The Last Ever Scene of Homeland (Season 8, Episode 12) | Netflix

[@762459]

Happiness is when you see Saul smile.

[@4726-i4d]

I finished it 15 minutes ago and I can confirm this.

[@popcornfilms1]

So true

[@blondeepartygirl]

:)

[@anishgb]

Saul : yep this isn't over yet not by a long shot

[@oifgi]

Might be the first time Saul had a good day at work 😂

[@kembageorge5272]

Carrie taking over as Saul’s spy was a perfect ending

[@ayooo454]

yeah thanks for literally saying what happened in the video

[@pierrel.3937]

that was especially a great move since everybody thought she would die at the end

[@Livingthedream17]

Beautiful ending ❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉

[@RedPillTruth2023]

She owed him that much. I felt sad for them both when she betrayed him. Saul was right and she was wrong.

[@alison2161]

She was his spy from the get go

[@kushal4you]

So many people had stopped watching Homeland after Brody's death. They've missed one of the best series finales for any show ever that even surprised the most loyal Homeland fans.

[@dalttyx]

S5/S6 Were so boring 7/8 Really brought it back

[@milhouse14]

Season 4 is good. 5 and 6 are tolerable. 1,2 3, 7 and 8 are great.

[@wtfmarki7708]

@@milhouse14 Season 7 was boring asf wdym lol. 1,2,3,4,5,6,8 was insanely good

[@roninr8199]

@@wtfmarki7708 agree season 7 was boreing especially I am glad that keane resigned 😂😂. Best season was where peter quin goes in assassin mode I think 4.

[@ingridmay66]

best seasons was 1-6

[@sophieholroyd6101]

What a completely perfect & suspenseful ending to such a good series, one of the best ever !!!

[@stillwatchingnetflix]

When I tell you I SCREAMED at this moment.

[@dantevargas]

Perfection!

[@reidflemingworldstoughestm1394]

Suspenseful? It's a dilute cliffhanger setup for another season.

[@rasing5529]

THE best ever

[@thomaswagnerjr9137]

Not many show get to have the "perfect" ending, but damn did it ever!

[@NeetaFacinelli]

I watched this show from the beginning to the end. Never once was I disappointed. One of the best shows ever written. God, how I miss this show😣😭

[@firewire87]

And just as good on the 3rd and 4th watch throughs

[@sallgoodman2323]

Same here. Netflix dropped the final season, and so I'm going through my 5th or 6th playthrough. Alongside 'The Americans", it has to be my top 2 favorite spy shows , and they both left the air with good endings.

[@popcornfilms1]

Same, such an amazing experience with characters and people that stay with us all Man story telling is so powerful

[@popcornfilms1]

@@sallgoodman2323 precisely, endings felt perfect

[@tisyarawat3638]

I loved the show except for the part where quinn dies

[@isaacaugustin2483]

Carrie stood for what she believed till the end!! True loyalty!!!!

[@Joonudschi]

This ending is the icing on the cake, the best finale for the best series I have ever watched. The emotional pull inherent in the relationship between Carrie and Saul makes such an impact on the viewer, due to the brilliant performance of these two actors. Homeland was about this relationship between the two, from beginning to end. I have watched this sequence so many times and I am still in awe how brilliant this twist is.

[@kbuselmeier69]

I am glad someone gets that their relationship was the core of the show. Wish all the people who cry: “after Brody died…whah, what, whah….” would’ve understood that.

[@maryclaremayo6157]

@@kbuselmeier69 And he died in Season 3. FIVE more seasons of intense brilliance after that. I can't imagine missing that.

[@jnnic8138]

Do you think she planned that all along … eg deliberately forming the relation with the Russian guy

[@RedPillTruth2023]

Great ending. But nothing is as good as the last 5 minutes of “Six feet under”

[@RedPillTruth2023]

@@kbuselmeier69I never cared for Brody. I don’t get why people liked him at all. He was horrible. As Saul said “this is a man who put on a suicide vest”

[@coolruler8856]

The look of surprise on Saul face after thinking that Carrie did the unthinkable was awesome . Love the ending especially the song by Kamasi Washington entitled Truth .

