The problem with main characters is that there’s so much pressure placed on them to be likable. 

Sometimes the added pressure works in a character's favor, but other times, the extra attention turns what could have been an admirable lead into one that either falls flat or appears too overdeveloped. 

That's rarely the case with sidekicks as they are quite literally created with the intention of propping up said main character

Now, that isn't to say the role of a sidekick is easy; their job is especially difficult as they bear a handful of responsibilities. They’re known as supporting and secondary characters that assist the main character, break the ice in tense situations using comedic relief, give advice, and clean up messes. 

They also have the ability to raise the stakes of a show without outshining the lead. 

Except here’s the thing — many of the sidekicks listed here do just that. 

Actors who portray sidekicks have the ability to play with a role and make it their own often leading to a character that resonates with audiences in more significant ways than the main character. 

More often than not, the secondary characters become much more than just "sidekicks."

Gone are the days when they weren't supposed to have a life outside of the protagonist’s plot. Now, they take on lives of their own with backstories, flaws, conflicts, and successes.

They are so vital to the success of a show, in fact, that there’s a whole award show category dedicated to “supporting actors.”

The truth is, without the sidekick, the main character — no matter how great — is incomplete.

And every true TV fan knows that main characters are only as great as the sidekicks that they surround themselves with. 

We’re taking a look at some memorable sidekicks who have etched their way into our hearts and inevitably, and sometimes unintentionally, elevated the show to greater heights. 

There are so many different types of sidekicks, but one of the most common ones is the brains behind the operation. 

These sidekicks act as a foil by being filling a void left behind by the main character and possessing characteristics that the lead lacks. 

One of my personal favorite sidekicks and admittedly, the one that inspired this piece, is Susie on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 

There would be no Mrs. Maisel without Susie Meyerson (Alex Borstein).

She helped discover Midge’s talent, she held her hand throughout the whole process, she groomed her from dinky club act to main stage performer, she vouched for her and stuck her neck out for her, and she continues to champion her in a male-dominated industry.

Their friendship and partnership carries the series, and while Midge may be the talent, she likely wouldn’t have gotten this far without the perseverance of her manager. 

Revenge’s Nolan (Gabriel Mann) completes Emily Thorne/Amanda Clarke and is the reason why her intricate revenge plot never fell apart.

Emily/ Amanda wouldn’t have been able to accomplish half of what she did without his hacker expertise.

Nolan was eager and willing to help, he had no problem breaking the rules, and he did whatever Emily/Amanda wanted without question. And when he did ask questions, she trusted him enough to tell him the truth.

Nolan promised Emily/Amanda’s father that he would protect her no matter what, and not once did he stray from that promise. 

Their bond was unbreakable; Nolan would risk his life for that girl in a heartbeat. 

Sidekicks are oftentimes loyal to a fault because of the friendships that they’ve built up with the lead. 

Another example is Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) on Homeland, who remained loyal and true to Carrie until the very end.

In cliche terms, he was quite literally her “ride or die.” He was equally as compelling, and some would say, far more likable than Carrie as he radiated a quiet, stoic, strong presence.

There are times where sidekicks may be responsible for choices that put the main character on the right path.

This happens with Evan Lawson (Paulo Costanzo) from Royal Pains. Without Evan, the lead character, Hank, wouldn't have become a concierge doctor in the Hamptons. He is directly responsible for helping kickstart the business and finding the clients. 

Many sidekicks complete and even complement the main character while also carving their own path.  

Mo (Alex Newell) from Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist is Zoey’s neighbor and a fan-favorite that, dare I say, is liked more than Zoey at times. 

On the surface, the gender nonconforming sidekick is witty and fun and gives magical advice, but the character's strengths lie in the moments when the series embraces deeper issues of faith and sexuality. 

Not all sidekicks take themselves seriously. One of the most common secondary characters is the jokester that provides comedic relief with witty one-liners and zingers.

However, even a “funny” sidekick can steal the spotlight if done right.

Niles (Daniel Davis) from The Nanny was a butler who worked for the Sheffield family, but he’s revered for his snarky (and sometimes borderline cruel) comments towards C.C. Babcock.

His motivations come from a place of loyalty to not only the family but to the nanny named Fran. 

It’s that protective and kind attitude that morphs him into one of the best characters on the series, though, we’d be lying if we said we weren’t also fans of the manipulative and diabolical attitude. 

For nearly 30 years, DJ Tanner’s sidekick has been Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), the outlandish and wacky neighbor whose spirit perfectly compliments the straight-laced eldest Tanner daughter. 

Through her eccentric personality, Kimmy has given more than just laughs, she’s provided the assurance that it’s okay to be different; she’s become the spirit animal of so many fans. 

