This weekend sees the return of Homeland for season 4 of the hit show. After the dramatic conclusion of season 3 – Nicolas Brody’s (Damian Lewis) public hanging and Carrie Mathison (Clare Danes) left pregnant with Brody’s child – can the latest chapter live up to cult hype?

 

They say change is good and season 4 has plenty of it. Writers of the show displayed their mettle by killing off lead character Brody, setting a Game of Thrones-esque precedent that no character is safe. Without Brody to raise the paranoia-levels to code red, does Carrie and the gang have enough in the locked to keep viewers glued to the action?

 

Carrie has already shown her classic heroine traits throughout the show while having Brody’s baby is an interesting plot twist. Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) is also experiencing big change, leaving the CIA and operating under his own steam. Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) remains much of an enigma even after two seasons as little has been revealed about his life prior to joining Saul and Carrie – could he a possible romantic interest for Carrie? Questions, questions.

 

 

Perhaps the biggest question is whether Brody is actually dead? Let’s face it, he’s survived eight years in terrorist captivity, been shot at, addicted to heroin and had countless bombs strapped to his body. What’s a hanging in the grand scheme of things? Speculation peaked as news leaked about Damian Lewis being on the Cape Town set during the filming of season 4, though show execs were quick to deny all possibilities of a resurrection. The truth will be revealed soon enough.

 

Homeland Season 4 starts at 9pm on Channel 4