Arts & Entertainment

'NCIS: Romeo & Juliet': Why 'Homeland' Is the New 'Lost'

A look at the difference between what a showrunner wants his show to be and what it actually is.


During a Season 2 post-mortem, 'Homeland' showrunner Alex Gansa spoke of Carrie and Brody as "star-crossed lovers" saying that "even the power of this love between them…is ultimately a curse."

If Twitter is any indication, 'Homeland' fans view the "power" of Carrie and Brody's romance as one of the show's greatest weaknesses. 

Watching Gansa speak, a disconnect becomes clear between what the showrunner wanted his program to be and the actual reasons why a viewer would tune in.

Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A similar situation occurred towards the end of 'Lost''s run. Viewers were asking for questions to be answered and co-showrunners Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse kept saying that they wanted to focus on the interior lives of Matthew Fox and Co.

In a 2010 interview with HitFix, Carlton Cuse said, "Our belief is that the real resolution of the show and the one that matters is what happens to these characters."

Find out what's happening in Milfordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

People weren't watching 'Lost' for the characters. The acting and dialogue on the show was adequate, but what fascinated viewers were the plot lines and narrative leaps being made week after week. There is a difference between spelling things out and simply understanding the appeal of your program. 

All of this is a way of saying that Brody should have died at the end of Season 2. By keeping him alive, Alex Gansa is holding onto the idea of Carrie and Brody as 'star-crossed lovers,' something that doesn't interest many fans of the show.

In the same way that Damon Lindelof thought he was making 'The Sopranos', Gansa seems to be under the impression that he's the showrunner of 'NCIS: Romeo & Juliet'. If Gansa can focus on the work that the CIA needs to do in Season 3, perhaps he can end the series on a respectable note.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here