In September 2001, Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg introduced HBO subscribers to the landmark television event that was Band of Brothers. Over the course of 10 episodes, the limited series told the story of Easy Company from its days in basic training all the way through the end of World War II in August 1945. Much more than a dramatization of the biggest moments in the European Theater of the Second World War, the highly-emotional and character-driven story of boys becoming men and men becoming brothers introduced the world to dozens of memorable characters. And in honor of the show’s 20th anniversary, we’ve gone through the Band of Brothers cast and checked up on what they’ve been up to all these years later. From leading actors like Damian Lewis and Donnie Wahlberg to then-up-and-comers like Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender, there’s a lot to unpack here…

Damian Lewis (Richard D. Winters)

Damian Lewis already had a respectable career by the time he signed on as one of the main characters on Band of Brothers in 2001, but his performance as Richard D. Winters, the leader of Easy Company quickly made him one of the most promising stars in film and television. At the start of the next decade, Lewis took on perhaps his most notable role with his portrayal of Nicholas Brody on the Showtime series Homeland, which earned the actor a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award. Lewis currently portrays the ambitious and cutthroat billionaire Bobby Axelrod on the Showtime series Billions.

Ron Livingston (Lewis Nixon)

Ron Livingston, who was hot off the 1999 release of Office Space, played Lewis Nixon, Major Winters’ best friend and closest confidant on Band of Brothers. Since the release of the groundbreaking HBO limited series, Livingston has found work in both film and television, including prominent roles in everything from The Conjuring to Sex and the City (along with so many other actors). Livingston currently leads the Amazon comedy series Loudermilk and has a recurring role on the ABC drama series A Million Little Things. He will take on the role of Henry Allen, the father of the titular hero in 2022’s The Flash.

Donnie Wahlberg (Carwood Lipton)

New Kid on the Block Donnie Wahlberg takes on the role of Carwood Lipton, one of the high ranking members of Easy Company on Band of Brothers. One of the most prolific singers-turned-actors in the television world, Wahlberg has leading roles on everything from crime dramas like Blue Bloods to reality shows such as Wahlburgers and Rock This Boat: New Kids on the Block. In 2021 he also appeared on the hit Fox competition series The Masked Singer.

Neal McDonough (Lynn "Buck" Compton)

Neal McDonough played Lynn “Buck” Compton on Band of Brothers. In 20 years since portraying one of Easy Company’s most memorable figures, McDonough has shown up in everything from Captain America: The First Avenger to Sonic the Hedgehog and Walking Tall to Legends of Tomorrow and so much in between. McDonough is set to appear in Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and American Horror Story: Double Feature. He also reprised his Captain America character Timothy “Dum Dum” Dugan on the Disney+ series What If…? in 2021.

Matthew Settle (Ronald Speirs)

Matthew Settle played the controversial Ronald Speirs, the Army officer who allegedly gunned down six German prisoners of war, on Band of Brothers. Following his turn on the HBO WWII limited series, Settle appeared in several of the most talked about shows of the early 2000s including The Practice, Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and the original Gossip Girl, in which he played Rufus Humphrey. Settle has not made any movie or TV appearances since an episode of Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders in 2016.

Scott Grimes (Donald Malarkey)

Scott Grimes portrayed technical sergeant Donald Malarkey, whose accounts of the war helped add historical context to Band of the Brothers and the book on which it was based. An already established television star (Party of Five, The Twilight Zone) by the time he joined the cast of the HBO limited series, Grimes has since gone on to have major roles on ER, American Dad (voice of Steve Smith), and The Orville.

Shane Taylor (Eugene "Doc" Roe)

Shane Taylor took on the role of Eugene “Doc” Roe, the Easy Company medic, on Band of Brothers. Following his turn on the hit series, Taylor made appearances in movies like the 2006 drama Bomber and the 2018 Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman military action thriller Hunter Killer. He also was on the History Channel limited series Sons of Liberty in 2016.

Michael Cudlitz (Denver "Bull" Randleman)

Michael Cudlitz shows up in Band of Brothers as Denver “Bull” Randleman, the superior officer of “The Replacements.” Following the successful series, Cudlitz appeared on hit shows like 24, Prison Break, and Lost throughout the early 2000s and eventually landed a major role on The Walking Dead as Abraham Ford for a number of years. He currently plays Paul Krendler on CBS’ Clarice.

Dexter Fletcher (John W. Martin)

Actor/director Dexter Fletcher portrayed John W. Martin on Band of Brothers. Over the years, Fletcher has appeared in movies like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, The Patriot, and Muppets Most Wanted. In recent years, Fletcher has turned to directing feature-length films including Eddie the Eagle, Bohemian Rhapsody (he replaced Bryan Singer near the end of production), and Rocketman. 

