The Insider.com

11 Best Shows of 2011:

#2. 'Homeland'

To say I was trepidatious about a terrorism-themed drama from 24's Howard Gordon is an understatement. Would we really be asked to watch an entire series about Abu Ghraib-esque torture scenes strung together by the flimsiest of plots just because that could fly on Showtime?

The short answer, no.

The long answer is that while Showtime's Homeland definitely shares some DNA with 24 (especially when it comes to terrorist tracking and the execution of their plans), it's more interested in the "why" behind every attack.

Pair that with the ace performances Claire Danes (so unhinged!) and Damian Lewis (so mysterious!) delivered on a weekly basis and you'll quickly understand why the wait for season two is the most torturous of all.
Best Episode: The Weekend