Deception Indicated

Deception Indicated
Written by:	Debora Cahn & Alex Gansa
Directed by:	Lesli Linka Glatter
Production number:	8WAH01
Running time:	59 minutes
Original airdate:	February 9, 2020
Viewers (millions):	0.60

Deception Indicated is the season premiere of the final season of Homeland. It aired on February 9, 2020.

Synopsis[]

In Germany, Carrie is recovering in a Landshut hospital in the U.S. Army from their captivity in Russia. She wants to return to the service of the CIA, but Carrie believes that she is a potential spy because of a conspicuous lie detector test. Meanwhile, as the US President's National Security Advisor, Saul is fighting to continue peace talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government in Doha. Saul negotiates. Max has a new mission.

Episode guide[]

Carrie is tormented in bed by memories of her captivity in Russia, causing her to get up, panting, and step into the hallway of the US military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany. A night nurse recommends that she get some sleep, and Carrie takes half a sleeping pill.

The next day she is exercising in the yard and running back and forth a short distance. After an examination, she goes to her therapist, but there is a new man in the room who questions her about her imprisonment. She is supposed to explain why the Russians stopped questioning her after a while. She says that she probably couldn't have given any more clear information because of her illness. Carrie is then asked that she wants to work for the CIA again, but that there were problems with some questions on the polygraph test. It is not clear whether she could also change sides or have changed sides. Carrie says her illness also makes it difficult for her to organize her own thoughts, which affects the test. She doesn't understand why she's being outright accused. Her counterpart, Jim Turrow, gets more specific and wants to know if she has ever endangered someone who is under protection. Carrie explains never to do so, but is asked how she can say that for sure given her condition and imprisonment if she doesn't have clear memories of the time.

Saul is asked by some journalists for his opinion on how to ensure peace in Afghanistan. He explains unofficially that without proper security guarantees, a withdrawal would quickly result in the loss of Kabul, although trusting the Taliban here is a risk. On the other hand, President Warner has also made it clear that the USA will eventually withdraw from Afghanistan. He is interrupted because Abdul G'ulom, the Afghan Vice President, is giving a press conference. He explains that the US had tricked the President and Secretary of State into releasing more than 1,000 Taliban fighters, thereby accepting the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan. He will never release the prisoners and thus will not agree to a peaceful settlement. Saul soon learns that the Taliban delegation has just left. Saul follows them and talks to Agha Jan, who explains that without the prospect of an exchange of prisoners, they will no longer negotiate. Saul tries to appease, offering that the US might hand over five of their 32 Taliban captured at Guantamo Bay. At least he would try. Agha Jan gives Saul a week but also demands that Abdul G'ulom revise his statements.

Saul complains to Pakistani delegate Tasneem Qureshi about developments, but she swears Pakistan is not to blame and certainly no one in her delegation leaked anything about the negotiations. Saul makes it clear that he doesn't believe her, and he is forcefully told to leave.

A helicopter prepares to land at a military outpost in Afghanistan. Max gets out and is welcomed by Specialist Arturo Gonzales.

Saul has traveled to Landstuhl and is being briefed on Carrie's condition. Doctors say she's making progress but still has memory lapses and trouble sleeping. Jim Turrow also tells him that because of the test, he's not sure if Carrie is still loyal. Saul makes it clear that he needs Carrie in Afghanistan for two weeks.

Saul visits Carrie to talk to her about Afghanistan because she knows G'ulom. It's immediately clear to Carrie that the station manager on site, Mike Dunne, is not the right person for the current situation. Saul explains that he is considering putting Carrie there and she is excited about the idea and feels ready. Saul points out that all of their agents are no longer there and that Kabul has also become much less secure. Carrie feels up to it.

Jim Turrow calls Mike Dunne and prepares him that Saul will send him an agent who may have switched to the Russians, his old boss Carrie.

Max and the local soldiers are briefed on their mission. Since this is very dangerous, one of the soldiers wants to know why they have to do this for Max. But he is fobbed off with the fact that the task is strictly confidential, which makes him go furious. The danger of the situation is made clear to Max.
Carrie arrives in Kabul and is driven to headquarters. There she is warmly welcomed by Mike. He immediately introduces Carrie to Jenna Bragg, the newest member of the unit assigned to take care of Carrie. Jenna takes Carrie to her room and takes the opportunity to complain to her that Mike is so protective of her that even after a month she still hasn't really got going. She explains to Carrie that the situation outside is really very difficult. Carrie gives the advice to fight back and not to accept a no if she wants to have other tasks. Carrie then wants to contact Saul right away. Dunne and a colleague record everything and find out that Carrie probably wants to meet someone. Meanwhile, Max's team is on the way to the mission.

