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New 'Homeland' trailer promises we'll be watching you

Showtime drama teases Sept. 30 return with a Police cover

By Alan SepinwallFriday, Aug 17, 2012 1:09 PM

Mandy Patinkin and Claire Danes in "Homeland."

Credit: Showtime

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I'm embedding the new Showtime trailer for "Homeland" season 2 (which premieres on Sunday, September 30) for a couple of reasons:

1)I'm very excited to have the show (one of last year's best) back, and I imagine seeing glimpses of Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Mandy Patinkin and friends should pump up your excitement level as well.

2)I love the choice of song: Scala & Kolacny Brothers covering The Police's "Every Breath You Take," a song that has been weirdly turned into a ballad of undying love in recent years (even Sting stopped fighting this particular battle a long time ago and will perform it as such) when it was written as a tale of obsessive stalking. The original interpretation fits "Homeland" perfectly, not just because of the show's extensive use of surveillance, but because of how that in turn fueled the unsettling affair between Carrie and Brody.

Enjoy.

Alan Sepinwall
Sr. Editor, What's Alan Watching

Alan Sepinwall has been reviewing television since the mid-'90s, first for Tony Soprano's hometown paper, The Star-Ledger, and now for HitFix. His new book, "The Revolution Was Televised," about the last 15 years of TV drama, is for sale at Amazon. He can be reached at sepinwall@hitfix.com

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Dan3320

Oh man, I could not be more pumped up for season 2! Such an awesome show, and great trailer.

I will say, however, that the song was almost eery. Maybe it was the child-like tone in the voices, but I'm not sure it fit for me. Having said that, I might prefer a song over actual voice-clips; less spoilery.
August 17, 2012 at 1:38PM EST Reply to Comment
Adam K

I just finished the first season of Homeland last week and it was excellent. I can not wait for Season Two. Also, is it crazy to say that I think Damian Lewis did a better acting job that Claire Danes? Also, also, is there any way I can find the B.S. Report you did with Simmons about Homeland? Since I just watched the series I purposefully missed the pod when it originally aired?
August 17, 2012 at 2:12PM EST Reply to Comment
- Rob Podcast: http://c.espnradio.com/audio/823609/bsreport_2011-12-20-101809.48.mp3
  August 17, 2012 at 2:20PM EST
- Adam K Awesome Rob, thanks for the link to the podcast!
  August 17, 2012 at 2:25PM EST
- Jonnybon Yes, that is crazy.
  August 17, 2012 at 3:01PM EST
Juan Loco

I really loved the first season. Watched because of Damian Lewis; had no idea about Claire Danes. Just watched "Temple Grandin" last night. She has to be the most promising young actress. Also watched "Brokedown Palace" from 1999 with Danes and Kate Beckinsale. Ironic how differently the careers of these two actresses have developed.

Trailer looked great. Can't wait to see new developments in Carrie's mad life.
August 17, 2012 at 2:20PM EST Reply to Comment
marc

CAN'T. WAIT.
August 17, 2012 at 2:20PM EST Reply to Comment
Meg

There's a lot to like here.

1) Carrie is clearly back in action in some capacity, thank goodness. I just hope they don't waste several episodes getting there as she recovers from her treatments.

2) I am inferring some of the strained looks on the Brody family to mean they are continuing to realize something is Not Quite Right.

3) Please tell me Carrie's wig is an inside nod to her Angela Chase hair. I flipped when I saw it. Awww, Chase-Face!
August 17, 2012 at 2:49PM EST Reply to Comment
- eoindaly2k11 Just to tell you the series premire will take place one year after the finale so I'm guessing we will none of what you say in point 2.
  August 17, 2012 at 7:18PM EST
Jonnybon

This is the same Belgian choir that sang "Creep" in the great "Social Network" trailer.
August 17, 2012 at 3:04PM EST Reply to Comment
bitchstolemyremote

Great teaser. Can't wait for the show to return!
August 17, 2012 at 3:56PM EST Reply to Comment
Guest