[@SuyashSharma8]

It has been around 1 yr but I still hadn't able to forget this ending

[@bongboyz6468]

It's so damn good

[@freshbeanne]

Same!

[@JustBeingAwesome]

so satisfying. have rewatched the last bit of the episode several times

[@pedromoreno4746]

Flawless ending. Perfect in my opinion. Brilliant.

[@samanthamagadan662]

I am in tears every single time I see this ending. It was perfect.

[@sherriebenson356]

Yes it did not disappoint! Loved how they wrapped it up in just one episode! I will miss this show immensely 😢

[@byronmcdonald6613]

This show was about as real as real gets. I held onto every word because I didn’t want to miss anything. I list it as one of the greatest shows ever

[@vyomps]

Homeland is hands down the best show I have watched and the only show which retained high quality and and interesting plot for so many seasons. Only show I have watched which was still worth watching after season 5. I will miss Homeland

[@andrejissitt1635]

I'm glad the show ended with them being on good terms. Thank you Homeland

[@mr.orange5258]

I'm glad it ended with Carrie having at least one friend still alive ... Quinn, Max, everybody else gone ... Jeez

[@jakep1979]

@Jax Teller There is almost no such thing as a retired spy

[@issacchelsea8122]

@@jakep1979 Just like Putin said there's no such thing as an Ex KGB man.

[@rebecca8958]

@@mr.orange5258 Virgil is still alive :)

[@ayooo454]

@@rebecca8958 btw i missed it, where'd he go? i think i haven't seen him since ~season 6

[@michbee2074]

What will I do with my life now that Homeland is over?! This series got me through a Masters degree. I cannot even tell you how many times I rewatched entire seasons. Best series EVER.

[@DibsPhotography]

Same here, discovered it during my MA, but only just watched season 8

[@roninr8199]

Some seasons were boreing and I don't think it's over. Season 9 is coming.

[@22LEKI]

Get em, professor!

[@Stanleyukwuomaofficial_]

Where did you watch it? Because I couldn’t even find it in Netflix🤷🏾‍♂️

[@MrPolicekarim]

@@Stanleyukwuomaofficial_ Choose season 7 last episode then click on next episode button!

[@panamalee]

There have been a lot of great series that ended so bad, BUT this one, PERFECT!!!

[@justmexoxo.]

Damn, just finished the Show here in Germany after 8 years. Started in my 20s and finished in my 30s. What a beautiful, surprising ending. Truly one of the best Shows ever made on this planet. Congrats to everybody involved and thanks for the good time. Sehr gut! ❤️

[@ibraheemcarguy]

You must've enjoyed season 5

[@jameszettelmeyer291]

One of the best finales' ive ever seen. We watched her struggle with bi-polar syndrome the entire series and it was such a huge part of her character. So becoming a double agent was perfect, almost like that was always what she was meant to do. Her smile at the end is genuine, like she was finally comfortable in her own skin now that she can actually BE two different people at the same time. Perfect.

[@rositamaskita697]

Brilliant underrated comment

[@FXTD1792]

I binge-watched 8 seasons in approximately 3 weeks. Trust me there's never been a show, which could hold up to its quality of writing, directing, and acting for 8 straight seasons as Homeland does. What a show!! What an end!

[@tirame001]

You’ve clearly never seen or heard of three’s company.

[@HemanParkFilms]

@@tirame001 🤣😂

[@JustBeingAwesome]

same :)

[@shubham_dalvi]

Same bhava

[@daisyninochka]

i should rewatch it one after another!

[@matkodoris9099]

Carrie Mathison is the absolute patriot. She puts not only her life, but her entire existence, on the line in order to serve her country.

[@CheerfullyCynical829]

And it's also because she is just not built for a normal life with a nice husband and cute kids. If she can't be an intelligence officer/spy, she may as well jump off a cliff. Her job defines her existence and she lives and breathes it.

