Catch and Release

Catch and Release
Written by:	Patrick Harbinson & Chip Johannessen
Directed by:	Lesli Linka Glatter
Production number:	8WAH02
Running time:	50 minutes
Original airdate:	February 16, 2020
Viewers (millions):	0.68

Catch and Release is the second episode of the final season of Homeland. It aired on February 16, 2020.

Synopsis[]

Carrie Mathison reconnects with an old ally. Carrie needs leverage to get Afghan Vice President G'ulom to publicly recant his controversial statements. A clue puts her on the trail of Samira Noori, whose husband was killed in an attack. To find out if the woman has incriminating material against G'ulom, the agents stage an interview. Tasneem Qureshi seeks advice while Saul Berenson finds hope.

Episode guide[]

Carrie looks after the men who just left Abdul G'ulom's office, unable to believe that Yevgeny Gromov was there. But then she is called by the irritated Jenna Bragg, because the Vice President is now expecting her. Carrie immediately confronts him with the fact that he has met with Russian secret service agents, whereupon G'ulom clarifies his point of view about the consequences if the Americans withdraw. Carrie appeals to his sanity and peace in his country, but he makes it clear that she has no leverage against him.

Meanwhile, Max continues to listen to the tapped phones and lets the software search for keywords like "peace talks," "Doha," or "Haqqani."

Meanwhile, Carrie returns to the CIA station furious. Upset, she immediately calls Saul in Doha, tells them about the failed conversation and Gromov's appearance. She learns that there was a deal between the US and Russia for her release, which is why she can't take action against Gromov now. Then Saul is informed that Max found a conversation between Haissam Haqqani and his son Jalal, so they now have a lead.

When Carrie returns to her desk, she finds a note with the name Samira Noori on it, but it's unclear where the note came from.

Saul analyzes the Haqqanis' conversation with Scott Ryan. It becomes clear that Haissam Haqqani, the leader of the Taliban, wants the war to end, which gives him hope that peace could work. They talk about the Guantanamo prisoners about to be released, emphasizing a relative of Haqqani.

Carrie informs Mike Dunne about Samira Noori who may have something on G'ulom. She would like to follow this lead and plan an operation so that she might find the leverage she needs. The colleagues should plan a diversionary maneuver so that Carrie can search the woman's apartment. Mike suggests Jenna interview Samira for a made-up NGO.

The Guantanamo prisoners to be released arrive in Doha under the observation of Tasneem Qureshi, Scott Ryan and other diplomats. However, one of them needs to be picked up by an ambulance immediately. Tasneem finds this suspicious, especially since Saul isn't there. However, Scott assures that this one will be sent to Washington, D.C. had to make the prisoner transport possible.

Carrie prepares the mission with Jenna. She thinks Mike or Carrie have reservations about her, but Carrie says no. Then Samira agrees to the interview and the plan gets rolling.

Meanwhile, the prisoner – Haissam Haqqani's relative – regains consciousness in a sickbed, where Saul tries to talk to him. He suggests the man that, unlike the others who still have to wait for the peace negotiations, he can return home immediately. The man suspects that this is conditional, and Saul tells him to deliver a letter from Saul to Haqqani.

When Samira leaves the house on her way to her job interview, Carrie's mission begins. At the same time, Saul and Haqqani's relatives land in a helicopter in Afghanistan, from where they are to be taken across the border to Pakistan. Meanwhile, Jenna welcomes Samira Noori to the interview, and Carrie and her crew search the apartment. Carrie finds a USB stick. Meanwhile, Jenna blabs at the interview, prompting Samira to leave. When Jenna becomes too pushy, the woman takes a picture of her and flees the building. However, she is kidnapped by Jenna's colleagues.

