, the capture of Javadi, or his brutal murder-rampage against own daughter-in-law and ex-wife. But really — it’s all about Chris Brody’s two minutes of screen time. Wherein the limits of our "how much sadder can Chris Brody possibly get?"-o-meter were pushed to the max. Might as well just go ahead and throw yourself into the deep end of hypothetical crazy head first, considering how hard it is to differentiate between real and mimetic device on the Showtime original.

Instead, speculation on bonkers theories is the name of the game, given the evening’s doings. Tonight's episode was bonzo and delivered more questions than answers in spades. The tagline for tonight’s episode states at the end that “Dana makes a radical decision that will change the Brody family forever.” That decision is either a.) her name change to Lazaro (which, interestingly enough, means “the one God has helped”), and/or b.) her decision to move out (just as we’re starting to like her, too! Which wasn’t always the case ). Both things that further alienate Chris Brody from his family and the rest of the world. Homeland isn't just about catching terrorists, it's about creating them!

It has been a running gag for the past two seasons, but Chris really embodied his role as the Charlie Browniest person on Homeland during the last 10 minutes of the episode. He’s always tried in his own, Jerry Gergich on Parks and Recreation way, to keep things together — encouraging idealist that he is — but it’s all in vain. None of it kept him from losing his father or, as of now, his sister.

And while his mother’s off having an affair with Mike (which, let’s be real: probably the smartest decision Jessica Brody’s ever made in her entire life), Chris is — where? Oh, we don’t know, off learning how to saw off a shotgun? We can speculate all we want here, but on screen it’s as though no one knows nor do they really care. Given the circumstances, it’s to be expected — has he had more than 3 lines this season? — but if I’ve learned anything from television, it’s that it is quite literally always the quiet ones.

And now that his would-be-dead sister and only family confidant has decided to change her name (in essence handicapping the connection between the two) and leave home, the seed has been planted. It’s only a matter of time now before Chris Brody breaks bad. It’ll start unsuspectingly at first, while he sits all alone in his house of bad juju, poor life decisions, radical extremism, and terrible family dinners. At first such mental degradation presented itself in the form of Sad Michael Cera on repeat: hunched shoulders and ho-hum sighs. Nothing more than a series of plodding, padding steps around the house while thing after thing fell down around him. If we’re not careful, Chris Brody’s going to be the one who knocks in the end.

But at least he’s got his mom, right? His totally-not-at-all survivalist, lone wolf, regretful mess of a mother will 100 percent save him from the man that he may become, right? [Insert cricket noise joke here.] Good luck fending for yourself while attempting to survive your emotionally unstable and panicky mother, littlest Brody. Would you blame him for becoming a murderer or terrorist? Because at this point I just wouldn’t be all that surprised. Chris Brody is the main ingredient in a recipe for disaster.

Nobody on this show is happy. Literally no one. They’re all miserable and those causing them the most pain are clearly the people they care about most. Not surprising considering life, etc… but still! Imagine. They’re all so driven in their own maniacal ways because they have nothing to lose because the things they’d normally be afraid of losing (siblings, lovers, husbands, wives, etc…) are the ones being the most colossal dicks of all! So, really, the possibility of residual calamity is all but guaranteed at this point. Regardless of anything, Quinn wins the night for the most obvious-yet-apt line of the night: “this is just the fucking beginning.”

Overthinker's Notes:

I Really Wish There Were Subtitles

Not all the time — just during foreign language times. I know, I know: I’m sorry I’m an American and don’t have a working knowledge of (or ability to roughly spell out and therefore throw into a free online translator) the myriad of languages in Iran. Call me ignorant if you must, but I just really like being able to understand what’s being said on the TV show I’m watching.

Saul’s Life Sucks

Poor Saul! Not only is his job being tossed over to someone else, so is his wife, it seems. Man really can’t catch a break, can he? Not that he’s faultless in any of these situations because, clearly, he also has terrible taste in friends. The company you keep, Saul — the company you keep.

Fariba

Javadi went friend to foe in the most extreme way possible. But still we’re flummoxed by Saul’s show of, well, emotion. What was up with that nose-breaking? Saul is nothing if not cool as a cucumber in pretty much any terror situation, especially when it comes to tactical moves. So why start now? Fariba must’ve been a more important asset than he let on to us audience. Also why wasn’t she in California?!

Javadi is Straight-Up Nutter Butters

Are you a terrorist who’s determined to show you’re not fucking around? Take a page out of the Javadi Terrorism Playbook and kill your ex-wife in cold blood! (Bonus points if you create a glass shiv.) He must’ve killed her as a leverage play against Saul. What did she know? Why did he need her alive?

What’s interesting about this season of Homeland is the divisiveness of its characters. Truly, the enjambment created in the gap between season two’s bombing and season three’s Javadi caper comes at the cost: the frustration on the part of the audience. Why him? Why now? What does this all mean? How did we get here? What about the bombing? It seems unlikely that the creators of this show would simply ignore all of that given its central-yet-background role in everything that’s happening. Still, as annoying as all the unknowns are at this point, it’s hardly fair to say what is or isn’t a mistake when they’ve yet to reveal all their cards.

Is Carrie Pregnant?

Oh SNAP — could there be a tiny Brody bun in Carrie’s metaphorical oven or are these false positives, indicative of something else? I tend to fall on the fence of the latter, even though actress Claire Danes did hint at some “reckless behavior” in teasers for this season. False positives, though rare, can happen when you’re — guess, just guess —on certain psychiatric drugs. Stuff for anxiety and depression, various antipsychotics and the like: all things very plausible for Ms. Mathison to have been prescribed. And while we did see her stop taking the pills in the last episode, drugs like that stay in your system for weeks after the fact. (Google chlordiazepoxide, chlorpromazine, or phenothiazine if you don’t believe me.) Which semi-leads me to…

What’s Up with Quinn?

Peter Quinn has been acting mighty strange this season. His affections towards Carries are certainly a 180 from last season. But there’s something just… different in the way he approaches her, interacts with her, talks with her, is protective over her. What’s up with that and where did the hardened, crazy Quinn from season two go off to? (Not complaining either way — just curious!) Does he love Carrie? Does he despise her? Does he respect her but also disagree with her tactics?

Senator Lockhart is a Major Asshat

But I also think he’s being used as a pawn. He is a Republican placeholder for this show, touching on the fear factor that seems to be all the rage in politics these days. And if he does end up being confirmed as the new head of the CIA, something tells us that it will all come in mighty handy for Saul and Co.