While she may be the butt of the joke, she’s also kindhearted, a good friend, and loyal to a fault. The Tanner family couldn’t live without her and neither could audiences. 

In fact, she weaseled her way into fans’ hearts and became such a staple in the series that when Netflix rebooted the series, she secured a leading lady spot next to DJ and youngest sister, Stephanie Tanner.

Eric from Sex Education is hilarious, relatable, and comfortable in his own skin for the most part, which has made him a fan-favorite since the beginning.

A role that could have easily been one-dimensional became larger than, life thanks to Ncuti Gatwa’s portrayal and nuances.

Instead of being just comic relief, we see him struggle with many aspects of his life, including his identity as it intersects with his religion, his strict upbringing, and his heritage. 

Stevie (Emily Hampshire) on Schitt's Creek started off as a snarky, can’t-be-bothered motel front-desk receptionist, but as the show progresses, she often brings more to the table than either of the Rose siblings.

While she’s still as blunt and sarcastic as ever, she’s become family as she looks out for the Rose's and takes them under her wing.

She’s given the opportunity to shine on her own, which Hampshire utilizes to the fullest, giving audiences a deeper exploration of her character arc.  

There are some sidekicks that are polar opposites of the main character, thus allowing for different perspectives and experiences the lead wouldn't otherwise have.

Shawn Hunter (Rider Strong) on Boy Meets World was Cory’s best friend, but he couldn’t be more different than Cory; they were from two different sides of the track.

And yet, many fans loved and related to Shawn significantly more than they did to Cory.

Without Shawn and his antics, his angst, his popularity, and his bad boy with a heart of gold vibe, Cory wouldn't have experienced all of life's adventures or learned necessary lessons. 

On Gilmore Girls, Paris Gellar (Liza Weil) is so smart that she's overbearing and intimidating most of the time, which tends to scare people away.

However, Rory stuck around even though the friendship was highly competitive at first, and eventually, their dynamic settled into a real friendship.

Though their personalities contrasted —  Rory was sweet, genuinely nice, and introverted while Paris was an overachiever and a little neurotic — they were a good balance for each other. 

Paris even admitted that Rory is the only one who always listens to her and challenges her. 

Maria DeLuca (Majandra Delfino) on the original Roswell was a lovable, quirky, and funny contrast to Liz. While she balanced her out well, she often stole the spotlight when she was in scenes.

It’s hard to imagine scenes without her, and the friendship they developed was a pivotal aspect of the series that carried it sometimes more than any of the romantic relationships. 

Some sidekicks can’t help but steal the spotlight anytime they’re on-screen like Riggins (Taylor Kitsch) on Friday Night Lights. 

It was obvious that Jason was supposed to be more of the lead in the first season while Riggins was set up as the stock lovable screw-up best friend. However, Riggins was often more compelling and overshadowed Jason right down to his chemistry with Jason's girlfriend. 

When you think of “scene-stealers,” Rogelio de la Vega on Jane the Virgin always comes to mind. Debates about whether or not Jane was a worthy protagonist are aplenty, but the one thing everyone always agrees on is that Rogelio was the star of the show.

Why? Because he did such a great job convincing you of it. 

He infused every scene with passion, drama, narcissism, and charm that became synonymous with his character. Jaime Camil didn’t just create a character, he created a world for his character to exist in that other characters, including the lead, visited occasionally.

He even offered a new vision of manhood as he tore down toxic masculinity and got in touch with his feminine and vulnerable side. 

Petra Solano (Yael Groblas) would be a close second simply for giving her character so much range and depth. Despite her flaws and misdeeds, which at times were ridiculously over the top, you connected with her and wanted to like her. 

Even smaller sidekicks can make a big impact. 

Andrew (Adam Capriolo) is the unsung hero on The Bold Type despite being a minor character. 

In fact, fans love him so much that his presence on The Bold Type Season 4 has been increased, and his character has been given a subplot that takes him from Jacqueline’s nervewracking assistant by day to confident drag performer by night.

The shade he throws in his calculated and perfectly-timed one-liners is unmatched and easily provides some of the best moments in an episode.  

Occasionally, sidekicks start off as an enemy but gain a protagonist’s trust by building up loyalty, much like Ruth Langmore (Julia Garner) on Ozark. 

The foul-mouthed and trash-talking teen is incredibly perceptive. Her character is intimidating, strong, and resourceful, but it’s the vulnerability that she’s weaved in under all of that which makes her performance explosive and suspenseful. 

Marty draws praise for his ability to navigate any situation swiftly and calmly, sure, but Ruth has proven that she can keep up without skipping a beat due to survival instinct, and that spontaneity keeps catching you off guard even when you think you’ve got her figured out. 