Saul meets up with Tasneem Qureshi again and makes it clear that they actually have the same goal in the negotiations. Tanseem doubts that, however, and explains that the US should rather let deeds speak than words. The USA had never been reliable in the region and the troops are being reduced even now. Their goal is not peace in the region, but a quick withdrawal.

Carrie has snuck onto the top floor of the station and is communicating via light signals with a person in a distant building. After that, she goes to the garage and gets ready to go out on a motorbike.

Max's team has reached the scene and Max goes in search of something buried in the ground. That takes too long for the soldiers. Meanwhile, Carrie drives through Kabul and meets up with Arman, an old friend, who also updates Carrie on the difficult situation in the country. They bring up G'ulom and Arman explains that he is more powerful than the President and that no one would dare to challenge him. Gunshots can be heard as they drive. But Arman says they're safe because he's giving the rebels free gasoline for his cars' safe passage. Carrie finally gets out and thinks it will take an hour. She visits a previous contact named Roshan and is let in by his son. Outside, Arman hands out gas while Carrie is greeted by the mother, who eventually explains that Roshan isn't here. She also doesn't know when he'll be back. She couldn't help her either and she should better leave. It finally turns out that Roshan is dead and the Taliban had him killed because he had contacts in America. Carrie swears she never told anyone about her meetings with Roshan, not even her closest confidants. She asks about the time of death, which is five months ago, and Carrie explains again that she never gave the name out. She is sorry and apologizes, but is asked again to finally leave the house. On her way back to Arman, Jim Turrow's words run through her mind. She is spotted on the street by Taliban rebels and quickly writes to Arman that they have to go. But he replies that he needs 20 minutes. Carrie breaks into an apartment and asks for help. The women present bolt the door, hiding it from the rebels.

The soldiers are getting impatient because Max is still not finished. They had to go because it would soon be light again. Max explains that they can go and that he can find his way back on his own, but that he won't abandon his task. He finally explains that they have no access to Haissam Haqqani and the Taliban's communications due to a defective listening device and therefore do not know whether the negotiations are serious at all. He had to watch Haissam slaughter 36 people because he was at the embassy in Islamabad. The soldiers go back into position.

Carrie has arrived back at headquarters. Mike Dunne is already waiting for her and is angry that she left the building without saying anything. He hopes their trip was successful because G'ulom has brought the meeting forward and it will be in the morning. Carrie asks Mike about the alleged cooperation between the Russians and the Taliban, which Mike confirms to be true. He then wants to know more about Carrie's trip, but she remains silent until Mike explains that he knows about Carrie's failed lie detector test. She saves herself with a white lie and Mike tells her to rest for the meeting later. When she is alone, she begins to breathe heavily and has a hard time calming down.

The next morning, Max's team is on its way back. You have arrived at the most dangerous spot where there is about 30 meters without cover. First, two soldiers go over unharmed. Now Max should run over while the others observe the surroundings. He stumbles halfway and falls, but picks himself up and makes it. When the other two run, the expected attack occurs. Despite a fierce exchange of fire, no one is injured and they are able to get back to the base with air reinforcement. There, Max is described as a lucky charm, but he doesn't listen at all because he is satisfied that his listening device is now working.

Carrie and Jenna are on their way to meet G'ulom. Carrie makes it clear that she needs to speak to him alone since he certainly won't accept strangers like Jenna in his office. As they wait, some men leave G'ulom's office. The last of the men is Yevgeny Gromov, who smiles at Carrie. Carrie trembles, struggles to keep her composure, and recalls being imprisoned, seemingly dependent on Yevgeny.

Review[]

Here's how Glatter responded: Exactly. What is Carrie? Nothing. Which is very taboo subject matter, you know? A woman who loves her child but is not a good mother. And she's given up everything to be back in the intelligence service, and the fact that she's not trusted. I mean, it's such a great full-circle to Brody. A Marine who comes home, but has he been turned? And here we are with Carrie, and it's impossible to think she would have been turned, but Russian interrogation techniques are notorious.

Quotes[]

“Have you ever conspired with a foreign intelligence officer or service,” the very serious man asks Carrie Mathison.
“Are you accusing me of something?” she spits back.

Carrie: He did call Afghanistan the "penalty box".

Cast[]

Main Cast[]

Guest Cast[]

Co-Starring[]

Laila Alj as Orzala Fayez
Renée Castle as Night Nurse Emily
Georgia Goodman as Nurse Laura
Sarah Perles as Paksima
Adam Morjany as Zarawar
Mohamed Boussalem as Colonel Jakhrani
David Loyn as Reporter #1
Ramita Navai as Reporter #2
Siobhan Darrow as Reporter #3
Amine Ennaji as Taliban Fighter
Abdenbi El Beniwi as Khalid
Mehdi Boumalki as Taliban Commander
Richard De Mayo as CIA Officer Richard

Videos[]

Next on the Season Premiere 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"