Dar Adal is Totally the Mole

I mean, c’mon. Obviously. Right? (Although with the reappearance of Maury Sterling, a.k.a. Max, my old season one theory about him being the mole is still very much on deck as option two.) Somalia, Libya, Uganda? Dar Adal’s been in some fucked up situations striking fear into the hearts of people — allegedly. Awfully good cover for someone who ultimately might want to turn the world (or at least the terrorists) against the US/CIA, don’tcha think?

On Tuesday, Showtime released a slew of new videos related to the third season of the popular drama, Homeland. The new promos came just a day after an early version of the premiere episode of Season 3 leaked online. Showtime is staying mum about the leaked episode, but the subscription cable network is still busy putting out promos to try to amp up excitement about the show's actual Season 3 premiere.

In the first promo video, we get to spend a little time seeing Carrie in action before actress Claire Danes weighs in on her character. Danes seems to have a pretty good grasp of the complicated character she is playing. Carrie’s bipolar, but she can also be focused and driven. In the new season, Danes says her character’s reluctance to become close to anyone will play a bigger role, which may have something to do with her reckless actions with Brody last season, but we’ll have to wait and see exactly what those cryptic words mean. Homeland is often a stressful drama, and Carrie’s presence certainly doesn’t lighten the mood of the show.

Showtime also published a video featuring Mandy Patinkin’s musings about Saul. Saul has more power than Carrie as the acting head of the CIA, but he never abuses that power and is always striving to work to create a better world. Patinkin is full of fervor when he talks about his character and his character’s relationship with Carrie, which plays a big role in Homeland. The video also takes a look at Saul’s ability to interrogate bad guys, and I’m guessing that has specifically been brought up because it will pop into the plot in Season 3.

Unless you are one of the people who pirated the unfinished premiere episode, it’s unlikely that you know all that much about Season 3 of Homeland. Showtime has kept a lot of the details under wraps, but the network has released an official trailer for Season 3, which is heavily emotional and features interactions between Brody and Carrie, as well as Carrie and Saul. Additionally, a slew of actors are signed on for the new episodes, including Joanna Merlin, Nazanin Boniadi, Amy Morton, Gary Wilmes, Tracy Letts, Lawrence Clayton, Pedro Pascal and Sam Underwood. You can check out more about the new guest stars in our list.

Showtime has a couple of big premieres this month, including Homeland’s third season and the official launch of Masters of Sex. The former will begin airing on Sunday, September 29 at 9 p.m. ET followed by the latter at 10 p.m. ET.

After recently taking the time to re-watch Homeland's first season in its entirety, what impressed me most was just how great the Showtime drama series holds up, even without the element of mystery. In fact, even knowing how the first season was going to turn out, there was still an element of suspense, as well as the added enjoyment of knowing how to interpret those little clues that would eventually lead to revelations. If you have the chance to watch Season 1 again before Season 2 begins, I recommend it. The season may actually be better the second time around.

And if you haven't seen Homeland yet, I strongly recommend reading no further, as this article contains references to the series' first season, and the finale in particular!

Having re-watched Season 1, I'm now especially excited to see where things pick up in the Showtime drama series' second season. While details on Season 2 seem scarce at this point, including in what state we'll find Claire Danes' CIA Agent Carrie Mathison, it doesn't sound like pregnancy is in the cards for the character. Seems like a strange bit of news to share, but as People announced yesterday, Claire Danes is actually pregnant (Congrats Claire Danes and Hugh Dancy!), so it's fair to speculate on how it might affect the series. Reportedly, not at all. People reports that a spokesman states that the pregnancy isn't expected to affect production on the drama, and TV Line adds to this by bringing up the possibility that Carrie Matthison might end up being pregnant in the show, but they quickly debunk the theory, reconfirming People's report that Danes' pregnancy is not expected to have any affect on the series.

The Showtime series, which is scheduled to premiere its second season on September 30, is reportedly in the latter stages of shooting for its second season, so it sounds like this was a well-timed pregnancy. With that said, what a twist it would have been if Mathison did end up pregnant with Nicholas Brody's (Damian Lewis) baby. But given that Season 1 ended with her on a table, receiving electroshock therapy, it's probably not the right time for that. There are some other pretty major issues that Carrie needs to tackle (like remembering that tidbit about Brody's relationship with Abu Nazir's son).

"The Vest" is the second to last episode of the season and short of sounding repetitive, it was excellent. Homeland is at its best when it's about the characters because, well, that's what separates it from the rest of the plot-driven, action heavy thrillers on television (like Gansa and Gordon's previous work with 24). That's not to say that the Showtime series isn't also thrilling, it's just the thrills come out of the tension built from both the plot and the characters, not just from watching a guy break fingers in the interrogation room week after week (that's not fair, sometimes Jack shot them). Homeland is deceptively quiet. Slow burning. And then, like last week, it explodes. No explosions this week, literal ones anyway.

”One last weekend with the four of us.”

The show opens with close-ups on the titular vest being made. Funny enough, we find out later, that this is all taking place inside an actual tailor’s shop (a vest being made by a tailor) but for now it’s just hands putting all the parts together - the most terrifying probably being the ball bearings dropping into place. Meanwhile, at the Brody household the family is gearing up for a trip to Gettysburg before things get too crazy with the election, or, you know, the impending terrorist attack. This is the first scene of many that serve to tempt Brody to stray from the path he has chosen with Abu Nazir and yet, the writers are careful to also include the whole Civil War backdrop which allows Brody to constantly talk about ‘sacrificing yourself for what you believe is right.’ He's stuck balancing his new life with his family, the one he always should have had if not taken hostage, against the one he built with the terrorist and his son while captive in Iraq. Will he be able to perform the duties he has sworn to do in the Isa's name?

The trip begins with a scene in the car and we’re not only introduced to the first of many tidbits of Civil War information that Brody knows but we also see that his smart and rebellious daughter Dana has brought a little video camera along as well. She’s intent of taping pretty much everything which obviously means she’s bound to capture something she wasn’t supposed to see. The family tours Gettysburg, all with Brody functioning as a sort of tour guide, his dialogue dripping with subtext relating his cause to that of the 'traitorous' North, highlighting Joshua Chamberlain and how "he was a man who was willing to do what was necessary for a cause that he believed in." Did I say subtext? Okay, so perhaps a lot of this half of the narrative is a little on the nose but once the Marine Sergeant starts sufficiently creeping out his daughter, telling her that she'll have to look after her mother once things get wild and he's not around.

