Channel 4 makes Sunday nights worth staying in for with Homeland series three

Court short: Carrie (Claire Danes) feels the strain during a lonely Senate investigation

A few days ago, I was raving (and, admittedly swooning a smidge) over James Spader’s gobsmacking performance in Sky Living’s new American drama The Blacklist, comparing it to slices of TV magnificence such as Breaking Bad and Homeland. My televisual cup runneth over then, as the shiny new third series of the latter series kicked off on Channel 4, bringing some much-needed edge to Sunday nights.

Critics lined up up to have a go at series two, with accusations of shark jumping flying hither and yon, but – simple soul that I am, remember – I loved it. The evolution of that oh-so complicated romance between Carrie and Brody, trying to find out who the hell Quinn was, the fall and rise of Saul – not to mention backstabbing git David Estes being blown to smithereens. Had the writers asked me to suspend my disbelief over the Empire State Building, I’d have happily done it and come back for more, knowing I’d be amply rewarded.

So it goes with the opener for series three, which picks up a few months after the barnstorming events of 0.2. While there’s no sign whatsoever of Brody, there’s still plenty going on. Saul has his hands full running what’s left of the CIA, which the justice system appears to want to dismantle, mainly by making Carrie bear the brunt of a brutal Senate investigation. Of course she doesn’t help herself by not only rolling her eyes in that slightly mad cow way we’ve come to know and love, but also by telling them she believes Brody had nothing to do with the bomb that claimed more than 200 American lives. AND she’s off her lithium. Oopsie.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, so to speak, Saul struggles with his new job as the new director of the CIA (poisoned chalice, anyone?), and finds himself on the sharp end of a mission to take out five different targets spread across the world at the same time in just 20 minutes. Imagine how good he’d be on The Cube?!

By the time the credits roll on episode one, it’s business as usual, with Carrie’s trademark ugly cry getting a dusting off after Saul sticks the knife in, and Dana (who is finally home after staying at a special facility following her suicide attempt) going all American Beauty and stripping off to send topless selfies to her latest bad-boy squeeze. Phew!

Welcome back Homeland. I have SO missed you.

THE WHO, WHAT, WHEN OF IT

WHAT’S IT CALLED?

Homeland

WHEN IS IT ON?

9pm, Sunday, October 6

WHAT CHANNEL?

Channel 4

WHO’S IN IT?

If you don’t know the main stars by now, I’m not telling. But F Murray Abraham puts in another appearance.

WHO SHOULD WATCH IT?

The entire American government. It’d stop them squabbling and give them something constructive to do during the shutdown.

WHO SHOULDN’T WATCH IT?

People who haven’t managed to tune in so far. Trust me, you’ll be completely lost.