Ep 2. Rebel Rebel

Carrie Mathison is back at it again in Homeland season 7 episode 2, titled "Rebel Rebel." After last week's season premiere, which set up the current political climate and Carrie's new situation, this episode takes a deep dive into the rising tensions between the United States and the Muslim community.

The episode opens with Carrie waking up to news that Senator Paley has accused the President of being soft on terrorism, which leads to calls for her impeachment. Carrie's sister Maggie tries to convince her to lay low and not get too involved, given her past history with the intelligence community and her bipolar disorder. But Carrie is determined to find out what's really going on, especially given her suspicions that the US government may be manipulating the narrative to justify their actions.

Carrie's investigation takes her to a seedy strip club, where she attempts to get information from a local bartender. When that doesn't work, she turns to an unlikely source: Dante, the Homeland Security agent who helped her last season. Dante seems to have his own agenda, but agrees to help Carrie dig up some dirt on Paley in exchange for a favor down the road.

Meanwhile, Saul is still working behind the scenes to preserve the Iran nuclear deal, which is on the verge of falling apart. He meets with an Iranian official, Javadi, who promises to convey Saul's message to the Ayatollah. But when Javadi is arrested by the Iranian government, Saul is left wondering if the mission is now impossible.

As the tension builds between US and Muslim communities, things take a shocking turn when a group of students protest outside the Capitol building and are met with police violence. Carrie is on the scene and captures the whole thing on her phone, but her attempts to upload the video are thwarted. She finally manages to get it out, but not before it's heavily edited by various parties, leaving Carrie wondering who she can trust.

The episode ends with Carrie and Dante in a hotel room, where they share a tense moment that could have serious repercussions down the road. Meanwhile, Saul is preparing for the worst with the nuclear deal, and the President is facing mounting pressure from both sides of the aisle. With everything hanging in the balance, it's unclear who will come out on top.

Overall, "Rebel Rebel" is a tense and timely episode that reflects the current political climate in the United States. The rising tensions between US and Muslim communities are portrayed in a nuanced way, with both sides shown as having valid concerns and grievances. As always, Carrie is a force to be reckoned with, and it's clear that she won't stop until she gets to the bottom of things. With only two episodes in, Homeland season 7 is shaping up to be one of its most compelling yet.