She also spies him returning from the tailors after his first fitting with the vest, a scene where we are cleverly left out of a portion of the conversation which only heightens the mystery. Dana asks about the package but he seems to convince her it's just a gift for Jess and they return to the diner for lunch, where Brody's will for the cause is once again tested. Lewis is great throughout the episode (as usual) but Morgan Saylor as his daughter once again shines. It's not easy to go toe to toe with Damian Lewis and she does a great job.

This time a 'joe six-pack' type comes up, calls him a hero and then tells him how he 'd surely vote for Brody if he had the chance. It electrifies the whole place and he looks like a real politician not a man masquerading. That night, Brody shares a moment with Chris (doing a similar 'when I'm one speech' as he did earlier with Dana, only his son isn't as sharp as his sister) before successfully having sex with his wife which is a pretty significant step for him. In fact, I feel like they should have shown more of that scene only because they've stressed so far his inability to make love with her and it seems too important a scene to gloss over.

Oh well, that's soon forgotten because the next time we see the Brodys, Dana is snooping in the back of the car, slowly tearing open the package to see what her father is hiding. He arrives just in time and grabs her arm hard enough to make her wince. Dana's not stupid and she plays it cool even though something is clearly amiss. When they get home, Dana retreats with her boyfriend and Brody received a call from Carrie. Dana's camera did catch something, and thankfully it wasn't as cliche and ridiculous as I feared when first seeing plot device. In fact, what the camera captured was subtle and chilling - a creepily still Brody at Gettysburg - as well as enough to convince Dana that all is not well at home.

”I just came this way.”

While Brody was doing his best to make preparations and stay steadfast to the cause on 'vacation' with his family, the explosion at the end of "Representative Brody" knocked the already loose screws all the way out of Carrie's head. She is stuck in the hospital recuperating and seemingly off her meds although I'm sure her sister would have been told/found out about the explosion and been there already. As you can see, there are a few logistical problems with the episode that keeps it from being truly great, but the performances are so wonderful, especially from Danes and Patinkin, that I'm willing to allow such missteps (are you?).

Anyway, Carrie is distraught that she cannot locate a new green pen and Saul is clearly pained to see her like this, finally realizing that all is not well with his protege. Despite her appearance and the half-gibberish coming out of her mouth, Carrie is able to get one point across and it's that the assassination plot doesn't fit the Nazir profile. Saul agrees but finds it hard to see past the wild eyes and alliterative ramblings. It's a pretty heartbreaking moment when Carrie finally admits to him and the doctor that she requires medication and they should call her sister. However, it's an equally big moment for Saul when he commits to being home to watch her at seven o'clock because, from what we've learned of him and his relationships, being home was never his strong suit.

The terror plot won't rest just because the lead CIA analyst on the case is currently a head case. Estes has to pay a visit to he Vice President's bunker and again it doesn't seem logical that the VP (or the President earlier) would be arguing against the security measures when five people were just killed in an explosion and the man responsible, Walker, is still on the loose. However, the Vice President is antsy and wants out of his bunker in order to announce his candidacy for president. A date that is set and will not change - and therefore is clearly where the final showdown will occur and the terrorist attack is scheduled to take place.

Estes wants Carrie back to work but Saul covers for her and still passes along her suspicions that the plot must be bigger than one sniper. Carrie clearly is not ready for work as she's too busy ditching out of cars, talking in alliterative phrases and lost in a color code that no one understands. That is, until Saul starts mapping the colored papers out on the board. In what could be a pretty boring scene (it is pinning papers on the wall), I was fascinated watching Patinkin's Saul piece together the puzzle and leave a rather beautiful mural of information on the wall.

When Carrie awakes you can see she's more level headed (a testament to Danes' acting that it only takes a second to see it) and it's another nice moment between them when she explains to Saul that, despite what he thinks or blames himself for, she's always been this way. And even though she's kind of crazy, she's still one hell of an analyst, piecing together the plot and noticing that pieces are in fact missing. A whole section of Abu Nazir's timeline has him inactive and they want to to know why. Carrie already starts speculating about a loss, a period of mourning when her sister and father (more James Rebhorn, always a great thing) arrive for the morning watch.

After Saul leaves, Carrie realizes that the period of inactivity overlaps perfectly with the time that Brody spent there (sadly, she doesn't realize the real connection) and decides to give him a call. With only her father there to stop her, and he does his best (I totally bought the good gut-bad gut speech) she makes the call and says way too much to Brody. He's obviously worried and, in another surprising move, Brody calls Estes and tells him everything. Again, I'm not sure I completely follow the logic here because it might jeopardize his candidacy and getting close to the VP during his announcement next week (which hasn't been announce but, come on). Again, another one of many small miscues in the episode that didn't necessarily derail it or the building tension for next week's finale.

”You don't know what you're doing!”

Remember how someone had to be fired? Well, it looks like that decision is easy for Estes after Brody fills him in on his and Carrie's relationship, not to mention, adding the bit about the harassment. When Estes finds the confidential files on the wall and Carrie, well, off the wall, it's even easier and he orders for the entire board to be taken down. Carrie obviously loses her mind, more than she already has, and breaks down to a depth we've yet to see, one that she might not be able to recover from professionally or personally (who am I kidding, she's going to save the day next week... right?).

"The Vest" was a very solid episode. Sometimes perhaps lacking in narrative cohesion and believability and yet also a rather gripping 50 minutes as well as a brilliant acting showcase - and not just for the two leads, Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, but also Morgan Saylor and Mandy Patinkin. Nothing too big may have occurred. No explosions, chases or shoot-outs but it's the small moments between characters that are the most gripping. Flaubert said, "pleasure is found first in anticipation, later in memory.” Next week is Homeland's first season finale, the pleasure is killing me.

Homeland airs on Showtime, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin.

To say that Showtime's Homeland took an interesting turn last week might be a bit of an understatement. The final ten minutes of 'The Good Soldier' were pretty intense and surprising at the time, yet, after digesting, I felt that the events could ultimately hurt the thriller going forward. First, Carrie and Brody hook up sans protection in a parking lot. Then Brody passes the polygraph even though we (and Carrie) know he's lying. And finally, the episode ends with the the two of them driving off together (for 'The Weekend'). There is no question as to the power of those scenes in the moment but in terms of the big picture for the character drama I couldn't help but feel like it somehow already jumped the shark. Did episode six derail the (so far) excellent series or did 'The Weekend' manage to pull things together and continue Homeland's stellar first season run? Well, my fears were assuaged as the episode wasted no time building suspense (and character) that culminated in another perfectly placed twist, once again proving that the Showtime thriller is the real deal.

