I wonder whether Kudos might try an experiment and put a new section chief in place to test the viewers while Harry is under review? It depends whether this is the last series, or whether they'll try a CSI type continuance with an overhaul and change of direction. IMHO, there's no Spooks without Harry. BUT if the show wants to go for longevity beyond season 10 this is their golden opportunity to test the survival of the show minus Harry on the average (non additicted) viewer. My blood runs cold as I type this and I dislike my own cynicism that Kudos seems to care little about dedicated viewer loyalty (given the treatment of the non plausible lucus/John exit). Shock tactics. Losing Harry would be just that. If the new chief got poor reviews - Harry is on standby to come back at the end or next series. I should delete this before Kudos spies get any ideas. But in case, let me state catagorically THIS WOULD KILL ME.

(17-01-2011 02:37 PM)HellsBells Wrote:  The ending of series 9 was not much of a cliff-hanger for your average non-obsessed viewer, therefore I think the investigation has to be concluded quickly and a much more dramatic storyline started otherwise the viewing figures will suffer.

I agree with that...
A Non obsessed viewer probably wouldn't see it was a cliffhanger, but the start of a new thread of storyline for the next series.

I have to say I don't really consider the S9 ending as a real cliffhanger, at least not compared to previous Series, it seemed more like a reason for there to be a S10, I'd say Lucas jumping was more of a cliffhanger along with that missing 48 hours where we still have no idea what happened

Have viewing figures been dropping over the last Series, I know a lot of TV show ratings have been suffering

(17-01-2011 04:01 PM)loladom Wrote:  I wonder whether Kudos might try an experiment and put a new section chief in place to test the viewers while Harry is under review? It depends whether this is the last series, or whether they'll try a CSI type continuance with an overhaul and change of direction. IMHO, there's no Spooks without Harry. BUT if the show wants to go for longevity beyond season 10 this is their golden opportunity to test the survival of the show minus Harry on the average (non additicted) viewer. My blood runs cold as I type this and I dislike my own cynicism that Kudos seems to care little about dedicated viewer loyalty (given the treatment of the non plausible lucus/John exit). Shock tactics. Losing Harry would be just that. If the new chief got poor reviews - Harry is on standby to come back at the end or next series. I should delete this before Kudos spies get any ideas. But in case, let me state catagorically THIS WOULD KILL ME.

I hadn't thought of this, but you could be right that this is a possibility for season 10. It's true that the average Spooks audience watch more for the entertaining stories than for the characters and will possibly adapt to a Spooks without Harry. Nobody is irreplaceable, unfortunately. I would also hate it if they replace him. I'll still watch, but probably not with the same enthusiasm and emotional engagement as I'm doing now.

However, the way they've set it up, I think they'll be missing a trick if they don't do something with Harry to at least let him go out on a high, and not with a whimper. I've always thought that if they got rid of Harry, they'll want to give him a heroic death as he's been such a mainstay of the show.

I don't want them to kill off Harry, I would rather both he & Ruth be in it till the end

If they kill Harry off it will be profoundly depressing, a kick in the teeth to the devoted fans, and a real cop-out by Kudos. I would never watch the programme again.

I actually can't bear to read "kill" and "Harry" in the same sentence...

I'd like to see the opening as Harry off the job (by his choice given his attempts to resign in S9) but they quickly realise he's needed so all threats of investigation end to get him to come back. ANd it's Ruth's task to persuade him to come back (because she can't bear to be without him....) Oh dear, it really is time to do something other than obsessing about this!

The problem is we've all got far too much time in hand to fret about it before we get to find out! My personal hope is that Ruth gives such a blindingly brilliant performance at the enquiry (proving that Albany was not only a fake but a useless deterrent as no other countries really believed it - cue Chinese, Arabic and Russian documents all unearthed and then translated by her, including one that proves only a Chinese splinter group thought there was any value in stealing it) thereby convincing the entire panel that she was of course infinitely more important to save than Albany. That would vindicate Harry's decision and could leave their personal lives out of the spotlight so that they could get together without any hassle from the powers above them. Seemples!!

Personally I would like to see Harry make the decision to stay on himself. By that I mean I don't want to see a scenario where someone - either Ruth or the HS, has to convince him to stay on. I want something to happen that makes him realise this is what he's brilliant at, and to find some enjoyment in his work again. If he has to be persuaded to stay on, he'll always be wondering whether it wouldn't have been better for him to leave when he wanted to. I want them to give Harry his belief in himself back.

I definitely want Harry as his old self, strong, confident and sure. I wouldn't want him to be persuaded to stay and then constantly doubting his ability to do the job.

P.S. love the new sig Silktie

If this is the last series then I think we'll see a lot of Harry Pearce. If the last series concentrated on betrayal, then this one will be to restore Harry's faith in what he does. I wouldn't be surprised if we see Harry get promoted, not demoted! I also wouldn't be surprised if there is a departmental shake up and Section D gets disbanded. There are so many ways that the writers could take it.