Frank John Hughes (William "Wild Bill" Guarnere)

William “Wild Bill” Guarnere, the loud yet loyal staff sergeant on Band of Brothers, was portrayed by Frank John Hughes. In the years following the release of the HBO limited series, Hughes appeared in movies like Catch Me If You Can but mostly stuck to television, including roles on 24, NCIS, The Sopranos, and LAX. Hughes is set to portray Frank Sinatra in the upcoming Paramount+ series The Offer about the production of The Godfather.

Kirk Acevedo (Joe Toye)

Kirk Acevedo was already one of the best HBO actors (Miguel Alvarez on Oz) by the time he joined the Band of Brothers cast as Joe Toye in 2001. Since then, Acevedo has continued to show up in one television show after another including Fringe, Blue Bloods, and most recently Arrow where he played Ricardo Diaz, aka The Dragon. Acevedo will next appear on the Paramount+ streaming series The Offer.

Colin Hanks (Henry Jones)

Colin Hanks shows up on Band of Brothers as Henry Jones, who goes straight from West Point to the European Theater of the war. Since then, the son of Tom Hanks has had memorable roles in movies like Orange County, W., Elvis and Nixon, and the two most recent Jumanji movies. Hanks’ television work includes Fargo, Drunk History, and most recently Impeachment: American Crime Story.

Michael Fassbender (Burton Christenson)

Years before he became a star with movies like Hunger, Inglourious Basterds, and the X-Men franchise, Michael Fassbender got his start with a minor role on Band of Brothers as Burton Christenson. Since then, Fassbender has become one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood with movies like Macbeth, Steve Jobs, and 12 Years a Slave. Fassbender is next set to appear in Kung Fury 2 and the upcoming Taika Waititi sports dramedy Next Goal Wins.

Andrew Scott (John "Cowboy" Hall)

Andrew Scott has a minor role on Band of Brothers as John “Cowboy” Hall, the mortar tech who was killed by a landmine. In the years following the HBO limited series, Scott has given memorable performances on shows like John Adams and Black Mirror, with his most recognizable being those of James Moriarty on Sherlock and The Priest on Fleabag Season 2. Scott is set to play Tom Ripley in the upcoming limited series Ripley.

James Madio (Frank Perconte)

James Madio took on the role of Frank Perconte, one of the core members of Easy Company, on Band of Brothers. Over the course of the past two decades, Madio has shown up in movies like Kick-Ass, Jersey Boys, and Bottom of the 9th, as well as television programs such as CSI:Miami, Cold Case, and Blue Bloods. And like numerous other members of the Band of Brothers cast, Madio will soon appear on The Offer.

Ross McCall (Joseph Liebgott)

Ross McCall took on the role of Joseph Liebgott, one of Easy Company’s paratroopers, on Band of Brothers. In the years following the release of the HBO limited series, McCall had runs on 24: Live Another Day, White Collar, and Crash, with smaller roles on everything from Fear the Walking Dead to CSI: NY. McCall will soon appear on the Apple TV+ original drama series Suspicion.

Rick Gomez (George Luz)

Rick Gomez stepped in to portray radio tech George Luz on Band of Brothers. Since then, Gomez has had a mixture of live action voice acting roles in various films and television projects including Justified, Burn Notice, Ray, and Sin City. Gomez most recently appeared in the unaired pilot of the attempted NYPD Blue reboot in 2019.

David Schwimmer (Herbert Sobel)

David Schwimmer was still in the height of his Friends fame when he joined the Band of Brothers cast as Captain Herbert Sobel, the man who ran a tight ship during basic training. In the years following the conclusion of both shows, Schwimmer provided voice work for the Madagascar movies, and made appearances on shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Web Therapy, and Will and Grace. In 2021, Schwimmer and the rest of the Friends cast got back together for the long-awaited reunion special on HBO Max. He is currently one of the leads on the spy comedy series Intelligence alongside Ted Lasso’s Nick Mohammed.

Tom Hardy (John Janovec)

Tom Hardy, who would go on to appear in movies like The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, and The Revenant, got his start on Band of Brothers when he took on the minor role of John Janovec. In the years since his 2001 debut (the same year he made his theatrical debut with Black Hawk Down), Hardy has gone on to lead shows like Peaky Blinders and movies like Mad Max: Fury Road. Hardy most recently appeared in the 2021 Marvel Comics movie Venom: Let There Be Carnage.