"I miss you."

There are three stories unfolding in 'The Weekend,' with the most minor taking place largely inside the Brody household. Jess is trying to keep things together, going through the usual motions like cutting her kids' hair but Dana is back to being difficult, especially after finding out that her dad knows about her mom's relationship with Mike. Morgan Saylor, the young actress playing the Brody daughter, handles the material quite well even though the scene comes across as a re-hash of one of their earlier bouts. Even so, looks like Dana can cancel her plans for the weekend (show title!) because she's grounded - if grounded means having friends over and getting so wasted that you jump through the sliding glass door. Again, this scene feels a bit forced but it functions as a nice way to get Mike over to the house so this storyline can finally become interesting and move the character dynamics forward. First, we watch Jess and Mike rekindle their flame (which seems so genuine and nice) before Dana bluntly tells Mike what she thinks of his helpful visits. It's a really phenomenal and sad sequence, that begins with the natural and caring relationship that could exist between Mike and Jess before it's forced apart by the naive belief that they somehow can or should return to their previous lives. However, everything has changed. There is no going back.

"Agents await."

The second narrative finds Saul on the road to bring Aileen in FBI custody. The show opens with the now solo terrorist on the run, Aileen, looking for a bus ticket to Mexico (yet, apparently the well-trained terrorist doesn't think asking for any ticket to the country, not caring what city, is suspicious). Upon arrival south of the border she is quickly greeted by Saul and the Federales, and she wisely chooses to join Saul for the ride back to Washington. In a previous scene, the show did it's best to once again make us suspect Saul might have ulterior motives as it's rather unclear why he requests to go pick her up and when he throws in the ominous, "trust me" you know we're supposed to think something may be afoot. However, Saul just sees a misguided and lonely woman, someone whom with he shares a similarly isolated up-bringing and therefore thinks he can reach. After a mostly silent first few hours together, Saul slowly works away at her defenses and she begins to open up. Both actors do fine work, especially Patinkin who oozes empathy with every line, gesture and/or pose.

Eventually, she succumbs to his interrogation techniques (they are the very same ones he highlighted in the Affy interrogation, using knowledge to gain the upper hand) and it feels completely earned. The writers carefully crafted five or six sequences between the two characters, with Saul gaining just a little each time before they finally stop at a jailhouse en route so she can fully spill the beans. And beans she spills! Apparently, the Faisels were visited a week prior by an American terrorist who spent an inordinate amount of time up on the roof. Yes, another American! Saul calls it in to Estes and, as a sketch artist is working away with Aileen, he requests a picture of Brody be sent over for her to inspect. Of course, he has to ring up Carrie but before getting to the Carrie and Brody thread, I want to highlight how this b-story perfectly parallels the way the show as whole has been operating and to such great effect. The narrative builds slowly, with a focus on developing the characters and the relationships between them and suddenly, before we know it, this leads to a major development in the terrorism plot. Oh, and did a major development ever occur as a result of Saul's relationship building with Aileen.

"So you won't be hauling me in again next week?"

As I stated in the opening paragraph, what transpired between Carrie and Brody last week, although incredibly tantalizing in the moment, provided me with a few worries as to whether or not the series would ever be the same. Long story short, it won't be but that turned out to be kind of amazing. In no easy feat from the writers, they managed to turn my trepidation about the development of their relationship into complete awe, with me hanging on every exchange between the two incredible actors as the episode unfolded. But first things first, the show began for the two pretty much where we left them last week, heading away from the intelligence facility together after Brody had just beaten the poly. The two banter with ease before Brody opens up to her about his cheating wife and how he could really use a drink. The scene that follows didn't do much to assuage my fears that show was heading in the wrong direction because the entire fight with the White Suprememcist felt out of place. It belongs it a far inferior show but luckily they don't stay long and instead head for Carrie's family cabin.

Carrie still seems to be pretty suspicious of Brody, since the first thing she does upon arriving at the cabin is find and load her gun. Well, that's not technically true, she does have to phone her sister Maggie to find the key and remind us about her medication (in case we forgot that Carrie suffers from a mental illness - one serious enough that it would not be wise for her to miss a pill). Also of note, is how he genuinely seems to trust her and if he was a terrorist, he would probably be a little more interested in gathering intel from the CIA analyst and not just, well, graduating to cabin sex (unless he's playing the long con). Before they get to the cabin sex, Carrie manages to get him to open up about the lie detector and how he may have learned how to beat the machine in order to stay alive.

The chemistry between Danes and Lewis is palpable. The scenes we spend with them are a delight, first because we get to watch these two incredibly fractured people find a degree of comfort in each other and second because we know that Carrie still believes him to be a terrorist and therefore every minute of the former is tainted. Their relationship is fascinating and I completely regret the doubts I had after it escalated last week. Their weekend continues as they wake up hungover and decide to try a day together sober. This leads to more opening up and it's quite clear that Carrie's suspicions might be giving way to genuine feelings and she's no longer as certain of his guilt.

However, just when things seem to be moving most swimmingly, she slips up and he realizes that she's been spying on him. In perhaps one of the most interesting and series-altering moments, Carrie comes clean and tells him about the American POW being turned and how she suspects that it's him. He tries his best to convince her otherwise, opening up about everything from being a Muslim to killing his partner, Tom Walker, while under duress in captivity. Carrie receives a call from Saul and before she can answer, Brody starts to leave. She picks up and we find out that Walker is not dead, he is the man who visited the Faisel's roof - which happens to be perfectly positioned for a sniper to hit an incoming Marine helicopter - and the American POW who's been turned. Carrie runs to Brody and tries to apologize as she realizes that the feelings she was having for Brody were real. Sorry but, "Hey Carrie, fuck you." She breaks down as he drives away, on his way home to look in on his family where he breaks down himself. It's a shocking and then saddening ending. Truly remarkable storytelling as little things - like Abu Nazir probably using Brody beating Walker to turn him - come to light in retrospect.

