(04-10-2010 09:26 PM)Aria Wrote:  Loved the Harry and Home Secretary scenes, from someone who wanted to "perculate" on Harry's resignation, he certainly has changed his tune regarding Harry.

I seem to be alone on hating this episode! And I particularly hated the HS scenes for the very reason that the HS seems to have changed his tune so quickly and rashly. The HS seems very superficial and doesn't seem to be able to read between the lines, and for some reason Harry's not letting on. Doesn't seem plausible. Actually, what really wound me up was that the HS, yet again, seems to be running the country! :@The TV interview was nonsense - it should have been the Foreign Secretary doing it, or the PM. And where's the Director General in all of this? Not even mentioned these days... I know it's only a TV show but at least the writers should have a stab at something vaguely realistic.

I found the whole episode rather implausible - Harry not letting the Russians know about the other AFF member...ok, I can live with that, but then all Harry's remorse didn't ring true - he usually has the courage of his convictions. Plus Ruth talking to the HS without telling Harry...perhaps the writers building in a rift between them, but still didn't feel right. The HS telling Harry he had to accept a Russian agent...nope. Meg immediately believing someone on the phone and giving her address...nope. Beth leaving the Russian agent with Meg...nope.

On the upside, I am in Portugal and the hotel has BBC1 so at least I got to see it!

(05-10-2010 09:03 AM)Tea Lady Wrote:  Loved all the HS scenes. Do we think that he figured out in the end that Harry had not lost the WMD? Towers looked totally exasperated with Harry.

That was my impression, TL. I think he did figure out what Harry did after Harry's whole 'nudge-nudge wink-wink' spiel about everybody basically getting what they wanted out of the whole mess.

Loved the exasperated way he told Harry to bugger off, and Harry's expression in reaction. For a moment there we had the old Harry back, who loves to get one over on the politicians.

I'm going to start with what I hated. I HATED that we didn't get more from Lucas in those last few minutes. For a minute, I really thought we were going to find out how he was caught in Russia. I really thought we were going to get more and that pissed me off.

Having said that, I *really* enjoyed this episode, my fave so far this season. Very clever, lots of great personal moments and great acting, especially from the very well cast Azis and Meg Kirby (I can't find credits for them but they were both excellent.).

This episode mostly worked because Azis remained a mostly sympathetic character, right up until he was shot that final time. That scale kept tipping one way and another all episode and made it genuinely suspenseful, also combined with the excellent action sequences. Train stations work for them.

And this time it was Harry who had the honesty and the line that ended the conversation. Nice bit there. I am enjoying the softly spoken Harry who is nonetheless totally menacing.

I'm sticking to my gins about Towers. Fussy, predictable politician to his core. I think he's there this season to be the guy Harry gets one over, in the same spirit as Mace or Juliet.

Question for discussion - did Viktor actually find out the location of the sample from Meg Kirby?

I was really fearful of last week's introduction of Maya as the new Lucas love-interest. So now we are on love-of-his-life no. 3. It's boring! I fear for his character because if this continues, Lucas/John 'whatever' will become one-dimensional. We don't need his good-looks and love scenes to enjoy Lucas as a character in his own right. C'mon, where's the angst over the decisions he makes in his job; and what he did in his past that was so awful. And Vaughan. Why again do we have Lucas pining over a women?

Contrast this with the treatment of the HR love story. I hope this one does progress, because if it doesn't in this series; then I think the Spooks writers' have a fundamental problem with writing a thead about love & indeed passion between two people in their mid-40's and 50's.

On the plus side, Beth has plenty of guts, I like her. Like many have said, we know nothing of Dimitri yet, and where he is going to fit into the team. A very nice twist at the end with the video footage to fool the Russian ambassador; and I laughed out load at Harry's presentation to him of a medal of honour for the fallen soldier. It was classic Harry humour! A very entertaining episode but we were left with very little progression in the Lucas backstory. But it felt more Spooks of old, a one-shot episode with a contained theme, and I really liked that!! More please!

(05-10-2010 05:15 AM)Adam Carter Wrote:  As great of an episode as this was (and boy was it great), I still have to wonder:

Three episodes in, and we still know absolutely nothing about Dimitri. No personality. No backstory. Nothing.

This is absolutely bugging me too!

I feel it is slightly disrespectful to the fans.

I forgot to say that I hope we get a good Dimitri story this season. He has great potential.

I worry we're heading for another Ben situation, except the actor and character are better.

I looked on the net to see if the "McGough Medal" exists, but can not find anything.

I too, got excited, thinking we will find out how Lucas ended up in prison. Was he saying though, the reason he finished with Maya and disappeared was that he went to prison for 8 years? Or was Lucas saying that he paid the price for leaving Maya and letting her think he was dead, as he ended up in prison for 8 years as a sort of punishment for what he did? I am just a bit confused here as surely the timeline is wrong. Wasn't Lucas in Africa 15 years ago, say 1995? Wasn't he in the Russian prison 2000-2008?

I did like the way Lucas stood up to Vaughn though and called his bluff. Maybe Lucas is not scared of Harry after all. Clearly they have both done something naughty together, or Lucas has some dirt on Vaughn.

OK - my feelings on this episode are mixed:
*To me the episode felt a bit like -call from Maya-run around with Russians-kissing Maya.
*I didn't feel the tension much throughout the episode as it felt a bit predictable imo - you just knew that Viktor wasn't there to really help MI5.
*Also, why does Beth get to do everything? Don't get me wrong, I like her character, but my goodness I think Dimitri can do a bit more than watch the stairs and drive the car! I hope there is more to come for Dimitri.
*Maya caved in a bit too quickly for my liking - I mean I know Lucas/John is good looking but ummmm 15 years...please - And I'm sorry Lucas/John who were you thinking of everyday in prison Elizaveta or Maya....
*I don't believe an agent would live in a house which appears to have floor to wall windows - not very secure and provides an easy shot!

Things I did like:
HS interview on TV - He was the "perfect" politician and brilliantly played!
The final scene btwn Harry & Ruth and his line about (paraphrasing) getting to know him better
Lucas' line to Viktor that he already told the newbie the way things work
Lucas' light blue shirt with Blake tattoo peaking through slightly and the kiss - I know I stated earlier that Maya caved to easily but he had me at "Close..."()

Afternoon all another excellent episode yet again leaving us with more questions than answers but surely thats why we love it so much. im new to this so not sure how to just quote part of a message, but earlier somebody commented that Meg wouldnt have given Azis her address but just before this Dr Kirby called her and said its happening you know what to do so she would have been aware that he was about to be attacked so it wasnt that inconceivable that she would expect to get an envelope from him.