[@jonesisabela480]

The best ending for one of the best series ever. Eat your heart out Game of Thrones.

[@duffelbag1127]

This was possibly the best series finale in the best final season of any series in the modern era.

[@Mr79Shahin]

I like the fact that the ending brings it back to probably the most pertinent theme of the show - i.e., relationships. I’m glad also that Saul and Carrie’s relationship is mended and that it was a happy ending of sorts, even though Carrie made an immense sacrifice in giving up being with Franny.

[@VampageRampage]

His words, “The only important thing in life is the relationships we have with the people we trust.” And at the end, she proved she always was just that...

[@carlamarlene2927]

She trusted her sister with the truth about hersrlf

[@carlamarlene2927]

@Jax Teller because she is now Saul's asset

[@VampageRampage]

@Jax Teller It’s not a happy ending per say but it’s one that resolves all prior conflicts. She reversed game theory at the end after so many seasons of them hinting at it with her. Even the agency itself was so sure that after all they’d worked for she’d forgotten why she was doing it and her being the best at doing her job became the only reason she was still doing it for a few seasons. Everyone was sure she was now working for the Russians for the same reason since the agency was gradually burning her more and more and when Saul got that message at the very end she revealed she’d really done it all for the agency sacrificing her own life and identity to do so even if everyone in the world thought she was a traitor but the very head of the agency itself. It was the only way she could find a way to ask for Saul’s forgiveness, if she couldn’t find him a new asset in Russia she’d become the new assets herself and she did.

[@PerfumedByTheSea]

Totally miss Carrie and Saul. Such strong characters and acting. Would take a lot for anything to come as close as being this good.

[@kwaneledlungele9058]

For me homeland is the best series America ever made i fell in love with it from the 1st episode. Thank you for giving your best performance homeland family 👪. Am forever grateful to in your era.

[@ingridmay66]

Carrie and Saul, they’re both like some kind of vampires. I can't stand them

[@nseudo-imeh6260]

They r so natural,feels so real

[@DibsPhotography]

One of the best things I have ever watched. Think this will be watched again at some point in the future.

[@Okkara-q3b]

Actress Claire Danes saw the parallels between Brody and Mathison in the first and last season. "It's kind of poetic for her to be in this position," she said. “And both are pushed to the limit of their moral integrity and patriotism, and both, in the end, do the right thing, in the same way that Brody doesn't explode himself and everyone else, and gets very close. Now Carrie and Brody are driven by the same motivating principle: they are patriots. Brody has become a twisted version of this, and the same goes for Carrie. "

[@dodieisonfire]

Brody pushed the button but the IED didn't work..

[@Okkara-q3b]

@@dodieisonfire The authors decided that If the button had been working, the show would not have the same impact by continuing to show such complex characters.

[@DDT-ei7bh]

I can see how deep the parallels go even though they're not exact. Carrie choosing between Saul and his asset like Brody choosing between Carrie and Walden. Carrie chose to kill the asset just as Brody killed Walden. Her book with the hidden intel just like Brody's confession and the SD card. They essentially ended at Walden's memorial, not showing how that intel will be used. It's a Russian missile defense system, but it was sold to Iran and Turkey.

[@mikeoneill91]

This show. THIS. FUCKIN. SHOW. Between the shocking twists, brilliantly acted by some of the heaviest hitters in the game, to the emotional segments that had us viewers choking back tears. Not to mention the countless moments of terror as we watched through hands half-blocking our view/half holding up our faces so we wouldn’t miss a single second. And then this ending? This perfect, appropriate and relatable ending that we all didn’t even know we wanted. Homeland will sit beside some of the best in TV, film and performance forever and THAT is what you call immortality. So proud to have been a part of this wild ride.

[@ALLUMSL09]

For the last eight weekends, I’ve watched every episode!! This show is best ever and I’m so glad I have the first two seasons on dvd !!

[@neilperrin1871]

One of the finest dramas ever made.. Truly brilliant.

