I didn’t realise it was the final episode so I felt a bit anxious half way through but I thought it was a great ending. I couldn’t imagine how they’d end something so labrinthian but I have to say it was a corker. For me it could have been split over two episodes, stopping where Saul is helpless and Carrie arrives in Israel, but I can’t really complain. You?
I watched it a week ago (the US broadcast) and thought it was excellent. It was certainly one of the better series endings and wrapped it up nicely – almost a happy ending even, which would be strange for Homeland.
I think this last series has been one of the better ones and it’s certainly gone out on a high. Of course, plenty of plot holes, but that would be nit picking. I will miss it.
I thought the ending was good too, and Mrs M and I have often been disappointed by the endings of TV series. In fact as we sat down to watch the last ep of Homeland we both remarked that we were prepared to be disappointed as usual!
I would certainly have been thinking that if I’d realised it was the end but we suddenly realised it was on after dinner (we usually record it to PVR) so put it on and… Wow this is it. Great ending though. Right up to the last few minutes it was surprising me.
I also couldn’t wait for last night after I realised it had been shown in the US last week so I watched it on Tuesday but didn’t want to post until it had been shown here
It was a great series and this last one was one of the best. What is so impressive is that it just never dipped over the whole 12 episodes – no weak episodes, no mid-run “let’s pad this out with a flashback”. Each hour had you gripped.
Agree the end was perfect as it’s not coming back. Just as an aside, the end of Westworld today is pants.
The paper (and the Radio Times) had marked out the finale as a two-hour programme, so me and the GLW were ready for even more twists and turns when it… just ended. Aside from Carrie actually going through with the Russians’ wishes to avoid the Pakistan ding-dong, there were no surprises til the last ten minutes – everything panned out the way it had been mapped out. Maybe that was the biggest surprise.
It’s been good show, great in places, and a fitting finale, but I don’t want any more. There’s only so much disbelief I can suspend. Friday Night Dinner ending has been more surprising, though that was a great way to wrap up a show.
Our Friday Nights are bereft. Yes though no official word, that felt like the end of Shalom Jackieee, puss face, and s##t on it. We will not see their like again.
Like many others I bailed out on Homeland – after Series 3? Given the adulation this last series has received can I just jump in right here or if not how far do I have to go back?
You don’t have to go to series 4, but the last series pulls a number of old friend and foes together so it’s better to. I would go back to 4. You got it things to do? They’re all brilliant anyway.
It’s interesting that in the USA, the two seasons of Homeland that got the highest viewing figures were the ones that most Homeland fans seem to agree are the weakest, namely 2 and 3.
Excellent conclusion, although I was also baffled by the episode coming in much shorter than the listings had indicated and until the last moment was wondering if there was still more to come.
The first series was a classic; two and three not as good but still watchable; then four inwards it took a new turn and was consistently excellent.
What was great about the last few minutes was that we know Carrie by now, and she is capable of doing polar opposite stuff (the German weird institute job for example) so you almost believe she could be writing horribly embarrassing tell all books. But there was a clue from the Brodie clip at the beginning about being a patriot.
When Saul said “Go fuck yourself” we both cheered!
I was sure that Carrie was going to be assassinated. For most of the episode I thought the Russians were going to kill her, then for the last 10/15 minutes I thought Saul was going to have her killed. The woman in green at the concert hall was, I was sure, going to be the killer.
I didn’t buy Saul’s smile at the end. I thought Carrie’s betrayal was so profound that there was nothing she could do that could win his approval. So even that smile seemed just a bit too far.
I have stuck with Homeland all the way through from episode 1. Sometimes exasperating, frequently unlikely, unafraid of preposterousness, occasionally infuriating, always entertaining.
I will miss Claire Daines, whom I think is one of the most talented actresses around. Maybe the most talented actress currently working.
I hope she gets another worthwhile project.
I agree with everyone else; it was a worthy and clever end to a generally great programme. After a slightly slow start I thought this Series was terrific. Of course, Homeland requires a ridiculous suspension of disbelief, but it also has dealt with big geo-political themes, and doesn’t treat its audience like idiots – it requires you to pay attention. The double act of Danes and Mandy Patinkin is superb – if she is the dynamic energy of the drama, he is its heart.
Couple of other notes – I liked that they set the final scene around a Kamasi Washington gig, particularly as (and I hadn’t realise this til now) that’s him on the music that plays on the opening credits.
And Homeland has made substantial use of British actors – Damien Lewis and Rupert Friend most significantly of course, but in this series there was Art Malik; Danes’ husband High Dancy playing a war mongering neo-con advising the President (told you it wasn’t realistic), and Linus Roache as the one decent man left in the White House inner circle.
Great stuff altogether, and so relieved it went out on a high.
Just watched the final episode. Was actually a really decent ending, but I think it was time to sign off. Each season seems to have got slightly more ridiculous that the last. Still great entertainment.
Twang says
I didn’t realise it was the final episode so I felt a bit anxious half way through but I thought it was a great ending. I couldn’t imagine how they’d end something so labrinthian but I have to say it was a corker. For me it could have been split over two episodes, stopping where Saul is helpless and Carrie arrives in Israel, but I can’t really complain. You?
Chrisf says
I watched it a week ago (the US broadcast) and thought it was excellent. It was certainly one of the better series endings and wrapped it up nicely – almost a happy ending even, which would be strange for Homeland.
