Watch Homeland

Homeland is a psychological, action-adventure thriller that tells the tale of an American P.O.W. who returns to the U.S. and the federal officers investigating his intentions. Based on the Israeli series Prisoner of War, the show currently airs on the United States cable network Showtime. It was developed from the Israeli version by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

The antagonist in Homeland is CIA agent Carrie Mathison, portrayed by Claire Danes. An unconventional agent who makes an unauthorized visit to one of her informants in an Iraqi prison, Carrie is assigned to the Agency's Counterterrorism Center. It's here that she learns about the rescue of Nicolas Brody (British actor Damian Lewis), a Marine Sergeant who was captured by al-Qaeda and terrorist Abu Nazir eight years before and presumed dead.

In speaking with her mentor, Agent Saul Berenson, portrayed by Mandy Patinkin, Carrie reveals the informant's message to her before she was dragged out of the Iraqi prison - an American P.O.W. has been turned by al-Qaeda and now works for them. Though Saul dismisses Sergeant Brody as the turned P.O.W., Carrie still pursues her own investigation into the Marine's intentions, going so far as to illegally place cameras and microphones in his home without a warrant.

The first season of Homeland deals with Carrie's pursuit of Brody and her interactions with him as well as her investigation in the U.S. and Middle East connections tying back to terrorist Nazir. During this time both characters go through changes. Brody tries to return to normal life after his rescue, but flashbacks reveal he is very disturbed, the murderer of another Marine P.O.W, and, possibly, the person Carrie's informant mentioned. Carrie's emotions begin to fray as the investigation progresses. Through scenes with family members and friends it's revealed that Carrie has bipolar disorder.

What also changes is the relationship between Brody and Carrie. Finding a mutual wartime connection the two hit it off, despite Carrie's continued belief that Brody is an al-Qaeda operative. At one point, after the two drink too much, they end up having sex in Carrie's car and eventually drive off for a weekend getaway. However, after Carrie is caught in a lie concerning her surveillance, the relationship abruptly ends.

By the end of the first season it's learned that Brody did not kill the other Marine P.O.W., Tom Walker. In fact, Walker is in Washington D.C. on an assignment of his own - to kill Vice President Walden. Brody is also assigned to a similar task, but with a suicide vest instead of a sniper rifle. While this takes place, Brody is selected to run for a congressional seat being vacated by a corrupt politician. Meanwhile, after a bomb explosion causes a concussion, Carrie has a manic episode and nervous breakdown, resulting in her residency in a mental hospital and firing from the CIA.

Season two of Homeland is set about six months after the events of the first season finale with Brody a newly-minted Congressman for Virginia and Carrie, now an ESL teacher, working with the CIA in Lebanon. As the season progresses, Brody's true intentions are revealed to Carrie, resulting in his full confession. However, rather than go to jail, Brody decides to work with the CIA to capture Nazir. The end of the season reveals a large number of crossroads for the characters who survived.

Homeland, produced by Teakwood Lane Productions and Fox 21 in association with Showtime networks, premiered on the cable channel on October 2, 2011 and is now seen in 25 countries, including places like Israel and Iran. The show has won numerous awards since its premiere. In addition to Peabody and Golden Globe awards, Homeland swept the dramatic categories at the 2012 Emmy Awards, winning Outstanding Drama Series, Outstanding Actor and Actress awards for Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, and an Outstanding Writing Award for the show's pilot episode.

Homeland has been renewed for a third season of 12 episodes. As of this writing there has been no news of a premiere date.