Warning: This post contains major spoilers from the most recent episode of "Homeland."

We've reached the midway point of the season, which means episode six of "Homeland" was chock-full of melodrama, shocking deaths and a frightening cliffhanger. In a stunning turn of events (although, the sunbathing break by a stream was a glaring red flag that Aayan Ibrahim (Suraj Sharma) wasn't going to survive the episode), Carrie Mathison's (Claire Danes) lover/recruit ended up dead at the hands of his Taliban-leader uncle, Haissam Haqqani, who was tipped off to the fact that his nephew was (unknowingly) working for the CIA.

But Aayan's unwitting martyrdom is quickly usurped by the revelation (to Carrie) that Haqqani and his crew of terrorists have taken Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) hostage. It's a good thing Carrie orchestrated this entire exchange – and was conveniently able to watch the showdown via drone from her cushy seat at the embassy command center – because now her mission is obviously going to be saving Saul from the clutches of the Taliban. The only wrinkle? Aayan's murder triggered a quintessential Carrie meltdown, which in turn distracted the rest of her drone team from tailing the car carrying Saul.

Below is Dr. Vince Houghton's take on episode six of "Homeland" ("From A to B and Back Again"), as told to Sarene Leeds.