James McAvoy (Pvt. James Miller)

James McAvoy already had a few performances under his belt by the time he was cast as James Miller on Band of Brothers, but nothing compared to the success that would follow in the years following. Since then, McAvoy has led the X-Men franchise as a young Charles Xavier, terrified in Split and Glass, and captivated audiences in the likes of Atonement and Filth. He most recently appeared in the mystery thriller My Son.

Despite being quite a list, this barely scratches the surface of the Band of Brothers cast and didn’t even talk about Jimmy Fallon, Simon Pegg, Stephen Graham, and the many others who popped up at one point or another in the 2001 HBO epic. If you want to get all the information on what HBO will be bringing audiences the next few months, check out our schedule of 2021 fall TV premiere dates.

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.

Recently, the world was rocked by the untimely passing of Harry Potter franchise actor Helen McCrory. Dying at the age of 52, she has been remembered in numerous tributes from both fans and colleagues alike in the weekend since her passing was announced. However, the most personal and revealing story came from McCrory’s husband/Once Upon A Time In Hollywood star Damian Lewis, who revealed that his late wife had a rather candid sense of humor when addressing her own family about her passing.

In a tribute published in The Times, Damian Lewis invoked his wife's warm and funny spirit right from the start. Mentioning how she would want him to keep it brief, he launched into stories of Helen McCrory’s acting craft and personal anecdotes about her career and the friends she made along the way. And in the section where he described her final days with her family, Lewis shared this message that Ms. McCrory had said to him and their two children:

This story about Helen McCrory’s candid nature with those she loved most is only part of the free spirited legacy that Damian Lewis recalled in history. In fact, that same sort of energy was what landed McCrory a night on the town with similarly candid acting legend Lauren Bacall, as a case of mistaken identity led to some fun wordplay. Per Lewis’ telling, Bacall had mistakenly congratulated her for Emily Watson’s performance in a production of Uncle Vanya; to which Helen McCrory replied, “That’s alright, Ms. Hepburn. I’m glad you enjoyed the show.”

“Candid” is one of the words that can describe the generous, but very grounded views that Helen McCrory had on life. Serving her well both in the world of making new friends and preparing her family for her death, she had no shortage of candor. This led to Damian Lewis including another statement that she frequently made to their children, Manon and Gulliver:

To be as frank as Helen McCrory was in life is to send the ultimate message about living on your own terms. That’s exactly what she did, and it not only earned her a ton of fans from franchises like the soon-to-conclude HBO Max adaptation of His Dark Materials, as well as the James Bond universe, but it also left those she leaves behind some of the best advice and memories they’ll be able to treasure eternally. Ms. McCrory’s death is a mournful occasion, but as Damian Lewis has proven in his tribute to the woman who he loved, there’s a lot of happiness to remember in this time of great sadness.

Anticipation for the release of No Time To Die is pretty high, as the film’s delay into November has only given James Bond fans more time to ponder just what sort of mysteries are waiting past the title song. But another, greater mystery that awaits for 007 loyalists is who exactly will take over the post of the franchise lead once Daniel Craig turns in his Walther PPK for the last time. In uncertain times like these, there’s only one place we can turn to get a hint as to what the answer to that question might be: the oddsmakers!

James Bond is known to be a gambler from time to time, so why wouldn’t we consult the data from oddsmakers like US-Bookies to see where the smart money is supposedly going? And believe it or not, fans aren’t over the concept of a female Bond, despite official statements basically writing this concept off. We’ll start with going over the top 10 placings in terms of the odds-on favorites, after which we’ll be running through the long shots that have some interesting names attached to their standings. It all adds up to a pretty exciting pack, mixing the expected with the shocking!

Damian Lewis (25/1)

Currently known for his leading role on the Showtime drama Billions, Damian Lewis’ past history with both Homeland and Band of Brothers also could have put the English drama star in the running for James Bond. The one factor that might keep him from landing the gig is age, as Lewis is currently 49, which is around the time a 007 actor would see themselves on their way out. For reference, Roger Moore was 58 when he left the franchise, and Daniel Craig is currently 52.

Chris Hemsworth/Paul Mescal (20/1)

On the other end of the spectrum, the 36-year-old Extraction star Chris Hemsworth and 24-year-old Paul Mescal, known for his role in Hulu’s Normal People, are both younger candidates tied for 9th place. Were the producers running the franchise, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, hoping to go with a popular, yet relative unknown, Mescal is the way to go, especially as the youngest candidate in the field. Hemsworth, on the other hand, almost feels like an instant disqualification in this pair, as his Marvel experience has probably driven up his salary demands, and the potential Extraction franchise is probably his Bond gig for the time being.