And finally, we get to the ensemble sidekicks, usually found in superhero shows or thriller dramas. 

In fact, when I first said the term “sidekick,” I bet your brain immediately darted to the CW shows.

And for good reason. Supergirl relies on a whole team of intelligent beings to help her defeat the bad guys and protect the city. 

She may be the woman of steel, but she needs the help of her super squad to mitigate destruction at every turn. 

The team rushes into action to fight alongside her for the greater good even taking on their own superhero personas, including James Olsen’s “The Guardian” and Nia Nal’s “Dreamer.”

However, Winn Schott (Jeremy Jordan) stands out from the crop of characters because he’s the original sidekick.

His character development took him from the geeky co-worker in love with Kara to the tech-whiz who made her first suit at the DEO to the one who embraces his inner-superhero and travels to the future to save Earth. 

He’s overcome so much and gained confidence thanks to the support of his friends, which made him a fan-favorite even long after he left the show. 

You would think Batwoman would have been the star of her own show, but fans didn’t gravitate towards Kate Kane (Ruby Rose) as much as they did to her posse. 

Instead, Batwoman Season 1 found its saving grace in her sidekicks, Luke (Camrus Johnson) and Mary (Nicole Kang), with the latter winning over the hearts of audiences.

Mary is multifaceted compared to Kate. On the surface, she’s a vain and bubbly socialite, but the more you get to know her, the more you realize she’s also hiding under a mask. 

The writers flipped the classic “social media influencer” trope making Mary not only a loyal and good sister (even when Kate doesn’t deserve it), but also a selfless medical student who helps those who are turned away by a corrupt system created by her own family.

The subtlety in Kang’s performance is the show’s sweet spot and the glue keeping audiences tuning in every week. 

On Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 4 Episode 4, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) said what we were all thinking: “I’m not your sidekick.”

Technically, Willow was Buffy’s right-hand gal, but she evolved into her own character that took her from a nerdy introvert to a powerful witch. 

While Buffy needed the whole Scooby Gang to battle all the supernatural forces of evil in Sunnydale, the series became about the group's journey just as much as it was about hers. And Willow’s skills made her stand out as an integral part of the team and one who later battled her own demons. 

On Scandal, Olivia Pope was the boss, but when she slipped up and forgot to put on her white hat, her Gladiators kept her accountable and stepped in to “handle it.”

While Abby (Darby Stanchfield) was the most loyal and consistent sidekick, everyone on the team brought something unique to the table that was needed to help spin stories, rig elections, and clean dirty political messes. 

On Money Heist, the merry band of robbers need the Professor as much as he needs them. They've established an unspoken agreement — they risk their lives for him, and he does everything in his power to protect them and help them escape safely.

Berlin (Pedro Alonso) stands out amid the gang as the Professor’s half-brother, who takes on a leadership role throughout the first two seasons and dedicates himself wholeheartedly to the plan. 

The Professor is the mastermind, but the plan would never come to fruition or end successfully without Berlin’s sacrifice, which is made by putting his team first and acknowledging his faults and demons. 

Berlin manages to do something almost impossible on the Spanish-language series; he’s both the most-hated and most-loved character at the same time. 

And that’s what makes a good sidekick — a character that supports the main character while never losing their own sense of identity and purpose. 

If done right, the sidekick may unintentionally steal the spotlight and viewer’s hearts.

This list isn’t all-encompassing as there are too many good sidekicks to include! I could go on and on about all those who redefined the role of sidekicks on television, but that would require a much deeper character dive. 

That being said, we’d love to hear who you would add to the list, TV Fanatics!  Let us know in the comments below!

These TV Couples Were Set Up to Succeed, But Failed Miserably

Open List

The post These TV Shows Wouldn’t be the Same Without the Sidekicks appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Homeland Season 8 has been delayed once again, but we do have a premiere date. That's a silver lining, right?

The premiere date is set as Sunday, February 9, 2020. 

As you are probably well aware, the series was supposed to return in June, but it was delayed to fall, and now it will be sitting out of 2019 entirely. 

While it's common for many to think that there are issues with the final season's quality, Showtime president of entertainment said that the delay is a result of the production demands of an international series. 

Related: Showtime Sets Premiere Dates for Ray Donovan, Shameless, Kidding

“Homeland is an ambitious series — especially in its final season,” he told reporters Friday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour.

“[Showrunner] Alex [Gansa] wants to go out proudly, and that has involved production in multiple countries at times and in places that have some issues. It just takes time.

“There have been no missteps,” Levine added.

