What I’m Watching: Homecoming (Season Finale)

Homecoming: Season 1, Episode 10 “Stop” (B+)

This show does a masterful job of telling its story, and this finale was most involving for the way in which it portrayed the interaction between two of its central characters. Colin being interrupted during his program pitch to the DOD led to him getting much more worked up and out of control than usual, no longer collected and skilled while pacing on the phone but instead reacting in a disruptive way in both earshot and eyesight of the people he was trying to sell on the program. Heidi was way too calm on the phone as well, presumably already feeling some of the effects that allowed her to be more subdued and distanced from the immediacy of her pain. Colin accusing her of “reformatting” Walter so that he could go home was appropriately scientific, and Heidi telling Gloria the whole story made clear that everything they did at Homecoming aside from the food and the therapy sessions was just for show to distract from what was really going on. Heidi driving to find Walter only to see him not really recognize her was a haunting way to end things, and I read that Julia Roberts isn’t coming back next season, which means the focus might be different but hopefully on something equally intriguing. I was glad to see that Hong Chau, standout star of the underrated “Downsizing,” was given a major promotion in terms of her screen time and her character’s significance as Audrey got to dress Colin down considerably and exert much more power than he ever has. Citing him as the problematic employee he thought Carrasco was reframes things in a whole new way, and it’s hard to know what to make of that final post-credits scene where Audrey is using a newer-tech version of the memory-eraser to keep herself calm. I’m feeling more positive about this show now than I have before, and I’m eager and on board for another deep dive.

Season grade: B
Season MVP: Bobby Cannavale as Colin