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Homeland on Ch4 (UK Pace) - No Spoilers!


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Old 29-02-2012, 16:58
srhDS
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just the mandatory Showtime/ HBO/ Starz nudity....
yeah, seems like they want to differentiate their stuff from CBS or NBC by adding swearing and nudity. Personally I don't mind. In some cases it does make for more realistic drama, The Sopranos would have been a bit weird with no swearing or nudity.
I've just watched the whole series of Spartacus on Blu Ray so I hardly noticed the swearing in Homeland apart from the comment about Hearts.

As for the praying I see a few possibilities.
1. He's still christian but prays differently then he used to. Out of habit from trying to fit in.
2. He's converted to Islam. Either by free choice, stockholm syndrom or brain washing.

Either way I don't make inference that even if he's converted that he's a terrorist / collaborator.
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Old 29-02-2012, 20:52
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Excellent news!

Ep2 of Homeland was viewed by a total of 2.4m including Ch4+1 and was up by 100k viewers from the previous week! Doing good business!

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s188/...k-on-week.html
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Old 29-02-2012, 22:12
theonlyweeman
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yeah, seems like they want to differentiate their stuff from CBS or NBC by adding swearing and nudity. Personally I don't mind. In some cases it does make for more realistic drama, The Sopranos would have been a bit weird with no swearing or nudity.
I've just watched the whole series of Spartacus on Blu Ray so I hardly noticed the swearing in Homeland apart from the comment about Hearts.
I thought that was a tad out of place. I understand her trying to make things awkward, but nobody would say that word in front of their parents, especially with a guest in the house.
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Old 29-02-2012, 22:49
LostFool
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I thought that was a tad out of place. I understand her trying to make things awkward, but nobody would say that word in front of their parents, especially with a guest in the house.
Actually, the daughter is one of the most underrated performances in the entire show. Morgan Saylor plays a very believable stroppy and sulky teenager rather than the annoyingly perfect Disney type kids you get elsewhere (yes, Terra Nova, I'm talking about you)
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Old 29-02-2012, 22:50
MoreTears
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I thought that was a tad out of place. I understand her trying to make things awkward, but nobody would say that word in front of their parents, especially with a guest in the house.
But she's a rebellious teen. Some teenagers will go to great lengths to embarrass their parents.
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Old 01-03-2012, 12:55
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As for the praying I see a few possibilities.
1. He's still christian but prays differently then he used to. Out of habit from trying to fit in.
2. He's converted to Islam. Either by free choice, stockholm syndrom or brain washing.

Either way I don't make inference that even if he's converted that he's a terrorist / collaborator.
I was thinking that during the flashback when he was looking into the prayer room and one of the men looked across at him that guy may have introduced him to to the prayers and taught him the necessary language. Agree that it does not necessarily mean he's turned but I guess they want us to think he might have.
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Old 01-03-2012, 20:28
RecordPlayer
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My personal opinion of that scene is that after 8 years of being a POW, he has somehow found a new belief, a new religion. Does that mean he has been turned. Not necessarily.

There were two scenes in episode 2 that were quite poignant....The first being his son wishing to say grace. Brody could have objected to that as his chosen faith now lies elsewhere. And the second scene where he was having a flashback watching the muslims pray in mosque. That to me anyway, could have been the potential start of his beliefs in converting to Islam..Hense to me why they have called this Homeland ...His homeland may be not Islamic, but he has learnt to now identify with Muslims.]
That was the scene that stuck in my mind... I think you've made some interesting points.
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Old 01-03-2012, 21:04
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Yeah I can't decide if he's converted to Islam or if his praying to Allah is some behaviour, like him hiding in the corner of the room, that's so ingrained in him from his incarceration he can't break with it.