A common thread amongst the storylines this week was how a slow start soon gave way to very interesting and engaging sequences. The way the two more important weave together at the end is truly brilliant writing, playing all of our expectations that started building as early as the first episode against us. This doesn't mean that Brody isn't still a terrorist, at least not for sure, but it does add another exciting chase element to the mostly character driven show. Homeland moves so fast that it has no time to concern itself with convention or our expectations, which is probably what makes the series feel so fresh and original. I said in an earlier paragraph, when discussing how the way that Saul makes Aileen talk felt earned, and that can be said about the series as a whole so far. That all small character moments or the biggest twists feel earned. Now with Tom Walker on the loose, Carrie breaking down and Brody, well, as ambiguous as ever what could possibly happen next week? I can't wait.

Homeland airs on Showtime, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin.

The fifth episode of Showtime's Homeland is called 'Blind Spot,' a phrase that harkens back to earlier in the series when Carrie's personal surveillance of Brody failed to include the garage, which fortunately for him, is where most of his suspicious activities take place. With Carrie's cameras and mics removed, Brody may be free to do as he pleases at home but this week finds him pulled into the central investigation and face to face with his former prison guard (and fellow Jihadist?) at a CIA safe house.

"Enjoy. Drive safe. And fuck the CIA."

As part of the Central Intelligence Agency's ongoing investigation into Abu Nazir, the show opens with a raid on an apartment complex in Islamabad that depicts a super rad prisoner extraction. The elite operatives are able to sneak in and out, prisoner in hand without making much of a stir and the man they extract happens to be the only survivor of the operation that resulted in Brody's rescue - yes, the man is Brody's former guard, torturer and all around nasty guy. This mission is cross-cut with the Marine Sergeant continuing to practice Islam in his garage. I wonder if they are suggesting something?

We first see Carrie paying a visit to her sister's house, mostly because she's low on pills, but instead of her sister she finds her father. After a moments hesitation, perhaps debating whether to slip away unnoticed, her father (James Rebhorn, awesome) spies her spying on him and she's forced to engage. They are pretty polite with each other and dance around the topic of their shared mental illness. It's a nice character moment and allows Carrie to lift a few pills from his prescription but they don't have much time together as Carrie soon gets the call to head in to work. Saul gets a similar call to come in and too bad for him, because he's at the airport picking up his cliche, sorry, his significant other, Mira, who's coming back from a 'vacation' at her parent's in India.

"The CIA wants to see me."

Estes tells the fully assembled group that they have just got their hands on Brody's former guard and that Carrie and Saul will be conducting the interrogation.... with Brody. The pair obviously cannot fully express their concerns with the Marine Sergeant sitting in on the interrogation but that doesn't stop Carrie from trying her hardest to argue against it, first with Estes and then with Saul. It's all in futility but Saul reminds her of the silver lining, that at least they will be able to watch Brody and how he handles the high stress situation, especially high stress if he's part of the same cell as this Affy. There is also the wrinkle of Carrie 'bumping into' him last week but she handles that with her quick greeting (although the two of them alone and on the extra-curricular is super intriguing) when he arrives at the CIA safe house.

However, before Brody arrives he has to be summoned, and by who else but his best buddy Mike. Mike interrupts Brody's morning jog to inform him that the CIA would like to see him. This doesn't look like it sits too well with Brody, especially on the car ride in when he is still unaware of why they want him to come. He soon finds out and when he's shown Affy in custody, ready to be interrogated, and he bursts out in seemingly genuine surprise and hatred (I think it was, "motherfucking shit" before a few involuntary flashbacks of the man hitting Brody with a barb-wire bat and urinating on him). Now Carrie informs him of why he's there, to provide Saul with information in order to gain the upper hand during questioning.

This is a great scene for Mandy Patinkin. He opens it with a kiss before shooting one of the most intimidating glares imaginable at the prisoner, like he's looking right through him. The back and forth between Brody and Saul with Carrie facilitating and narrating the whole exchange is fascinating to watch, especially with the fine acting on display. This sequence is one of the most memorable in an already unforgettable series. Brody does his best to help and hold back his emotions but he when it's all over he cannot help but ask for the chance to face his former tormentor face-to-face. Of course, Carrie is unable to acquiesce this request due to operational security but she does pass along her card (extra-curriculars?). The second that the he leaves, Carrie immediately wants surveillance back on Brody - if she had her way, they would have never stopped - but Saul reminds her that they can't, they have no new evidence.

"Don't go there Carrie. Be patient."

Despite Carrie's concerns that this would be the perfect time to be watching him, not much out of the ordinary is happening at the Brody household this week. I mean, there's still family drama but no suspicious activities. He agrees to attend his son's karate ceremony and has a cup of awkward silence with Jess, who cut her hair short so it would be the way he used to like it. something he almost notices. At least he's having better luck with his lady this week than Saul is with Mira. We didn't even know she existed before this weekm and I kind of wish she still didn'tm because the disgruntled significant other who's sick of their spouse's spy/cop/whatever lifestyle is a little tired. The show handles it well, mostly thanks to Patinkin and the actress playing Mira but I could have done without. It's an attempt to flesh out Saul a little more but I kind of liked his mysterious mentor instead of this more cliched character development.

The second or third time that the recently reunited couple is interrupted (straws on the camel's back) happens because the sensory torture seems to have worked on Affy, who has finally reached for the crayon they left behind. He offers up a bunch of names in exchange for his family's safety but the real jewel is an email address that leads them back to Professor Faisel. After a little creative work by Virgil and his 'part moron or just doing it to piss him off' brother, they are able to locate the recently purchased place by the airport and set up surveillance. However, while this is going on - keeping Carrie and Saul busy - Brody pays Estes a visit and once again requests time with his former guard. This time his ploy is successful and the meeting, well, it doesn't go so well, with a tussle breaking out after some spitting in the face occurs.

Brody arrives home to find out that he missed his karate kid (but Mike didn't - he's such a good guy) while Carrie and Saul get to find out that Affy killed himself with a tiny razor blade. Now, how did the prisoner who went through numerous strip searches suddenly get a hold of a tiny razor blade? Well, it might have happened when Brody payed him a visit which resulted in them rolling around on the ground in the camera's blind spot (episode title!). He was shaving right before paying Estes that visit. That is certainly Carrie's theory when she arrives at Saul's late that night and right in the middle of Mira dumping him... not the most opportune time to call someone a pussy. The official statement is that Affy snuck the razor in his shoes, but we were very carefully shown his sneakers and how thoroughly investigated they looked. Carrie returns to her place rocked by feelings of isolation, abandonment and helplessness. She breaks down and has no choice but to head to her sister's for comfort

"That's my job."

