Ep 5. Q&A

Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) has been through a lot since the last time audiences saw her. She’s been through failed relationships, the loss of her job, and being blamed for the deaths of many people while fighting to prove that her suspicions about the second coming of 9/11 were correct. When audiences last saw her, she had been committed to a mental institution, where she was trying to get the pieces of her shattered life back in order. But when season 2 of Homeland begins, it looks like she’s about to get another chance.

In the fifth episode of season 2, entitled “Q&A,” Carrie is tasked with questioning a terrorist suspect, and finds herself walking a tightrope between interrogation and torture. Her bosses are insistent that she find out what he knows, but she needs to maintain her credibility as well as her own sanity. She’s been given a trust-building assignment, but she has a hard time believing that she’ll be able to maintain that trust when she knows that her bosses will make her do whatever it takes to get the information they want.

The episode is a tour-de-force for Claire Danes. Her acting is absolutely mesmerizing, as she brings to life a woman who is constantly walking a tightrope between what is right and what is necessary. She plays the part of a woman who is determined to get the information she needs, but is also deeply conflicted about the methods she’s been asked to use. Her performance in this episode is the strongest in the series so far and earned her another Emmy Nomination.

While Carrie’s interrogation of the suspect is the centerpiece of the episode, there is also plenty of action taking place outside of the room. Saul (Mandy Patinkin) is working hard to track down Brody’s (Damian Lewis) former drill sergeant, and reveals some shocking details about Brody’s military past. Meanwhile, Brody must deal with the fallout of a politically explosive connection he made while he was overseas.

Through it all, “Q&A” maintains a high-tension pace that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats. Every character is pushed to their limits, and Carrie must use all her considerable skills to try to keep the situation under control. The episode is a combination of tight writing, excellent acting, and a thrilling story that will leave viewers breathless.

One of the most impressive things about “Q&A” is its ability to turn the tables on the audience. From the beginning of season 1, the audience has been on Carrie’s side, rooting for her as she tries to prove that her hunches are correct. But in “Q&A,” the show asks the audience to consider whether or not they agree with the tactics that Carrie is using. It raises deep ethical questions about the nature of the war on terror, and forces the audience to re-evaluate their feelings about the characters in the show.

In the end, “Q&A” is a highly satisfying episode that will leave audiences eager for the rest of the season. Its complex moral questions, thrilling action scenes, and strong performances make it one of the best episodes in the show’s history.