“It’s been a relatively smooth process. But it’s a very ambitious production schedule and it has taken more time than we [anticipated].”

Showtime also dropped the official logline for Homeland Season 8. You can read it below. 

The final season of Homeland finds Carrie Mathison (Danes) recovering from months of brutal confinement in a Russian gulag.

Her body is healing, but her memory remains fractured — which is a problem for Saul (Mandy Patinkin), now National Security Advisor to the newly ascendant President Warner (Emmy and Golden Globe winner Beau Bridges).

The top priority of Warner’s young administration is an end to the “forever war” in Afghanistan, and Saul has been dispatched to engage the Taliban in peace negotiations.

Riverdale Spoilers: Everything We Know About Season 4

Open List

But Kabul teems with warlords and mercenaries, zealots and spies — and Saul needs the relationships and expertise that only his protégé can provide.

Against medical advice, Saul asks Carrie to walk with him into the lion’s den — one last time.

Related: Halo TV Series Ordered at Showtime

Elsewhere at TCA, Showtime also unveiled the first casting details for the upcoming Halo TV series adaptation. 

Natascha McElhone (CALIFORNICATION),Emmy nominee Bokeem Woodbine (Fargo), celebrated Indian actress Shabana Azmi (Fire), Bentley Kalu (Avengers: Age of Ultron), Natasha Culzac (The Witcher) and Kate Kennedy (Catastrophe) are joining the cast of the highly-anticipated SHOWTIME series HALO, based on the iconic Xbox® franchise, as series regulars

McElhone will star as two characters – Dr. Catherine Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan supersoldiers and Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.

Woodbine will play Soren-066, a morally complex privateer at the fringes of human civilization whose fate will bring him into conflict with his former military masters and his old friend, the Master Chief.

Azmi will play Admiral Margaret Parangosky, the head of the Office of Naval Intelligence.

The series will also introduce three all-new characters to the Halo universe. British actor Kalu will play Spartan Vannak-134, a cybernetically augmented supersoldier conscripted at childhood who serves as the defacto deputy to the Master Chief.

British actress Culzac will star in the role of Spartan Riz-028 – a focused, professional and deadly, cybernetically enhanced killing machine.

Related: Halo TV Series Finds Its Master Chief

Kennedy stars as Spartan Kai-125, an all-new courageous, curious and deadly Spartan supersoldier.

Yerin Ha was previously announced playing the new character Kwan Ha, a shrewd, audacious 16-year-old from the Outer Colonies who meets Master Chief at a fateful time for them both.

Over on the renewal front, the premium cabler has ordered up a second season of Kevin Bacon-fronted drama, City on a Hill. 

The series is not pulling in decent ratings, at least in live+same day metrics. It is averaging around 500k viewers along with a paltry 0.06 rating. 

However, Showtime maintains that the series is building to 3.5 million total viewers when all platforms are factored in. 

“City on a Hill is that addictive kind of meaty and messy show we love at Showtime,” said the cabler’s president, Gary Levine, in a statement.

“With the inspired pairing of Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge and the inspired writing of Tom Fontana and Chuck MacLean, we believe there is a rich future for this compelling series.”

Showtime also confirmed that The L Word Generation Q would debut Sunday, December 8 at 10/9c. 

The eight-episode revival, reunites original series stars Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, and Leisha Hailey. 

The sequel series will give us details on what life is like for Bette Porter, Shane McCutcheon, and Alice Pieszecki, and introduce “a new generation of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters.

Those characters includ Dani Nùñez (In the Vault‘s Arienne Mandi), Micah Lee (newcomer Leo Sheng), Finley (Grimm‘s Jacqueline Toboni), Sophie Suarez (The Code‘s Rosanny Zayas) and Gigi (The Deuce‘s Sepideh Moafi).

All will be experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in Los Angeles.

Finally, there is good news for Gal Godot fans who also love the allure of old Hollywood and … scientific discoveries!

Showtime also confirmed that Godot will be starring in the limited series about film actress and inventor, Hedy Lamarr from Sarah Treem (The Affair), Warren Littlefield (The Handmaid's Tale), and Endeavor Content.

“The life of Hedy Lamarr was a truly fascinating one. She stood at the forefront of many issues that challenge women and our society today,” said Showtime’s President of Entertainment Jana Winograde.

“In Gal Gadot, we have found the transcendent actress to portray the deeply complex Lamarr. And with the award-winning talents of Sarah Treem and Warren Littlefield, this is going to be a special series.”

Gadot had wanted to do a project about Lamarr who has been referred to as a real life Wonder Woman.

If you're unfamilar, Lamarr's inventions led to modern wifi and GPS.

Treem will write the series that will cronicle Lamarr's life and career.