The episode with the very intense interrogation in the middle ends on a much more somber note with Carrie at her sister's being talked down from quitting over a glass of wine and Brody wandering into his son's room to apologize for missing out on him getting his blue belt. Carrie's sister calms her down and even convinces her to spend the night. Soon she's joined by both her nieces in an bed that's way too small for the three of them. Brody ends up beside his boy, kneeling in prayer together. Unable to sleep Carrie wakes and wakes up the younger of the nieces. In perhaps the corniest moment of the series (but I'll allow it because it's well earned), Carrie reassures the young girl not to be too afraid of the bad guys who blow things up because it's her job to keep them safe. Something about her comments over the course of the series and the way she's sitting in silence on the dark stairs at the end tells me that she's hasn't always been successful keeping her loved ones safe. Another gripping and very well written episode as we cross the halfway point and head to next week. With only three left, the clock is ticking.

Homeland airs on Showtime, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin.

For all those worried about some kind of The Killing situation - yes, I re-purposed the show title as a verb for series squandering promise - rest easy because Showtime's Homeland once again delivers. The fourth episode of the season, called "Semper I" (a play on the U.S. Marine motto 'Semper Fidelis' or more commonly 'Semper Fi,' which translates to 'Always Faithful'), strayed a little more James Bond-ish spy side of the international spy/terror genre and to great effect. Yes. Mathison, Carrie Mathison. Wait. Thinker Traitor Soldier Spy.

This week was once again structured with a Carrie - Brody narrative divide, and the divide only growing even wider with the removal of certain surveillance equipment. There have been more and more scenes without the two as the series progresses and the world opens, however, this episode opens with our two leads in a sequence that does its best to highlight just how much time they have been spending together even if Brody's not aware of it, Carrie's watchful eye and, uh, her Stranger Than Fiction life narration.

He's off to do both the hero and family man thing (one he does quite well, the other uh) and she's got to keep tabs on Brody and follow-up on the latest lead supplied by her once beautiful but now dead asset. First, our hero.

"How closely the public image matches the man?"

Prepping for his televised appearance, Brody gets a nasty visit in the form of an Abu Nazir hallucination. Shrugging that off, he gives a speech to a graduating class of soldiers that, along with his previous on-air engagements, helped pique Ms. Gaines, chief adviser to the Vice President, political interest. How very Manchurian Candidate. On the way home from the event, Brody asks Mike why he hasn't been over lately but the conversation quickly devolves from genuine friendliness to nasty undertones. The nastiness follows Brody out back when he interrupts his wife and son, Jess and Chris, watching a deer play in the backyard only to bitch that it'll stomp on her flowers. However, when he heads to the garage for 'more propane' (prayer) he has two flashbacks that are very different than those we've seen before, nice memories of him and Jess hinting at something more inside him than merely turmoil and torture.

The political interest in Brody intensifies since they happen to belong to the right religion and go to church (if only Ms. Gaines could see the 'blind spot' in his garage). Therefore, he's suitable for a meeting and lunch with the heavyweight adviser and while this all conspires inside the house of God, outside Mike is concerned about Jess and she almost cracks her 'tough wife' mold. Baccarin is the understated star of the show, as Lewis and Danes get the flashy parts, she shines in her subtlety. There's a great scene between her and her daughter Dana, at first she inquires (interrogates) about whether her kid spilled the adultery but it soon sits somberly on the bed, aching for someone to talk to but unable to speak, definitely not to further upset her children. Good thing they are hosting a party.

Actually, the party is the first time we see Jess open up, telling another Marine-wife how "it's been tough, I'm not going to lie." Uh, tough is an understatement after the emotional and sometimes just weird shit she's had to go through since her husband's return. Brody spends most of the time playing creep, watching from the garage and fiddling with his handgun. Oh, sorry, and that's before he kills a deer (yes, kills a deer and maybe his political career) in the middle of the party. The show's so clever that it even sets it up so we think, even if only for a second, that Brody may have just killed Mike or himself. Either way, the deer is the catalyst for Jess to finally speak up and force Brody to seek help. Shockingly, he accepts but what he finds at his first meeting, well, it's a familiar face and maybe some comfort but not what it seems.

"That doesn't mean I'm wrong. It just means he may be laying low for a while. Turned and trained but a sleeper."

After Carrie see's Brody off to his TV appearance, she has to get to the office for her own debriefing. It's been three weeks since Lynne (the 'asset') was killed and they have tracked Sinister Baldy - who apparently has a name, Latif - and the necklace to a local laundry-mat that Carrie believes to be a huwala, which as I understand it means a place for people to transfer funds internationally, no questions asked. Only this time, the huwala-mat is being used as a drop for Abu Nazir's funds and Estes (in a surprisingly nice, and assuredly not ulteriorly motivated, move) allows the team - Carrie - to investigate. But quietly, they don't want to spook Abu Nazir before they know how many others he's activated (wink wink, Brody?).

Speaking of Saul's sound advice (and by the way, just how connected is this guy, calling the VP's top adviser 'Lizzie?'), he tells Carrie her time has expired and she better roll up the surveillance operation on Brody's house - despite her best objections. Saul's reasoning is sound, the old 'if you love it, set it free' argument in that say Brody really is connected to the money, then if they follow it, it should lead back to him. After grasping at straws with Virgil and even asking if Max thinks Brody's dirty (oddly enough, Max isn't as stupid as he looks, since he thinks 'the wife is hot' which is absolutely correct) she agrees to let go. In a great reverse shot, we watch from the other side of the monitor as the screen goes fuzzy, all this occurring during and exceptionally edited to the Brody family's day at church. Is she finally going to let the man alone? Of course not, she just starts watching (stalking) him in person, both on and off duty.

Back at the office and on the trail of the huwala-mat drop, Estes gets in close with Carrie's temporary partner, Danny Galvez, only to 'request' that he tail her to see if she's got anything going on the side. Galvez doesn't seem to keen but he has wanted to be a field agent for some time and this is his ticket. Hm. We don't know where his allegiances lie just yet but guess who shows up as one of the 51 patrons of the laundry? One half of our recent homeowners by the airport, Mr. Raqim Faisel. They decide to tail him and when he starts heading toward the airport home and not the one where he's registered they got him right? Nope, at the last second someone calls in a warning to Raqim's scary wife and he's able to lead them astray. Perfect timing, since the two agents have to get to a work related birthday party where Estes and Carrie flirt and/or con each other. That is, before she ducks out to head home and get back to work. Only, it's Carrie and she doesn't stay home for long. I wonder where her late night excursion may lead her?

