Paean to the People

"**Paean to the People**"
"Paean to the People"
Homelandepisode
Episodeno.	Season 7; Episode 12
Directed by	Lesli Linka Glatter
Written by	Alex Gansa
Production code	7WAH12
Original air date	April 29, 2018
Running time	63 minutes
Guest appearances
	James D'Arcyas Thomas Anson; Dylan Bakeras Senator Sam Paley; Costa Roninas Yevgeny Gromov; Sandrine Holtas Simone Martin; Ellen Adair as Janet Bayne; Catherine Curtinas Sandy Langmore; Geoff Piersonas Senator Richard Eames; Elya Baskinas Viktor; Merab Ninidzeas Sergei Mirov; Clé Bennettas Doxie Marquis; Ari Fliakos as Carter Bennet; Damian Youngas Jim; Peter Vackas Clint Prower; Yosef Podolski as Aleksandr; Sue Jean Kim; Beau Bridgesas Vice President Ralph Warner;
Episode chronology
←Previous; "All In"	Next→; "Deception Indicated"
	Homelandseason 7
	List of episodes

"Paean to the People"is the seventh-season finale of the American television drama seriesHomeland,and the 84th episode overall. It premiered onShowtimeon April 29, 2018.

Plot

Saul (Mandy Patinkin) and his team arrive at the airport, ready to fly Simone (Sandrine Holt) to the United States. Meanwhile, Yevgeny Gromov (Costa Ronin) tracks the disguisedCarrie(Claire Danes), still believing she is Simone. Carrie's car is cornered, so she runs away on foot in an effort to extend the chase until Saul's plane has taken off. Saul's vehicle is stopped at a checkpoint due to an outstanding warrant for Bennet's (Ari Fliakos) arrest; Saul calls Vice President Warner (Beau Bridges) for assistance. Senator Paley (Dylan Baker), who is in the room with Warner, advises against this, as a successful retrieval of Simone would lead to Keane being reinstated as president. Warner angrily rebukes Paley and intervenes on Saul's behalf. The plane takes flight as Yevgeny captures Carrie.

Three days later

Saul's attempts to negotiate Carrie's release with Viktor (Elya Baskin) go nowhere. Simone's testimony confirms a GRU conspiracy to undermine President Keane. Paley is arrested as a conspirator. Keane (Elizabeth Marvel) is triumphantly sworn in as president once again, but in her first public address, she resigns. She explains that as Russia was able to exploit partisan discord in the U.S., that must be addressed and that events of her administration have left her as someone the American people as a whole will be unable to trust. Yevgeny wants Carrie to film a confession video stating that Simone was a CIA operative and that the U.S. orchestrated everything, while threatening to withhold Carrie's medication if she doesn't cooperate. Carrie refuses.

Seven months later

Carrie's release is finally secured in exchange for several Russian prisoners. Saul and Jim (Damian Young), the head of the CIA's Moscow station, oversee the prisoner exchange at theEstonia–Russia border.After seven months of receiving no medication, Carrie is barely lucid and even seems not to recognise Saul.

Production

The episode was directed by executive producerLesli Linka Glatterand written by showrunnerAlex Gansa.

Reception

Reviews

The episode received an approval rating of 100% on the review aggregatorRotten Tomatoesbased on 10 reviews. The website's critical consensus is, "'Paean to the People' demonstrates all that Homeland does best, delivering intelligent closure to the season's overarching plot while fleshing out the terrible cost of victory for Carrie Mathison."^[1]

The A.V. Club's Scott Von Doviak gave the episode a "B+" grade, concluding that it was "a mostly satisfying end to a bounce-back season", and that the "first twenty-five minutes or so is executed almost flawlessly, though, with the series’ steadiest hand, Lesli Linka Glatter, at the helm".^[2]Ben Travers ofIndieWire's rated the finale "A", writing "Homelanddelivered a cliffhanger ending without sacrificing closure in a finale that sets up an intriguing end-run ".^[3]

Ratings

The original broadcast was watched by 1.3 million viewers.^[4]

Accolades

Alex Gansawon theWriters Guild of America Award for Television: Episodic Dramafor the71st Writers Guild of America Awards.^[5]Lesli Linka Glatterwas nominated forOutstanding Directing – Drama Seriesat the71st Directors Guild of America Awards.^[6]

References

^"Paean to the People".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.
^Von Doviak, Scott (April 29, 2018)."The Homeland season finale springs a few last-minute surprises".The A.V. Club.RetrievedMay 6,2018.
^Travers, Ben (April 29, 2018)."'Homeland' Review: Finale Ends a Magnificent Season 7 With a Radical Message for America ".Indiewire.RetrievedMay 6,2018.
^Porter, Rick (May 1, 2018)."Sunday cable ratings: 'Westworld' and 'Fear the Walking Dead' dip".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2018.RetrievedMay 6,2018.
^Schwartz, Ryan; Gelman, Vlada (February 17, 2019)."Writers Guild Awards: The Americans, Mrs. Maisel and Barry Among Winners".TVLine.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.
^Pedersen, Erik (January 7, 2019)."DGA Awards Raises Curtain On TV, Documentary & Commercials Nominations".Deadline.RetrievedJanuary 9,2019.

External links

[1] "Paean to the People".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.

[2] Von Doviak, Scott (April 29, 2018)."The Homeland season finale springs a few last-minute surprises".The A.V. Club.RetrievedMay 6,2018.

[3] Travers, Ben (April 29, 2018)."'Homeland' Review: Finale Ends a Magnificent Season 7 With a Radical Message for America ".Indiewire.RetrievedMay 6,2018.

[4] Porter, Rick (May 1, 2018)."Sunday cable ratings: 'Westworld' and 'Fear the Walking Dead' dip".TV by the Numbers.Archived fromthe originalon May 1, 2018.RetrievedMay 6,2018.

[5] Schwartz, Ryan; Gelman, Vlada (February 17, 2019)."Writers Guild Awards: The Americans, Mrs. Maisel and Barry Among Winners".TVLine.RetrievedFebruary 18,2019.

[6] Pedersen, Erik (January 7, 2019)."DGA Awards Raises Curtain On TV, Documentary & Commercials Nominations".Deadline.RetrievedJanuary 9,2019.

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