Summary
In “Protocol”, Heidi seeks to recover her memory while Colin tries to keep the truth hidden. Episode 10 progresses the Homecoming story to new heights.
This review of Homecoming Episode 8, “Protocol”, contains spoilers. You can check out our thoughts on the previous episode by clicking these words.
Now that the characters have established the issues rummaging under the homecoming facility, Episode 8, “Protocol”, sees Heidi Bergman (Julia Roberts) and compliance auditor Thomas Carrasco (Shea Whigham) going down separate paths.
Heidi is determined to know the truth and convinces Colin Belfast (Bobby Cannavale) to go on a road trip to the Homecoming facility to search for answers, and hopefully recover her memory. You could see the concern in every wrinkle of Colin’s face as the past slowly comes back to haunt him. Luckily for Colin, they go to the wrong building, but in the same area.
As for Thomas, he happens to venture to the right building, searching the empty, dusty and unused Homecoming facility. In the darkness, the establishment looks oddly suspicious, like seeing it without light brings out the truth. While investigating, Thomas receives a call which enlightens the audience. His manager from the Department of Defense calls him in frustration, asking him to stop going beyond the limits of his role and to return to work; Thomas refuses to give up. However, he wants to see this through.
“Protocol” eventually comes to fruition, with Heidi getting a rush of all her memories directly in front of Colin who is suddenly panicking that his ex-colleague is learning the truth. He disgustingly continues to manipulate her, explaining that he was never seen at the facility and he delegated remotely. Once Thomas crosses their path, he mocks his role at the Department of Defense and discusses the time he slept with Heidi almost as a tool for his defence.
“Protocol” shows the true nature of the brilliant filmmaking Homecoming has subjected us too. As I’ve explained in previous reviews when the scene returns to the present day, the screen is narrowed, however, as soon as Heidi gets her memory back, it returns to full widescreen, demonstrating that her thoughts are no longer skewed, and she can see everything.
