The Briefing Room: A Homeland Podcast

Update: Summer 2014 Announcement

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Tue, 8 Jul 2014 14:22:50 -0400

Andrew has an update on what's going on at Film Geek Radio this summer.

Episode #13: Season 3 Wrap-Up

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Wed, 25 Dec 2013 22:47:58 -0500

It's the finale of The Briefing Room! In this special wrap-up episode, special guest Devindra Hardawar joins Andrew and Charlie to discuss Season 3 as a whole. How did the unconventional structure affect things? Did anything about the Dana subplot work? Is the show's presentation of violence more brutal than usual, and if so, is that appropriate? What will we take away from this season overall, and what are we looking forward to in Season 4? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro
1:33 - General thoughts on Season 3, the structure, and Dana Brody
13:34 - The depiction of violence
21:01 - What will stick with us? What are we looking forward to?
30:20 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #12: Season 3, Ep. 12 -- The Star

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 19:12:28 -0500

This is the end, not just of Season 3 of Homeland, but of an arc that's been developing since the very beginning of the show. In "The Star," Brody and Carrie have some final epiphanies about the nature of their work and what's been done to them, and the mission in Iran finally comes to a close. Is it a satisfying end to the season? Has Brody redeemed himself? What is the show's underlying message about institutional violence and war? And what could be coming in future seasons? Tune in to find out. NOTE: There will be one more episode of The Briefing Room looking back at the season as a whole, so stay tuned for more Homeland discussion!

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro
3:25 - General thoughts on the episode
11:30 - The death scene
15:25 - Brody's thoughts on redemption, the show's philosophy of violence
21:55 - The romance and whether it's a priority
31:25 - Where the show can go from here
42:48 - The titular star, how people view Brody
50:58 - What happened to the Brody family?
55:07 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #11: Season 3, Ep. 11 -- Big Man In Tehran

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Sun, 15 Dec 2013 01:46:06 -0500

There are only two episodes of Homeland left, including this one! In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss the twists and turns of "Big Man In Tehran" and what the finale and future seasons might hold. How is the show calling back to previous seasons? What could Saul's decision mean for his relationship with Carrie? And what exactly is going through Brody's head during his final confrontation with Akbari? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:15 - General thoughts on the episode
8:50 - Alain is still here
10:58 - Saul's decision to take out Brody
19:18 - Repeating earlier seasons with a twist
24:15 - Brody's confrontation with Akbari, his arc
32:47 - What the future might hold
39:20 - A brief tangent on Dexter
41:50 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #10: Season 3, Ep. 10 -- Good Night

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Tue, 10 Dec 2013 22:46:34 -0500

The mission is a go, but that doesn't mean it will be successful. In "Good Night" everything that can go wrong does go wrong, but thankfully the episode itself fares much better. When are Brody and Carrie their most compelling? If Brody dies, what's the right way to do it? Who knows Carrie's secret? And is anyone telling the truth about anything? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
2:51 - General thoughts
8:05 - What if Brody had died?
11:05 - Special Forces guys and their lies
14:38 - Everybody has a solution
20:32 - Who knows Carrie's secret? Where can they go with Lockhart?
27:40 - The complexities of Brody, Carrie's love for him
37:10 - Fara's family might be in danger
46:42 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #9: Season 3, Ep. 9 -- One Last Time

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Mon, 2 Dec 2013 23:14:47 -0500

It turns out things have to get worse for Brody before they can get better. In this episode, Saul and Carrie recruit Brody back into the field for one final grab at redemption. He goes from a drug addict on the brink of death to in shape and ready for action in only two weeks, but will he be good enough? Are the writers going to kill him off? Is the CIA just another version of the extremists that tortured him before? Is Saul doing the right thing in using Brody and Carrie for his own means? And is this potentially final scene with Dana an effective goodbye? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:14 - General thoughts
6:40 - Alain and Lockhart
12:55 - Carrie and Brody, forms of torture
24:54 - Saul's ethical worldview
36:03 - Is Brody going to die?
39:02 - Dana, Lockhart, Caracas
53:06 - Parents and their children
57:30 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #8: Season 3, Ep. 8 -- A Red Wheelbarrow

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Thu, 21 Nov 2013 11:48:29 -0500

In this episode, Charlie makes a big mistake and completely misunderstands what he saw onscreen. How much does that impact his assessment of the episode? Are the characters still acting in compelling ways? Does Carrie's stubbornness rise organically from her character? And what about the final twist at the end? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:29 - General thoughts
7:08 - Mira getting upset with Saul, the twist with Alain
15:45 - Fara's storyline
19:00 - Strange character twists; Carrie's stubbornness
30:43 - Saul and Brody; Charlie reconsiders his opinions
39:10 - Closing thoughts
41:51 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #7: Season 3, Ep. 7 -- Gerontion

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Fri, 15 Nov 2013 03:01:02 -0500

Andrew and Charlie differ slightly in their assessment of this week's episode, and that leads to a good discussion. In "Gerontion," Saul finally has a good day, and achieves what may be the greatest victory for U.S. intelligence in decades. Is Javadi really going to work for him that easily, though? Is Saul's marriage still in trouble? Will Quinn survive through the end of the season? And just what is Dar Adal up to, anyway? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
4:20 - General thoughts
6:25 - Mira's relationship with Saul
14:00 - Quinn is worn down
24:24 - Saul turns Javadi
35:00 - Fara, Dar Adal, and Senator Lockhart
44:12 - Javadi's potential manipulation of Carrie, thoughts on Season 3 so far
55:50 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #6: Season 3, Ep. 6 -- Still Positive