Henry Cavill (16/1)

A past favorite of fans and oddsmakers alike, Henry Cavill was previously touted as a strong candidate back in the days that saw Daniel Craig take the crown for Casino Royale. Those who saw and enjoyed The Man From U.N.C.L.E. are probably still holding out hope for this prospect, and to be certain, it could still happen if Justice League's Superman willed it so. Those of you looking for an age check, Cavill is currently 37, which keeps him in the game.

Jamie Bell (12/1)

Rocketman’s Jamie Bell would be a fine pick for James Bond, as he has the cred from both TV projects like Turn: Washington’s Spies, as well as his extensive film career stemming back to his debut as young Billy Elliot. His relative youth among these 007 candidates also plays rather well. However, there’s just one potentially big catch: he’s already signed on to be a potentially important part of Paramount’s budding franchise stemming from Michael B. Jordan’s Without Remorse. Bell may already have a pre-emptive clause in his contract from that Tom Clancy adaptation that’ll keep him in that particular wheelhouse, which would be less than ideal for his potential tuxedo fitting.

Idris Elba/Cillian Murphy (10/1)

If Idris Elba and Cillian Murphy aren’t perfect examples of actors who have been suggested to play James Bond for quite some time, then such a concept doesn’t exist. The 47-year-old Elba and 44-year-old Murphy are mainstays, Elba particularly, in the race to find the next Bond. But as an expert has written the Thor actor out of the part due to his age, and Cillian Murphy isn’t too far from that mark himself, their potential casting may sadly be too late.

Aidan Turner (9/1)

Best known for his role on the TV series Poldark, Aidan Turner has had experience playing a lovelorn warrior of great speed himself in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy. Perhaps this, along with his handsome looks, is what has landed Turner in the fifth place showing amongst these other potential James Bond actors. He can be seen next in the TV series Leonardo, in which Aidan Turner will be playing Da Vinci himself; but if that doesn’t pan out, this could mean some good things for a potential opening on her majesty’s secret service.

Tom Hardy/Michael Fassbender (8/1)

At 42 and 43, respectively, Tom Hardy and Michael Fassbender are two more people that, while being familiar and bankable names, are a little on the older side of the James Bond dream casting spectrum. Their familiarity and potential franchise gigs probably put them further out of the realm of possibility, but fans seem to be willing to bet they’ll get the gig. So if I had to choose, Fassbender would have the advantage, as not only is the Alien franchise’s future in question, he basically played the role as Magneto in X-Men: First Class.

Tom Hiddleston/Richard Madden (6/1)

Having a familiar face certainly helps when it comes to James Bond fans looking into potential hires. While a producer might be motivated to avoid Tom Hiddleston and Richard Madden in the casting game, both occupy a sweet spot where they’re still in their 30s and are recognizable enough to draw a crowd, but still primed to take their stars further. The edge goes to Madden in this case, as he’s 33 to Hiddleston’s 39, and the latter actor’s commitment to Disney+’s Loki series will probably get in the way of any more immediate talks.

Sam Heughan (5/1)

As fast as you can say the word Outlander, Sam Heughan’s name seems to come up in any sort of talk surrounding any potential future 007 action. Part of that is because the man himself has been pushing for the throne himself, but honestly, it’s hard to not see him as a high ranking contender. Even in the higher age range at 40 years old, the man has the looks and the attitude needed to play James Bond, and he is very comfortable with action and emotion as Scottish heartthrob Jamie Fraser. Plus, it helps that the idea kind of took shape in people’s heads after his tuxedoed appearance in The Spy Who Dumped Me, so this isn’t a total surprise.

James Norton (2/1)

At 34 years old, with a resume that includes parts in TV shows like Doctor Who and McMafia, as well as films such as Rush and Little Women, James Norton has an interesting balance of anonymity and familiarity. All of those facors have probably led to him being the odds-on favorite for James Bond at this particular moment in time. While this could change drastically between now and the time of a formal announcement, it’s probably still a good idea to keep an eye on where Mr. Norton’s career takes him in the near future.

Other Notable Candidates

Towards the back of the James Bond candidate pack is a rather interesting assortment of players. With some pretty wild picks, a couple of veterans to the Bond franchise and a previous contender who got pretty close to the job in the running up to Daniel Craig’s hiring, all of these actors are too good to leave out. So let’s get started, moving through three distinct groupings:

The 50/1 Gang

There are six candidates who sit just outside of the top 10 standings, with 50/1 odds tipping them as the next 007:

This is where those Bond franchise veterans we discussed earlier lie, as both Spectre’s Andrew Scott and No Time To Die’s Rami Malek are both suggested as sitting in this category. Should either of them be cast, it’d be the first time a Bond villain would go on to play the lead role in film. Though it should be noted that Die Another Day villain Toby Stephens eventually went on to play James Bond in a series of BBC radio adaptations. So never say never on this concept!

