Outed CIA spy Valerie Plame thinks “Homeland” has seen better days.
Plame’s cover was famously blown in a 2003 Robert Novak column. Until then, her mission to protect the U.S. from enemies in the Middle East was a lot like that of “Homeland” lead Carrie Mathison, played by Claire Danes.
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“It’s compelling TV — Claire Danes is of course fabulous,” Plame said at a Television Critics Association panel Wednesday, before going all CIA analyst on the show.
She added: “I think they have jumped the shark this season.”
At this, some of the critics applauded in agreement.
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Plame also took issue with a few points.
“You see all the things that make you roll your eyes, like come on,” she said. “But it has to be entertaining, and it certainly is entertaining.”
One complaint: “The fact that the character she plays is bipolar and no one really notices?” asked Plame.
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Her biggest issue, however, is with the rampant use of traceable cell phones by undercover agents.
“They always use their cell phones inside headquarters,” she said. “You realize your cell phone is really like a little transmission device? Okay, great. Little GPS inside there? That doesn’t happen.”
Plame was at the TCA tour as one of the women featured in PBS’s “Makers,” which looks at women’s accomplishments in war, entertainment, and politics, among other fields. She said that in some parts of the world, “women are wallpaper,” barely noticed by men — which can actually be helpful to a spy.
“You can move around in a lot of places without anyone looking askance at you,” she said.