Homeland (TV Series) A False Glimmer (2015) User Reviews

A somewhat disappointing finale

[Tweekums · 7/10 · 28 December 2015]

In the opening minutes of this season finale Carrie thwarts the terrorists' attempts to release sarin gas on the Berlin Underground. The rest of the episode is given over to the questions of whether Quinn will survive after having brain surgery, whether Allison will be able to get out of Germany and what Carrie will be doing next. There is also the question of what will happen to crusading reporter Laura Sutton after she has threatened have hacker Numan release the stolen data to the media.

After a gripping season this episode was a bit of a let-down; it wasn't bad it just wasn't as good as what had gone before. The threat of a major terrorist atrocity was dealt with far too quickly leading to a distinct lack of tension for the remainder of the episode. The question of whether Quinn would survive wasn't really resolved; it was implied that the odds of him surviving were slim… no doubt his survival will depend on whether the character is wanted for the next season. Allison's end was the most disappointing part of the episode; I could have understood if it ended with her being killed by the Russians now her usefulness had passed or her capture by the CIA or the Germans however having her murdered by a CIA team led by Saul left a bad taste. The most interesting part of the story surprisingly featured the relatively minor character Laura Sutton as we see her being forced to recant what she said before in order to protect Numan. Despite its disappointing elements the episode was at least well-acted and I'll still be tuning in if there is a sixth season.

Very solid finale of a very solid season

[851222 · 9/10 · 21 December 2015]

Greetings from Lithuania.

Last episode of season 5 was as good as the whole season itself. Many plot lines ended in plausible and realistic way - as usual. Acting was great, there was a suspense and etc.

The whole season 5 for me was very solid, but not the best. Safe to say that it is probably not possible to top season 1, but i always loved the show no matter what direction it took. For me season 4 was probably the best after first one. This one is very good and they tied and ended many plot lines.

Overall, "A False Glimmer" is a very good episode for a very good season.

Can't wait for season 6.

Disappointed -- and yes Spoilers**

[kyle-tate-838-948821 · 7/10 · 28 December 2015]

The season had so much potential as events throughout the world, cyber terrorism and intelligence, combined where reality was stranger than fiction. Just flip-flop a few countries and capitals and Europe and you really had the drama unfold before you. Having said that I think about the writers and directors failed miserably in trying to accomplish the finished product while writing the obits for two main characters.

As far as finales go, my expectations for "Homeland" are usually very high especially the season where we lose Damian Lewis, and are left hanging as to whether or not Carrie is still going to be in the game. Having said that, this season really touched on many relevant and current issues that the world is facing, including the prospects of soft targets, in the light of the Paris attacks and San Bernardino, everything was running very smoothly. What could have been a very suspenseful, convoluted, and interesting plot twist turned into ( spoilers) solving the subway issue within the first five minutes! From there it turned into a drama, never once did the issue of her daughter really play into the whole story after making such a big deal about it. The situation as to Quinn's status is pretty much put to rest and now we also have someone on the run. It just did not deliver on so many levels. You killed off two characters that were mainstays for the last five years, and you did not replace them with anyone that audiences can identify or feel sympathetic towards.

I am not the only one as I attended many holiday parties and spoke with people who are big "Homeland" fans and could not find one who felt that the finale lived up to their expectations. I am hoping that instead of the finale it was more of a break so that next season it will pick up right where it left off for certain characters, running from others, but I just don't see how it will be the same because who does Carrie, besides Saul, have a vested relationship with that we have seen from season to season? Otto? Come on we deserved a lot better, and the previous episode was probably one of the best. Add that to the episode where she comes off her meds and this has to be one of the weakest seasons I have seen. I think ratings and reviews from users will reflect that. Many people I spoke with during the holidays had not even caught up on the season and were going to binge watch at some point if they make it a priority.

Good ending, but not nearly as bombastic as it promised to be

[rafaelghertman · 8/10 · 21 December 2015]

The ending of Homeland's season 5 was a good one. Definitely a million times better than the depressing and nonsense season 4 finale. However, it doesn't keep with the immense amount of tension which the spectacular episode 11 had.

It would be fair to even compare these last chapters to those of season 1 if only this finale were such as bombastic as season's 1. Instead, it is a much lighter episode, one that, however, does give resolution to the unfinished stories that emerged on this season successfully, which is basically what an ending should do.

I'm looking forward to the next season mainly to see how this drama from the last scene is going to develop. With luck, maybe it's going to end up the way I believe fans are expecting for a long time. Maybe it is the destiny indeed.

