The Smile

"The Smile" is the second-season premiere episode of the American television drama series Homeland, and the 13th episode overall. It originally aired on Showtime on September 30, 2012. The episode drew a series high rating of 1.73 million viewers, up 60% from its series premiere, and received a total of 2.07 million viewers with repeat viewing that same night. Plot Set roughly six months after the events of the Season 1 finale, the episode opens with news of major unrest in the Middle East as Israel has bombed nuclear facilities in Iran, with Iran vowing retaliation. The Central Intelligence Agency is approached by a former asset, Fatima Ali (Clara Khoury), who is a wife of a Hezbollah district commander. She says she has information on an imminent attack on America. However, she refuses to talk to anyone but her former handler, Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes). Carrie, now working as an ESL teacher, receives a surprise visit from Galvez (Hrach Titizian) while she is teaching a class. Galvez is there on behalf of Estes (David Harewood), who wants to talk with Carrie, but she refuses. The next plea comes from Saul (Mandy Patinkin) on the phone that night. Unable to say no to Saul, she relents and listens to what Estes has to say. Estes explains to Carrie that one of her assets has resurfaced with vital information, and that he is asking Carrie to briefly go to Lebanon to find out what the asset knows. Carrie is still hostile towards Estes and bitter over how she was drummed out of the CIA, but nonetheless agrees to the trip.