What are your thoughts on all this news?

Hit the comments below. 

Orange is the New Black: Every Character Ending

Open List

The post Showtime at TCA: Homeland Delayed, Halo Casts Leads, Gal Godot Series, and More appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Hugh Dancy has been signed on to appear in a multi-episode arc during Homeland Season 8 and will star opposite his wife, Claire Danes. 

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dancy will play John Zabel, a Washington consultant who snags a role inside the White House as a new foreign policy advisor to the President. 

John's role will put him in the crosshairs of Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin). 

It's unclear whether Dancy will share the screen with Danes during his turn on the Showtime hit, but it would be crazy not to have at least one scene between them, right?

As for what the final season will be about, here's the official description from the network:

Carrie Mathison (Danes) recovering from months of brutal confinement in a Russian gulag.

Her body is healing, but her memory remains fractured – which is a problem for Saul, now National Security Advisor to the newly ascendant President Warner (Emmy and Golden Globe-winner Beau Bridges).

The top priority of Warner’s young administration is an end to the “forever war” in Afghanistan, and Saul has been dispatched to engage the Taliban in peace negotiations.

But Kabul teems with warlords and mercenaries, zealots and spies – and Saul needs the relationships and expertise that only his protégé can provide.

Against medical advice, Saul asks Carrie to walk with him into the lion’s den – one last time.

Dancy is probably most well known for his three-season stint on NBC's Hannibal. He has also appeared on Hulu's The Path, Showtime's The Big C, and Elizabeth I. 

Related: Cable Ratings: Fear the Walking Dead Tops Westworld

While Homeland Season 8 was originally slated to launch in June, Showtime confirmed during the network's turn at TCA in January that the show had been pushed back to the fall. 

“We previously announced a June premiere but because of [international] production demands… we’re moving the final season premiere back to the fall,” Gary Levine told reporters. 

21 Powerful Female Characters That Prove God is a Woman

Open List

What are your thoughts on this casting news?

Hit the comments below. 

Remember you can watch Homeland online right here via TV Fanatic. 

The post Homeland: Hugh Dancy Joins Wife Claire Danes for Final Season appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Let's get the big renewal our of the way:

Shameless has been renewed for Season 10, and there's a catch that fans will surely be happy about. 

Cameron Monaghan is returning for the milestone season as Ian Gallagher.

Yes, really!

Fans were up in arms about the character's departure during Shameless Season 9, but given that he got a somewhat happy ending behind bars, this could mean that things are about to go back downhill for him. 

Time will tell. 

Monaghan joins William H. Macy (aka Frank), Jeremy Allen White (Lip), Ethan Cutkosky (Carl), Emma Kenney (Debbie) and Christian Isaiah (Liam). 

Emmy Rossum will not be part of the new season following her decision to leave, and her final episode is slated to air in the coming weeks. 

“All of us on Shameless are delighted that we get to tell more wonderful Gallagher stories — and thankful to Showtime for their continued support,” executive producer John Wells said in a statement.

“We can’t wait to get back to work with this extraordinary cast.”

An episode order has not been revealed, but it is expected to be another 14-part season that will be split down the middle. 

Meanwhile, the long-gestating revival of The L Word got a formal green light and has scored an eight-episode order. 

Related: Bryan Cranston to Headline Showtime Drama

Original series stars Jennifer Beals, Katherine Moennig, and Leisha Hailey will be back in their original roles in the new episodes, which will find the characters co-existing alongside “a new generation of self-possessed LGBTQIA characters experiencing love, heartbreak, sex, setbacks and success in Los Angeles.”

“Marja has brought her unique and contemporary vision to The L Word and blended it beautifully into the fabric of Ilene’s groundbreaking series,” said Gary Levine, president of entertainment at Showtime.

“This revered show was both entertaining and impactful when it originally ran on Showtime, and we are confident that our new version will do that and more in 2019.”

The other big news involved Homeland which was supposed to return this summer. 

Related: Fuller House Renewed for Fifth and Final Season

However, the final season has now been pushed back to the fall. 

“We previously announced a June premiere but because of [international] production demands… we’re moving the final season premiere back to the fall,” Levine told reporters.

Okay, TV Fanatics. 

What are your thoughts on this news?

Hit the comments below. 

21 TV Series That Should Have Called It Quits!

Open List

The post Showtime at TCA: Shameless Renewed, The L Word Revived & More! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The zombie drama secured 3.1 million viewers and a 1.1 rating among adults 18-49. It was down a bit from last week's The Walking Dead fueled premiere. 

However, it emerged as the highest-rated scripted series of the night, and that's a good thing. 