Like you say, it's an intriguing watch.
I was when they showed Brody praying but having thought about it I now, I think it might have kept him sane. and as some posters have said, it doesn't mean he's turned...
...unless he's been brainwashed a la The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

I agree with you, Denley. Homeland is the only thing worth watching at the moment. I like the drip, drip drip effect we're being fed at the moment.
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Old 01-03-2012, 22:00
Denley
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I was when they showed Brody praying but having thought about it I now, I think it might have kept him sane. and as some posters have said, it doesn't mean he's turned...
...unless he's been brainwashed a la The Manchurian Candidate (1962)

I agree with you, Denley. Homeland is the only thing worth watching at the moment. I like the drip, drip drip effect we're being fed at the moment.
Yeah it's brilliant viewing.

The unneccessary, gratuitous female nudity apart (not that it's a real chore to watch for me ) Homeland's got so much going on, I'm loving it.

I wonder whether Brody, wasn't converted to Islam at all but was just not religious at all before. No saying grace around that family dinner table before he went way for one thing. Small points, but maybe he and his family all found some solace in religion during his incarceration?

Intriguing watch - getting inside the minds of a tortured, hostage and his unhinged CIA snooper. Can't wait for the next ep.
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Old 02-03-2012, 11:53
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Just finished watching the whole series and wanted to add my thoughts, without any spoilers of course!
Really enjoyed it, the best US series for a while and close to the standard of Rubicon but with more action/twists than that excellent, intelligent if at times very slow paced series.
The starting concept is fascinating and my only negative is that it descends into predictability at times, then again its almost impossible not to, as stories and themes have all been done so many times before and we can all see things coming ahead of time. Luckily though, the general standard of acting and the strength of Clare Danes, Damian Lewis and Mandy Patinkin's performances keep it believable mostly even during the most unbelievable moments.
The series does dip a little during episodes 7-10 but overall its a cracker and im hoping for season 2.
Finally to finish here's a few things I particularly noticed:

1 how incredibly gorgeous Morena Baccarin is, simply stunning. Some nice scenes of her too!

2 how the Isreali source material, crew etc have such a presence within the story and overwhelmingly negative portrayal of muslims and middle eastern people in general. I felt very uncomfortable throughout with this aspect and had to try and suspend my disbelief to just enjoy the series just as a drama. When faced with rumours of zionist control within the mainstream media and fear of the muslim faith it does make you ponder, when such internationally successful dramas are made with this theme and skewed viewpoint of the West=good and the Rest=bad.

3 how terrible the acting is of the saudi diplomat later in the series. Dreadful!

4 how utterly beautiful Morena Baccerin is. WOW
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Old 02-03-2012, 12:43
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I am finding the whole American Big Beother thing quite shocking!
Do they really behave like that?
Going to give it one more go this week, but If I end up shouting at the tv again, I'm going to stop!
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Old 02-03-2012, 12:57
gemma-the-husky
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never be an "asset".

it was the same in Spy Game, except Brad Pitt saved his "asset". Great film if anyone is interested.

Super series, though. 24 has set the bar high.
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Old 02-03-2012, 14:07
sherisgirl
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Perhaps he 1st joined them in prayers as a way out of the cell for a couple of times a day, and its become a habit to pray or a comfort zone, without actually being turned. Hes worked it to his advantage, to stay sane.
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Old 02-03-2012, 16:23
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Just finished watching the whole series and wanted to add my thoughts, without any spoilers of course!
How lovely for you. But "without spoilers" is beside the point.

On this topic, we are (mostly) watching at UK C4 pace. The thread title is the clue. We have not reached - and will not do so for some weeks - episodes 7 - 10 and any perceived "dip" in quality. We have no need to be made aware of acting, good or bad (and which is subjective anyway) that is weeks away.

It's super that people want to tell others that they have seen an entire series (and let's face it, it is all about what they've seen not what we're watching) and the best possible place to do that is on a thread where everyone has, indeed, seen the entire series. Which, two episodes into the series airing on C4, is not here.

However, anyone who has seen the entire series should feel free to chip in when episodes 7 - 10 are doing their dip and when bad acting by any character becomes relevant to the topic.
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Old 02-03-2012, 20:07
Denley
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never be an "asset".

it was the same in Spy Game, except Brad Pitt saved his "asset". Great film if anyone is interested.

Super series, though. 24 has set the bar high.
Yeah Spy Game is a decent film.