In the younger end of the pack, both John Boyega and Timothee Chalamet are in the 50/1 range of landing the role. If I to pick a favorite in this subsection, I would say that Boyega would be the victor, as his Star Wars franchise experience gives him the functional advantage. Rounding out this group are Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch, with McGregor returning to potential contention and Cumberbatch riding the wave he’s recently become accustomed to. McGregor is the clear favorite out of these two.

The 00-Women Gang

Betting fans of the James Bond franchise haven’t given up hope on a female Bond being cast in the future. Though as you can see, most have heeded the words of Barbara Broccoli, by not putting too much stock into this prospect. Still, with candidates like these, it’s hard not to get excited about this big “what if”:

Now, if anyone in this pack was going to get the gig, I side with the betters in Killing Eve’s Jodie Comer landing the post. Between the cultural success of that show, as well as her upcoming appearance in the Ryan Reynolds film Free Guy, it’s a potent martini of qualifications that would make history in its own right. Provided, of course, there’s some sort of in-house reversal over at EON Productions.

The Long Shot Gang

Last, but not least, are two contenders that, while being qualified in their own ways, are less than likely to become the next Bond:

Even in such an unlikely grouping, the favorite is clear as Harry Styles is an acting talent tested enough to be considered a possibility, and he’s young enough to do a longer stint in the franchise than Will Smith could potentially. Also, Smith’s an American, so that probably docks some additional points off the top.

Again, all of these odds could change at the drop of a hat, and fans shouldn’t count any of those top candidates out too early on in the race to become the next James Bond. Until that would-be successor has been named, Daniel Craig is still our 007 for the moment, and we’ll get to see him in his final franchise outing on November 20, when No Time To Die sets its sights on the box office.

For Quentin Tarantino's supposedly penultimate film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, the auteur is seemingly trying to put together one of the most absurdly stacked casts ever assembled. The cast already featured the usual suspects of frequent Tarantino collaborators, as well as exciting talent that will be working with the director for the first time. At the head of the cast are Leonardo DiCaprio as former Western TV star Rick Dalton and Brad Pitt as his stunt double Cliff Booth. Now, joining Quentin Tarantino's 1969 Hollywood and Manson family murders pastiche are a lot of new names in some intriguing roles. Among them is Billions actor and Golden Globe winner Damian Lewis.

According to Deadline, Damian Lewis will play Hollywood icon Steve McQueen in the film. The Great Escape and Bullitt actor enjoyed the heights of his fame and popularity in the '60s and '70s. The ultra-cool, super smooth Steve McQueen was a friend of actress Sharon Tate, and according to legend, he was supposed to attend the actress' dinner on the fateful night when the Manson family killed her, only to escape that fate by going off with a mistress. Including Steve McQueen in the film shows that all of the major figures adjacent to the Manson murders will be accounted for in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. To that end, several other newcomers to the cast will join Damian Lewis.

Also bolstering this cast are Emile Hirsch and Dakota Fanning. Emile Hirsch will play Jay Sebring, the Hollywood hairstylist who was one of the Manson family victims at Sharon Tate's house. On the other side of things is Dakota Fanning. The actress who is appearing in this weekend's Ocean's 8 will portray Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, the Manson family member who in 1975 attempted to assassinate President Gerald Ford.

Veteran actor Nicholas Hammond, who was Friedrich in The Sound of Music and played Peter Parker in the 1977-1979 series The Amazing Spider-Man, joins Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as director Sam Wanamaker. An actor and TV director in the '60s and '70s, you can imagine he may be part of Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt's characters' stories. Luke Perry, who currently stars on the gleefully absurd TV series Riverdale, will be playing a character named Scotty Lancer, which could be the character from the 1968-1970 TV Western Lancer, played by Wayne Maunder.

Last but certainly not least are Clifton Collins Jr. and Keith Jefferson. Clifton Collins Jr., who is currently playing the host Lawrence on Westworld, will play someone called Ernesto the Mexican Vacquero, who sounds like a very Tarantino-ish character. Keith Jefferson, who had small parts in Tarantino's Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, will rejoin the director for a third time as Land Pirate Keith.

Just reading who all of these actors are playing you can see how this movie will have a very Pulp Fiction-eque feel with a lot of intersecting stories and adjacent characters to weave a compelling Hollywood tale. These actors join an already ridiculous cast that includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Margot Robbie, Tim Roth, Michael Madsen, Timothy Olyphant and Burt Reynolds in the film. So I'm assuming the poster for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood will just be a super long list of all the talent involved.

