Summary
The main mystery is solved in “Test”, and it is an insightful one. Homecoming is looking to be a magnificent project by Sam Esmail.
This review of Homecoming Episode 7, “Test”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
It is seemingly clear what is happening in Homecoming. Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts) genuinely does not recall her time at the Geist facility, but the ultimate breakthrough came through in her latest counselling session with Walter Cruz (Stephan James) in Episode 7, “Test”.
The scene was an eye-opener for the audience but a moment of clarity for Heidi. After Walter’s failed attempts to flirt, Heidi forces the conversation back to professionalism, asking him to recount the day his friend died at war. His appears resistant at first, breaking Heidi to reminisce about a particular joke, but the only problem is Walter does not remember anything specifically about his time overseas. “Test” confirms that the facility is designed to remove traumatic memories, not provide a transition back to normal civilised life.
I’m glad my patience has been paid off if that is the entire mystery. Homecoming so far has sent us down a specific, dark path and Julia Roberts has performed outstandingly to keep the audience at bay. The question now is, where does Homecoming go from here?
In the present day, Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale) is continuing his manipulation of Heidi; he’s keeping up the image that he is an ex-soldier returning for war, allowing his victim to buy his personality completely. As for the compliance auditor Thomas Carrasco (Shea Whigham), he is genuinely trying to help, managing to secure the trust of Walter’s mother yet trying to get Heidi onside is proving to be a frustrating part of the story; ironically, Heidi is trusting the wrong man.
As “Test” closes, Thomas is playing old tapes to Heidi from her counselling sessions with Walter. Due to her memory loss, she cannot help, irritating both characters. Thomas believes he is lying, but you can only hope he figures out what is happening soon enough.
As we cross over the halfway point of Homecoming, we are witnessing a masterly made thriller series.