What leverage did Carrie use on Lynne (?) to get her spying for her in the first place?
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Old 02-03-2012, 20:15
MrSuper
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Looks like i'm not the only one who has spotted numerous posts from members who have made comments on episodes yet to air. UK pace only please! Cheers.
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Old 03-03-2012, 09:46
derek500
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Episode two was very short for a 'premium cable' 60m drama.

58m including 11m 30s of breaks. Allowing for the faster running time in the UK, that makes for only about 48m at US speed.
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Old 03-03-2012, 10:21
MoreTears
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Episode two was very short for a 'premium cable' 60m drama.

58m including 11m 30s of breaks. Allowing for the faster running time in the UK, that makes for only about 48m at US speed.
Actually, in the US, on Showtime, it was 51 minutes, counting the beginning and end credits. I know because as I watch American premium cable show episodes I always make a note of the running times (rounding up or down to the nearest minute). A silly little habit, I know, but I find it interesting how premium cable episodes vary in length. If you are curious, here are the original Showtime running times for all of the Homeland episodes:

Episode 01 -- 56 Minutes

Episode 02 -- 51 Minutes

Episode 03 -- 50 Minutes

Episode 04 -- 50 Minutes

Episode 05 -- 56 Minutes

Episode 06 -- 50 Minutes

Episode 07 -- 58 Minutes

Episode 08 -- 50 Minutes

Episode 09 -- 50 Minutes

Episode 10 -- 49 Minutes

Episode 11 -- 55 Minutes

Episode 12 -- 84 Minutes
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:00
LostFool
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Actually, in the US, on Showtime, it was 51 minutes, counting the beginning and end credits. I know because as I watch American premium cable show episodes I always make a note of the running times (rounding up or down to the nearest minute). A silly little habit, I know, but I find it interesting how premium cable episodes vary in length. If you are curious, here are the original Showtime running times for all of the Homeland episodes:
That's interesting. Apart from the long final episode I hadn't noticed the difference in lengths. I suppose it allows them to fit the length of the episode around the script rather than cutting or padding it to fit a fixed time. After all, not all chapters in books are exactly the same length.
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:05
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Have to agree with some of the comments against those posters who are commenting after seeing the whole series. I'm up to episode 9 because I watched episode 1 and couldn't bear to wait for the rest, but just looking in to see what others' early impressions are.

However while some might not be giving spoilers per se, this is for people watching at UK pace. Even vague details can give away things, and to say certain episodes are less good to those yet to see them is ridiculous. Let people discover things like that for themselves for god's sake.

It would be better to not comment at all.
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:07
gemma-the-husky
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bit of a coincidence that there are no cameras in the garage though. or is it? does he know/suspect there are cameras?
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:09
gemma-the-husky
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Yeah Spy Game is a decent film.

What leverage did Carrie use on Lynne (?) to get her spying for her in the first place?
I don't think they said. they probably just persuade them that it's patriotic.

similar ideas in Panam, although I stopped watching that after about 2 episodes.
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Old 03-03-2012, 11:11
gemma-the-husky
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Episode two was very short for a 'premium cable' 60m drama.

58m including 11m 30s of breaks. Allowing for the faster running time in the UK, that makes for only about 48m at US speed.
i think 24's came in only about 43 minutes each didn't they.

Jack Bauer crammed a day into 18 hours.
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Old 03-03-2012, 12:09
theonlyweeman
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Actually, in the US, on Showtime, it was 51 minutes, counting the beginning and end credits. I know because as I watch American premium cable show episodes I always make a note of the running times (rounding up or down to the nearest minute). A silly little habit, I know, but I find it interesting how premium cable episodes vary in length. If you are curious, here are the original Showtime running times for all of the Homeland episodes....
Or you could just look it up on Showtime's website where they are all listed.... Here's the episode 2 page: http://www.sho.com/site/homeland/epi...isodeid=138826
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Old 03-03-2012, 16:59
derek500
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i think 24's came in only about 43 minutes each didn't they.
24 was on a commercial network with five ad breaks.
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