Meanwhile, Westworld returned to the air after a lengthy hiatus, and the HBO epic turned in ratings that were on par with its freshman season. 

It had 2.1 million viewers and a 0.9 rating. It looks like those thinking a Game of Thrones-like surge in the ratings was on the cards were mistaken. 

Related: Westworld Season 2 Episode 1 Review: Journey Into Night

For comparison purposes, Westworld Season 1 averaged 1.8 million viewers and a 0.8 rating back in 2016.

Over on Showtime, Homeland (1.4 million/0.3 rating) and Billions (0.9 million/0.2 rating) were in line with their most recent episodes. 

BBC America's thrilling Killing Eve is struggling to attract a substantial audience. Killing Eve Season 1 Episode 3 attracted 0.4 million viewers and a 0.1 rating. 

Related: Homeland: End Date Set!

At least fans can rest assured that more episodes will be produced as the network has already ordered Season 2 as a result of the critical acclaim the series has achieved. 

Finally, The Royals (0.4 million/0.2 rating) and The Arrangement (0.4 million/0.2 rating) are both struggling. Could E! say goodbye to one or both of these series?

Okay, TV Fanatics!

What do you think of the latest cable ratings?

Hit the comments below!

13 Hot Comic Shows We’re Anticipating in 2018!!

Open List

The post Cable Ratings: Fear The Walking Dead Tops Westworld appeared first on TV Fanatic.

The twisty drama will come to an end after the upcoming eighth season, Claire Danes has revealed. 

The show's leading lady was interviewed by Howard Stern on Wednesday and was asked about whether the show had one season left in it. 

“Yeah, that’s it,” Danes confirmed. 

The series kicked off back in 2011 and was an immediate success for Showtime. It garnered good reviews, and even emerged with the Emmy for Outstanding Drama series for Homeland Season 1. 

While the series struggled to keep up the pace in later seasons, Homeland Season 7 has emerged as the best one in a few years. 

Related: Homeland Season 7: First Look!

Showtime has yet to confirm the series is ending, but given that the ratings are starting to slip, it makes sense to have one more season and call it quits. 

The show is down as much as 30 percent in the demo year-to-year, and that's a worrying drop. This could be attributed to Homeland Season 6 being one of the most polarizing seasons. 

Fans reacted negatively to the death of fan-favorite Peter Quinn, and it sure looks like that could have affected the ratings. 

Alas, eight seasons is a great run for any show in this day and age, and we're sure the powers that be will have a perfect final arc planned for Carrie and the other characters. 

What do you think of the news, Homeland Fanatics?

13 Tired Tropes TV Can Turn On Their Heads

Open List

Are you surprised the show is ending? Would you watch the series without Danes if Showtime decided to continue without her?

Hit the comments below. 

Remember you can watch Homeland online right here via TV Fanatic!

Homeland continues Sundays. 

The post Homeland: Claire Danes Confirms End Date! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

According to TV Line, Morgan Spector has landed the series regular role of Dante Allen, who is an old friend of Carrie's who is brought into the fold when President Keane captures a group of individuals. 

Homeland Season 6 concluded with the big assassination attempt, and Keane decided it was best to keep Clare Danes' Carrie out in the cold because she felt she could no longer trust her. 

Dante will look into the people Keane detains to find out who could be behind the attempt on her life, but will Dante be able to talk Keane around to understand that Carrie cares for her?

That will be a big question, but one we look forward to seeing answered on the new season, which is set debut early next year on Showtime. 

Spector has previously appeared on Boardwalk Empire and Person of Interest, so he's no stranger to high drama. 

The other addition is Mackenzie Astin who will join the series as Bill, who just so happens to be Carrie's brother-in-law. 

He has been added to the series in a recurring role which is expected to span the duration of the seventh season. Ominously, the character leaves a university job to work in Keane's administration. 

So, Carrie now has two more people who know Keane. Is that a coincidence? We have no idea, but it will be fun to watch Carrie attempt to get back on Keane's Christmas card list. 

Astin has previously appeared in The Facts of Life, Scandal, and The Magicians. 

What do you think of this news, Homeland Fanatics? 

Remember you can watch Homeland online right here via TV Fanatic. Get caught up on all the action now!

15 Characters That Were Almost Killed Off

Open List

The post Homeland: Morgan Spector & Mackenzie Astin Land Key Roles appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Homeland Season 6 marked a return to home soil for the series and was set in New York City.

The series will move production to Central Virginia for Season 7, meaning that it will be staying in the U.S. for the second consecutive season. 

On the casting front, Claire Danes, Mandy Patinkin, Elizabeth Marvel and Linus Roache are all returning for the new batch of episodes. 