This Homeland teaser reminded me of Downton Abbey's teasers for iTV, which also featured Scala & Kolacny Brothers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoe3CoxcYm0
August 17, 2012 at 5:07PM EST Reply to Comment
evolution1085

I always find it difficult to get a sense of the tone the season will have when you have a trailer set to music like that, also any idea about plot goes immediately out the window. I kind of prefer the Dexter trailer to this one (only looking at the trailers) because at least the Dexter trailer is seeming to give the audience what its been craving, while this one, while getting me excited for the new season, leaves me just as in the dark as I was at the immediate end of the first season.
August 17, 2012 at 5:49PM EST Reply to Comment
- KobraCola What? You want to be TOLD what's going to happen in the season before you watch it? This trailer is perfect because it HINTS at things without yelling to its audience something like, "HEY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA PLAY DEB FINDING OUT ABOUT DEXTER!"
  August 18, 2012 at 12:57AM EST
bearcouch

That was an awesome trailer.
August 17, 2012 at 6:30PM EST Reply to Comment
Madaboutmen

I have watched part of the fist season of "prisoners of war" the Israeli show that homeland bases it's episodes. It's fantastic! Alan, have you watched it? It's on Hulu plus. Great way to pass the time till Sept. 30 th!
August 17, 2012 at 7:11PM EST Reply to Comment
Joyeful

THis is one of the best trailers I've ever seen - that was SO well done!

And Alan, if you weren't my favourite critic before, you just became so with your comments on "Every Breath You Take". HUGE Sting/Police fan here.
August 17, 2012 at 10:07PM EST Reply to Comment
Joyeful

...and I could never understand why people thought it was anything other than a stalker song, and why Sting suddenly started singing it "pretty". Makes total sense now LOL
August 17, 2012 at 10:15PM EST Reply to Comment
KobraCola

Wow, simultaneously beautiful, haunting, and creepy. Christ, every show needs to take a lesson from this trailer on how to tease a season. Here's a clue: DON'T REVEAL WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SEASON. You can HINT at what's going to happen, but don't give me a good idea of what will happen, even at the beginning of the season. I don't want false leads or red herrings that make me think something's going to happen and then something else happens. That just causes me, the viewer, to lose my trust in you, the show. Somebody please send this memo to the Dexter people. If you DON'T want to know what happens in the upcoming season of Dexter, then DON'T watch the trailer for the new season.
August 18, 2012 at 12:55AM EST Reply to Comment
Tim Isola

Beautiful trailer and has me totally excited for a season 2 where i have no idea what to expect, and thats the best thing about it. Season 1 ends with her not only no longer a CIA agent, but insane in some peoples eyes and receiving shock treatments. A typical showtime show, shes a CIA agent going after the enemy season after season. For this show we have no idea what shes going to be doing, but i cant possibly see a way she'd once again be granted security clearance and allowed back into the agency. so her role in season 2 fascinates me. I guess shes gonna go totally rogue as Brody embeds himself deeper into our government. Fantastic show.
August 18, 2012 at 9:40AM EST Reply to Comment
Jerseygirl

Alan, why has it taken so long for this show to come out on DVD? I know it's finally due at the end of the month. Do they just want people to watch it illegally?

August 18, 2012 at 11:17AM EST Reply to Comment
- keith DVDs are cumbersome. I would prefer to legally download but that hasn't really taken off, and probably won't until they can work out sponsorship rather than adverts to fund television. eztv.it meanwhile is superb.
  August 18, 2012 at 3:16PM EST
- Doug I think it's a marketing thing. There's enough time for someone to catch up with the show on DVD, and it reminds Wal-Mart/Target/whatever shoppers that the show is coming back.
  August 18, 2012 at 10:30PM EST
BlitzMark

Hell. Yeah.
That was awesome.
August 19, 2012 at 5:28PM EST Reply to Comment
OldDarth

Fantastic trailer - though it seemed to give away a lot - even if it was structured in a way to mislead.
August 20, 2012 at 10:16AM EST Reply to Comment
- Anonymous That's what I was thinking.
  