[@barrymatthews9686]

I've been watching this every day for the last 3 months got to say homeland is one of the best series I've ever watched ,just love this scene

[@BetZeBait]

Another point to notice - the opening into has always been that disharmonious, stressful jazz melody. The final scene plays a beautifully orchestrated peaceful jazz concert - Carrie has found peace.

[@QueerlyBeloved386]

I used to call the opening theme the soundtrack of my nervous breakdown. Nice that caught how the music finally came together

[@jonathandjing1065]

I just finished watching it 😭 what an amazing show !! I rewatch like 10 times his smile ! He was super hurt by Carrie, I am glad to know he ended up happy in the show 😊

[@banningwang8821]

Good acting , Mandy

[@UbiquitouslyOpinionatedMe]

The ending was a masterpiece!!!!!! Loved it!!!

[@isaacaugustin2483]

I say it all the time .. this by far was the best ending of any show I have ever watched .. some can’t hang on through all the seasons and gave up on a masterpiece that requires attrition…

[@Nonaggress]

...how many other shows have you watched to completion?

[@janm9610]

We just finished binge watching 8 seasons oh homeland in 2022. Started to watch when hubby and I got covid . What an excellent series, excellent writing. Perfect last scene, hate to say closure.

[@smeade96]

I'm glad I stuck with this amazing series after Season 3. Did not regret it one fucking bit. What a fucking journey. Brilliant ending.

[@adg.4700]

The best series I've ever watched. Truly a masterpiece! 🎉

[@adg.4700]

@Jax Teller Read your comment again, mister! 😅

[@fanofcanes44]

That's our Carrie, she and Saul took us on such an incredible journey, hope it continues soon . stay safe in 2021

[@steelrain91]

From the very first, to the very last, Homeland never had a bad episode. Claire played Carrie to perfection and this show was the best. Brody dying sucked, but they kept him alive throughout the show. And you always wondered if he maybe was still alive. But this finale, was insane! Compared to the sopranos, this one killed it!

[@Okkara-q3b]

2:14 “If you play with me, you lose everything, if I play with you, you fall down." In the end he liked to be bittersweet, although very unreal. I don't think Carrie has changed. Yes, she is playing a role (as lover / girlfriend) of Yevgeny, now she is even more determined to do her job as Saul's heritage. The show hurt Yevgeny a lot. He's as good a spy as Carrie and I don't think the "romance" would blind him to the point that he didn't suspect anything about Carrie and what she might be doing. I think this is as real as Max's return after season 8! Yes, and that's the point ... it's the whole reason why Carrie had to do the most in-depth coverage of how to write the book. The writers came and went on how they could create a reason for Yevgeny to trust her (including Carrie being pregnant with her child). Carrie writing a book destroying the CIA and the USA was what they chose because it lowered the guard of the GRU officer. ↳ “[The wall is] much more ordered! Carrie’s got it together a bit. It was patterned after my office. Most of the books were my books - all the C.I.A. source material, the spy literature, the whole nine yards. And there is just a litany of our overreaction to 9/11 on the wall. It ain’t a pretty picture.” -Alex Gansa A comment by Linka Glatter on Carrie's End (S8E12): "She may be the happiest we've ever seen, even though she's living a lie - that's the irony of it." What does that mean? The lie is Carrie still spying for America (or Saul, whatever). I think most people would imagine a person “living a lie” is not that happy, now Carrie is. For example, compare how life horribel Brody was in seasons one and two living a life that was a lie.

[@alf2633]

Absolutely phenomenal ending. I literally couldn't stop saying 'wow' out loud to my partner. Homeland will always be one of my absolute favourite shows.

[@NWRsk]

Homeland. A perfect series. Period.

[@elizabethsuavillo6071]

what a story, so realistic ever.i love it

[@jbulanier]

Entertaining but not realistic. One of the best series ever.

[@peterd788]

@@jbulanier It's way up there in the top 10 most unrealistic shows ever but very good once you accept its deranged world.

