In the opener of this "Manchurian Candidate"-like political thriller, a marine (Damian Lewis) rescued after eight years as a POW in Afghanistan returns home a war hero. But a CIA operative (Claire Danes) suspects he may actually be an enemy agent with a connection to Al Qaeda and part of a plan to commit a terrorist act on U.S. soil.

An undercover agent with connections to a Saudi prince who may be funding terrorist activities provides Carrie with a revealing bit of electronic evidence. Meanwhile, Carrie studies surveillance footage of life in Brody's home, where he appears troubled by traumatic memories and resists Pentagon and media pressure to be hyped as an American war hero.

An exclusive television interview will thrust the Brody family into the national spotlight, unless Dana pulls off her plan to sidetrack the whole bogus process. Elsewhere, Carrie and the team sniff out an Al Qaeda attack on American soil; and Carrie's embedded operative in Prince Farid's camp gets trapped in a chilling situation.

Political powers make big plans to promote Brody as a national hero, but erratic behavior on his part threatens his media image. Elsewhere, a desperate Carrie searches for evidence to link Brody with Abu Nazir, while Saul enjoins her to follow the terrorist financier's money trail.

Carrie believes her suspicions about Brody may be proven correct when he confronts the sole survivor of the insurgents who held him hostage. But the reunion ultimately raises more questions. Meanwhile, the agency zeros in on Aileen and Faisel, the lovers who used funds from the stolen jewelry to purchase the house near the airport.

Having lost a number of essential personnel to Nazir's terrorist plot against the U.S., the CIA issue polygraph tests on everyone who had contact with them. This includes Brody, which Carrie hopes will reveal the truth about him.