  I'll bet that the last scene wasn't really Carrie visiting Brody in a hotel, that it was two scenes cut to look that way.
  August 20, 2012 at 12:10PM EST

New 'Homeland' trailer promises we'll be watching you

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Comments

Option 1

Option 2

Option 3

Rob Podcast: http://c.espnradio.com/audio/823609/bsreport_2011-12-20-101809.48.mp3

Adam K Awesome Rob, thanks for the link to the podcast!

Jonnybon Yes, that is crazy.

marc CAN'T. WAIT.

eoindaly2k11 Just to tell you the series premire will take place one year after the finale so I'm guessing we will none of what you say in point 2.

Jonnybon This is the same Belgian choir that sang "Creep" in the great "Social Network" trailer.

bitchstolemyremote Great teaser. Can't wait for the show to return!

Guest This Homeland teaser reminded me of Downton Abbey's teasers for iTV, which also featured Scala & Kolacny Brothers:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoe3CoxcYm0

KobraCola What? You want to be TOLD what's going to happen in the season before you watch it? This trailer is perfect because it HINTS at things without yelling to its audience something like, "HEY, THIS IS HOW WE'RE GONNA PLAY DEB FINDING OUT ABOUT DEXTER!"

bearcouch That was an awesome trailer.

Madaboutmen I have watched part of the fist season of "prisoners of war" the Israeli show that homeland bases it's episodes. It's fantastic! Alan, have you watched it? It's on Hulu plus. Great way to pass the time till Sept. 30 th!

Joyeful THis is one of the best trailers I've ever seen - that was SO well done!And Alan, if you weren't my favourite critic before, you just became so with your comments on "Every Breath You Take". HUGE Sting/Police fan here.

Joyeful ...and I could never understand why people thought it was anything other than a stalker song, and why Sting suddenly started singing it "pretty". Makes total sense now LOL

Jerseygirl Alan, why has it taken so long for this show to come out on DVD? I know it's finally due at the end of the month. Do they just want people to watch it illegally?

keith DVDs are cumbersome. I would prefer to legally download but that hasn't really taken off, and probably won't until they can work out sponsorship rather than adverts to fund television. eztv.it meanwhile is superb.

Doug I think it's a marketing thing. There's enough time for someone to catch up with the show on DVD, and it reminds Wal-Mart/Target/whatever shoppers that the show is coming back.

BlitzMark Hell. Yeah.That was awesome.

OldDarth Fantastic trailer - though it seemed to give away a lot - even if it was structured in a way to mislead.

Anonymous That's what I was thinking. I'll bet that the last scene wasn't really Carrie visiting Brody in a hotel, that it was two scenes cut to look that way.

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Homeland is updated

marc

CAN'T. WAIT.

Jonnybon

This is the same Belgian choir that sang "Creep" in the great "Social Network" trailer.

bitchstolemyremote

Great teaser. Can't wait for the show to return!

Guest

This Homeland teaser reminded me of Downton Abbey's teasers for iTV, which also featured Scala & Kolacny Brothers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoe3CoxcYm0

bearcouch

That was an awesome trailer.

Madaboutmen

I have watched part of the fist season of "prisoners of war" the Israeli show that homeland bases it's episodes. It's fantastic! Alan, have you watched it? It's on Hulu plus. Great way to pass the time till Sept. 30 th!

Joyeful

THis is one of the best trailers I've ever seen - that was SO well done!

And Alan, if you weren't my favourite critic before, you just became so with your comments on "Every Breath You Take". HUGE Sting/Police fan here.

Joyeful

...and I could never understand why people thought it was anything other than a stalker song, and why Sting suddenly started singing it "pretty". Makes total sense now LOL

Jerseygirl

Alan, why has it taken so long for this show to come out on DVD? I know it's finally due at the end of the month. Do they just want people to watch it illegally?

BlitzMark

Hell. Yeah.
That was awesome.

OldDarth

Fantastic trailer - though it seemed to give away a lot - even if it was structured in a way to mislead.

Anonymous That's what I was thinking.

I'll bet that the last scene wasn't really Carrie visiting Brody in a hotel, that it was two scenes cut to look that way.

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What's Alan Watching is updated