Homeland season 8 debate: Should Carrie find some happiness at the end?

It was recently confirmed, after many months of speculation, that Homeland season 8 is officially poised to be the final one for the series.

Yet, at the same time, we do think that there are some significant questions that remain here, with one of the biggest ones being simply this: How in the world can this story end for Carrie Mathison?

When you think back over the past several years, we don’t think that there can be a better example of a tortured soul than Claire Danes’ character. This is someone who went to hell and back at times for the sake of the country and allowing others to have a healthier, happier future. She has sacrificed immensely and not asked for much in return.

Yet, we’re also talking here about a character with a history of addiction, of self-sabotage, and going so far to resolve problems that she doesn’t care for herself in the process. Basically, what we are trying to say here is that there is a reasonably good chance that Carrie dies in action in the final season so that others can move forward and live. It’s easy to make a case for how this could happen and why it would be significant.

Yet, we think that there’s another very-compelling ending that Showtime could consider for the final season, one that features Carrie effectively continuing to fight the good fight. Maybe she ends season 8 with a secure job and we’re just expected to believe that she moves forward and does much of what she always has, just in a more comfortable and stable environment. This would in so many ways be a happy ending for her, mostly in that it keeps the integrity of the show and feels true for her character given all she’s done.

Do we think that there is a version of the series where Carrie tries to get away from everything, goes off, and has something resembling a normal life? Sure, but it’s really hard to imagine a world in which this happens. We just think that one way or another, she’s always going to find a way to get sucked back in … even if she thinks that she has a way out.

Ultimately, we’re going to be waiting for many months still to find out, as Homeland season 8 is not slated to premiere until the new year.

Related – Be sure to get some more information on Homeland ending this season!

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