Greetings from Lithuania.
Watch out, Carrie.
"Homeland" season's 5 two opening episodes were the best season openers since the very first season. As much as i loved season 4, season's 5 two first episodes were exhilarating.
There are 3 main story lines (Carrie, Saul, Quinn) here, which i don't doubt will collide sooner or later. All 3 story lines work here so far greatly.
Script is smart, realistic, plausible and suspenseful - every element that made last 4 seasons amazing are here is season 5. Add superb acting by all involved (even side characters), superb directing of each scene, "edge of your seat "The Hurt Locker"" type cinematography / editing during more tense sequences and you will have a show which is very easy to admire if your favorites aren't about vampires and guys in superhero masks (no offense please).
Overall, season 5's two opening episodes are superb in every possible way. When season 5 was announced and news that it will be set in Germany was announced, i thought "Germany, what the heck? Homeland was always set in topical settings for it's seasons year." At the moment, witnessing the refuge crisis and situation in Germany, i couldn't find any word then "amazing" to describe the sagacity of show creators.