Homeland fans demand a re-write
The once critically-lauded Homeland has slowly slipped from favour during its six-season run. On Metacritic, a website that aggregates critical reviews and offers average ratings for TV shows, Homeland scored a 92 of 100 for its first season in 2011. That dropped to a 68 for its sixth season, which wrapped up in April.
Now some fans, incensed by what happened in this season’s finale, have taken out a full-page ad to vent their frustration.
The ad, in the form of an open letter, appeared in the Aug. 23 edition of the Hollywood Reporter and took the creative team behind Homeland to task for, among other things, killing off beloved character Peter Quinn, played by Rupert Friend.
“We are a group of passionate Homeland fans representing thousands of aggrieved viewers and fans who have banded together in protest to found #NotOurHomeland,” the ad began.
Quinn was a covert CIA agent who suffered from PTSD, a stroke and drug addiction during the show’s run. He died in a desperate attempt to save fellow agent Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes, and the president-elect, played by Elizabeth Marvel.
The group claimed in the letter to have raised “over $4,000 in support of prominent veterans charity because you refused to honour Peter Quinn.”
“It has been over four months since your sixth season concluded. In the midst of a mass exodus of your most loyal and devoted viewers, we have asked repeatedly for you to address your audience and the unceremonious end to a character that you openly acknowledge was beloved by millions. You have been silent. We are asking again,” the letter stated.
Showrunner Alex Gansa lamented that fans feel this way in a statement to the Hollywood Reporter.
“It is painful to hear that even a small segment of our devoted audience is disappointed in Homeland,” the statement read. “Until now, I have refrained from commenting publicly on the death of Peter Quinn, believing that Rupert Friend’s heart-wrenching performance should speak for itself. I have not changed my view. Suffice to say that I mourn the loss of Peter Quinn as much as anybody and that the character was created not to denigrate but to honour the men and women who devote their lives to keeping America safe. In my eyes, he died a hero.”