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'Homeland' Boss Explains Why Series 5 Couldn't Avoid Islamic State - 'It's Just So Part Of The Landscape'

Is Homeland Right To Include Rise Of Islamic State In Series 5?
Caroline Frost
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This weekend sees the return of ‘Homeland’, the fifth series based in Berlin, and inspired - exec producer Alex Gansa tells Radio Times - by the swell of political movement on this side of the world.

“If you’ll recall what was happening at the start of the year, the whole Edward Snowden thing was really snowballing, the rise of Isis was happening, then there were the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris,” Alex remembers world events when his team were brainstorming ideas for Series 5, which starts this Sunday. “It all felt that now that part of Europe was the centre of the world.”

Alex explains that Syria’s civil war and Putin’s machinations - “Putin rattling the sabre” - all play a part in the new season, which finds Carrie Mathieson, two years on, estranged from her former CIA colleagues and providing private security for a German philanthropist. But he admits working out whether to include the rise of Islamic State has been both a moral and creative challenge.

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The fifth series of 'Homeland' finds Carrie Mathison relocated to Berlin, and estranged from the CIA

“It has been difficult even to do the re- search required to portray that jihadist movement and dramatise it,” says Gansa. “Should we even acknowledge their existence, make them part of the story, and humanise them at some level?”

"But it’s just so part of the landscape right now that it felt like we were wilfully ignoring something that couldn’t be ignored. So it has crept back into the story in a major way.”

Since the demise of the Nicholas Brody, Carrie Mathieson has been tentatively involved with her CIA colleague Quinn (Rupert Friend). But the new series finds her working almost in opposition to him and her old boss Saul (Mandy Patinkin), following her disillusion over CIA practices at the end of Series 4. Are their paths yet destined to cross again?

Alex Gansa is not giving away much, but will concede, "Let’s say their lives will all converge in Berlin… the great spy town. It really is the centre of the world for these surveillance refuseniks and Snowden-types."

Homeland series five starts this Sunday at 9pm on Channel 4

12 TV Dramas For Autumn 2015
War and Peace (BBC One)(01 of12)
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With veteran screenwriter Andrew Davies once again on adaptation duties, and director Tom Harper (Peaky Blinders, Woman in Black) at the helm of Leo Tolstoy's literary masterpiece, this was never going to be small. And with 'Downton's Lily James and ever-excellent James Norton on screen, there is something for everyone. Told over six lavish episodes, Andrew Davies is promising us "a thrilling, funny and heartbreaking story of love, war and family life".
The Affair (Sky Atlantic)(02 of12)
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The engrossing, Golden Globe award-winning first series told us two things... that we all should holiday in Montauk, Long Island, New York State, it's stunning and... we can't trust a word any of these beautiful, brittle characters utter. We catch up with Ruth Wilson and Dominic West, just as it appears that their romantic bliss - hard-earnt at the expense of two marriages - might be interrupted by the small matter of a murder charge...
River (BBC One)(03 of12)
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Sweden's finest Stellan Skarsgard brings his big-screen charisma to this police drama. Yes, he's a troubled, lonely soul who understands his victims more than his colleagues, but... his former partner Jackie Stevenson is beside him, and yet she's not. (I'm not spoiling this!) Jackie's played by Spooks' Nicola Walker, and the script's from Emmy Award-winner Abi Morgan. Doom, gloom and introspection on London's streets.
Dark Angel (ITV)(04 of12)
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She may be donning her customary bonnet for another period drama, but Downton's Joanne Froggatt will be revealing her dark side in this adaptation of real-life tale of Victorian poisoner Mary Ann Cotton, a lady determined to pursue a better life, whose methods leave no visible scars, and anyway... how could a woman be capable of such crimes?
Fargo (Channel 4)(05 of12)
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Despite the plaudits for the first series, 'Fargo's makers have been brave and gone back in time for Series 2, setting events in 1979. There's a brand new cast too. Kirsten Dunst plays Peggy Blomquist, a small town beautician with big dreams. Breaking Bad's Jesse Plemons is her bemused husband, who just happens to a butcher's assistant. Oh dear... Hopefully, this show will enjoy the plaudits of 'Better Call Saul' for its sequel embitions, and not the brickbats of 'True Detective'... watch this space.
Unforgotten (ITV)(06 of12)
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More crime, more Nicola Walker, this time on ITV, with 'Unforgotten', a six-parter focusing on a 'cold' murder case of four decades ago, brought back to light when the bones of a young man are found in the remnants of a demolished house. What did happen in 1976, and what does it say about our changing social preoccupations? Sanjeev Bhaskar, Trevor Eve and Tom Courtenay promise strong performances across the board.
Luther (BBC One)(07 of12)
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He's back! Just when we thought we'd lost Idris Elba for good - either to DJ duties or Hollywood blockbusters, depending on the day - here he is, going for a fourth spin as DCI John Luther, this time a very troubled man, haunted by previous events and hell-bent on retribution. Where's Alice (Ruth Wilson) when he needs her?
Homeland (Channel 4)(08 of12)
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After a wayward third season, 'Homeland' found its firm footing once again last season, and long may it last. Series 5 picks up two years after Carrie's ill-fated tenure as Islamabad bureau chief for the CIA. Now we find her hanging out in Berlin, probably earning a fortune looking after the security of a German philanthropist, but struggling with guilt and disillusionment. Sounds like she's ripe for one of THOSE calls from Saul...
The Returned (Channel 4)(09 of12)
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French supernatural thriller returns, picking up six months after the deceased (Les Revenants of the title) disappeared into the mounts, taking along a few of the town's less spooky inhabitants. While this thriller finds an easy footing in the supernatural slots of the schedule, make no mistake, it continues to be a drama of grief, recovery and the dilemma of moving on...
Maigret (ITV)(10 of12)
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The top reason for this one making our pick... Rowan Atkinson. The shy comedic actor has proved his hit-making chops over and over again, yet we see surprisingly little of him on our screens. So this was a cunning scoop by ITV bosses, to recruit him as French fictional detective Jules Maigret in two two-hour specials. The character first appeared in print in 1931, and Georges Simenon produced 75 novels starring him in total, so, cross fingers, if all goes well...
The Last Panthers (Sky Atlantic)(11 of12)
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Brand new, original drama starring Samantha Morton, Tahar Rahim and John Hurt, opening with a daring diamond heist before quickly delving into the dark heart of Europe where a shadowy alliance of gangsters and ‘banksters’ now rule. It originated from an idea from celebrated French journalist Jerome Pierrat and the screenplay is written by award winning writer and co-creator Jack Thorne (whose credits include 'Skins' and 'This Is England').
Downton Abbey (ITV)(12 of12)
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Err... did we mention this will be the sixth and final series of Julian Fellowes' world-conquering drama of the classes? Everyone involved is promising things will go out with a bang, romantically speaking, but without some sort of soul-destroying armageddon. As long as Mr Carson and Mrs Hughes finally tie the knot, we'll all be okay...

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