Israel has
just bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities, but the latest intelligence reports suggest
that only 4 out of 5 plants were taken out of operation. This news is playing
in the background in the opening scenes of the new season of Showtime’s
“Homeland”, the Emmy-winning series that has its origins in an Israeli
television drama.
Each new
episode of “Homeland” is airing in Israel on YES satellite television only days
after being broadcast in the United States, so Israelis are fully up to speed
on bipolar former C.I.A. agent Carrie Mathison and former POW-turned-terrorist
Nicholas Brody. Israelis watching the show will be pleasantly surprised to
recognize some of the settings of the initial episodes of Season Two.
The “Homeland”
production team came to Israel earlier this year, filming some of the scenes with
Jaffa playing the role of Beirut, where the opening action takes place.
According to
one commentator, the portrayal was far from realistic. “Homeland” showed “none
of the bling and the glamour that fairly or unfairly has come to define modern
Lebanon. The cars were those ancient and ropy Mercedes from central casting,
but the reality is that there are probably more Porsche Cayennes per capita in
Beirut than there are in Stuttgart,” wrote Michael Karam in The National (AbuDhabi).
For the keen
observer, the Tel Aviv skyline was visible in the background of at least one
scene, and that is where I spotted the Shalom Tower, appearing just behind
actress Claire Dane’s head.
Based on a
hit Israeli show
“Homeland”
is based on the hit Israeli show “Hatufim” (English title: “Prisoners of
War”), which just started its second season on Israel’s Channel Two. The
original Israeli show focuses on the families of the kidnapped soldiers and
broaches issues of post-traumatic stress disorder, uneasy adjustment, and
lingering suspicions.
The creator
of “Hatufim”, Gideon Raff, teamed up with Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa
(who had previously worked together on the hit show “24”) to develop the
American adaptation of the show.
"Homeland"
swept the 2012 Emmy awards last month when it received recognition as the
Outstanding Drama Series, as well as receiving the Emmy Awards for Outstanding
Lead Actor in a Drama Series and Lead Actress in a Drama Series for Damian
Lewis and Claire Danes respectively.
As for me, I
eagerly await Saturday nights, when each new episode is broadcast in Israel.
What will Carrie Mathison do, now that her suspicions of Nicholas Brody’s real
intentions are proven by undeniable evidence?
Undoubtedly
there will be twists and turns and many surprises in the weeks ahead and I will be along
for the ride.
No comments:
Post a Comment