Homeland might have morphed into a slow-burn in recent years but when it premiered, the spy drama did so with a bang. The pilot episode—which set a ratings record for the Showtime network—had critics singing all kinds of praises. The episode earned three Emmy nominations, winning one.
The series premiere introduced audiences to most of the key characters including Carrie, Brody, and Saul. It also marked the return of Claire Danes to primetime TV after starring in the teen drama My So-Called Life in the ’90s. It’s been close to a decade since the episode aired and here are some things you might have forgotten about it.
Carrie’s “Penalty Box” Punishment
The episode began with Carrie sneaking into a Baghdad jail to talk to a bomb-maker named Hasan. He told her that Al-Qaeda leader Abu Nazir was planning an attack on American soil. He also told her that an American POW was now working for Abu Nazir. Realizing he’d be useful, Carrie called her boss David Estes to get a deal for Hasan but Estes refused.
Guards later showed up to remove Carrie from the jail. And ss punishment for her reckless actions, Carrie was reassigned to the CIA Counterterrorism Center, also known as the “Penalty Box.” Agents working at the “Penalty Box” weren’t allowed to go to the field, something which frustrated Carrie.
Jessica’s Affair With Brody’s Friend
When Brody called his wife Jessica to tell her he was coming back home, she was in bed with her lover Mike. Interestingly, Mike was Brody’s old friend who was now working in Military Intelligence. Jessica had lied to her children that she was watching movies with a person named Jody. Interestingly, “Jody” is a slang word for someone who has an affair with a soldier’s wife.
Anyway, Jessica quickly returned home to tell the children that their father was alive. Appearing indifferent about the shocking news, they accompanied her to the airport to meet him.
Mother-Daughter Conflicts
The first episode gave a hint to what would be a tense mother-daughter relationship in the series. When Jessica went back home after learning about Brody’s status, she found her daughter Dana smoking marijuana with her friend. Jessica and Dana argued before Jessica proceeded to kick out Dana’s friend.
The relationship between the two never got better after that. After Brody’s arrival, Dana warmed up to him more than her mother. Later on, it was Dana’s words that would prevent Brody from committing a terrorist act.
Brody’s Finger-Tapping Sequence
When Carrie went out to have drinks later in the evening, she saw something unusual on the bar’s TV screen. There was a news clip of Brody addressing the crowd at the military base after his arrival and in it, he was tapping his fingers continuously in a distinct sequence.
She realized that Brody had been repeating the same tapping patterns every time he was seen in public, including when he was taking photos with his family. Suspicious, she told Saul about it. Despite denying her earlier requests, he agreed to assign a cryptanalysis team to the matter.
The Vice President’s Promise To David Estes
When Brody landed at Andrews Air Force Base, he was given a hero’s welcome by everyone present. There was also a photo op with the media which he was not comfortable with because he was ill. He labored through it, thanks to Estes reminding him how much the moment meant to America.
The Vice President was also very thrilled about Brody’s return. It soon became apparent that he was planning to use Brody for his own political agenda. He congratulated David Estes for the good work he had done in helping to rescue Brody and promised him a promotion.
Carrie’s Attempt To Seduce Saul
Given how Carrie and Sauls’ relationship was strictly platonic throughout most of the series, this moment feels weirder now. At some point in the first episode, Carrie went back home only to find Saul there. He had discovered that she had set up illegal surveillance cameras to monitor Brody.
He told her that he would be reporting her to the seniors at Langley hence she should get a lawyer. While in panic mode, Carrie tried to seduce Saul and make him sleep with her so that he’d keep the secret. Saul didn’t take the bait. Instead, he simply looked at her in disgust and left.
Brody’s Scars
Soon after, Virgil set up all the equipment needed to spy on Brody illegally, Carrie began monitoring the camera footage. However, she couldn’t find anything useful. All she saw was Jessica and Brody getting intimate for the first time in years. However, the former POW was acting all weird.
He was aggressive while having sex with her, making her cry. There were also numerous scars on his body. She figured that he got the scars from the endless torture he endured during his time in captivity.
Brody’s Lies During The CIA Debriefing
As is the norm, Brody was taken to the CIA headquarters and debriefed about his time in captivity. He was asked several questions and appeared to give truthful answers to all of them.
Everyone believed what he said except Carrie. When she asked him if he’d ever had any contact with Al-Qaeda leader Abu Nazir, he denied it. Carrier kept repeating the same question until her boss David was forced to stop her. Even though she appeared crazy at the time, she was right in doubting Brody.
Brody’s Meeting With Tom Walker’s Wife
When Brody went to meet a stranger in the park, Carrie was excited, believing she was about to get something incriminating about him. She hoped he was meeting an al-Qaeda contact. It turned out he was meeting with Tom’s wife Helen Walker. Brody told her that Tom was beaten to death while being held as a POW.
She asked Body if he was present while the torture was happening but he denied it. This was a lie. A flashback scene later revealed that he beat up Tom. Brody and Helen then parted ways.
A Flashback Into Nazir And Brody’s Relationship
In the final moments of the episode, a flashback scene revealed that contrary to popular belief, Abu Nazir treated Brody very well during his time in captivity. Brody was also seen beating up Tom Walker as per Nazir’s instructions. Even though the scene implied that Brody had killed Walker, the soldier was later revealed to be alive and working with Nazir too.
When viewers were taken back to current events, Brody could be seen staring at the Capitol Building and smiling. This was a hint that a terrorist attack was imminent.