It's not clear at this stage whether F. Murray Abraham will be making a comeback. 

“We’re thrilled to bring the production of Homeland to the great state of Virginia,” revealed showrunner/exec producer Alex Gansa in a statement.

“Its cities and neighborhoods and people will surely provide a rich backdrop for our story, and we, in turn, aim to provide a small but hopefully significant boost to the local economy.”

The series will go into production later this year, but a premiere date is yet to be determined. There's a good chance it will return in January 2018. 

With the series moving to Virginia, it will be eligible to receive a film tax credit and grant from the state. For long-running series, tax credits and grants are a good thing. 

Older shows notoriously carry larger budgets due to the tenure of the talent, and license fees. 

"We are delighted to welcome this outstanding drama to the Commonwealth,” said Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe.

“The film production industry is a significant economic driver for our Commonwealth. With every new film or television series that comes to Virginia, this thriving industry continues creating jobs, generating tourist activity and building momentum for even more great new projects."

"Having hosted shows like Turn: Washington’s Spies, Mercy Street, and now Homeland, it is clear that Virginia is a premier television production location, and I look forward to the success of this series here in Virginia.”

Over to you, Homeland Fanatics. What do you think of this news?

Sound off below!

Remember you can watch Homeland online right here via TV Fanatic. Get caught up on all of the twists right here. 

13 Shows That Let Us Down This Season. Big Time.

Open List

The post Homeland Season 7: Where Will It Be Set? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Homeland Season 6 Episode 12 just upended a season that had felt tight in its plot and coherent in its character development for…shock value? I don't even know. 

So, let's see. Peter Quinn is dead for real this time. That was pretty much my takeaway. 

Are we supposed to be grateful that at least they didn't leave his death ambiguous like Homeland Season 5?

Are we supposed to be impressed that Homeland was "brave" enough to bring back a beloved character from the dead; have him suffer relentlessly for one more season; and then kill him off mid-finale without any fanfare?

Is this what makes a television show prestigious? 

Because I have a feeling that a lot of Peter Quinn fans – like me – are feeling baited. We felt betrayed at the end of last season when our beloved character survived torture after torture only to have his life left in the balance. 

We tuned in again this season because he was alive and we felt confident his long suffering would somehow be rewarded.

But it wasn't.

This season, we saw Quinn struggle with a painful recovery – filled with self-loathing and hopelessness – only to watch him die saving Carrie and the president-elect:

KEANE: Is he, is he dead?

CARRIE: Yeah.

KEANE: He saved our lives.

CARRIE: Yeah.

KEANE: What was his name?

CARRIE: Peter Quinn.

KEANE: Peter Quinn.

_{🔗 permalink: What was his name}

Are we supposed to be like, "Wow, Quinn was a real hero, willing to sacrifice himself for others"? Because we already knew that. So no news there. Yawn.

What a dumb, dumb way to let this great character go, after basically building the entire season around him.

What can I say? I guess someone somewhere will call this great television, but I, for one, like to watch stories that make sense. Call me old-fashioned.

I hate to say it, but I'm not grieving for Quinn today. I did that last year. Now I'm just like, whatever, he was a pointless character who died a pointless death. Wish I'd known that earlier. I wouldn't have invested so much in him. 

Last we ever heard of Peter Quinn, Carrie was hurriedly throwing out all his stuff in a Hefty bag, six weeks after his death.

She found the copy of Great Expectations he used to carry around with photos of his son and – surprise!– she found a picture of herself in there.

Yes, Carrie cried some. And Max, who had weirdly shown up drunk at her house a little earlier, comforted her some. But to call it anticlimactic after years of buildup of the Carrie/Quinn relationship would be an understatement. 

Quinn died feeling just as unloved and unlovable as he had lived. So, while she probably had loved him, the rather muted display of grief from Carrie left me feeling empty. Who even cares anymore, really? 

We found out from Saul that she didn't even say any words during Quinn's memorial:

SAUL: We haven’t spoken since Peter Quinn’s memorial. That hardly qualified as a conversation.

CARRIE: I wasn’t doing too much talking that day.

SAUL: I noticed.

CARRIE: What’s that supposed to mean?

SAUL: Well, you knew him better than anybody. I guess I was expecting you to get up, say a few words.

CARRIE: Well, maybe I didn’t know him as well as you think.

SAUL: I wasn’t judging you, Carrie.

CARRIE: Sure sounded like it.

SAUL: Worst happened. Quinn died. You’re still out there going a million miles an hour. You will hit a wall.

CARRIE: I’m fine.

SAUL: Damn it, I’m worried about you.

CARRIE: Well, maybe I don’t like the idea of you worrying about me anymore.

