Brody Countdown 5: The “Other” Love Story in Homeland: Nick and Jess Brody

As Homeland Season 8, the last season of the show in which I “discovered” Damian Lewis, is fast approaching, we continue our tribute to Nicholas Brody, a character we have loved and still miss dearly!

I was inspired to write this particular post thanks to Tbkwrm’s inspiring lovely fan fiction in which she imagined Jess and Brody’s wedding day! And she got me thinking… She got me thinking hard about the “other” love story in Homeland that we never really witnessed except for little bits and pieces… So here you go: Nick and Jess Brody…

source: Showtime
source: Showtime

…A beautiful couple united by love and separated by war… High school sweethearts… They start dating at 16 and get married probably in their early 20s… They have a simple, yet happy life: A house. A car. Probably a mortgage. Two beautiful kids. Football and BBQ on the weekend. Your picture-perfect American family… Well… until life happens… Continue reading “Brody Countdown 5: The “Other” Love Story in Homeland: Nick and Jess Brody”

Brody Countdown 6: JaniaJania
Investigates Homeland Season 1

Our own JaniaJania was very dubious about Homeland at first! Let’s let her tell it.

What the hell is this CIA agent doing kissing this guy she’s investigating, who also happens to be married? What is it about this guy that’s making this woman behave so unprofessionally?

All ruffled feathers of feminism aside, how could one say no to seeing such an attraction play out?

We saw Brody lying repeatedly. Just one lie after another came so effortlessly out of him. We see the cold stare, a face showing nothing. In his private moments, we could see that Brody seemed to be missing a layer of skin that everyone else seemed to have. Then, when he’s around others, we could see his lies providing the cover he needed, that missing layer of protection. We didn’t know yet, of course, just what he needed to protect, we just felt his need for it. Continue reading “Brody Countdown 6: JaniaJania Investigates Homeland Season 1”

Brody Countdown 9

Falling Star Part Three: The Nameless Star Chapter One

“She has a million names, and the star has none.” –  Jacob Clifton

You’re Carrie Mathison, you’ve been reunited with the man you’ve longed for, you’ve feared for, you’ve risked body and mind for. He has turned away. What do you do?  You wipe away the tears, you go to work.

She’s agreed to Saul’s audacious plan for infiltrating Brody into Iran with the goal of targeted assassination and with Brody as the assassin. The window of opportunity is narrow, the assassin unwilling.

“When do you need him ready by?”

It’s sixteen days till Senator Lockhart assumes Saul’s job as Director of CIA. He’d never agree to this wild plan. Saul fills her in on the time in Caracas and Carrie decides ..

Squeezed between two special operatives in the back of Carrie’s car, Brody rides, stone-faced to an unknown destination. Outside of a small motel, they wait, they watch. A maid appears pushing her supply cart. Her earbuds firmly in place. Continue reading “Brody Countdown 9”

Falling Star Part Three: The Nameless Star Chapter One

“She has a million names, and the star has none.” –  Jacob Clifton

You’re Carrie Mathison, you’ve been reunited with the man you’ve longed for, you’ve feared for, you’ve risked body and mind for. He has turned away. What do you do?  You wipe away the tears, you go to work.

She’s agreed to Saul’s audacious plan for infiltrating Brody into Iran with the goal of targeted assassination and with Brody as the assassin. The window of opportunity is narrow, the assassin unwilling.

“When do you need him ready by?”

It’s sixteen days till Senator Lockhart assumes Saul’s job as Director of CIA. He’d never agree to this wild plan. Saul fills her in on the time in Caracas and Carrie decides ..

Squeezed between two special operatives in the back of Carrie’s car, Brody rides, stone-faced to an unknown destination. Outside of a small motel, they wait, they watch. A maid appears pushing her supply cart. Her earbuds firmly in place. Continue reading “Falling Star Part Three: The Nameless Star Chapter One”

Falling Star, Part One: Into The Shadows

I left Carrie and Brody suspended in a golden light near the end of episode 11 in season 2 but I think maybe Brody will never leave me be. So will you go with me into the shadows?

Nazir is dead. Brody has left his family. He and Carrie are together in peace that  “is a rare thing for me”. They are back at the cabin; the place they first discovered that peace with each other. This time it’s different: “no secrets”. They have a fascinating conversation about that. Scarier and easier. Carrie says “That should be a good thing, right?” Well, yes it would seem it should but with these two people that’s a reasonable question. The ambiguity and tenderness with which they approach each other is a touchstone of their relationship. They are finding their way moment by moment. These two actors show us characters we’ve only seen in flashes: vulnerable, amazed. It’s beautiful. Continue reading “Falling Star, Part One: Into The Shadows”