The Smile (Homeland)
| "The Smile" | |
|---|---|
| Homeland episode | |
| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 1 |
| Directed by | Michael Cuesta |
| Written by |
Howard Gordon Alex Gansa |
| Production code | 2WAH01 |
| Original air date | September 30, 2012 |
| Running time | 55 minutes |
| Guest appearance(s) | |
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|
"The Smile" is the second season premiere episode of the American television drama series Homeland, and the 13th episode overall. It originally aired on Showtime on September 30, 2012.
The episode drew a series high rating of 1.73 million viewers, up 60% from its series premiere, and received a total of 2.07 million viewers with repeat viewing that same night.
Set roughly six months after the events of the Season 1 finale, the episode opens with news of major unrest in the Middle East as Israel has bombed nuclear facilities in Iran, with Iran vowing retaliation. The Central Intelligence Agency is approached by a former asset, Fatima Ali (Clara Khoury), who is a wife of a Hezbollah district commander. She says she has information on an imminent attack on America. However, she refuses to talk to anyone but her former handler, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes).
Carrie, now working as an ESL teacher, receives a surprise visit from Galvez (Hrach Titizian) while she's teaching a class. Galvez is there on behalf of Estes (David Harewood), who wants to talk with Carrie, but she refuses. The next plea comes from Saul (Mandy Patinkin) on the phone that night. Unable to say no to Saul, she relents and listens to what Estes has to say. Estes explains to Carrie that one of her assets has resurfaced with vital information, and that he's asking Carrie to briefly go to Lebanon to find out what the asset knows. Carrie is still hostile towards Estes and bitter over how she was drummed out of the CIA, but nonetheless agrees to the trip.
Nicholas Brody (Damian Lewis), settling into his new role as a Congressman for Virginia's 2nd congressional district, is approached by Vice President Walden (Jamey Sheridan) who wants to float Brody's name as a potential running mate for his presidential run. Brody happily accepts the offer. Later on, he meets with Roya Hammad (Zuleikha Robinson), a journalist who reveals herself to Brody as an ally of Abu Nazir. She relays an assignment that Nazir has passed along to him. Brody is to retrieve a list of potential attack targets from a safe in Estes' office. Brody correctly ascertains that Al-Qaeda intends to hit one of these targets and refuses at first, reluctant to be responsible for deaths of civilians. Roya says that the world is at war and Brody needs to pick a side. If his allegiance is truly with Al-Qaeda, he will retrieve the list. Brody successfully procures the list the next day while Roya distracts Estes.
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