Homeland

:

Season 4
  • Network: SHOWTIME
  • Series Premiere Date: Oct 2, 2011
Season #: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 247 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 197 out of 247
  2. Mixed: 18 out of 247
  3. Negative: 32 out of 247
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User Reviews

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  1. Soulstryfer
    Nov 25, 2014
    10
    Brody who? The story line for season is even more compelling and gripping than ever. I am glad that the Brody phase is finally over, the show can shine again with Claire Danes and the other characters. Oh boy, Claire Danes: equally, her acting is as superb as always, of course, another main reason I am still watching this loyally.

    Well, I am up to episode nine, and things are getting    Brody who? The story line for season is even more compelling and gripping than ever. I am glad that the Brody phase is finally over, the show can shine again with Claire Danes and the other characters. Oh boy, Claire Danes: equally, her acting is as superb as always, of course, another main reason I am still watching this loyally.

    Well, I am up to episode nine, and things are getting "worse" than ever!!! I adore it!!    … Expand
  2. Rio1210
    Oct 7, 2014
    10
    I am really happy about the direction Homeland is going. I always felt after season 2 that the Brody storyline was getting a bit stretched. Now that he's gone, Homeland can be what it shoul've been all about giant plots on terrorism and events of national interest. Not myopic and short storylines
  3. lkurki
    Dec 23, 2014
    10
    This is actually one of the very best tv shows and seasons I have ever watched. The cast is after four seasons still performing on a top level and every single episode is exciting and thrillig.
  4. danielhalak
    Oct 6, 2014
    10
    What an amazing start for season 4. I really liked everything about the season 4 premiere. This was exactly what Homeland needed after season 3. Good job!
  5. blackbird1
    Apr 20, 2015
    10
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
    best season so far for me
  6. ericdepp
    Oct 8, 2014
    9
    After the first two episodes, I think we're off to a very good start. The show seems fresh and suspenseful
    and looking forward to the next few episodes.
  7. debrah
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    Excellent start to what will surely prove to be a fantastic season. Great writing and fresh ideas hooked me immediately. THANK you for the intelligent writing and realistic emotions. LOVED it!
  8. scartwright49
    Oct 7, 2014
    9
    Season 4 is off to a brilliant start. After a very dissapointing Season 3 Homeland is back on track. Very interesting new characters and always welcome Quinn playing a bigger role. It is very interesting again.
  9. ppinto
    Dec 9, 2014
    10
    This is the best season so far. They have learned from past mistakes and now focus fully on the nitty-gritty of real world CIA operations. No one comes off clean, and that's the way it should be. The way tension and plot twists are being handled is nothing short of masterpiece material. An absolute 10/10.
  10. Bleat0124
    Oct 6, 2014
    8
    “The Drone Queen” was the best television episode since the season finales of GTO and The Americans. The scene where Carrie is in the back seat as Quinn drives away from “the predicament” they were up to Carrie (blood on face mirror scene) shows why Homeland is still one of the best shows on TV and why it can still be better than Season 1 (aka the peak of American television). Not only is“The Drone Queen” was the best television episode since the season finales of GTO and The Americans. The scene where Carrie is in the back seat as Quinn drives away from “the predicament” they were up to Carrie (blood on face mirror scene) shows why Homeland is still one of the best shows on TV and why it can still be better than Season 1 (aka the peak of American television). Not only is the scene visually break taking but acting and the inner drama it just unlike anything anywhere on television.
    The only problem with Homeland, and has been a problem since the beginning is that political plots that are not based on actual or historical events (The Americans) must be airtight. Plot holes are all over television, but in political/military drama they are far more glaring because although it’s only fiction, it seems, to the viewer, like much is at stake.
    “Trylon and Perisphere” was one of the worst, if not the worst in the series. The shameful part is that the scenes with Carrie and her baby were very effective, very good. It showed just how much of a monster Carrie is become. She was always a little off, but now she is turning into a cold-blood killer (contrast this Carrie with the Carrie that was heartbroken after losing one of her agents in the early part of season 1).
    However, the plot in which they used to get Carrie and her daughter together was absolutely stupid. The inner drama of the characters is there. It is smart. The other drama is sloppy, unbelievable. So here’s where we are. Homeland must, must downside its political scale if it wants to return to and surpass its form.
    8/10 because Carrie single handing saves this show, along with the pure beauty of the picture, and hides the plot hoes, but I am not sure she can “Carrie” the show through an entire season.    … Expand
  11. MovieMasterEd
    Mar 22, 2016
    7
    Meet the new, improved “Homeland.” After the last disappointing season, the Showtime series’ dramatic culmination of its original story has shifted the focus squarely onto Claire Danes’ complex CIA operative, and simultaneously allowed the producers to shed more irritating elements (see Brody, Dana). What emerges, then, in a two-episode premiere and subsequent hour is a show that lacks theMeet the new, improved “Homeland.” After the last disappointing season, the Showtime series’ dramatic culmination of its original story has shifted the focus squarely onto Claire Danes’ complex CIA operative, and simultaneously allowed the producers to shed more irritating elements (see Brody, Dana). What emerges, then, in a two-episode premiere and subsequent hour is a show that lacks the initial kick the program delivered, but plays like a smart, spare thriller — “24,” without the James Bond-style super-heroics. “Homeland” might never be a truly great series again, but if it stays on this path it will be an eminently watchable one.

