--- title: "Homeland: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/homeland/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/homeland" critics_score: 80 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Homeland (2011): what the critics said Critics' score 80 from 8 reviews: 8 positive, 0 mixed, 0 negative. Every one of the eight reviews is positive, and they agree on why. The praise clusters on the two leads: Claire Danes as the bipolar CIA analyst Carrie Mathison and Damian Lewis as Nicholas Brody, the returned prisoner of war who may or may not have been turned. Almost all the critics measure the series against 24 and find it the quieter, more cerebral programme, trading that show’s certainties for moral shades of grey. The pilot’s unanswered questions, about Brody’s loyalties and Carrie’s grip, are counted as strengths rather than evasions. The spread is narrow and the reservations are mild. The Independent thinks the talk of its intelligence relative to 24 is overstated, and the Evening Standard, reviewing the second series, wonders whether the tension and twists can be kept up for long. The British notices that arrive later tend to sit a little cooler than the American ones that greeted the pilot. ## The AV Club — Emily St. James Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 16 September 2011. The pilot is potentially the best new show of the fall, a quieter and more cerebral take on the War on Terror thriller than 24. It features compelling characters and leaves plenty of intriguing questions about whether the returned POW has been turned and whether the CIA analyst is losing her grip. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/homeland-pilot-1798227443) ## The Guardian — Sam Wollaston Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2012. The critic calls it a brilliant, complex thriller that is plausible and nuanced, unlike simpler shows like 24. He singles out Claire Danes' mesmerising performance as the driven, bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/feb/19/homeland-tv-review) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Tim Goodman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2011. Homeland stands out as one of the fall's best new dramas with its timely post-bin Laden terrorism premise and compelling gray-area intrigue involving a suspected double agent. Excellent lead performances from Damian Lewis and Claire Danes drive the suspenseful spy story that feels ripped from the headlines. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/homeland-tv-review-241914/) ## Variety — Brian Lowry Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 29 September 2011. The series quickly moves beyond its formulaic setup to deliver Cold War-style paranoia about a returned hero possibly turned terrorist. Strong performances, particularly Damian Lewis as the ambiguous Brody, and clever flashbacks help establish an intriguing thriller superior to prior Showtime efforts on the subject. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2011/tv/reviews/homeland-2-1117946255/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 October 2012. The review finds the second series compelling with strong performances and taut writing, though it questions whether the blend of tension and twists can be sustained long-term. It singles out the reversed power dynamic between Brody and Carrie as effective. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/homeland-series-2-review-it-may-not-last-but-all-is-good-for-now-8194001.html) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 20 February 2012. The review commends the series for its expert twists, moral shades of grey, and strong central performances, particularly Claire Danes as the conflicted CIA agent. It notes the promising start despite some overstated claims of intelligence compared to prior shows like 24. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/the-weekends-viewing-homeland-sun-channel-4-luck-sat-sky-atlantic-7209276.html) ## The Times Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2011. The review praises the shift from the certainties of 24 to a more nuanced post-9/11 thriller focused on internal threats and moral ambiguity. It highlights the central performances of Claire Danes as the bipolar CIA agent Carrie Mathison and Damian Lewis as the returned POW Nicholas Brody. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/certainties-of-the-war-on-terror-are-now-replaced-with-a-fear-from-within-9x659zspnw5) ## Digital Spy — Alex Fletcher Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 19 February 2012. The pilot is captivating TV thanks to the stunning performances of Claire Danes and Damian Lewis and the complex, uncertain characters they play. It features fully rounded characters with no wasted lines or plot devices and establishes a compelling cat-and-mouse dynamic. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a366505/homeland-review-tvs-best-show-of-2012/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/homeland.md