Ep 7. Gerontion

Carrie Mathison is back and she's at her best in Homeland season 3 episode 7, "Gerontion". After being absent for the last few episodes, Carrie is front and center in this installment of the series, which centers around a mission to extract a high-ranking Iranian official who is in the U.S. to negotiate a nuclear deal.

As usual, things don't go according to plan, and Carrie finds herself in the middle of a dangerous situation. When she uncovers a conspiracy involving a group of retired CIA operatives, she realizes that the stakes are higher than she thought.

The episode opens with a tense scene in which Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) and Javadi (Shaun Toub) discuss their plans to get the Iranian official out of the country. Javadi, who is a former Iranian intelligence officer, tells Saul that he can make it happen, but only if he is given immunity in exchange for his help.

Meanwhile, Carrie is back in the States and working with her team to monitor the situation. She is also dealing with some personal issues, as she struggles to care for her baby daughter while balancing her work.

As the operation gets underway, it becomes clear that there are some major obstacles in the way. The team is forced to work quickly and make some tough decisions in order to keep the Iranian official safe.

One of the most striking things about "Gerontion" is the way it explores the theme of aging. The title of the episode comes from a poem by T.S. Eliot, which deals with the idea that as we get older, we become detached from the world around us.

This theme is echoed in the episode's plot, as we see several characters who are nearing retirement age struggling to come to terms with their place in the world. There's Saul, who is dealing with the fact that he may soon be forced out of the CIA, and Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham), who is frustrated with the younger generation of agents who don't understand the way things used to be done.

The episode also introduces us to a couple of new characters who are dealing with their own issues related to aging. There's Senator Andrew Lockhart (Tracy Letts), who is feeling the pressure of his impending confirmation hearing to become the new head of the CIA. Then there's Fara Sherazi (Nazanin Boniadi), a young analyst who is struggling to balance her loyalty to the agency with her Muslim heritage.

Despite the heavy themes, "Gerontion" is also a highly suspenseful episode, with plenty of action and intrigue. The scenes in which Carrie works to fend off an assassination attempt and protect the Iranian official are particularly gripping.

Overall, Homeland season 3 episode 7 is a strong entry in the series, with a well-constructed plot, great performances, and plenty of tension. Fans of the show will no doubt be eagerly anticipating the next episode to see how the story unfolds.