"Homeland" Season 8 opens with Carrie Mathison, a former CIA operative, recovering from brutal Russian captivity, her memory fractured and her loyalty questioned. Despite suspicions, her mentor, Saul Berenson, the National Security Advisor, recruits her to help salvage peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan, believing her expertise is essential. Saul aims to broker a historic peace deal, but the region remains volatile.

The peace process faces immediate challenges as Carrie works to gain leverage against Afghan Vice President G'ulom. However, a devastating event shatters any hope for a swift resolution: President Warner and Afghan President Daoud are killed when their helicopters are shot down. This tragedy escalates tensions, and Carrie's colleague, Max Piotrowski, a surveillance expert, is taken prisoner by the Taliban and later killed by Jalal Haqqani, the son of the Taliban leader. Carrie believes the helicopter crash was a mechanical failure, not an act of terrorism, and she works with Yevgeny Gromov, a Russian intelligence officer, to find the flight recorder that can prove it. Yevgeny, however, betrays Carrie, stealing the recorder and leaving her unconscious. The situation spirals, bringing the U.S. and Pakistan to the brink of nuclear war.

Facing an impossible choice to avert nuclear conflict, Carrie ultimately betrays Saul to obtain the flight recorder, leading to the suicide of Anna Pomerantseva, Saul's long-term Russian asset. Nuclear war is averted, but Carrie flees to Russia with Yevgeny. Two years later, Carrie sends Saul a hidden message, revealing she is now working as a deep-cover asset for the U.S., continuing her espionage career from within Russia.

Season 8 of Homeland covers episodes 1-12. Here's everything that happened:

Season 8, Episode 1: Deception Indicated - Carrie, recovering from Russian captivity and a fractured memory, is interrogated and fails a polygraph, raising suspicions of betrayal. Meanwhile, Saul's peace talks with the Taliban in Afghanistan collapse. Carrie's former asset is found murdered, and his widow blames the CIA, intensifying doubts about Carrie's loyalty. Saul recruits a still-unstable Carrie to help salvage the peace process.

Season 8, Episode 2: Catch and Release - Carrie Mathison secures crucial leverage against Afghan Vice President G'ulom by finding incriminating evidence of corruption, forcing him to reverse his stance on releasing Taliban prisoners. Meanwhile, Saul Berenson attempts to broker peace with Taliban leader Haqqani, but his convoy is ambushed. The episode concludes with Carrie confronting G'ulom, successfully compelling him to agree to the prisoner release, while Saul faces danger in Pakistan.

Season 8, Episode 3: False Friends - Carrie meets with Yevgeny, who claims he saved her life and wants to "pick up where they left off," while Haqqani discovers his son Jalal betrayed him. Haqqani disowns Jalal, who is then picked up by Tasneem Qureshi. Saul secures a ceasefire agreement with Haqqani, who releases Saul, fearing he made a mistake by casting out his son.

Season 8, Episode 4: Chalk One Up - While President Warner announces the end of the war in Afghanistan, Carrie rescues Samira Noori from her aggressive brother-in-law. Tragically, President Warner and Afghan President Daoud are killed when their helicopter is shot down, followed by the destruction of the escort helicopter. This devastating event shatters the peace process, leaving the future uncertain.

Season 8, Episode 5: Chalk Two Down - Following the helicopter crash that killed Presidents Warner and Daoud, Max is taken prisoner by the Taliban after his unit is ambushed and killed. As the U.S. grapples with the aftermath, General G'ulom seizes power in Kabul, blaming Haqqani for the attack. Meanwhile, Carrie investigates the possibility of mechanical failure, and the site of the crash is bombed to prevent the Taliban from obtaining the President's body.

Season 8, Episode 6: Two Minutes - Carrie makes a deal with Yevgeny to shut down U.S. surveillance for two minutes to help find Max, but her actions are discovered, leading Saul to order her return to Germany. Meanwhile, President G'ulom convinces President Hayes to adopt a more aggressive stance, and Haqqani decides to turn himself in to the Americans, believing they will grant him a fair trial. Carrie ultimately escapes her escort and is picked up by Yevgeny.

Season 8, Episode 7: Fker Shot Me** - Carrie and Yevgeny track Max to a village where Carrie previously ordered a bombing. Max is found but quickly recaptured by Jalal Haqqani's men and prepared for execution. Meanwhile, Saul attempts to delay Haqqani's trial, but Haqqani is sentenced to death. The episode concludes with Carrie witnessing Max's apparent beheading.

Season 8, Episode 8: Threnody(s) - President Hayes, swayed by John Zabel, proceeds with Haqqani's execution, leading to Max's death at the hands of Jalal Haqqani. Carrie, devastated, blames Saul. As Saul attempts to retrieve Max's body and bring Carrie in, she flees with Yevgeny, now working with the enemy to uncover the truth about the downed helicopters. The episode concludes with Carrie on the run, and Jalal seizing control of the Taliban, escalating tensions between Pakistan and the US.

Season 8, Episode 9: In Full Flight - Carrie and Yevgeny pursue the helicopter's flight recorder, which proves the crash was due to mechanical error, not terrorism. Carrie is drugged and the recorder is stolen by Yevgeny. Meanwhile, Pakistan prepares nuclear weapons in response to U.S. aggression, and Tasneem realizes Jalal is beyond her control. Yevgeny betrays Carrie, stealing the flight recorder and leaving her unconscious. The episode concludes with Pakistan on the brink of nuclear war.

Season 8, Episode 10: Designated Driver - Carrie, having recalled crucial flight recorder data, attempts to retrieve it from the Russians. Meanwhile, Jalal forces Balach into a suicide mission, resulting in Balach detonating a car bomb at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border. Carrie turns herself in to the FBI, leading to her arrest and extradition to the US. The episode concludes with Carrie on a plane back to America, leaving the fate of the flight recorder and the escalating international tensions unresolved.

Season 8, Episode 11: The English Teacher - Carrie, released on bond, investigates Saul's Russian asset, uncovering a decades-old connection between Saul and an English teacher who became a double agent. Yevgeny Gromov offers Carrie a deal: identify Saul's asset or kill Saul herself to gain control of the asset and secure the flight recorder. The episode ends with Carrie facing this impossible choice, setting up a dramatic series finale.

Season 8, Episode 12: Prisoners of War - Carrie betrays Saul to obtain the flight recorder, ultimately leading to Anna Pomerantseva's suicide to avoid capture. Nuclear war is averted, but Carrie flees to Russia with Yevgeny. Two years later, Carrie has written a book about her experiences, and Saul receives it, finding a hidden message indicating Carrie is now working as a deep-cover asset, continuing her espionage career.