Homeland

A missing American soldier returns after eight years in captivity. While Nicholas Brody is welcomed as a hero, CIA officer Carrie Mathison suspects he may have been turned. That uncertainty provides the starting point for eight seasons of espionage, difficult judgements and divided loyalties.

Claire Danes plays Carrie, with Damian Lewis as Brody and Mandy Patinkin as Saul Berenson. The series was developed by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa from Gideon Raff's Israeli drama Prisoners of War.

I've watched the whole run and recommend it highly. The opening premise is excellent, but Homeland's willingness to move into new situations is a substantial part of why it lasts. Carrie and Saul give those changing stories a relationship worth returning to.

Read my full Homeland review for the longer verdict. The Americans is another strong choice for espionage and divided loyalties; 24 favours a more relentless action pace.