    Admittedly, the show has a lot of recovering to do as it pivots to face a new threat. Not only is it without the character of Nicholas Brody (as played by Damian Lewis), but the death of actor James Rebhorn has deprived the producers of his talents as the father of Danes’ Carrie Mathison.

    Once again, though, the writers zero in on the war against terrorism in a manner that uncomfortably brushes up against real-world events. Carrie is serving as the CIA’s station chief in Kabul when the season begins, having earned the nickname the Drone Queen. Still, the opener (written by Alex Gansa, and directed by Lesli Linka Glatter) offers a sobering reminder that aerial, push-button videogame warfare is not without its risks, including the sort of unintended casualties that can exacerbate relations between the U.S. and the Arab world, drawing an innocent student (“Life of Pi’s” Suraj Sharma) into the web of intrigue.

    At that point, the CIA might be better represented by the acronym C-YA, with higher-ups scrambling to protect themselves. And while Carrie is our ostensible hero, viewers are quickly reminded of her ruthlessness in getting the job done, as well as her history of flouting authority.

    Hitting the reset button has also somewhat depleted the show’s supporting cast, with fellow operative/enforcer Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) and Carrie’s former mentor Saul (Mandy Patinkin) occupying different roles, and Friend’s contribution expanding significantly to help fill the void. Fortunately, Danes is such a world-class talent she can carry the action through these early stages, as the ramifications of what has happened crystallize and spiral. (There is, however, one glaringly false note pertaining to Carrie’s lack of maternal instincts.)

    Although the rebooted “Homeland” is more serviceable than sensational — after the first year included an early endorsement from President Obama, who might be less enamored with this latest plot, given his current Middle East policies — the show does feel as if it has extricated itself about as well as could have been expected from the corner into which it had been written.

    If that sounds like a tepid endorsement, there’s still something to be said for a series that faces the complexities of terrorism not with super spies cloaked in red, white and blue, but rather in nuanced and troubling shades of gray.    … Expand
  12. Mantis
    Jan 10, 2015
    9
    After a rather less entertaining (to me) 3rd season, season 4 goes in full force and man is it dark. Very exciting season, hoping for an equally interesting 5th season now!
  13. Ravens1294
    Dec 27, 2014
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. After the disappointing season 3, Homeland soars to the occasion and delivers an intense and amazing season 4. After Brody's death in the season 3 finale, the show finally was released out of the shackles. It was free to start another story with Carrie and Saul. They decided to write an intense and harrowing drama that was mostly set in Pakistan and it dealt with recent events. The story that was laid was excellent, interesting, and a breath of fresh air. The acting was phenomenal as usual and direction was superior. The season was very intense and way more interesting than previous seasons. The stakes were much higher as the season was emotionally terrifying. Homeland managed to deal some great plot twists that made the story even better. After 11 great episodes. the season finale took a direction in the wrong turn. It was uneventful, slow, and it dealt with Carrie's family way too much and we did not want that. It was completely different than the rest of the season. However, it does lay some ground work for the next season. A season finale, no matter how bad, cannot ruin a season that was already amazing. Can't wait for season 5.… Expand
  14. Cittadel
    Apr 12, 2018
    9
    Now the whole strechted out storyline about Brody is gone, the writers of this show were able to focus on what made the first season of Homeland so great, so they could then turn that into a new season. In my opinion, this really paid off. A different setting, likeable new characters and a bigger focus on terrorism make this season of Homeland feel inspiring and exciting again.
  15. Felindie
    Jul 15, 2019
    9
    This season was thrilling, excellent way to move on after the events of the season three. Claire Danes is awesome.

Awards & Rankings

48
#48 Best TV Season of 2014
61
#61 Most Discussed TV Season of 2014
1
#1 Most Shared TV Season of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 22 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 22
  3. Negative: 0 out of 22
  1. The Wrap
    Reviewed by: Jason Hughes
    Oct 6, 2014
    80
    We're getting the character we knew she was capable of being, with the added layer of new motherhood.... Admittedly, it's too early to declare definitively that Homeland is back, but I will say it's back to being a show I'm looking forward to watching, rather than one that made me angry as it lost its credibility mostly and lost its way completely.
    Read full review
  2. Uncle Barky
    Reviewed by: Ed Bark
    Oct 3, 2014
    83
    Its downward slide shows signs of leveling off by the end of Sunday’s opening two hours. Danes’ Carrie is steelier than ever, her heart hardened to near-concrete while going about the exhilarating business of eliminating terrorists no matter what the collateral damage.
    Read full review
  3. Washington Post
    Reviewed by: Hank Stuever
    Oct 3, 2014
    70
    The show feels new again, but that doesn’t mean it feels fully refreshed, nor is it immune to painting itself into the same sort of corners it got stuck in before.
    Read full review
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