13 Hours in Islamabad

My least favorite episode of the season four's second half is "13 Hours in Islamabad". "13 Hours" was everything everyone complained about in the, what I found to be effective, last two minutes of "There's Something Else Going On". The directing holds the level of suspense so high that it generally succeeds, but the episode is all kinds of tacky and silly. You have to suspend disbelief to an extent when coming to "Homeland", but there was something phony about the beginning events of "13 Hours" that ejected me from the story completely. It's easier to believe Carrie kidnapped by Abu Nazir at the end of season 2 and watch her, Carrie Mathison, literally kill him in a chase scene than it was to buy what the writers tried to pull with the terrorist attack. The second half of the episode was slower and set up episode 11 well, but it still stunk with its impractical ignorance.

Grade: B+

Lockhart gives up the 'super secret' list of assets, and Carrie gets fired. Oooo-kayyy! Then again, isn't that the way the government usually does things? Ignore the acts of the guilty, fire the innocent and praise the non-combatants.

This whole series has been one of highly improbable incidents that neither make sense or would conceivably happen in real life. But it has been an excellent suspense series worth watching.

"13 Hours in Islamabad", the tenth episode of Homeland's fourth season, is a gripping and intense exploration of the events that unfolded during the attack on the US embassy in Pakistan. The episode is a masterclass in suspenseful storytelling, as it meticulously reconstructs the harrowing events of that fateful day.

The episode's title is a direct reference to the duration of the attack, and the show's commitment to authenticity is evident in the way it unfolds. The pacing is deliberate and relentless, drawing the audience into the chaos and confusion of the situation. The cinematography is exceptional, with the use of handheld camerawork and tight framing heightening the sense of immediacy and urgency.

The performances in this episode are uniformly excellent, with Claire Danes and Rupert Friend delivering standout work as Carrie and Quinn, respectively. The emotional weight of the events is palpable, as the characters grapple with the trauma and aftermath of the attack.

One of the episode's most impressive achievements is its ability to balance the personal and the political. While the focus is on the events unfolding on the ground, the script also weaves in the larger geopolitical implications of the attack, as well as the personal stakes for the characters involved.

The episode's climactic moments are both thrilling and heartbreaking, as the audience is forced to confront the harsh realities of the situation. The final scenes are particularly powerful, leaving a lasting impact on the viewer.

Overall, "13 Hours in Islamabad" is a standout episode of Homeland, showcasing the show's ability to deliver high-stakes, character-driven drama with exceptional technical craft. It's a testament to the show's commitment to exploring the human cost of the war on terror.

The Homeland Season 4 Episode 10 "13 hours in Islamabad" is a pure propaganda against Pakistan. All the event shown never happened in real life, all were faked. Pakistan Army dress was wrongly shown even the geography was wrong calling in Pakistan and showing South Africa. It was a joke shown to the public and all negative talks were spoken against Pakistan. The episode was the real example of HATE SPEECH, and it was shown to create negative image of Pakistan in the eyes of the world. All Indian stars are included as Pakistani's which was wrong and below dignity. All the Pak Army vehicles shown are not on the inventory of Pak Army. Without any deliberation, an episode was developed and create hatred against Pakistani Community. It was way too wrong than the original and I think is the worst episode ever. No female worker is employed by ISI as shown on the show it was also wrong.

Preposterous episode in so many ways. No one in the embassy has any scenario training. They all fall for the obvious bait. The political fallout if Pakistan/ISI allowed this. The Ambassador's belt choice. Lockhart's complete lack of training. Complete Hollywood nonsense. There's a reason this kind of thing doesn't happen in real life - the marines, the diplomatic staff, CIA are not stupid people. Yet Homeland writers would have us believe so.