I think this last series has been one of the better ones and it’s certainly gone out on a high. Of course, plenty of plot holes, but that would be nit picking. I will miss it.
Mousey says
I thought the ending was good too, and Mrs M and I have often been disappointed by the endings of TV series. In fact as we sat down to watch the last ep of Homeland we both remarked that we were prepared to be disappointed as usual!
Twang says
I would certainly have been thinking that if I’d realised it was the end but we suddenly realised it was on after dinner (we usually record it to PVR) so put it on and… Wow this is it. Great ending though. Right up to the last few minutes it was surprising me.
Ainsley says
I also couldn’t wait for last night after I realised it had been shown in the US last week so I watched it on Tuesday but didn’t want to post until it had been shown here
It was a great series and this last one was one of the best. What is so impressive is that it just never dipped over the whole 12 episodes – no weak episodes, no mid-run “let’s pad this out with a flashback”. Each hour had you gripped.
Agree the end was perfect as it’s not coming back. Just as an aside, the end of Westworld today is pants.
TrypF says
The paper (and the Radio Times) had marked out the finale as a two-hour programme, so me and the GLW were ready for even more twists and turns when it… just ended. Aside from Carrie actually going through with the Russians’ wishes to avoid the Pakistan ding-dong, there were no surprises til the last ten minutes – everything panned out the way it had been mapped out. Maybe that was the biggest surprise.
It’s been good show, great in places, and a fitting finale, but I don’t want any more. There’s only so much disbelief I can suspend. Friday Night Dinner ending has been more surprising, though that was a great way to wrap up a show.
moseleymoles says
Our Friday Nights are bereft. Yes though no official word, that felt like the end of Shalom Jackieee, puss face, and s##t on it. We will not see their like again.
Lodestone of Wrongness says
Like many others I bailed out on Homeland – after Series 3? Given the adulation this last series has received can I just jump in right here or if not how far do I have to go back?
Twang says
You don’t have to go to series 4, but the last series pulls a number of old friend and foes together so it’s better to. I would go back to 4. You got it things to do? They’re all brilliant anyway.
duco01 says
It’s interesting that in the USA, the two seasons of Homeland that got the highest viewing figures were the ones that most Homeland fans seem to agree are the weakest, namely 2 and 3.
Ainsley says
I think they strung out the original story line too far. First series was great but by the third they were stretching it.
After that each series was effectively a separate story and it worked much better.
Twang says
Yes I agree, my advice to someone who hasn’t seen it would be to skip 2 and 3 all together. It would still be brilliant.
duco01 says
First season: I missed it. Typical me.
Seasons 2 & 3: so-so
Seasons 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8: all thoroughly enjoyable and recommended.
Hurrah for the extremely brave and resourceful Carrie!
Hurrah for the extremely beardy Saul!
rotherhithe hack says
Excellent conclusion, although I was also baffled by the episode coming in much shorter than the listings had indicated and until the last moment was wondering if there was still more to come.
The first series was a classic; two and three not as good but still watchable; then four inwards it took a new turn and was consistently excellent.
Twang says
What was great about the last few minutes was that we know Carrie by now, and she is capable of doing polar opposite stuff (the German weird institute job for example) so you almost believe she could be writing horribly embarrassing tell all books. But there was a clue from the Brodie clip at the beginning about being a patriot.
When Saul said “Go fuck yourself” we both cheered!
Smudger says
Good end to one of the better series I thought. Plenty of unbelievable moments as usual but that’s Homeland eh.
You do wonder if the fact that both Carrie and Saul survived the last episode leaves the door open to another series at some point.
Carl says
I was sure that Carrie was going to be assassinated. For most of the episode I thought the Russians were going to kill her, then for the last 10/15 minutes I thought Saul was going to have her killed. The woman in green at the concert hall was, I was sure, going to be the killer.
I didn’t buy Saul’s smile at the end. I thought Carrie’s betrayal was so profound that there was nothing she could do that could win his approval. So even that smile seemed just a bit too far.
I have stuck with Homeland all the way through from episode 1. Sometimes exasperating, frequently unlikely, unafraid of preposterousness, occasionally infuriating, always entertaining.
I will miss Claire Daines, whom I think is one of the most talented actresses around. Maybe the most talented actress currently working.
I hope she gets another worthwhile project.
Blue Boy says
I agree with everyone else; it was a worthy and clever end to a generally great programme. After a slightly slow start I thought this Series was terrific. Of course, Homeland requires a ridiculous suspension of disbelief, but it also has dealt with big geo-political themes, and doesn’t treat its audience like idiots – it requires you to pay attention. The double act of Danes and Mandy Patinkin is superb – if she is the dynamic energy of the drama, he is its heart.
Couple of other notes – I liked that they set the final scene around a Kamasi Washington gig, particularly as (and I hadn’t realise this til now) that’s him on the music that plays on the opening credits.
And Homeland has made substantial use of British actors – Damien Lewis and Rupert Friend most significantly of course, but in this series there was Art Malik; Danes’ husband High Dancy playing a war mongering neo-con advising the President (told you it wasn’t realistic), and Linus Roache as the one decent man left in the White House inner circle.
Great stuff altogether, and so relieved it went out on a high.
Native says
Just watched the final episode. Was actually a really decent ending, but I think it was time to sign off. Each season seems to have got slightly more ridiculous that the last. Still great entertainment.