'Homeland,' Season 1, Episode 9, 'Crossfire'

In "Homeland," Season 1, Episode 9, "Crossfire," Carrie must deal with the public relations flap surrounding the mosque shooting while hunting down Walker. Also Brody relives part of his captivity and there is a big reveal.

Spoilers surely follow.

The mosque's Imam is understandably upset at the gunning down of worshipers at his mosque. He does not seem to be a radical jihadist, but is reluctant to reveal if Walker had been a member of the mosque. He strongly believes that the FBI is lying when they say they were fired upon first. He is correct in that assumption.

However, the Imam's wife meets with Carrie later and reveals that Walker has been at the mosque and has been meeting with the Saudi diplomat who seems to be running the op for Abu Nazir.

Walker is seen practicing in the woods, including killing an hunter who makes the mistake of coming upon him.

Meanwhile, Brody, after a confusion about something called vitamin water, is jumped in the parking lot of the grocery store, beaten, and thrown into the trunk of a car. While he is unconscious, he relives a previously unrevealed part of his captivity.

It seems that Abu Nazir rescued him from the dungeon where he was and took him to his compound in Northern Iraq as his honored guest. He is shaved, bathed, and is treated with all courtesy, except for not being allowed to leave. Brody, by this time a Muslim convert, is allowed to interact with Abu Nazir's son, Issa, and teach him English.

Abu Nazir must be one of those cold, distant parents, as Brody and Issa soon bond in a kind of father/son relationship. Issa proves to be a good student, learning English rapidly.

Unfortunately, one day Issa goes to school, across the street from the compound. A massive explosion happens and the boy is killed, which devastates Brody.

Brody wakes up in a room. Via a two way video hook-up, Abu Nazir reminds him that he had joined the plot because he has been told that the explosion was caused by an American drone strike, which the then CIA director lied about. That man is now the Vice President who is now trying to get Brody to run for office. Brody is to accept the offer. Walker's part in the plot is not something Brody need worry about. Brody seems now to be recommitted to the operation.

As an aside, noting how the show likes to twist things, one sees a deliberate psychops job having been done on Brody to turn him against his own country. It is possible that the school was wiped out by a drone strike. It is also possible that Abu Nazir arranged for it himself, killing his own son to advance the cause of jihad. After all, Issa is now a martyr in Abu Nazir's eyes, and all that implies.