“How do you explain a hole in the wall to internal Services?”
Finished off series 4 of Mi-5 (Spooks) this weekend and a review, spoilers and discussion below the cut:
Series 4 does not start off on the other side of a cliff-hanger like Series 2 and 3 did, but rather sensibly during Danny’s Funeral.
Episode 1 (the Special pt1) hits the ground running as a low distant rumble is heard during the funeral….a bomb has been detonated somewhere in London (The season start of series four had to be delayed because this Ep deals with a terrorist group putting bombs in train stations…which had happened in RL just a few months before the series was to start).
So, Sam is gone (no know reason is mentioned) and there is a new boss above Harry. A political appointee with some Mi-5 background, but still a political appointee, which causes several problems (which it should) throughout the season. Zaf has joined the team full time and I really enjoy his character….he is a serious BD character if I wanted to point out a model to base a RP character on….but then again so is Ruth.
The CIA rears its ugly head again this season starting here, and with some nice plot twists.
Also, there are some nice character turns done by some EastEnders alums in this episode, and Marlybone stands in again as the Target (it was used in an episode in one of the earlier series) and it was fun to see the maze like “Subways” again.
All in all the first EP does a good job of setting up how the rest of the series is going to go.
The second Episode (the Special pt2) continues where the first one ended and there is some nice plot and writing there.
Both rate: B
Episode 3 (Divided They Fall) has some wonderful bit’s in it. A party based on the National Front is the focus of this episode. Scary people and some beautifully played out dirty tricks make this one worth watching. An Amber game in mini form. :)
Rate: A
Episode 4 (Road Trip) Is a bit weak and…Meh. It is basically Adam trying to be Macho, and I am very done with the Adam being Macho bit. But, it does have one thing going for it that US spy shows (or cop drama’s in particular) and that is that Mistakes can and will be made and most of the time with disastrous results. That is one thing I do love about this show, and that is none of the characters are saints, all of them make mistakes, and none of them flawless spy gawds.
Rate: C+
Episode 5 (the Book) deals with what happens when an old spook decides to set the record straight and share all the dirty secrets in a book. This was a very good episode from the stand point of what is good for the public v what is good for the Government. Also a nice touch (for me at least) was that there was a wonderful “Spycraft” moment where a character does something that a Margie, Randy or BD character would have done…priceless.
It also is the introduction of a new Main by the name of Jo Portman….more later.
Rate: B+
Episode 6 is a nice little character piece where Zaf gets to really shine. A nice set up of a man being forced to commit an assassination or have his family killed. Nice, tense, and well paced.
Rate: A-
Episode 7 (Syria) Is where we get to see another Main Leave the series….and really since this main hasn’t really been more than eye candy and really hasn’t been given a chance to “bond” with the audience it is no great loss. Jo Portman is now an Agent in Mi-5 and a part of Section D. So far her character rings true, not really competent , very green, and not really sure if this is where she wants to be. A lot of potential here plot wise as she moves forward character wise. Also, as an investigative reporter she could have some nice uses plot wise. I really do not see her character being a field agent for all that long.
Rate: C+
Episode 8 (The Russian) The first post Fiona episode, and you really do not miss her (even though she still shows up on the intro). Much fun here dealing with Russian “Businessmen” and Adam’s coming to terms with Fiona’s murder….with an end scene that would be something I would never want to do in RL.
Rate: B
Episode 9 (The Sting) Ahhh…..the perfect Episode for the season. So much good here. A Classic Spy show plot well done and with a very satisfying end. Woot!
Rate: A
Episode 10 (Diana) This deal with the general belief that Mi-6 and/or Mi-5 had a hand in the death of Princess Diana. It is the series ender and a Cliff-hanger. Woot!
Remember, Old Spooks are never out of the game, they just change the rules when you are not looking.
Rate: B+
So, all in all Series 4 rates a B-, but only because the weak bits in the middle which I think comes down to an actor wanting to leave the show to have a child, so that character is not really given any focus (because why waste the time and effort) and when the character is killed it just seems like a waste of plot arc and there is no real sense of loss….just another NPC tossed in the bin.
Still the best Spy genre show on TV, IMHO.