"Maybe we can hold our own private meeting out here? How's that sound?."

Tempting? I'll say. What a way to end the show. The last time our two leads met face to face was in the pilot episode and I remember commenting on the electricity then. This though, this has so many layers going on and adds so many questions that my mind can't comprehend what exactly I saw. What is Carrie's endgame here? What is Brody's? One thing is for sure, despite what he says her secrets are most definitely not safe with him nor vice versa even if it seemed like there was some real chemistry between them. Like I said, who's playing who or even more baffling, what if they're not playing? Cue those ambiguous smiles. One of the great parts of this slightly less intense episode was that they exchanged disturbing or visceral moments for those of heightened intrigue and misdirection. I don't know what's going on, or what's going to happen but I do know that I like it. Every minute. Wait. Back to that call.

Homeland airs on Showtime, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin.

Showtime's Homeland is easily the best new show to hit small screens this fall. The smart and complex character(s) study, moonlighting as an intense and intricately woven terrorist thriller, had me fully invested with the pilot. Now, with "Clean Skin," we are three episodes deep and they continue to ratchet up the tension, even with the story between the two phenomenal leads moving into the background to allow their characters to develop and the world of intrigue to expand.

Don't get me wrong, Claire Danes' CIA Analyst Carrie Mathison is still watching every move that Damian Lewis' possible sleeper Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody makes but this week had a wider focus. Carrie's asset, Lynne finds herself in an increasingly dangerous situation while Brody is busy mending family feuds before his big interview. Of course, much more than that is going on as the show is filled with red herrings, unreliable narrators and unanswered questions but the most intriguing part may be the complex yet completely convincing relationships.

"I'm not going to lie. I'm not going to tell the truth either."

The Brodys have their first big interview with a national news agency coming up and their narrative opens with one of the show's producers trying to make changes to the house. Brody won't allow it because to him it's home. And it's home because Jess has kept it exactly the same since his before his capture, one of many hints at much she still cares for her estranged husband - despite her complicated relationship with Mike - as we as the lengths she's willing to go to make it work and help him in his time of need.

And speaking of their relationship, we also discover that it's the cause of friction between mom and daughter because Dana thinks it might be better for dad if mom wasn't "fucking his good friend Mike." So that's out of the bag. Meanwhile, as those two are butting heads, Brody and Dana are getting along great making Jess a little jealous (mom has it rough). The family dynamics around the returning soldier are really interesting and if mishandled could easily sway into the contrived or conventional or but there's a real deft hand behind the story telling. Nothing ever feels too big, or grand standing, and the series is all the better for it.

However, that's not to say the series doesn't delve into some pretty dark places. We're quickly reminded of just how fractured Damian Lewis' character is with scenes like the failed intimacy between him and his wife (putting it mildly) or his flashback filled one-on-one interview - the look on Lewis' face when the interviewer says "Semper Fidelis," meaning always faithful, is mesmerizing yet ambiguous. Those two scenes stood out, not only as exceptionally crafted and acted sequences, but as even more interesting when juxtaposed against the wonderful way he interacts with his children. He is a terribly complex and tortured man, who probably doesn't know what to make of himself half the time, so it's twice as hard for us to put a finger on him (albeit exceptionally captivating to watch).

"I need to find something here..."

The episode actually opens with Lynne, Carrie's asset and escort to the Saudi wealthy, in a love scene with her Prince Farid. When he leaves to go consult with his head Bodyguard - who I'll call Sinister Baldy - she manages to get his cell-phone and copy the data onto a chip. It's a pretty stimulating way to open the show, first the steamy love scene, then the suspenseful bit of espionage, which is all complicated by the gift. Does the Prince genuinely care for Lynne? And vice versa? Well, it doesn't work out so well for our undercover escort but the Prince serves as a convincing red herring.

Carrie relays the good news to her CIA colleagues only to have Saul hit her with a reasonable, and as it turns out correct, question. Why should they suspect that a money transfer occurred between Abu-Nazir and the Prince? Or that the Prince has any involvement in financing terrorist activity? Well, this spat is merely the first of a few that finally clear the elephant out of the room and find mentor and student working together again by episode end... but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Carrie continues surveillance on Brody with the assistance of Virgil but also has to keep tabs on Lynne, who is in the field without any real protection. Remember last week when I said that our beautiful blonde probably didn't have long? Well, Sinister Baldy informs Lynne that she's needed to welcome a very important associate of the Prince, something that sparks concern and a call to Carrie for reassurance. Carrie and Virgil head out to provide Lynne with some protection, only too little, too late as she's murdered and that gift I mentioned (a half a million dollar necklace) will now help fund terrorism.

"I like being close to the airport. For us, it's perfect."

We can't be sure if Brody is a bad guy but thanks to some puzzle piecing by Saul and Carrie, we can be sure that evil is most definitely afoot! The proceeds from the stolen necklace have seemingly gone to purchase a home for a couple with a sinister affection for airport proximity. Once again, another very strong episode that continues to let the tension slowly build while still providing enough action and excitement to titillate. In only three episodes they have laid an amazing foundation of character and plot on which to continue to craft an engaging and thought provoking series. Sundays may offer a lot of choice - zombie melodramas, period gangsters and serial killing cops - but Homeland might prove to best them all. I can't wait to see our two leads back in the same room.

Homeland airs on ShowTime, Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. It stars Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and Morena Baccarin. It was developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

Last week was the series premiere of Showtime's new terrorist thriller Homeland and it did not disappoint. A slow burning and smart pilot, part 24 with the added unease of a Manchurian Candidate style (possible) brainwashing, last week wasted no time in setting the tone for the series as well as showcasing the phenomenal leads in Claire Danes - as CIA Analyst and psychologically unstable Carrie Mathison - and Damian Lewis - as returning hero or possible sleeper terrorist Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody.

In the first recap, I did not mention the opening titles. They in themselves are quite haunting. Black and white and jazzy and dark. Perfectly setting up this week's episode, "Grace," (as well as every other I suppose) which spends a lot of time in the fractured, half memories of our tortured hero(es). Brody and Carrie are clearly both messed up just in their own way, and we can't even be sure how much of Brody is real and how much is filtered through Carrie's watchful, yet tainted eye.

"Great."

