| Active Measures | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| ||||
| Written by: | Debora Cahn | |||
| Directed by: | Charlotte Sieling | |||
| Production number: | 7WAH05 | |||
| Running time: | 50 minutes | |||
| Original airdate: | March 11, 2018 | |||
| Viewers (millions): | 1.32 | |||
Active Measures is the fifth episode of Season 7 of Homeland. It aired on March 11, 2018.
Synopsis[]
Carrie Mathison sets in motion a plan to get more information about Simone Martin. Meanwhile, Saul Berenson meets with a source, while Elizabeth Keane has a desperate request for an FBI agent's widow.
Episode guide[]
Accompanied by wild protests, Saul reaches the FBI and is taken to O'Keefe, who he tells how many people have died today. O'Keefe defends himself because he would have tried anything. But Saul accuses him of pouring fuel on the fire all the time. Saul is convinced that O'Keefe could have prevented this. The conversation ends because Saul has to go back to the White House.
Carrie visits Thomas Anson in his trailer because she couldn't reach him on the phone. He's not doing well, but she wants him to join her team and work for her. Meanwhile, Saul is at the White House for a briefing to analyze the violent altercation. In particular, Saul addresses the situation surrounding the dead boy's fake news and suggests that it was not created by O'Keefe but perhaps by foreign forces, such as the Russians. Keane makes it clear that the first shot came from the FBI anyway and that criticism has to be faced. They talk about the next public events and how the expected protests will be dealt with. But there's no real strategy yet, so Keane ends the session expecting proposals in an hour. Saul then confronts David Wellington again about his suspicion of the Russian influence, but David, like Keane, wants to deal with the unrest first and come back to it later.
Carrie has called her team together and explained what she knows about Simone Martin. They plan the operation and realize that it would make sense to implement it this evening. Dante thinks this is hasty and risky, but is overruled.
Wellington informs Keane about the planned memorial and that they will offer the best possible protection, but that there is not much that can be done against the probably large demonstrating crowd. Keane is surprised that the killed FBI agents are not on the list of victims. Wellington says Lucasville is hosting the memorial. However, Keane insists that the agents were also victims of the altercation and belong to it.
Keane visits Jackie Goodman, whose husband was killed over the allegedly dead boy. Keane offers her condolences and hugs Jackie, who keeps saying thanks. Keane also explains what an exemplary agent Jackie's husband was. She also asks Jackie to attend the memorial, which surprises Jackie at first. She does not know to what extent her presence can bring about peace. Keane explains that their words mean nothing if they don't make it clear that you can't call each other enemies.
Saul visits Ivan Krupin and, after some small talk, asks him about the fake news about the dead boy, since there was a similar procedure in Ukraine. But Krupin says it's too close to their electoral interference and would be too dangerous.
Dante and Carrie monitor a few people and while they wait they talk about the plan and Dante's past assignments. Carrie explains again that they can always cancel if they don't have everything ready by the evening.
Saul and Ivan bring up an agent named Yevgeni, who may have acted as an individual. Ivan doubts this. He thinks that sometimes a domestic crisis is just a domestic crisis.
It is now dark and the list of people who have left the building is getting longer. Simone now leaves the building and gets into her car. Her car won't start, so she calls emergency services. Max was prepared for this and takes the call. He explains that there is a lot to do at the moment and that they can only be there in 45 minutes at the earliest. With no alternative, she accepts and goes back into the building, where according to the list there should now be two more people.
Saul gives the order to monitor Ivan, but to be careful and not to intervene. He is sure that Ivan is actually happy with his life in the USA and told him the truth. Meanwhile, Keane and Wellington sit in front of the television and watch the reports leading up to the memorial. There is talk of a peaceful but tense situation. Wellington is informed that Jackie did not show up at the church and that she cannot be reached. Keane says Wellington should give the mayor the go-ahead to use water cannons and tear gas, but under no circumstances should he use rubber bullets or other weapon-like objects. On request, she also accepts the deployment of the National Guard. When the sermon begins, however, the widows of the FBI agent enter the church. They are hostile and hesitate, but Mary Elkins gets up and leads them to the front where the other survivors are asked to sit with them.
