[spoilers] Sir Harry Pearce 2.0

[lwhite53]

Yes, I was specifically thinking of the HS's betrayal in s6. Being able to rationally and dispassionately weigh the pros and cons of why Blake made that decision and then to agree that, in similar circumstances, H himself might have done the same, is certainly extraordinary. It shows that H puts the safety and security of the country above everything, even his own life.

But H also let Blake know that if it ever happened again, H would destroy him! I think that was the moment when both took each other's measure and decided they needed to trust each other, that they were stronger (and the country was safer) if they worked as a team.

[Aria]

Was wondering if anyone knew why Harry was so instrumental in Sugarhorse? Surely the deployment of Russian sleepers would come under MI6's remit. Did I miss some reason why Harry and Dolby, both key MI5 people, were involved in this?

[JHyde]

OoOHHHH good question!!! It probably came under Harry's remit in Section D because it was part of a preventative strategy and Prince may well have been from Six. So it was a joint operation perhaps, which would make sense.

Especially given its secrecy, it would have been very closely held by those who even knew Harry to be there in 87, 88 and 89 as he was presumably doing recruiting while doing other things. It never felt like a directive given to anyone either, as only Dalby, Prince and Harry knew about it and Harry was only Section Chief at the time, not in his current position.

[Aria]

Thanks for answering JHyde. I can see that it might have been a secretive op between the three of them rather than a directive from on high, which would explain why they never knew the others agents in case they were compromised.

[JHyde]

I always got the feeling they may have been thrown together by the reigning DG at the time and told to take measures and Sugarhorse was what they came up with.

[Silktie]

Yeah, I'm still not really satisfied with that explanation, and think it rather falls into the category of 'dramatic license'. The only legitimate reason I can think of for Harry to be involved is if he had some Russian contacts that could be exploited for the operation, but the only connection he has with Russia is his debriefings of that old geezer who was a Russian spy and was released from jail in season 4. So I don't see it. It's the same with the question of what Lucas was doing in Russia when he was captured, seeing as he was MI5 and not MI6 at the time.

[JHyde]

Oh I know that explanation is far from perfect. As you say, and as PF likes to say, 'it's not reality, it's entertainment'. And very well it works too.

[Silktie]

True, true. But I like to be able to fanwank things that are not very realistic - and then get annoyed when I can't. With Spooks I can do that for the most part, but there are some things I just cannot get past, such as interagency love affairs, and someone who was involved in a coup becoming part of the team (Ros). But I'm willing to live with these things and only rant about them once in a while because I love the show so much. But as fanwanks go, your explanation was pretty good, JHyde!

[Aria]

I love that word, fanwank!!!!

[JHyde]

Thanks Silktie I also overthink things, and I agree that some things are a bridge too far. It's why I avoid certain things when I write fan fic too.

I really want a Harry storyline with him bumping up against Dalby or someone similar in Season 9. Some of the best storylines or sub plots have involved that action, and it works well. Love a bit of Harry bluster, and it would be nice to see Harry gets his chops back for a bit.