Summary
“Helping” is starting to show the characters in their more authentic selves, in a somewhat lighter episode of Homecoming.
This review of Homecoming Episode 5, “Helping”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
“Helping” is an unusually light episode of Homecoming, at least until the end.
In the facility, Walter Cruz (Stephan James) and Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts) play a series of pranks on each other, further highlighting that their professionalism has observedly crossed over to friendship. Their flirting has leaked into Walter’s social groups, and more dangerously Heidi’s colleagues, with one in particular, are not impressed with their light-mannered engagement.
“Helping” sees compliance auditor Thomas Carrasco (Shea Whigham) visit Shrier, who is a shadow of his former self, shaking with words; he has become a janitor, and he grasps his rake almost as if his life depends on it. Unfortunately, Thomas only got a few words from Shrier, who claims that he warned Walter that “they” were hiding in the trees. Homecoming does not explain who “they” are, but it deepened the mystery further.
In the present day, Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale) is taking the initiative in his own hands and decides to visit Heidi in person, entering the grubby restaurant where she serves tables. He seems surprised that she does not recognise him, but at the same time relieved because it enables him to collect more information than he bargained for. He found Thomas’s contact details in the business card drawer.
At the end of Episode 5, “Helping”, it switches back to the past, showing how genuinely controlling Colin was over Heidi, calling her to discuss his dissatisfaction of her friendship with Walter. One of her colleagues has snitched, and Colin is fully aware of the harmonica he gave to Walter. Homecoming is starting to show the character’s more authentic selves.
