I found myself reluctant ever to start watching a series with such a title. I basically despise organizations like the CIA, Homeland Security & the like that operate in deepest obscurity, often way outside the law — let alone the bounds of human decency. Admittedly, this show does glorify the CIA to a certain extent, the basic premise being that the CIA is at least somewhat more ethical than the rest of the terrorists. This, of course, ignores the chicken-&-egg question of whether international terrorism could ever have reached such appalling magnitude were it not for the provocative, often despicable, actions of the CIA, the school of the Americas, Air America & their ilk.
That said, I have to admit this series doesn't gloss over the pervasive moral ambiguity that surrounds the day-to-day operations of this vast secret government. Nor does it shy away from depicting the incompetence, the internal power-jockeying & backstabbing, the questionable compromises with loathsome governments & indefensible transactions with vile individuals that go with the territory. Nor does it depict "the other side" in simplistic black & white terms either.
The well-rounded characters & horrendously complex situations are intriguing (pun originally unintended):
Bipolar Carrie struggles to keep herself together without losing the edge her craziness sometimes lends her when she goes off her meds. Her attempts to break with the CIA & lead a normal life are continually thwarted by her loyalty to old comrades & her innate inability to stand down in the face of imminent terrorist threats.
Carrie's stalwart mentor, Saul, strives to preserve his integrity as he rises within the organization & has to cope with the ever more delusive schemes & convoluted justifications of politicos & bureaucrats vastly distanced from the gritty, often bloody, experience of agents in the field.
Quinn, the professional assassin, struggles to maintain not only his own sense of morality but his basic human decency while frequently committing murder on command.
Brody, the conflicted marine POW, turned by years of torture & brainwashing, tries faithfully to serve his jihadi masters while continually confronted with the suffering he's wreaking on his loving wife & children, not to mention the nation he still holds dear in his heart of hearts.
For characters & plot twists like this, I'm willing to muster the requisite suspension of disbelief. It's a damn good show.
That said, I have to admit this series doesn't gloss over the pervasive moral ambiguity that surrounds the day-to-day operations of this vast secret government. Nor does it shy away from depicting the incompetence, the internal power-jockeying & backstabbing, the questionable compromises with loathsome governments & indefensible transactions with vile individuals that go with the territory. Nor does it depict "the other side" in simplistic black & white terms either.
The well-rounded characters & horrendously complex situations are intriguing (pun originally unintended):
Bipolar Carrie struggles to keep herself together without losing the edge her craziness sometimes lends her when she goes off her meds. Her attempts to break with the CIA & lead a normal life are continually thwarted by her loyalty to old comrades & her innate inability to stand down in the face of imminent terrorist threats.
Carrie's stalwart mentor, Saul, strives to preserve his integrity as he rises within the organization & has to cope with the ever more delusive schemes & convoluted justifications of politicos & bureaucrats vastly distanced from the gritty, often bloody, experience of agents in the field.
Quinn, the professional assassin, struggles to maintain not only his own sense of morality but his basic human decency while frequently committing murder on command.
Brody, the conflicted marine POW, turned by years of torture & brainwashing, tries faithfully to serve his jihadi masters while continually confronted with the suffering he's wreaking on his loving wife & children, not to mention the nation he still holds dear in his heart of hearts.
For characters & plot twists like this, I'm willing to muster the requisite suspension of disbelief. It's a damn good show.