Homeland season 6 finale rocked by major character death

*HUGE SPOILERS FOR THE HOMELAND SEASON 6 FINALE FOLLOW*

The finale of Homeland season six was rocked by major events as a fan favourite was killed off in dramatic fashion.

*FINAL WARNING FOR SPOILERS*

It was the long-suffering Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) who failed to make it through the season alive, going out in a heroic blaze of glory as the special ops pro drove President-elect Elizabeth Keane and friend Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes) through a hail of bullets.

Quinn was lucky to make it out of last season alive: he suffered a brain hemorrhage having been used as a test for a chemical weapon by ISIS recruits in Berlin. This season has seen Friend credibly portray a fractured character suffering from PTSD attempting to unearth a conspiracy orchestrated by the shady Dar Adal (F. Murray Abraham).

Fans expressed their sadness over the loss of Quinn on social media, with one disappointed viewer describing his death as "somewhat empty."

The finale was rocked with twists and places Homeland's characters in intriguing positions going into what is likely to be its penultimate season: Adal found himself jailed for his part in the assassination attempt, while Keane proved she may not be the fair President viewers thought as it became clear she had used Carrie in her ploy to round up and arrest all government officials - including Saul Berenson (Mandy Patinkin) - for possible complicity.

It's almost certain showrunners have been inspired by real-life events

In a shaky season, it seems like Homeland's season finale has ensured it remains a welcome TV fixture.