Once Upon A Time in Hollywood hits theaters on August 9, 2019. For everything coming to theaters this year, check out our release schedule.

It's been nearly a decade since the Ocean's trilogy finished breathed new life into the original 1960 movie, and while Danny Ocean's band of merry men lead three memorable heists over six years, now the women are getting the chance to shine. Over the last year, Ocean's Eight has been building its main cast of characters in what is now confirmed to be a spinoff of the trilogy rather than a reboot. However, there's been no word about who the protagonists will be going up against in their caper, but that mystery has been partially solved, as actor Damian Lewis will play the man antagonizing the ladies.

According to Variety, the Homeland star will play Ocean's Eight's main villain. Although his character was unnamed, he is described as being the "ex-lover" of Sandra Bullock's character, the leader of the movie's gang of thieves and also Danny Ocean's sister. Damian Lewis' villainous character will soon find himself the target of the gang's robbery, implying he's either extremely wealthy or holds an object of great importance to all of them. For those wondering how much of Lewis will actually participate in Ocean's Eight, Variety's sources state that his role will be more than just a cameo.

While no other plot details were revealed in the article, it is interesting that Sandra Bullock's character will have a close connection to Damian Lewis' character. That makes me wonder if the heist her and the other ladies are pulling off will have a person edge to it. If this crew is anything like Danny Ocean's crew, then the big score is the priority, but that doesn't mean robbing him won't double as retribution on Bullock's character's part in case he wronged her during their relationship. Whatever happened between them, this villainous man is going to find himself the target of an exciting caper. Well, exciting for moviegoers.

Damian Lewis is arguably best known for playing Nicholas Brody in the Showtime series Homeland over three seasons (and a guest spot in Season 4). His performance as the character scored him the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2012. He can currently be seen playing Bobby Axelrod in Billions, another Showtime product. On the big screen, Lewis has recently appeared in Queen of the Desert, Bill and Our Kind of Traitor.

Lewis is the latest notable name to join Ocean's Eight during 2016. Along with him and Sandra Bullock, the main cast includes Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling, Rihanna, Awkwafina and Dakota Fanning. Matt Damon will also cameo as Linus Caldwell, one of the main characters from the earlier trilogy.

Ocean's Eight will be released in theaters on June 8, 2018. Let us know what you think of Damian Lewis joining the movie in the comments below.

We finally have confirmation that Albus Dumbledore will be appearing in Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them 2, and we're hopeful that means he'll have an even bigger presence as this budding series moves forward. But who will play him? That has yet to be determined, so what better time to speculate over who might snag the role of Dumbledore in the anticipated followup for the upcoming Harry Potter spinoff.

It's worth noting a couple of things before we get to the list. The first is that we're going to assume that whoever plays Dumbledore will be from somewhere in the United Kingdom. That's yet to be confirmed, but we're going to ride with that assumption. Dumbledore is British, so hopefully he'll be played by a British actor.

The next is that Dumbledore would've been in his mid-forties in the 1920s, so (factoring in Hollywood's typically flexible view on actor/character ages) we're assuming they'll cast someone within the range of late thirties to early fifties.

Finally, we don't really know what Dumbledore's personality was like in his younger years. Maybe he was really just a 40-something version of the Dumbledore we came to know and love in the Harry Potter books and movies, but I'm inclined to think life-experienced shaped him into the eventual Hogwarts headmaster. So we can't really pinpoint an actor by personality type.

All of the above in mind, here's a list of (mostly) British actors who could fit the part of Albus Dumbledore.

Damian Lewis

I'm dropping this name first, because he's among my favorite choices for the part. At 45, Damian Lewis is the perfect age to play 1920's Dumbledore. Though he's spent a lot of his career on the small screen (Homeland, Life, Billions), he's no stranger to feature work, and certainly has the talent to take on a role like this. It's not hard to picture Damien Lewis playing the kind and compassionate side of Albus Dumbledore, and then easily shifting gears to be the formidable magical force if and when the time calls for it.

Jude Law

My initial reaction to the thought of Jude Law as Albus Dumbledore is that he'd be distractingly handsome, but that may just be due to my recent viewing of The Holiday. That said, I imagine Dumbledore was an attractive man in his youth, so I don't think looks should disqualify Law entirely. At 43, Jude Law is close enough to the right age. And he does have a certain spark to him that might work nicely for a younger Albus Dumbledore.

Daniel Craig

Can James Bond also be Albus Dumbledore? It's entirely possible that Craig's Bond presence might be too big to be ignored (not to mention his potential commitments to the franchise, whatever they may be), but I don't want to rule him out entirely. If they're aiming for a more serious Dumbledore, Daniel Craig seems like a contender.

