First, what we do know: "Homeland" will absolutely be back for a fifth season with a 12 episode run.
Now, what we don't know: everything else.
"Homeland" is rumored to be returning in mid-October though that is still unconfirmed at this point. Fan favorite Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) is said to be heading off to Europe after the show's premiere. Does that mean that his attempt at a relationship with Carrie (Claire Danes) failed? Is Carrie going with him to Europe? WHAT IS GOING ON?!
"The show's always best when it takes a complicated political story and wraps it in a personal story," Showtime President David Nevins said to Variety. "The writers really spent valuable time figuring out what story they wanted to tell."
That quote is the verbal equivalent of hitting the nail on the head. What made the first season of "Homeland" so frenetically scintillating is that international consequences hung in the balance of two messed up individuals fooling around in the most bizarre on-screen relationship TV viewers have seen in a long time. That the shadowy spy game and safety of nations revolved around the heat of passion and deeply personalized self-discovery of two characters made for an interesting twist on your typical political thriller. Fan should undoubtedly be excited that "Homeland" appears to be returning to that format.
Nevins also told Entertainment Weekly that he has not placed any restrictions on the writers and that they can "go right into the teeth" of controversial global issues, though the show may stray away from Islamic-based terrorism next season.
What is really interesting is the International Business Times' unconfirmed claims that season five will introduce Carrie's half-brother while also bringing back Dana Brody (Morgan Saylor). While fans have surely had enough of Dana's well-acted yet poorly written teen angst, bringing in a half-brother for Carrie could introduce a host of new interpersonal obstacles for our protagonist to navigate.