The episode opens during a Brody flashback/dream sequence, a device that is repeated throughout "Grace," and seems to be a common thread for the series. They are trying to put us inside the scarred mind of the Marine Sergeant, however, as he snaps awake out of the nightmarish flashback so to does Carrie, a constant reminder that we are watching and shaping our opinions of the former captive through the highly skilled yet also somewhat skewed investigative mind of the CIA Analyst.

The Brody half of the episode, both the events directly involving Damian Lewis' captivating work as the returned and possibly turned Marine, as well as those involving his ever adapting family are wrought with tension. The first half of the episode we see him trying to return to some semblance of normality but he's only able to find solace in a corner - still putting on the facade of being fine to his family. When he tries to do something simple like cook pancakes, he ends up viciously wounding a nosy member of the press and then vanishing into the forest.

Lewis at times plays Brody with an eerie calm that makes me think of The Shining's Jack Torrence. The quiet front he's presenting hides the storm happening inside, one you can see break the surface on occasion, like when he and (Captain) Mike have a few, not so thinly veiled, words out back. Morena Baccarin really shines in her role, trying to make the best out of the difficult and complicated situation. Trying to do right by her husband but also remind him that things for her and the kids haven't been so easy either. She, though, doesn't know what he gets up to in the morning.

"That's one interpretation but that's all it is at the moment."

Carrie's story opens up quite a bit this week, both in terms of her professional and personal lives. Of course, she is always on top of the Brody situation and, now that it's been made legal-ish (all is not quite well between her and Saul just yet), that takes up a significant amount of her time. Everything we see of Brody, or almost everything, is shown through her investigative eye - or perhaps her imaginative mind. However, we do get to see another lead in her case against Abu-Nazir that reinforces her credibility as a more than competent agent.

One of Carrie's assets is a call-girl for the Saudi wealthy and while on the job she came into contact with Abu Nazir himself, making her the first to lay eyes on the target in almost a decade. Carrie's obviously thrilled with the sighting, as are her superiors, but the girl is scared and in need of increased security, which, of course, she does not get. Instead she's thrown into the lion's den with another job. I have my fingers crossed that our beautiful blonde informant makes it out of this alive (but I'm not holding my breath).

We also get to see a little of Carrie's personal life, since she has to take a trip to her psychiatrist sister's place for a re-up on her medication. Ah. The mystery of how she keeps the medication a secret from the CIA is solved. Apparently Carrie's father suffers from the "same illness" as she does, whatever that means (paranoid...). Her sister's ringing her in though, no more months worth of prescriptions, instead Carrie will have to pay weekly visits over to her family's place. She's a very scattered, complex and determined woman. And the way she delivers the final line, I can't tell if she feels vindicated, threatened or both...

"He's out there, playing the hero card."

Another very strong, if not as wrenching, episode. The show is very smart in that it puts the pieces in place and lets the tension build. There aren't always a lot of moves, instead the stillness is the move. We're left with the new information, always minor, to brew our own suspense and to come up with our own conclusion

Carrie is - and by extension, we are - watching his every move, except those that happen in his dreams or in the blind spot and then, well, we can't be sure that what we see is happening and is not just what Carrie imagines is happening. Does the praying mean he's been turned? Or is Carrie filling in the blind-spot? What is real, what is a figment of their tortured minds? We have to try and pick up the pieces.

James Franco is well on his way to being a gay icon given his performance in Milk, his portrayal of Allen Ginsberg in Howl, and his somewhat inexplicable cover shoot as a transvestite for the magazine Candy. And Alan Cumming, who starred as a pansexual emcee in Broadway's Cabaret and has been an LGBT activist for over a decade, is well established in the gay pantheon. So while a team-up between the two wasn't necessarily inevitable, it makes perfect sense, especially with Franco's mysterious performance artist pal Carter directing.

Cumming spilled the beans to THR about this strange project, titled Maladies and starring Franco as a young actor who retires due to what he believes is mental illness. Cumming explained that his part is small, "and just for Christmas" whatever that means, but Claire Danes and Catherine Keener also round out the cast. Cumming referred to the project as "really fascinating," and there's seriously no telling what to expect from it; Franco has shown a willingness to make any and every kind of art, and Maladies could be a straightforward portrait of an artist or something totally experimental. As with just about everything the unpredictable Franco gets involved with these days, though, it'll probably be worth a watch no matter what.

It’s time to celebrate the Christmas/ Chanukah/ Kwanza/ Festivus Holiday season, so all around Cinema Blend we’re enjoying Twelve Days of Christmas. Yes, we know traditionally the “12 days” start with Christmas, but we plan on being celebrated out by that time, so we’re pushing the twelve days leading up to the holiday.

Here in Blend Television we’re celebrating by counting down our some of our all time favorite holiday episodes, in an effort to boost your Christmas spirit. These aren’t the 12 best out there by any means, just twelve of our favorites. Some of them you might enjoy like we do. Others you might want to check out for the first time. So without further ado:

On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…

My So-Called Life was better known for its realistic, sometimes sarcastic look at teenage life in the mid-90s, but on some episodes it could get downright sentimental. “So-Called Angels” was one of those, the only Christmas episode the short-lived series ever got to do. It might be the hokiest episode of the series, but during Christmas hokey is pretty much what everyone is looking for. It also kicked off one of the best subplots of the show, about Angela’s friend Rickie and his attempts to find a family.

At the beginning of the episode Rickie leaves his family’s house after fighting with his abusive uncle. He goes to stay with Angela’s family, but when he overhears Angela’s mom talking about whether or not he should stay, he runs away and winds up staying with a group of homeless teenagers. Angela and her mom Patty eventually meet a mysterious young homeless woman who promises to “look after Rickie” and whose sad story reminds Patty and Angel to set aside their differences during the holidays. At the end of the episode it’s revealed that she actually is an angel.

OK, that’s the hokey part. But there’s also a subplot about Rayanne treating a teen help line like a phone sex operation, until Brian actually calls in, and Jordan pops in with his usual hotness. Really, even a cheesy episode of My So-Called Life is less cheesy than most Christmas specials, so if you’re looking for something that isn’t A Charlie Brown Christmas all over again but still has the same mix of sadness and love, “So-Called Angels” can probably do the trick. And now that My So-Called Life is actually available on DVD for the first time in years, this is the perfect Christmas to do it.

This a selected clip reel of the episode from one of the many fans of My So-Called Life out there on the Internet, and it probably gives a much better sense of the episode than I ever could. Merry Christmas!

Read all of Cinema Blend's 12 Days of Christmas features in other sections by clicking here.