[@aftabmohammedify]

One of the finest endings to an espionage TV series. By far the best. The complexities of relationships, decision making, the unsaid rules of engagement. Amazing series. Have missed it since it ended.

[@xVehro]

We just finished it 😭😭😭 what an marvellous piece of work!

[@aacr9865]

Perfect ending for this epic series. Gonna miss my favourite spy Carrie!

[@aleochi1990]

That was the best and most consistent TV show that I ever had the chance to watch. From beginning to end, true to the script and honest with the characters. Very well-written, directed, and performed. To imagine that so many things happened and were added to the plot throughout 8 years, yet they managed to have a finale like that, is super cool.

[@daisyc8374]

This show did not disappoint! will watch all over again 😊👏

[@larryg5698]

Homeland is one of the Rare TV Shows that never lost its fastball . The twists & turns the intrigue never dissipated from the premiere to the finale

[@sairavikiranyelchuri2413]

One of the best series I have watched . How come it did nt get the reception it deserved.

[@TitusJudah]

Not sure what you mean by that. It was ranted and raved about season after season. 8 Emmys, 5 GGs, a SAG and a dozen other awards (35 in all) through it's lifespan.

[@recentral48]

This was my favorite ending to any show I have watched recently. Ugh, so good! Can't believe it's over...

[@lautyS97]

I stopped watching Homeland after Brody's murder. Today, August 27, 2023, after several years I began to look at the remaining seasons that were missing and I have just finished. I can say that it is one of the best series I saw, and I even dare to say that it is in the top 10 of the history. Absolutely phenomenal, from primary to secondary characters, script, music, clothing, etc. Recommended to anyone who likes this type of plots.

[@kathleenwood3270]

Great series, superb finish! Excellent acting, outstanding writing. Carrie and Saul were one of the finest series pairs!

[@himaladesilva94]

Seconded ❤

[@My_dailyL1fe]

One of the best shows I've ever watched and I damn sure binged it all of it in a row

[@mauriciojordan471]

an iconic show with truly masterful performances, directing, cinematography, and writing.

[@robertbaker837]

I think season one was the best single season of any show ever. The ending of that season? Wow. Season two was great too. As was the series ending. This ending was fantastic. Saul's mischievous smile. The jazz. Just perfect. Pretty hit and miss in the middle though. Glad I stuck through it.

[@delrey874]

Probably one of the best endings ever.

[@michaelcasey5155]

Homeland....one of the best ever TV series. The best ending of all !

[@g00d2say]

In the end the show came full circle!! The end is the beginning, the beginning is the end♥️

[@snputri]

Watching some series with really long seasons, got to say ending that put a perfect nail in the story so far are House and Homeland. Many series after season 3 or 4 usually stray a lot from the main plot and fail its characters to grow

[@veronicacorningstone8059]

hands down one of the beat series ever made. dynamic, explosive, clever and consistent in each season.

[@vanhenry5614]

Just binge watched all 8 seasons. What a great finale!

[@kathyhays2516]

Cinema imitating life...an outstanding series and amazing actors

[@abelromero8967]

The song is "Truth" by Kamasi Washington. What a beautiful and fitting way to end the series.

[@theremorse6280]

I specifically came to the comments section to find this information. Thank you.

[@sageforrest4744]

the best thing about this series (not the best obvs but amazing) was young saul - the similarities to older saul were crazy. from the voice to the eyes and eyebrows and speech that was so cool

[@RealAadilFarooqui]

I can say that I've been a very faithful fan of this series for whole 9 Years, and I loved every minute of it, like I kinda lived it. So yeah, The Ending? truly shattered me when I actually realized, it has ended.

[@romanking3590]

Perfect. Just perfect. Perfect to every minute detail . Thank you Homeland for giving us the best ending.

[@kernmatthews2370]

One of the best series drama of all time no doubt

[@cydonianmomentum3268]

My goodness! That was the best closure I could have hoped for this season! Bravo. Just bravo.