Arriving in the Pakistani city of Peshawar, Saul hands the man his letter and lets him go. As he drives to his hotel, Saul recalls the contents of the letter intended to persuade Haqqani to meet. At the same time, Carrie returns to the CIA station, where she learns of the incident with Samira, who is now hooded, bound and traumatized in an interrogation room. Carrie immediately goes to her, frees her and tries to talk, telling her at the same time that she is from the CIA and that she found the USB stick in her apartment. She makes it clear that she intends to use the information she has found to persuade G'ulom to withdraw in order to make peace possible. But Samira is disappointed and angry that Carrie doesn't want to arrest him for his crimes and doesn't want to cooperate. However, Carrie is able to convince her. Shortly thereafter, she calls Saul because she now has evidence of G'ulom's corruption and can use it to persuade him to retreat.

Tasneem Qureshi has also traveled to Pakistan to seek talks with her father, Bunran Latif, who has multiple sclerosis and is a former senior intelligence general, about Saul Berenson. She tells him about the Guantanamo prisoners and Saul's disappearance and thinks that he is looking for a conversation with Haqqani. The two agree that Pakistan should be in control of this and he gives her the go-ahead to do whatever it takes.

The next morning, Carrie confronts Abdul G'ulom with all her evidence of his corruption. He tries to pull his head out of the noose, but Carrie tells him that if this information gets out, he'll have no way out and the government won't be on his side either. She is therefore demanding that he publicly withdraw what he said at the last press conference and agree to the release of the Taliban fighters. However, G'ulom warns them that the Taliban will not honor the deal.

Saul receives a call from Max warning him that Pakistani intelligence has mobilized units en route to Saul's location. Saul informs his bodyguards, who warn him that the situation could quickly become dangerous, but Saul wants to stay until Haqqani's deadline is up. The latter is already watching him with binoculars and at the same time he hears G'ulom's press conference on the radio, in which he agrees to the release of the prisoners. Haqqani's men still suspect a trap, but Haqqani is willing to take the risk and go to Saul's. Meanwhile, Saul learns that a convoy of cars is heading for him, which alarms his bodyguards. Saul, however, is certain that it is Haqqani and steps outside the hotel, where he observes that all the people are leaving the streets and closing their houses. He is concerned that the Pakistani intelligence service may not be targeting him because he is conducting an unauthorized mission on Pakistani soil, but is after Haqqani's life in order to blame the Americans and delay the peace process. At that moment, the convoy is fired at with a rocket launcher. While the bodyguards try to bring the situation under control, Saul is kidnapped.

Carrie and her colleagues visit an underground bar in Kabul to toast the successful mission. On the way to the toilet, Carrie encounters Yevgeny Gromov again, whom she frightens and angrily fends off. He tells her that he gave her the tip about Samira Noori, which confuses Carrie. Yevgeny is also irritated that she didn't expect the collaboration, but before they can talk about it any further, he leaves.

Saul is taken to a heavily guarded compound where he meets Haissam Haqqani. He is relieved that he is still alive. Haqqani is surprised at Saul's relief, but then hits him.

Quotes[]

“This peace of yours… Do you really think the Taliban will keep any agreement? They wait till you draw down your forces while they gather theirs in the villages and in the mountains and then it will be Saigon all over again — your embassy under siege, helicopters taking off from the roof, every fool who ever worked for you massacred in the street.” - General G’ulom quote about the Taliban

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

Co-Starring[]

Laila Alj as Orzala Fayez
Richard De Mayo as CIA Officer Richard
Zaki Rana as Houseman
Anas El Baz as Hotel CIA Security Guard
Simon Oldani as French Diplomat

Videos[]

Next on Episode 2 Homeland Season 8

Season 8

#801	"Deception Indicated"	#807	"F**ker Shot Me"
#802	"Catch and Release"	#808	"Threnody(s)"
#803	"False Friends"	#809	"In Full Flight"
#804	"Chalk One Up"	#810	"Designated Driver"
#805	"Chalk Two Down"	#811	"The English Teacher"
#806	"Two Minutes"	#812	"Prisoners of War"