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Tue, 5 Nov 2013 04:38:15 -0500

Is "Still Positive" the best episode of the season so far? In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss how all the different storylines feel like they're starting to move forward at an exciting pace. Carrie turns the tables on Majid Javadi, but then he does what he can to turn them back. Is Saul becoming more like him? Is Dar Adal really in cahoots with Lockhart or does he have another plan? What does Dana moving out mean for the show? And how is Carrie pregnant? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:43 - Carrie is pregnant?!
11:25 - Saul is still having a bad day
16:19 - Dar Adal and Senator Lockhart--are they in cahoots?
21:24 - Saul vs. Javadi
28:30 - Dana moves out
36:21 - Potential romances
42:02 - The first half of the season
46:05 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #5: Season 3, Ep. 5 -- The Yoga Play

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 03:36:12 -0400

In this episode, Andrew and Charlie discuss whether the Dana Brody subplot finally goes too far in "The Yoga Play." This episode finds Dana's love life affecting Carrie's spy life. Why does the show feel stuck in stasis? Is the titular strategy suspenseful during the episode? What about in the long run? What does Javadi want? And what does Saul's terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day mean for the show moving forward? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:17 - General thoughts on the episode
6:27 - Dana's subplot is now affecting Carrie
12:12 - Does Javadi see through the play?
15:37 - Carrie's meds and the yoga play
22:14 - Quinn's safety
26:13 - Jessica and Carrie are buddies now
28:29 - Saul has a bad day
35:57 - Time for a bottle episode?
38:00 - Javadi's motivations, the mother and kid
43:55 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #4: Season 3, Ep. 4 -- Game On

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 08:26:56 -0400

Just when it looked like things were about to get too depressing, it turns out Everything We Knew Was Wrong. "Game On" includes a major reveal that turns the first third of the season on its head, but is it earned? Has the Dana subplot finally gone off the deep end? Is Fara the new Carrie? Tune in to find out. Plus, look, some of our favorite supporting characters are back!

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:15 - General thoughts on the episode
6:38 - Carrie and Saul working together
12:44 - Martin Donovan! Virgil! Mike!
15:33 - Dana and Leo elope
21:21 - Fara as the new Carrie, Brody's captors
26:12 - Where's the laugh track?
26:58 - Dar Adal and the CIA
30:35 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #3: Season 3, Ep. 3 -- Tower of David

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 03:57:04 -0400

In this episode, special guest Gwen Reyes joins Andrew and Brody to discuss the third episode of Season 3, "Tower of David." This is the first time Brody has appeared all season, and his whereabouts are finally revealed. Why is he being kept prisoner? Who is the mysterious stranger that approached Carrie? And how come every woman Brody meets falls in love with him? Tune in to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
3:33 - General thoughts on the episode
11:05 - Carrie's paranoia
17:08 - Her mysterious visitor
21:23 - Brody, the imam, potential extremist groups
30:20 - Setting up the pieces, other miscellaneous topics
38:24 - The doctor, and why women always fall for Brody
43:34 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com or leaving us a voicemail at 336-793-2509. Thanks for listening!

Episode #2: Season 3, Ep. 2 -- Uh... Oh... Ah...

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 04:55:37 -0400

In "Uh... Oh... Ah..." Carrie finds herself lower than she's ever been. In this episode of The Briefing Room, Andrew and Charlie try to figure out just who's right in the feud between her and Saul. How does her storyline parallel that of Dana? Is Quinn dealing with his guilt in a healthy way? Why do people hate Dana so much? And hey, Chris gets lines this episode! Tune in for a discussion on all this and much more.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
2:44 - Parallels between Dana and Carrie
8:07 - Carrie vs. Saul -- who is right?
21:15 - Fara Sherazi and Saul's Islamophobia
28:24 - Quinn and his conscience
34:46 - Is more Dana Brody a bad thing?
42:10 - Chris has lines!
45:01 - Dana's perceptions of her father
48:23 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Episode #1: Season 3, Ep. 1 -- Tin Man Is Down

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Thu, 3 Oct 2013 16:11:31 -0400

In the first regular episode of The Briefing Room, Andrew and Charlie discuss the Season 3 premiere of Homeland, "Tin Man Is Down." Is this a promising start to the season? How do the big decisions Carrie and Saul make relate to their personal lives? Is Dana the healthiest person on the show? How are people coping with the events of last season? Tune to find out.

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and clip
2:55 - General thoughts on the premiere
10:16 - Carrie and her relationship with Saul
17:30 - Dana and Leo
22:40 - Showtime working with the same actors, crew
25:18 - More on the Brody family
30:16 - Tracy Letts, Saul's decision, Quinn, everyone feels guilty
37:19 - More Chris, please
38:07 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!

Episode #0: Mission Prep

andrew@filmgeekradio.com (Film Geek Radio) — Sun, 29 Sep 2013 03:33:35 -0400

Welcome to Film Geek Radio's new weekly podcast all about the Showtime series Homeland! Andrew and Charlie are back to discuss the third season of the critically-acclaimed series. In this introductory episode, they talk about the first two seasons of the show and what they're hoping to see this time around. Don't forget to subscribe and be on time to the weekly briefing!

SHOW NOTES:

0:28 - Intro and info on live shows
1:50 - Thoughts on Homeland seasons 1 and 2
9:23 - Moral gray zones
11:50 - The Carrie/Brody relationship, Dana
19:34 - Quinn, Saul and Chris
27:23 - Show close

DON'T FORGET: You can contact the show by emailing briefingroom@filmgeekradio.com. Thanks for listening!