Homeland Season 3 Countdown: What You Need to Know

Get ready for the Emmy-winning show's return with trailers, news and more

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Kent Smith / Showtime

Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in 'Homeland' (Season 3, Episode 2)

The third season of Homeland premieres on Sunday, Sept. 29, the beginning of what Claire Danes told Access Hollywood will be a “crazy” but “mournful” period for the show.

Here’s everything—non-spoilery—you need to know about what’s gone down in the world of Homeland between the end of the last season and the beginning of the next:

Claire Danes won an Emmy for her performance as Carrie Mathison.

At the Emmy Awards on Sept. 22, Claire Danes won best lead actress in a drama series, for the second year in a row. She also wore her hair in a faux bob and appeared in a fun Audi commercial that aired during the performance.

The late Henry Bromell also won an Emmy for the show, for his writing on the episode “Q&A.”

Bromell died in March so his widow accepted his award on his behalf; she later elaborated on how his childhood with a father in the CIA contributed to his work on the show.

But the show isn’t exactly on strong critical ground as it heads into this season.

As Reuters points out, this year’s two Emmys were a step down from last year’s six, which included awards for  best drama and best actor. The second season didn’t earn the same raves that the first did, and the premiere of the third will run opposite the series finale of Breaking Bad, the show that did win the best drama Emmy. The show’s creators have already tried to get out in front of the criticism, promising answers and high stakes for this season.

(MOREHomeland: Will Lebanon Sue Showtime Producers over Beirut Portrayal?)

There’s a Homeland novel now.

Earlier this month, the prequel Homeland: Carrie’s Run was released. The book takes place in Beirut in 2006 and follows Carrie’s attempts to find evidence linking a new contact to Abu Nazir.

And a new U.K. trailer for the show, too.

British viewers will have to wait till October for the season—er, “series”—to start, but Channel 4 just released a look at what’s to come.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hbhBNJGC1A]

That’s in addition to the U.S. trailer that Showtime released in August and still photos from this season, released last week.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXOUIsu-E0Q]

Last week, Showtime released a “documentary” about the events that took place in the Season 2 finale.

Learn more about the “12/12 Bombing” in this nine-minute film, which sets up Season 3.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P55GdblFUs]

CATCH UP: TIME’s Homeland Season 2 recaps will make sure you’re ready for what starts on Sunday.