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Entertainment • TV Series

Homeland

Homeland is an American espionage thriller television series developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Homeland is an American espionage thriller television series developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, based on the Israeli series Prisoners of War (Hatufim) created by Gideon Raff. It originally aired on Showtime from 2011 to 2020 and stars Claire Danes as CIA officer Carrie Mathison. The series consists of eight seasons and 96 episodes, focusing on intelligence work, terrorism, and U.S. national security.

Premise

Homeland follows CIA officer Carrie Mathison and other U.S. intelligence figures as they deal with terrorism, counterintelligence, and threats to national security. Early seasons focus on Mathison’s suspicion that a U.S. Marine captured by al-Qaeda has been turned by the enemy.

Production and origins

The series was developed for American television by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa. It is an adaptation of Gideon Raff’s Israeli series Prisoners of War, known in Hebrew as Hatufim.

Broadcast history

Homeland aired in the United States on Showtime from 2011 to 2020. The series concluded after eight seasons and 96 episodes.

Reception and legacy

Homeland became a prominent American espionage drama and was widely discussed for its post-9/11 themes, political storylines, and performances, especially Claire Danes’s lead role.

Key facts

  • Homeland premiered on Showtime on October 2, 2011, and ended on April 26, 2020.
  • The series was adapted from the Israeli television series Prisoners of War (Hatufim).
  • Claire Danes plays Carrie Mathison, a CIA operations officer.
  • The show centers on intelligence work, terrorism, and U.S. national security.
  • The series consists of 96 episodes across eight seasons.
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Canadian context

Homeland aired widely in Canada through pay-television and streaming distribution tied to Showtime programming, and it was also part of the broader North American television conversation about espionage drama and post-9/11 security themes.

Frequently asked questions

What is Homeland about?
It is an espionage thriller about CIA officer Carrie Mathison and U.S. intelligence operations involving terrorism and national security threats.
Who created Homeland?
It was developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, and is based on Gideon Raff’s Israeli series Prisoners of War.
Who stars in Homeland?
Claire Danes stars as Carrie Mathison, the series’ main character.
When did Homeland air?
It premiered on Showtime on October 2, 2011, and ended on April 26, 2020.
How many seasons and episodes does Homeland have?
The series has eight seasons and 96 episodes.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_(TV_series)
    Supports: Series development, premise, cast, Showtime broadcast, premiere and finale dates, adaptation basis
  2. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Homeland_episodes
    Supports: Episode count, season count, series overview, premiere and conclusion dates
  3. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeland_season_8
    Supports: Final season premiere and conclusion dates
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Homeland
    Supports: General identification of Homeland as an American television series