Our Homeland season 3, episode 9 recap looks at one of the best storylines yet for Showtime’s ever evolving CIA drama.

Homeland season 3, episode 9 kicked off with Carrie waking up in the hospital after she was shot. She credits Quinn’s great shot for keeping her from getting any serious wounds. She’s stuck in the hospital for as long as the CIA wants to keep her there, and the status of her baby’s health post-shot seems to be an afterthought to Carrie.

Saul has asked doctors to take a look at Brody, who’s brought back to America and is now in Virginia. Brody’s in bad health and has turned into a junkie who’s only started healing. Saul insists that he needs to go cold turkey because he needs to be functional as soon as possible (that clock on Lockhart becoming CIA Director is ticking).

In the hospital, Carrie gets a surprise visit from Lockhart, who can’t believe he’s considered an enemy when Saul and company have made so many (alleged) mistakes. He tries to barter with Carrie and tells her she needs an ally, not someone who shoots at her. Then Lockhart reveals where Saul has been, which quietly surprises Carrie.

Saul gets a call from his partner, and it’s news to him that Lockhart found out about the mission. An investigation later uncovers that yes, the hack did occur at Saul’s via Mira’s ex-boyfriend. Virgil presents the evidence to Saul and adds a twist: The boyfriend is working for Lockhart.

Brody’s doctor says it’s going to take 10 days for him to recover. This is an issue because they only have six. Dar Adal has an idea: He wants to give him a drug based on a Nigerian plant that will dramatically speed up his recovery. He insists that it works despite “mind bending hallucinations” amongst other side effects that the doctor is concerned about.

Indeed, the hallucinations begin, as Brody sees his former partner Walker, who he killed. He spirals into a rage because of these hallucinations and starts physically hurting himself. Saul comes in and stops him, and this time the hallucinations make him think Saul is Abu Nazir. The doctor does something to calm him down.

Finally, it’s time for Saul to talk to Brody about what he needs him to do. Saul offers Brody a chance to become a marine again. “To be the man you were before they broke you.” Brody quietly protests. “No more. I’m done.” Saul says he has to do this one last thing, but Brody would rather die.

So Saul gives him a chance to do just that. Saul’s men take Brody out on a boat and throw him overboard. He stays underwater for a while and doesn’t come up, which leads the guys to jump in and pull him out.

Saul spawns a new idea to make him want to live: His former love Carrie. Saul pays a visit to Carrie’s hospital and asks her to convince Brody it’s in everyone’s interest to participate in this new play. So for crying out loud, Saul, what is this master plan? Finally, he explains: Saul wants to take out Javadi’s boss, who’s the “single greatest impediment to peace” by having Brody kill him. He can meet with the boss by posing as the Langley bomber. After Brody takes him out, Javadi will rise in the chain of power to become one of the three most important people in Iran — and he’s working for Saul.

The current hurdle is getting Brody on board with this new mission, and Carrie is weary about how she can convince him to go through with it. “That’s the play Carrie. Tell me it’s not worth your time.” Indeed, Carrie is left speechless.

And so the reunion we’ve all been waiting for is here. Carrie arrives at Brody’s cell and says she wants to do anything she can to help him. Brody is silent. She hatches a new plan: She brings Brody to a motel where Dana is working as a maid. It surprises him and he tries to get out.

Saul goes to Lockhart to present the evidence of his associations with the Iranian Intelligence Officer (Mira’s ex-boyfriend). The Senator has clearly been caught red handed, and agrees with Saul’s request to hold the hearings for his promotion to CIA Director for a few weeks. What Saul doesn’t tell him is that he needs this extra time to finish out his master plan.

Brody is now back in his cell, and Carrie comes in to tell him about what’s happened with Dana since he last saw her. She also explains that Brody needs a chance at redemption for the things he’s done – to do these things for Dana’s sake. He agrees and begins his training, but not without some hurdles.

We time jump 16 days and have reached a point where Brody is back in shape. Everyone gets briefed on the master plan to take out Javadi’s boss. After the meeting, Carrie is seen smoking (Carrie! Baby!) and Brody asks to see Dana again. He insists he see her, or he’s not leaving.

Carrie obliges and takes him to the motel. Before he goes in, Carrie breaks the news that Dana tried to kill herself. He then goes to greet Dana, who is freaked out by the appearance. He tells her it wasn’t he who blew up Langley. She becomes upset and asks him if he even considered if she even wanted to see him. She then says she never wants to see him again.

Back in the car, he vows that he’ll come back from the mission for Dana… and Carrie. And to think he still doesn’t even know about the baby!

Your ‘Homeland’ recap: What did you think?

This episode was one of the best of the season and set up the remaining three episodes. We have to assume that Brody will come back from the mission, but repairing things with Dana and starting a new life with Carrie seem to be the biggest things up in the air.

See a preview of next week’s episode below (it looks action-packed):