"False Friends" is the third episode of the eighth season of the American television drama series ''

Homeland A homeland is a place where a national or ethnic identity has formed. The definition can also mean simply one's country of birth. When used as a proper noun, the Homeland, as well as its equivalents in other languages, often has ethnic natio ...

'', and the 87th episode overall. It premiered on

Showtime Showtime or Show Time may refer to: Film * ''Showtime'' (film), a 2002 American action/comedy film * ''Showtime'' (video), a 1995 live concert video by Blur Television Networks and channels * Showtime Networks, a division of Paramount Global w ...

on February 23, 2020.

Plot

After initially suspecting Saul (

Mandy Patinkin Mandel "Mandy" Bruce Patinkin (; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film. As a critically acclaimed Broadway (theatre), Broadway performer he has collaborated with Step ...

), Haqqani (

Numan Acar Numan Acar (born 7 October 1974) is a Turkish-German actor and film producer. Life and career Acar was born in 1974 in Kozoglu, a small village in the Kelkit district of Turkey; he lived in the nearby city of Erzincan until 1982, when his fam ...

) becomes convinced that the ISI was responsible for the ambush on his convoy. Saul states that there had to have been a traitor in Haqqani's camp in order for the ISI to have known about the meeting. Haqqani's suspicions turn to his last living son, Jalal (Elham Ehsas), who has been adamantly opposed to the peace talks. Those suspicions are confirmed when Jalal places a call to Tasneem (

Nimrat Kaur Nimrat Kaur (born 13 March 1982) is an Indian actress who appears in Hindi films and in American television. She began her career as a print model and went on to act in theater. After brief appearances in a few films, Kaur starred in Anurag Kas ...

) on an open line while Haqqani is monitoring his communications. Carrie (

Claire Danes Claire Catherine Danes (born April 12, 1979) is an American actress. Prolific in film and television since her teens, she is the recipient of three Primetime Emmy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards. In 2012, ''Time (magazine), Time'' named he ...

) agrees to a meeting with Yevgeny (

Costa Ronin Konstantin "Costa" Ronin (; born 3 February 1979) is a Russian actor and cinematographer, best known for appearances in '' Red Dog'', as Gregorovich on the SBS drama '' East West 101'', as Oleg Igorevich Burov in the FX drama ''The Americans' ...

). Still questioning Carrie's allegiance, Mike (Cliff Chamberlain) and Jenna (

Andrea Deck Andrea Deck (born February 5, 1994) is an American film, television and theater actress. She trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She is best known for her voice role as Amanda Ripley, daughter of Ellen Ripley, in '' Alien: ...

) attempt to eavesdrop from nearby but are unsuccessful as Yevgeny has arranged to meet outside a mosque precisely when prayers are being broadcast over loudspeaker. Yevgeny alludes to a meaningful relationship the two shared in Moscow. Carrie has no memory of it and challenges Yevgeny to prove it by telling her something private. She is disquieted when Yevgeny reveals his knowledge that Carrie once considered drowning her daughter Franny. Back at the station, Carrie lies to Mike about her conversation, framing it as Yevgeny potentially being recruited as a CIA asset. Haqqani confronts Jalal who remains defiant and refuses to confess outright to his treachery. Haqqani spares Jalal's life, but exiles him from the family. Saul and Haqqani begin negotiations and eventually agree to terms on a peace deal which includes an immediate

ceasefire A ceasefire (also known as a truce), also spelled cease-fire (the antonym of 'open fire'), is a stoppage of a war in which each side agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions often due to mediation by a third party. Ceasefires may b ...

. Jalal wanders the streets until he is found and picked up by Tasneem.

Production

The episode was directed by

Keith Gordon Keith Gordon (born February 3, 1961) is an American actor and film director. Early life Gordon was born in New York City, the son of Mark, an actor and stage director, and Barbara Gordon. He grew up in an atheist Jewish family. Gordon was in ...

, and co-written by showrunner

Alex Gansa Alex Gansa is a screenwriter and producer. He co-developed the Showtime series '' Homeland'' with Howard Gordon and Gideon Raff. He was also one of the series' executive producers and showrunners. Gansa produced and wrote a number of scripts f ...

and executive producer

Howard Gordon Howard Gordon (born March 31, 1961) is an American screenwriter and producer. He is well known for his work on the Fox action series '' 24'' alongside the Showtime thriller '' Homeland'', which he co-developed with Alex Gansa and Gideon Raf ...

Reception

Reviews

New York Magazine ''New York'' is an American biweekly magazine concerned with life, culture, politics, and style generally, with a particular emphasis on New York City. Founded by Clay Felker and Milton Glaser in 1968 as a competitor to ''The New Yorker'' a ...

s Brian Tallerico rated the episode 4 out of 5 stars, and added: "The episode's best scene may be the one between Carrie and Jenna on the roof, in which Carrie explains how you can never really know if someone is just trying to sow dissent and chaos or genuinely coming to your side". Scott Von Doviak of

The A.V. Club ''The A.V. Club'' is an online newspaper and entertainment website featuring reviews, interviews, and other articles that examine films, music, television, books, games, and other elements of pop-culture media. ''The A.V. Club'' was created in ...

gave the episode a "B" grade, calling it "an episode steeped in traitorous behavior and rampant paranoia".

Ratings

The original broadcast was watched by 710,000 viewers.

References

External links

"False Friends"
at

* {{Homeland 2020 American television episodes Homeland season 8 episodes Television episodes directed by Keith Gordon Television episodes written by Howard Gordon