Prisoners of War

"Prisoners of War" is the series finale of the American television drama series Homeland. It is the twelfth episode of the eighth season and the 96th episode overall. It premiered on Showtime on April 26, 2020. The episode's name is taken from the Israeli series and the series finale from which Homeland is based on. Plot Carrie admits to Saul the deal she made: to give up Saul's Russian asset in exchange for the flight recorder. Carrie makes a plea to Saul for the asset's identity, but Saul refuses on the grounds that the United States' crucial intelligence capabilities in Russia would be eliminated. Carrie administers a paralytic agent to Saul, and signals two GRU operatives to come inside. The operatives place a helpless Saul on the bed and prepare to kill him via lethal injection. Carrie asks Saul for the asset's name one last time. Saul replies "go fuck yourself". With that, Carrie gives up the bluff. Saul is spared, but kept captive while Carrie flies to Israel. In Israel, Carrie tells Saul's sister Dorit that Saul has died of a stroke. It is a ruse, with the aim of enacting Saul's 'legacy plan', in which his valued asset is passed on to Carrie in the event of his death. Indeed, Dorit has an envelope intended for Carrie which contains a USB drive. On the drive is a video in which Saul reveals to Carrie his asset, Anna Pomerantseva (Tatyana Mukha). Carrie shows the video to Yevgeny, who notifies GRU Director Mirov, who is at the U.N. summit with Anna. Saul is able to get a warning to Anna, who kills herself moments before the Russians arrive to take her into custody. Having received the identity of the asset, Russia fulfills its end of the deal. Mirov makes a televised address in which he plays the cockpit recording, proving that President Warner's helicopter was not shot down. He publicly pressures the United States to stand down in Pakistan. President Hayes complies, and nuclear war is averted. Carrie flees to Russia with Yevgeny. Two years later Carrie and Yevgeny, now living together in Moscow, attend a jazz concert to celebrate the completion of Carrie's new book: Tyranny of Secrets: Why I Had to Betray My Country. During a bathroom break, Carrie discreetly swaps purses with another woman.