S5: Morbidly topical, and a lot of threads. At heart it is 24, but it feels a lot more grounded in ways that add to its dramatic clout

[bob the moo · 22 January 2017]

As much as I enjoyed the fourth season of this show (freed up from its ties to its origin plot), the final episode (and scenes) was so weak that it put me off returning. Ironic then that the same situation repeats itself in that the fifth season is really engaging for what it does, but then delivers a final episode which is anti- climactic at best, and befuddling in its content at worst.

To give context to this fifth season, there is a lot about it to dislike, or at least be a little put-off by. The most obvious is that it has found itself becoming increasingly timely – even to the point that it had to put up warning text before an episode which paid respect to the victims of the Paris attack before showing an episode featuring the planning of such an attack (and what an awful time when I saw that episode ages after I had taped it, and wondered "which Paris attack?"). This timeliness does occasionally feel like opportunism, and for sure it is not shy about using radical Islam as an all-present and ominous baddie. It only highlights itself doing this further when it has some non-radical characters, as if to say "some, we assume, are good people". The second thing to deal with is that, despite this timeliness, it is not as nuanced or as filled with commentary as it would like to think. For sure it is more balanced than Fox's 24, however at its heart it is essentially 24 but dressed up a bit to get the BBC4 crowd to cast an eye its way.

These things in mind though, this season does deliver in a way that engages. It is a little awkward in the set-up, and in how it gets all the characters back in play, but once you are through this, it all starts moving pretty nicely. Whether or not you want to accuse it of being prescient or opportunistic (I think it is a bit of both), the real life echoes do add to the drama – although of course the portrayal of a world filled with Islamic threat also feeds back into the real life, which is why people have issues with the show. The various threads do not always convince, and for sure there is quite a smack of convenience about some of it, but it moves forward with grit and determination that makes the viewer go along with it, and buy into each twist as it goes.

As I mentioned, the final episode has the slight feeling of anticlimax as the various threads are resolved with reasonable ease and cleanliness; and the 'personal' character stories are for some reason brought to the fore again. However it doesn't diminish an enjoyable season, which is more real with each passing attack, and as a result has a lot of heft even though it does channel 24 in its heart.

Contrived and a bit incoherent

[henrycoles9 · 8/10 · 10 June 2020]

The story of season 5 didn't feel as genuine as those of the first four seasons. It seems the creators hoped to follow two storylines that would converge at the end, and yet it didn't make for a resounding climax.

A beautiful epilogue for the season... Hell series!

[SensibleEscapades · 10/10 · 21 May 2020]

Improves on the comedown theme of last seasons finale. This episode is teeming with wonderful, thought provoking yet elegent scenes that do a great service to the characters the writers have created over the prior 5 or so years. Many beautiful scenes where character ark is the primary source for catharsis make this finale a joy to watch. Yes, yes it isn't as exciting as wondering if the bomb is going to off, If the good guys prevail... but after 5 years of drama with the characters, it's wonderful to see that the writers respect the characters they've created. It's a joy to see this show mature and deliver such moments that can almost perfectly sum up what Carrie, Saul, Quinn hell even Dar have been slogged through to reach this moment. Absolutely delicious.

The loneliness of the American hero

[dierregi · 8/10 · 24 April 2021]

Carrie saves the day - once more - in the first five minutes of the episode and one is left wondering how they'll fill the rest of the time. First of all, slowing pace and having an embittered Saul plan to get Allison. Which he does and I cannot say I was sorry to see her go.

Then they tie the other loose end of arrogant Laura, forced to recant to save her acquaintance Numan. Seems a lot to do for somebody she barely met. But again, I was happy to see that, too.

Then follows the stickiest matter of Quinn, for me the tragic hero of this series, the underdog who gets beaten over and again. We're left in doubt about his survival but at least Carrie shows some care and decency, especially after she read the letter he left for her before going to Syria. The last scene is truly sad and emotional.

Unfortunately before wrapping up with that great ending, there were two strident episodes: Saul trying to recruit Carrie back, and she saying she's a different person and won't go back. Such a cliche, seen a million times to prove how independent the main character is.

Even worse, Otto making a pass to Carrie, sort of out of the blue and restrained but still cringeworthy.

It would have been a great idea to end the series with this: Carrie doing her special atoning stuff on her own; Quinn departing tragically and Saul back to CIA, after having learned some lessons. Unfortunately, they churned out another three series, which I fear will be just mediocre at best.

A fantastic season but the ending was a bit anticlimactic

[barr-69434 · 6/10 · 31 October 2020]

Been recently watching homeland during lockdown and I am thoroughly enjoying it with great solid seasons. But the ending to this season felt like it was missing something especially with what happened with alison. It seemed to wrap things up in a blunt way. However it is still a great season all round, and still a great show so far.