Martin Freeman

If playing James Bond doesn't rule Daniel Craig out for the possibility of tackling another iconic role, then the same should apply to Martin Freeman, who boasts two pretty massive literary character credits in Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit) and Dr. John Watson (Sherlock). That said, I adore Martin Freeman, and there's something in his nature that makes me think he could be the perfect Albus Dumbledore.

Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor knows a little something about playing the younger version of an iconic white-bearded character, having played Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequels. Assuming his Scottish origins (and accent) don't disqualify him from the role, Ewan McGregor is another great option for this part. We want our Dumbledore to be a bit serious and a bit mischievous, and it's easy to see McGregor filling those shoes.

Simon Pegg

If younger Albus Dumbledore is more playful than he is serious, who better to play him than Simon Pegg? He's age-appropriate for the part, and has a bit of that humor and warmth we've seen in Albus Dumbledore. If this isn't the right role for him, then hopefully he'll pop up in some other part in Fantastic Beasts. Pegg in the Potterverse is long overdue.

Michael Fassbender

I have a few reservations about Fassbender as Dumbledore, including that he's not actually British (he's technically born in Germany and raised in Ireland). For another at 39, he's on the young side for this part. Too young to have been the teacher of a character played by Eddie Redmayne? Eh, that's debatable. Much like Daniel Craig, I see Michael Fassbender as a more serious Dumbledore, and though I'm not sure I can picture it, I don't think it should be ruled out.

Hugh Dancy

Hugh Dancy is another one who may be a bit too young for this role, but just as I don't think that alone should rule Michael Fassbender out, the same applies to Dancy. Though he's currently on Hulu's series The Path, the Hannibal star seems ripe for a major movie role.

Benedict Cumberbatch

He's on the young side for Dumbledore, and he just took on a major Marvel role. And still, I refuse to leave Benedict Cumberbatch off this list. He's serious when he needs to be serious. He's funny when he needs to be funny. And I bet he could throw down in a wizarding duel if it ever came down to it. Plus, well we know he's got magic in him, thanks to Doctor Strange.

Tom Hardy

If there's a truly oddball choice for the role of Dumbledore, I have to believe Tom Hardy is it. Partially because he's a bit young, but mainly because even I couldn't picture it at first. And then I could, and I kind of liked it. Hardy has proven perfectly able to disappear into a role, and a bit of makeup could certainly age him up if necessary. It'd be interesting to see what he'd bring to this part.

There are other well known and talented actors out there. Among our runner-ups were Christian Bale, Dominic West, Tom Hiddleston, Matt Smith, Hugh Laurie and James McAvoy, but due to age and other factors, they didn't quite make the cut on our list. That's not to say we won't see their names floating around when the casting rumors start flying. At this point, it seems like the floor is open and this is a big opportunity, and anything is possible. While we might assume that Fantastic Beasts will cast a big name to match the fame and talent of Johnny Depp, who's reported to play Gellert Grindelwald, it's just as possible that some lesser known talent will snag the role. We'll have to wait and see.

Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them arrives in theaters November 18. And J.K. Rowling's screenplay book for the film will be available the same day.

Fans of certain film franchises will dream cast roles when they are vacated. Who would you like to see playing Spider-Man in the next movie? Who should play Batman now that Christian Bale is done? These are conversations that we’ve had in recent memory, AFTER an actor has moved on. But why do so many people continue to make suggestions for a new 007 while the current James Bond is still very much alive and kicking?  

Daniel Craig has held down the role of the Spy Who Loved Us for three films (two very good ones), and has his fourth coming to theaters next month in Spectre. And yet, too much talk during the lead up to Spectre’s release has been about who will play Bond next… as if Craig has said that he’s done after this. (He hasn’t. In fact, he has said the opposite.) The latest person willing to offer a 007 replacement, though, is none other than former Bond Roger Moore, who just told IB Times UK that either Hugh Jackman or Damian Lewis should step into the Aston Martin next. O RLY, Mr. Bond?  

These names are no real surprise. In fact, both men recently have had their names attached to the James Bond Rumor Mill, with Jackman admitting to an Australian television program that he would seriously consider the offer if it came back around again. He phrased it that way because allegedly, Jackman was approached by the 007 producers to take over the role before they landed Craig, and he passed because he was wrapped up in playing Wolverine – another beloved character – and couldn’t imagine taking on another signature franchise like that. However, his time as Wolverine is about to end, so maybe there can be a shaken martini in Jackman’s future?

