How 'Homeland' Became TV's Best Show Again

"Homeland" has been one of the many signs that television is in its "golden years" like a host of publications proclaim. But the thing is: it really is.

Season one of "Homeland" was a whirlwind of psychological suspense. Should anyone really believe a mentally unstable CIA agent who claims a returned POW slash military hero has been turned? Should we then believe that he has turned back?

The next two seasons, I couldn't tell you a thing I remember about "Homeland," except maybe a few details: The second act relayed the final hunt for Abu Nazir and the end of the third saw the demise of a major character.

But through all of that, "Homeland" was in a rut after the high of season one. No one cared for the well being of the Brody family, at least not me anyway. (Who else really did not care for that car accident scandal with Dana Brody?) And by the end, there was nothing redeeming about Nicholas Brody to even render a raised eyebrow for his execution.

So how did the show bounce back in season four? Here's how.

1. Bringing it back to characters we care about.

Goodbye forever, Dana Brody. With their patriarch gone, the entire Brody family is finally out of the picture. That means there's ample time to get to know another male lead who is far more sympathetic and interesting: Peter Quinn. He's the best at what he does (killing bad guys), yet he doesn't want to do it anymore. Throughout the entire fourth season, we learned more about him than all three seasons combined. And in a show with morally iffy main characters (Carrie, Saul, etc.), we always found reasons to root for Peter.

2. A trip abroad.

Sure, the show is called "Homeland," but taking Carrie away from the US brought a refreshing change of pace. The entire narrative mostly took place in Pakistan, which was a surprisingly successful move. From the American ambassador and her husband to Aayan to Saul's imprisonment, the story was intricately woven together without ever feeling slow. We got to see Carrie's emotions run high without her disorder being exploited (well, most of the time) and we saw the development of strong and genuine relationships that I don't think we've ever seen to this extent on the show, from Peter and Carrie to Saul and Carrie to even Max and Fara. Through all of the terrible things that happened in Pakistan, we at least gained that.

3. Carrie becoming human again.

I've had my doubts about Carrie as an emotionally resonant person. In the beginning of season four, I was really doubting her. Did she really care about Aayan? I didn't think so until I saw her in the immediate aftermath of his execution. Even before that, she treated her family poorly and seemed to care about nothing else other than Brody, who didn't deserve it one bit. But season four we saw her not only kick ass in Pakistan, but simultaneously grow into a human again. The way she ensured Saul's safe return, stopping Quinn from a suicide mission, and to finally gaining some insight on motherhood with Franny; all these things helped us believe in Carrie again.

Other stellar things to note:

- The action! My god, the action. I don't think I breathed through the entirety of "13 Hours in Islamabad" or "Halfway to a Donut."

- Some superb acting by Claire Danes throughout every episode, but especially during her hallucinogenic state where she thought Aasar was Brody. An incredibly sad and raw scene.

- Peter showing up at Carrie's father's funeral. Swoon.

- The dark return of Dar Adal.

- Did I mention Peter Quinn?