Well,

[Abdulxoxo · 7/10 · 18 October 2020]

Carrie with some help managed to stopped the gas attack, but it's somewhat predictable and underwhelming, you can't see that happening from a two episodes away. The rest of the episode is more character-driven just like in the last season, and it was kinda anti-climatic.

Laura was forced to negate everything she said in order to protect Numan, what a selfless character. Allison was on her way to leave the country but was ambushed by the CIA, despite what she did, I don't think she deserved to die like that, moreover she's an interesting and clever character, she worked for the Russians for years and no one suspected a thing in the Agency. And when they found out she outsmarted them all. Carrie and her boyfriend broke up, and then she was proposed by her boss, Otto, which I find it to be a bit out-of-place. It's as if the writers can't decide whether to kill off Quinn or not, his death was teased a lot in the past episodes, just make up your mind.

Overall, this is a good season, but not as good as last season or any season for that matter. However, it's got suspense and enough drama to keep one engaged, and the acting is brilliant, cinematography was great in particularly, the score was fitting. Can't wait to see what S6 has to offer.

Finale reveals lack of character development

[isabel-01013 · 3/10 · 6 April 2016]

Ending an otherwise excellent season, this episode reveals a baffling lack of character development. The other episodes of the season have been so full of action and drama, of intelligent analyses and overview of major conflicts in the world, the lack of character development hasn't been apparent. In this episode however, as the tempo slow down and it is time for wrap up, the characters come into focus and turns out to be left at the same exact places they ended up in last season.

"Show, don't tell" is a golden rule of story telling, but when it comes to Carries inner life, in this season, it is mostly tell no show. Carrie leaves the spy world in favour of her family (again) and claims she's a different person now - despite having spent the entire season in old form, singlehandedly stopping a planned terrorist attack. So much in Carrie's life at this point seem random, and frankly not believable: Why is she suddenly living with a kindhearted German lawyer? Why, if she is intent on leaving her life as an agent and get back to her daughter, does she run into a subway tunnel where sarin gas is about to be released in four minutes time, with very little hope to stop the attack? Why does her employer propose to her out of the blue?

Saul for his part ends up once again rejected by his protégée. Despite having been forced to overcome his resentment and taking Carrie back into his trust, he once again watches her leave him behind as she (plans to) head back into the normal world of family life.

Quinn does what he did at the end of last season, vanishes into the dark with slim chances of coming back alive.

Speaking of Quinn, this season's Oscar goes to Rupert Friend for his role in "Quinn and Six Ways of Dying Painfully". What's up with that? From bleeding out, to sepsis, to suicide, to sarin poisoning, to being forced out of coma with probable lethal consequences, and at the very last, euthanasia ( or not, we don't know yet). Why was the entire season spent trying to kill off this wonderful, complex, tortured, loyal character? Will he be back?? I certainly hope so.

I have loved every season of this series but if they don't restore Quinn to health, and start paying more attention to their characters, I'm not sure I'll be back for the rest.

bad ending to a convoluted season

[Rat_27 · 5/10 · 18 January 2017]

Overall, I didn't think this was a great season, and I thought the finale was very weak. Poor in story and execution. All of the arcs conclude in this episode, but the execution of Allison made absolutely no sense to me. Granted, there would be no use for the driver or the guard, but that should take 2 bullets, from 2 rifles. Then pop the trunk, and voila one Russian HVT trying to defect who is now on her way for fun and sun at Gitmo. I understand why they didn't want to publicly arrest her, but they had a perfect opportunity to disappear her with no witnesses.

My feelings are starting to wane for this show. It's greenlit for 9 seasons? Seriously? Who is Claire Danes sleeping with at Showtime?

Again?

[phillip-ayscue-135-643247 · 4/10 · 19 May 2018]

While I love this series, they are not good at season finales.

Bad writing and often good acting

[greggjohns · 3/10 · 27 December 2015]

Some spoilers. Do not read before watching the episode.

The acting is often good on this show, but can't disguise the poor writing, the plotting mistakes, and the strange focus on the least interesting character--Carrie. The last scene encapsulates all of the problems with the show. Quinn is rescued from Carrie's euthanasia attempt by a sudden light, leaving us with a cliff-hanger that might be expected in a daytime soap opera from twenty years ago. Promising, of course, that Quinn will be miraculously revived, because doctors know nothing about the healing power of true love and because otherwise there is no reason to have Quinn linger around so long.

