'Still Positive' Reaction: Is 'Homeland' Supposed to Be Hilarious?

"Homeland" is halfway through Season 3, and I still feel like I can take it or leave it. I accepted Carrie (Claire Danes) as the conflicted professional who alternated between suspecting Brody (Damian Lewis) of being a cutthroat terrorist and doodling "Mrs. Carrie Brody" in her diary. But the show messed up by becoming too Brody-centric and killing the suspense about his true intentions.

Despite a promising premiere, "Tin Man is Down," Season 3 is burning LiLo's Elizabeth Taylor into my brain. Come on, now. Showtime is a premium channel and they need to get with it!

"Still Positive" amped up the action and suspense with a bloodbath and surprising glimpse into Saul's (Mandy Patinkin) life. While Carrie is repeatedly confronted about her mental illness, it is clear that Saul is constantly dealing with an inner struggle of his own. So, it's no surprise when he becomes a quiet storm of rage after his dying marriage and career go kaput on the same day. It was a bit of a missed opportunity, though. If viewers had more time to revel in Javadi's apparent smarminess, watching him squirm would have delivered a huge payoff.

Saul's wife consummated her relationship with her "friend," Javadi slaughtered two people in front of an infant, and a lowly civil servant made sure to throw shade at Dana Brody (Morgan Saylor) one last time before she left Casa Brody and embarked on a new life as Dana Lazaro. Despite all that grief and gore, this was the funniest episode of "Homeland."

Carrie casually peeled the wrapper from a pregnancy test and set about providing a sample. This development seemed inevitable. The show has a long reputation of toying with her career, relationship status, and mental stability. A pregnancy is the perfect way to shake up all three categories while restoring the type of volatility that defines "Homeland."

The hilarious part came when she transferred the positive test to a drawer filled with pregnancy tests! Yep, still positive.

Thanks for making HBO obsolete, Tumblr

So, who's the daddy? Carrie's big Where's Waldo? map of Brody sightings hints that he is the father, but it is entirely possible the show will throw a curve ball. Quinn? The red-headed stranger? Some off-screen encounter?

After the funniness faded, the doubts emerged. Was this a sloppy crinkle in the show? When did Carrie become pregnant? Was she pregnant during her visit to the mental institution? (That could explain why that nurse was so generous to her despite the fact that she was an out of control patient asking for special privileges.) How will the medications and her current lifestyle affect the baby? Also, Claire Danes just had a baby and returned to her normal size in real life. It seems a bit twisted to make her portray a pregnant Carrie.

'Homeland' Season 3 Premiere: 5 Burning Questions

The Season 3 premiere of “Homeland” focuses on the show’s original couple: Carrie and Saul.  This duo shares more tragedy, angst, tension, and twisted love than Brody and Carrie ever could. If you haven’t yet watched this Brody-free episode, watch it before reading the semi-spoilers below.

Did Saul really betray Carrie?
Saul, or maybe it’s Mandy Patinkin, always looks pensive. He’s a reluctant CIA member who feared being set up last season. Why would Dar Adal’s knowing glances nudge him to ambush Carrie? Is Saul secretly working on a noble mission?

Carrie has a newspaper subscription!?
Despite being a fan of the printed word, it’s jarring to see the newspaper play such a pivotal role on “Homeland.” A subscription doesn’t jibe with Carrie’s tech-savvy and chaotic lifestyle. Does she call in for vacation hold when she goes ‘round the bend or travels for missions? On second thought, she may need the paper so she can plaster the walls with elaborate theories.

Is Jessica the new Dana?
Dana 2.0 is far more likeable and sympathetic than the previous version, but it looks like Jessica may adopt her annoyed/annoying persona. During a chat with Dana’s doctor, she blankly rattles off the many problems facing the family. Jessica’s obviously not herself.

Her mom’s lending financial and moral support, or her version of it. She grumbles about Brody’s decisions, suggests a lawsuit against the Marines, and offends Dana. Jessica looks as though she is ready to erupt, or implode, at any second.

What will follow “The Wizard of Oz” strike?
So what if the agency killed six people linked to the bombing?  Don’t they have cohorts and underlings ready to take their places? Between Saul’s showboating in front of the media, and the committee's assertion that he authorized the assassination of civilians, he surely riled some unseen enemies.

How is Brody eluding authorities?
He is a famous POW, U.S. congressman, vice presidential candidate, and terrorist suspect. Although that combo may win him some resourceful allies, it's hard to fathom how such a famous and memorable person remains on the lam. 

"Homeland" airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on Showtime.