Simone calls Max again, who puts her off for another 10, 15 minutes. Shortly thereafter, the last person leaves the building and the operation can begin. They turn off the electricity and overwhelm Sandrine, who fights back with all her might, but doesn't stand a chance. She is questioned, but initially does not respond. She eventually admits receiving the money for McClendon's murder. They explain that she should get them $100,000. At the same time, they sewed a bug into her handbag without her noticing. Then they release her and hope she goes straight to their contact. But instead of taking a taxi, she runs to the nearby bar. Since the bug doesn't seem to work after all, Doxie tries to follow her. Since she's going to the women's room, Carrie is supposed to follow her and set another bug. In the bathroom, Simone was checking out her bruise and getting ready when Carrie walked in, dropped her bag and apologized. Simone helps her clean up and then leaves. She begins a phone call as Carrie exits the restroom and walks past her.
Wellington informs Keane that apart from a few arrests, the memorial was extremely peaceful and the crowd is slowly dispersing. Keane explains that she wants to meet Mary Elkins in a few weeks. Wellington's phone rings and it's Simone who wants to know if he's free. He explains that he can be home in about 45 minutes. Simone then wants to meet him there. Carrie's team also overheard the call.
Keane addresses the nation on the events in Lucasville, emphasizing that sacrifices have been made on all sides and that we must stand together as a nation. Meanwhile, Simone continues to be monitored when she takes a car. Meanwhile, Carrie praises Dante for his efforts, but he has a hard time accepting the praise. Meanwhile, Simone arrives at Wellington and is received by him. But the bug in her purse doesn't match her words. Max discovers the bag is still in the Uber driver's car. Carrie wants to intervene and get the driver to give the bag back, but Dante makes it clear that this can give all away and they should be content with the connection between the money and Wellington. A recording of the conversation was not the goal of the mission. Carrie grudgingly accepts. But she is dissatisfied because it didn't go perfectly. Dante thinks they have enough information to get a hearing against Simone. Carrie explains that she is thinking about it, but she also needs to sleep first. With Dante gone, Carrie goes to see Max, who has been looking at Wellington's home security footage. At no point does Simone mention the robbery or the $100,000. Wellington only briefly talks about his day and then they have sex. Carrie no longer understands the world.
Trivia[]
Active measures was a Soviet term for political warfare actions conducted by the Soviet security services to influence the course of world events, "in addition to collecting intelligence and producing a politically correct assessment of it." Active measures ranged "from media manipulations to special actions involving varying degrees of violence". They were used overseas and domestically. They have included disinformation, propaganda, falsification of official documents, assassinations and political repression, such as breaking into churches and persecuting political dissidents. This includes the men on the ground.
Quotes[]
“I’m not gonna lie to you and you’re not gonna lie to me”
“It’s what they do, David – exploit existing divisions wherever they find them” - Saul
“Sometimes, a domestic crisis is just a domestic crisis,” Ivan says.
“God knows I never thought my presidency would be about telling another woman to bite her tongue”
“We cannot allow what divides us as individuals to continue to undermine what unites us as people.”
Reviews[]
Anson and Carrey have a sexual history and he certainly fits her relationship template of every-kind-of-wrong. - James Donaghy
Cyberattacks have also become a key element of Russia’s active measures, targeting critical infrastructure, political institutions, and private entities. The 2016 cyberattacks on the Democratic National Committee and the subsequent release of sensitive information via platforms like WikiLeaks demonstrated the impact of cyber operations on political processes. These attacks are designed not only to gather intelligence but also to disrupt and discredit adversaries, creating confusion and undermining trust in democratic institutions. - Lorenzo Erasmo Vernetti
Cast[]
Main Cast[]
- Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison
- Elizabeth Marvel as Elizabeth Keane
- Maury Sterling as Max
- Linus Roache as David Wellington
- Jake Weber as Brett O'Keefe
- Morgan Spector as Dante Allen
- Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson
Guest Starring[]
- James D'Arcy as Thomas Anson
- Mark Ivanir as Ivan Krupin
- Sandrine Holt as Simone Martin
- Chinasa Ogbuagu as Jackie Goodman
- Brian O'Neill as FBI Director Stendig
- Barbara Rosenblat as Attorney General Hoberman
- William Popp as Stein
- Clé Bennett as Doxie
- Ari Fliakos as Carter Bennet
- Todd Cerveris as Tom
Co-Starring[]
- Annie Humphrey as Mary Elkins
- Liz McGeever as Kira Korrigan
- Cara Reid as Pres. Aide Ashley
- Bradley C. Nnadi as FBI Aide
- Jay Gates as Sound Guy
- Nick LaRocca as FBI Driver
- Kevin Wayne as Protester
- Nate Walker as Uber Driver Doug
- Mike Marunde as Heckler #1
- Chris Raines as Heckler #2
- Julie Bragg as CNB Broadcaster
Videos[]
| Season 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|