Homeland - Season Eight (2019)

So we've had to wait two years after psychotic Carrie was freed from seven months' detention in Russia. Unfortunately she has some memory lapses from then, which immediately makes her a perceived security risk - what did she reveal? But she seems largely herself, and Saul needs her in Qatar to help broker a peace deal with the Taliban in Afghanistan, which is opposed by the Pakistanis (Nimrat Kaur is the sinister-looking intelligence chief, but she's rather nicer in The Lunchbox). Meanwhile in a separate story - which we know will converge on the main one eventually - Max (Maury Sterling) is in Afghanistan on a dangerous mission to fix some phone surveillance equipment, where he becomes a lucky mascot to the company (with ironic outcomes). Saul manages to make a deal with the head of the Taliban (rather well played by Numan Acar, a Turkish-born German looking every inch a tribal warlord). Then the President (Beau Bridges) makes a surprise visit to the troops...

And what's going on with this Russian - you can't trust him, and the useless vice-president and his secretary... (Costa Ronin, Sam Trammell and Hugh Dancy.) Did they use the West Wing sets? I'll tell you what, though, the first thing Carrie should have done was upload the voice recording to Saul. Also, whilst the ending appears pleasing, there's no way the Russians would have allowed her into their country, let alone...

It manages to ratchet up the tension and as Q describes it, it's 'Eyes On' TV - you have you really pay attention / and you can't take your eyes off it. Which is a good thing, and that the politics entirely credible, because frankly, Carrie is not the most sympathetic character.

Noticed one of the directors was Keith Gordon, the kid from Christine, and another's Twin Peaks's Leslie Linka Glatter. Also in cast: Art Malik, Linus Roache, Andrea Deck, Karen Pittman.

Once again, Morocco stands in for a variety of Middle Eastern locales.