Worse still is the murder of Allison in a way that cannot be kept much of a secret, given the number of people involved, when she would in reality have been simply captured, giving the CIA the ability to learn much from her and the two men who were helping her to escape. The larger problem is that Allison was the most interesting character in the show, since she was genuinely conflicted and smarter than most of the people she encountered. The plotting mistake that justified her death is one of the worst that I've seen in any series or films--she has no reason to lie about the location of the attack. No one knew where the attack would occur. By giving false information, she was discrediting herself and ensuring that the manhunt, so to speak, for her would be intensified. And ensuring that there would be a public disclosure that Russia intentionally allowed the attack to continue. Not the kind of publicity that Russia would have intentionally created for itself, or that Allison would not have foreseen. Easy to understand the reason for the mistake--to allow Carrie to save the day. But that's exactly the problem. The plotting is created to put the more-or-less good characters on a pedestal (erected in honor of a Cold War miniseries conception of the stupid, evil Russians?) instead of presenting a realistic drama.

Season Five

[zkonedog · 4/10 · 4 July 2019]

(First off, I have to admit that I only watched the first seven of the twelve episodes that constitute this Fifth Season. As such, this review will mainly focus on the reasons why I'm "out" after four full seasons and 7 episodes of this one.)

"Homeland" has always been a strange show for me in that it makes me think about how a television program needs to be paced. Often, I will complain about a show "not getting to the point" quick enough, or extending plots/relationships past their due dates, so to speak. For the first two seasons of "Homeland", the show did the exact opposite. It "went for it" every single episode, creating such incredible tension between the characters of Nicolas Brody (Damien Lewis) and Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes). The show creators could have drawn that tension out for many a- season, but they chose to go for the jugular instead, creating what I consider to be two of the greatest seasons of television I've ever viewed.

What I'm beginning to understand (based on the current state of "Homeland"), however, is what the pitfalls are of that approach, as right now "Homeland" is a shell of its former self, and it's in large part because it can't nearly come close to sustaining that breakneck pace of the "early years". Before I continue, I would like to add that I also view "Homeland" in a different context than what potentially many others do. To me, the show was never "a show about terrorism". I mean it was, to a certain extent, what with the "is heisn't he" tension surrounding Brody, but I viewed the early stages of that show as mostly about the tension between the characters. In other words, I felt that the show was using events to push the characters instead of the other way around. I was perfectly fine with that and loved every second of it. There may be others who watch "Homeland" more strictly for the political intrigue (in which case they are likely still watching and loving it), but I can't count myself in that camp.

Thus, besides a really strong plot line towards the end of Season Four, "Homeland" has been a bit of a struggle for me since the end of Season Two, which is when the show started to get more political and less character-driven. It has had its moments since then, to be sure, but with this Fifth Season I've finally been compelled to give up watching entirely.

Now, this is where I would usually give a quick summary of the Fifth Season (well, at least the first 7 episodes), but this is part of the problem: far too often I had no idea what was going on and struggled to follow the characters. "Homeland" always was a show that required close viewing (unlike, say, the straightforward "black and white" nature of "24"), but this season I feel that it may have went too far. It starts off with a plot arc about hacked documents, spends quite a bit of time dealing with German intelligence, then the Russians get involved, and the hacked documents finally start to come back again. To be honest, I was confused from the get-go and never able to "buy in". Maybe that is on me, but I usually haven't had that problem with previous seasons.

Perhaps this whole review (and synopsis of my "Homeland" experience) can be summed up by saying this: after the white-hot intensity of the Carrie/Brody arc in Seasons 1-2, I never felt that the show ever really even came close to those heights again. Characters such as Saul (Mandy Patinkin), Quinn (Rupert Friend), Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham), and the newcomers from Season Five might be interesting in their own right, but not nearly enough to sustain a show that had lost its core. It finally got to the point where it felt like a chore to watch, and that's when I know it is time to punch out. It feels strange, considering how much I have invested in certain characters and just the overall feel of the show, but (as previously explained), the show has moved a considerable direction away from what made me love it in the first place.

There is a scene in the fourth season that really exemplifies my relationship to this show, a scene in which Carrie has a vision of Brody while she is in a drug-addled state. My heart practically stopped during that scene, as it brought up the deep emotions from those early seasons. I realized at that moment that my time watching "Homeland" might be coming to an end (as the show, due to that furious pacing, had to move away from that relationship). I'll always treasure those first two seasons, but now the other shoe has dropped for me.

Season 5 Review

[richellenls · 5/10 · 11 August 2022]

After having a second go, ergo binge watching all seasons, this season is by far the slowest/boring season of all homeland seasons. I felt other seasons kept you engaged with other story lines/new characters for the most part. This seasons story lines, new characters, and everything in between was just plain boring!!

The end!