[@carlamarlene2927]

This was a good series. I binged it in a couple of days with lots of coffee. I LOVED Peter Quinn. He reminded me of Tom Clancy's John Clark. Oh and Max? Loved that guy.

[@normadamous]

I was so sad to lose quinn and max! Peter was such a great character. When he was at his low drunk and living in that hotel and later when he was poisoned I felt so much pain with him. Same thing with max when Sarah was killed

[@issacchelsea8122]

Would you be kind to recommend any Tom Clancy's spy series to me?

[@carlamarlene2927]

@@issacchelsea8122 Without Remorse tells the story of John Clark who ends up being BFF to Jack Ryan. The movies jump around but clear and present danger, hunt for red October, sum of all fears, patriot games. Some of the later books are on audio. They are really good too. They are the actual book. Good stuff

[@carlamarlene2927]

@@issacchelsea8122 and I wouldn't say tom Clancy does spy series as deterring catastrophes

[@hypersphere]

Couple days! Wow. That's 96 hours of episodes..

[@linobarzoni9587]

Best serie ever! Final episode is breathtaking

[@lorenafg8623]

I love Homeland and I love Carrie. Thanks for so much.

[@mikeyinperson9569]

I've watch the whole series 3 times already. And for the love of god!!! Bring back HOMELAND to us fans!!!

[@ishcoolpreet]

brilliant series!! Was hooked from start to end. What a fine actor♥️♥️♥️♥️

[@jbkg7113]

I thought he was snorting a line 😂 only reason I clicked

[@le.na.]

😂😂😂

[@herbiee22]

Binge watching this through the lockdown has been intense. I dont know how It was possible to wait for the next episode as we had to week by week when it was playing on TV originally. It should only be watched continously to get the best out of the intensity and momentum of it all. There was so much that I had forgotten after watching it first time around when it aired weekly. It ended in a good place. But I do want more. I can see that it ended whilst the going was good and at the top. Coincidentally I watched the last 1.5 episodes on a Sunday night - it was fitting as it always aired on a Sunday night in the UK. The ending and all possible permeatations.can be discussed at length but there is no point. It was a fantastic series, and as with the best things in life it leaves you wanting more.... Perhaps in an alternative universe on thier series of Homeland - the Russian meets with the same end as all the men in Carrie's life...

[@kevinleung5696]

One of the very few shows where each proceeding season gets better than the last

[@carlnardyt]

a perfect ending to an incredible show.

[@danielbanks]

Thumbnail looks like he is doing something else alltogether!

[@markg4228]

Knowing carry didn't betray Saul and him finding out makes a grown man cry

[@entityrocknrolla]

I've watched Season 3, 4, 7 and 8 constantly over and over on days that I start missing the series.

[@itsinthetreesitscoming7431]

Relentlessly brilliant show.

[@VampageRampage]

(1:53)-🫢 (2:06)-😧…🤔…😌😏🫡 (2:15)-👩🏼🎷 When I see Saul smile his rare ‘happy smile’ instead of his ‘usual smirk’@(2:24)🥲🤧

[@HemalRathod]

One of the best series

[@KingKiaXXVII]

best series ever. hands down

[@anshupandya3494]

One of the best shows... Carrie Mathison and people like her, the Hero America don't deserve. I just look at today's situation in Afghanistan and can't stop thinking about it in the terms of how would Saul handle the situation... Man I watched too much of this show

[@BVaxter]

As soon as I saw those planes and those Afghans running around it I said to myself "If only Presisent Biden had Saul and Carrie over there!!!

[@dianastevenson131]

Season 8 was uncanny in its predictions on Afghanistan.

[@tanima_ghosh]

Literally the perfect ending. I love Saul's character more than anything in this show.

[@DMDvideo10]

Great series all around.

