Homeland: Season 2, Episode 12 “The Choice” (A-)
The attack finally took place, and I’m not sure it could have happened in a more devastating way. Carrie and Brody talking about their lives together made it seem like something might actually happen, and Quinn being the one to call off the hit on Brody suggested that they might even be left in peace. Brody giving Mike his blessing to be with Jessica and then waltzing off with Carrie during the memorial to dream about their future some more definitely made his subsequent casual remark about his car being moved an utterly unexpected transition to the destructive blast that definitively killed Cynthia and Finn Walden, and Estes. Carrie pulling a gun on Brody after the explosion and accusing him of being complicit was over quickly, but it demonstrated just how guilty Brody looks, especially after the brilliantly-coordinated release of the Brody suicide tape. No one is going to believe that he’s innocent, and his decision to be truthful with Dana about his vest-donning probably wasn’t smart in retrospect. Brody catching on to the fact that Carrie wasn’t coming before she confirmed it made the moment even sadder, and let’s hope that he can stay out of trouble while she sticks her neck out for him to clear his name. The notion that Saul is now the ranking CIA agent, at least on the scene and possibly in general, means that things will happen in a very different way going forward, and maybe he’ll even be smart enough to try to trust Quinn, who presumably is out there somewhere with his newfound acceptance of Brody as a person. Having Carrie call out Saul’s name while he was reciting the Mourner’s Kaddish for the victims of the attack and ending on him smiling in her direction was a powerful way to close out the season, and a definite way to attract back viewers for season three. I’m thrilled that this season was just as good as the first, and I can’t wait for more.
Season grade: A
Season MVP: Claire Danes
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