_{🔗 permalink: Well, maybe I didn’t know him as well as you think}

I guess she was honoring the wish Quinn expressed in his dying letter from last season's finale, "Don't put a star on the wall for me. Don't say some dumb speech."

Now she's in Drone Queen mode again, burying herself in her work. Very original. 

Even Quinn's connection with the conspiracy was left strangely dangling. Dar tortured Senator Coto for information on who had been running fake accounts using Quinn's identity; the senator pointed the finger at General McClendon. 

When Dar confronted the general, though, he denied it:

DAR: A former member of our operations group, Peter Quinn. Perhaps you remember him?

MCCLENDON: Sure, pretty boy. Hell of a warrior, though. Rough what happened to him in Berlin.

DAR: Apparently he’s developed a real hard-on for the president elect.

MCCLENDON: Has he?

DAR: Don’t give me that horse shit. You know damn well that’s the story you’re pushing out there. […] We’re winning goddamn it. Keane’s on the ropes. What the fuck do you think you’re doing?

MCCLENDON: I’m not doing one thing, Dar.

DAR: Excuse me, what did you say?

MCCLENDON: You heard me. I’m not doing a thing.

_{🔗 permalink: Apparently he’s developed a real hard-on for the president elect}

So I guess we'll never know who framed Quinn? Well, that's satisfying (not).

Keane escaped the assassination attempt, but apparently the deep state conspirators were right to think she was dangerous. 

At the end of the day, not only were Dar and the others directly associated with the conspiracy arrested, but Keane set off on a political witch-hunt – having her opponents arrested with the excuse that they had been involved in the plot against her. 

Saul went down in this net, as well, even though he was the one who exposed the conspiracy and basically saved Keane's life. 

So the takeaway is that Keane is insane – Jeez a crazy president, where did Homeland get such a novel idea? – and Carrie was duped once again: 

DAVID: Come on, Carrie, this can’t come as a total surprise.

CARRIE: What are you talking about?

DAVID: You must have known that something was in the works…

CARRIE: [interrupting] Saul Berenson was dragged out of his car this morning.

DAVID: First of all, that’s an exaggeration, he was detained.

CARRIE: I saw it happen, David. We were Face Timing. And, no, I wasn’t aware we were about to go full-on Joe Stalin.

DAVID: Listen, everybody detained today was connected to the conspiracy.

CARRIE: Detained? Why do you keep saying detained? They were arrested, and without legal authority, as far as I can tell. […] You sent me out there to personally assure people this would never happen. You used me!

DAVID: Yes we did, and for good reason.

CARRIE: Yeah, to provide cover for a political house cleaning.

_{🔗 permalink: Saul Berenson was dragged out of his car this morning}

The set up for next season is apparently Carrie having to save the world from this nutso president.

She's not back in the CIA at the end of the season and it's hard to see how she will return to the CIA considering she ended the season on the outs with Keane.

And, of course, Carrie is once again alone: Quinn is dead and Saul and Dar are in prison. 

So, were you as disappointed as I was with how they chose to end the season? Will you be sticking around for the final two seasons? Watch Homeland online and leave your comments below. 

Quotables for Week Ending April 7, 2017

Open List

The post Homeland Season 6 Episode 12 Review: America First appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Carrie realizes McClendon has deployed the special ops to assassinate Keane. She and Quinn try to warn the president elect. There is a bomb threat against the hotel where Keane is and there is an evacuation order. Dar warns Carrie that it's a ruse and that they're trying to frame Quinn for the assassination. A bomb goes off, but Keane is safe. Carrie and Quinn help her escape.

Quinn drives the getaway car but is gunned down and dies. Keane and Carrie are safe.

Six weeks pass, Keane offers Carrie the position of Senior Advisor to the President. Carrie accepts.

Saul visits Dar in prison. Dar admits he lost control of the conspiracy that he set in motion. Dar is not sorry about what he did. He still believes the president is dangerous.

Back in Brooklyn, Carrie gets a visit from a drunken Max. Lonas, Franny's CPS caseworker, does a home visit and Carrie gets another court date. Max passes out on Quinn's bed. Carrie takes a Hefty bag and throws out Quinn's stuff. She finds Quinn's copy of Great Expectations with pictures of his son and one of her. She cries and Max comforts her. 

Carrie gets a Face Time call from Saul. He's under arrest. Keane is making arrests all over Washington. Carrie confronts Wellington, Keane's new chief of staff about the political house cleaning. She tries to get in to see Keane, but she's escorted out. Keane is shown looking sinister. 

The season ends with Carrie looking at the Capitol.

The post Homeland Season 6 Episode 12 Recap: America First appeared first on TV Fanatic.