Ep 3. Tower of David

As the third season of the hit series Homeland continues, we find ourselves in episode three, called "Tower of David." This episode is a particularly intense one, as we see the deepening of several key plotlines and the rise of new threats.

As the episode opens, we find Carrie Mathison still struggling with the aftermath of the CIA bombing and her subsequent decision to go off her meds. She's holed up in her sister's house, unable to function and plagued with hallucinations and paranoia. Meanwhile, Saul Berenson is still in Venezuela, working to secure assets for the CIA, and he's just received a tip about a possible lead on Nicholas Brody's whereabouts.

The bulk of the episode, however, centers on Brody himself. We find him bearded, gaunt, and on the run in Caracas. He's taken refuge in a high-rise slum called the Tower of David, which is actually a real-life abandoned skyscraper that's been taken over by squatters. There, he connects with a man named Adal, who takes him in and helps him to get cleaned up. Adal is a fascinating character, both kind and ruthless, and he quickly becomes a major player in Brody's storyline.

Adal has connections within the Venezuelan government, and he uses them to set up a meeting between Brody and the Iranian intelligence officer who's been tasked with bringing him back to Tehran. The meeting takes place in a tense scene that's full of twists and turns. Brody is desperate and alone, and he's willing to do whatever it takes to stay alive.

Meanwhile, Carrie gets a visit from her former ally Peter Quinn, who's been sent to bring her back into the fold. Quinn is a no-nonsense guy who's not shy about using force, and he's clearly concerned about Carrie's well-being. They have a tense confrontation that underscores the growing tension between Carrie and the CIA.

Other key characters also make appearances in "Tower of David." Dar Adal is back, as is Fara Sherazi, the young CIA analyst whose family has ties to Iran. Both of these characters are becoming more fleshed-out as the season progresses, and their interactions with other characters are becoming increasingly complex.

As the episode draws to a close, several characters are left in precarious situations. Brody is still on the run and facing an uncertain fate, while Carrie is grappling with her own demons and trying to find a way back to the agency she's been forced out of. Saul, too, is in trouble, as his work in Venezuela has made him some powerful enemies.

Overall, "Tower of David" is a tense and gripping episode that deepens our understanding of several key characters and sets the stage for some dramatic developments in the coming episodes. It's clear that nothing in this show is ever straightforward, and that every character is operating in a world full of moral ambiguity and danger.