[@MarkBanks77]

One of the greatest shows of all-time! 👏

[@freshbeanne]

The best. I miss Homeland but they left it in a great way ❤

[@Okkara-q3b]

Do you think the book “Tyranny of Secrets” by Drone Queen will help efficiently in this? My head canon is Carrie attempted to set the record straight in her book, to a limit. I don’t think she revealed that he is Franny’s father and I also don’t think she revealed too much that would damage her credibility. I do think she used the CIA’s treatment of him and complete mishandling of ~the Brody situation~ in S1-3 as ammunition in her (presumed) indictment of the organization. Carrie’s eyes, in addition to the love of his life. She contributed to his redemption (and death) in equal proportion to what he himself contributed to it. In reality, Marine One's redemption is spiritual. He sacrificed himself for what he believed: Dana, Carrie and the USA. Except that Javadi with an impressive insight (even because he barely knew Brody and Carrie), takes her motivation out of the hat. She had gotten what she wanted, "everyone" saw Brody with her eyes. And that motivation was true from the beginning when she saw him as a terrorist, and then when she started to see him as a hero.

[@jjboyd01]

I miss Saul's "I gotta get somewhere" strut.

[@rossstewart9994]

Homeland was a awesome series and great cast

[@alanlynchireland1590]

Wish this was still being made, one of the best

[@andrewjarvis7777]

The last season is so incredibly relevant right now. People that quit this show for whatever reason so missed out.

[@shanecadden5303]

The song at the end Truth by K Washington is lovely and so appropriate for show and Carrie. Excellent choice. Solid and sound finally. Carrie full circle.

[@melissr3441]

Loveddddd this show and AGREED the best and most fitting finale to a series and a great character ever!!!!!

[@KhalDrogo76]

As was said many times in this show and the viewer, myself included, would often forget......it's all about the long game.

[@bobbin321]

One of my favourite show finales ever.

[@Okkara-q3b]

Season 8 Carrie. I don’t really have any evidence to support this, now I can't shake the idea that Carrie's behaviour throughout S8 is partly driven by an underlying, and largely unconscious urge to find a way out of her former life. It's almost as if she's shaped the events to fit this plan, as if the mission was an excuse to leave everything behind. Like she says “I dug this gigantic hole and I can’t see a way out”. She put herself in that hole, when she could have made very different... ... different choices to accomplish her mission. I mean, the relative ease with which she burns all her bridges, her willingness to turn to Yevgeny rather than her own side… at every pivotal moment, she goes headfirst for the “wrong” decision, the one that takes her further away from the prospect of returning home. You’re not overthinking it or seeing things that aren’t there. I think you’re largely correct and said as much in a post: "Carrie is not a compulsive liar and I don’t think she was lying to Franny in “Clarity.” I really do believe she thought she’d be back eventually. There is no way, sitting at Maggie’s kitchen counter, that she thought she was saying goodbye to Franny forever. The transition to her being “all in” is interesting and to be honest I’ve never considered what might have changed except that Carrie is a woman who believes she could have personally prevented 9/11 and she is trying to atone for being the “useful idiot” and she’s also impulsive and doesn’t think through the consequences of her decisions before making them. And, if I’m being honest, it’s also probably this: Carrie was able to maintain a semblance of dignity with that custody agreement and Saul more or less gives her an easy way out, too. She’s not “giving up Franny, her child,” she’s “going to go save American democracy.” This is why “Clarity” is such an effective ending for the Carrie/Franny saga. At the same time, Carrie feels shame in her failure to be an adequate mother to Franny, even though it was never something she wanted to be adequate at to begin with. Might she have offered herself up as a sacrificial lamb in order to say that she couldn’t be there because she was doing something truly heroic? If she couldn’t be a mother, at least she could be a hero. Might she have meandered along later in Afghanistan because to return to America, to the vicinity of her child, whom she could not be near, would be too great a pain for Carrie to bear (in all conceivable ways)? Carrie’s decision to abandon Franny is both selfish and selfless and that paradox is the reason it was so maddening to watch that relationship over the years. " That said, I think it’s a mistake to say that it was all a long con or premeditated plan - at least consciously. It was, as you say, her own proclivity to make the choice that would lead her further from her past life and the possibility of returning home, and when you add up all those choices it amounts to her having burned down her old life.