As for Roger Moore’s second choice, Homeland star Damian Lewis, he has seen his name sit atop the leaderboard created by UK oddsmakers and gamblers, but there hasn’t been much development beyond that. Fans, meanwhile, have made it clear that they’d love to see Idris Elba in the role, though even Pierce Brosnan admits that the next Bond more than likely will be white and male.

Listen, at the very least, can we all get behind Jessica Chastain’s dream of one day playing a Bond villain? Because that has to be the closest thing to perfection we can imagine at this point. Spectre opens in theaters on November 6. Are you down? 

There’s been a lot of speculation as to who the next James Bond will be. While there’s been no official statement that there even needs to be a next James Bond quite yet, it certainly looks like current star Daniel Craig is going to be wrapping up his tenure sooner rather than later. Now there’s a report that the next Bond has been chosen, at least unofficially. If this turns out to be true, then it seems that Homeland’s Damian Lewis will be the new British superspy.

The report comes courtesy of England’s Mirror, which is reporting that Lewis has been given "an unofficial nod" that he will be at the top of the list if and when Daniel Craig steps aside from the role of James Bond. We’re not exactly sure what an "unofficial nod" looks like. It sounds like somebody might have been falling asleep in the middle of the conversation. While the Mirror seems fairly confident in this report, they’re not exactly the place we would expect to see this sort of news break. Let’s not also forget that a few weeks ago the same publication was claiming David Beckham was considering the legendary role. They call their source "well-placed," but, again, they don’t give any details about their relation to the production. It isn’t even clearly stated that whoever performed this questionable nod is even somebody in a position to do so.

To be fair, the idea that Damian Lewis might be given an "official nod" at some point to play James Bond isn’t a new one. Lewis was at the top of the list for U.K. bookmakers a few months ago, and while odds have begun shifting towardsTom Hardy as of late, Lewis is still a perfectly realistic choice. He’s a 44-year-old Londoner with a long acting career, though he’s best known for his role on Showtime’s Homeland, for which he won an Emmy. He didn’t make our shortlist of contenders, however. Just sayin’.

In addition to Hardy, a number of other potential Bonds have been named over the past few months. Idris Elba has made the most headlines, both because of his popularity with fans, and because of some… ineloquent comments made by some regarding his potential casting. Elba is actually another reason the Mirror report seems sketchy. They refer to him as having "long been tipped as Craig’s successor" which, while he might be a serious candidate, is not something that anybody has reported.

Of course, none of this really matters until we determine whether or not Daniel Craig is actually going anywhere after Spectre. Craig has been a brilliant success in the role and nobody is shoving him out the door. The door will likely be left open for him until they’re nearly ready to start filming the next movie, which could be years from now. If Craig wants to do another, then he will. If not, they’ll then look elsewhere, and by then the entire landscape of Hollywood will look different than it does today. It’s anybody's ballgame.

If Damian Lewis is the choice, does that work for you? Let us know if he’s a Bond you can get behind.

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.

Based on the lasted bit of casting news for the Carlo Carlei directed Romeo and Juliet adaptation, it looks as though the film has been mining some of premium cable's talent, with Homeland’s Damian Lewis (also known for his role in HBO’s Band of Brothers), Californication’s Natascha McElhone, and Christian Cooke of Starz’ upcoming drama Magic City set to join the film, among others.

The Hollywood Reporter posted the news, stating that British actors Lewis, McElhone and Cooke are among the cast additions for the next big adaptation of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy. Lewis, who’s hot off the (Golden Globe winning) first season of Showtime’s Homeland, is set to play Lord Capulet. Natascha McElhone, who plays the love of Hank Moody’s life in Californication, will play Lady Capulet. Set to play Romeo’s friend (and future caster of plagues) Mercutio is Christian Cooke, who is among the cast of Starz’ upcoming new drama Magic City.

Also cast in the film is Stellan Skarsgard (Good Will Hunting, Thor), playing the Prince of Verona. Lesley Manville (Cranford) will play The Nurse. And Tomas Arana and Laura Morante will play Lord and Lady Montague respectively. While Arana is credited for the part of “Wayne’s Lawyer” in the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises, it looks like most of Morante’s work is in film and television in her home country of Italy.

?The lengthy list of cast additions is tacked on to those already set to star in the film, including Hailee Steinfeld and Douglas Booth as the title characters, Ed Westwick as Tybalt, and Paul Giamatti, who’s set to play Friar Laurence.

This adaptation comes well over a decade after Baz Luhrmann’s colorful adaptation of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved works. The 1996 film starred Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as Claire Danes, who just so happens to star in Homeland with Damian Lewis.

The film began production in Italy ten days ago.

"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.