Series 9 Episode 4 discussion

[watchstrap]

I loved last night's episode probably more so than any so far. But I need to rewatch it again tonight with my daughter before posting more.

However, I have just got to offer some defence about the techie inaccuracies. Now I worked in IT doing various design type things for the best part of 20 years and my husband still does. Last night we had our usual 'right old laugh' about the shots with 'someone typing in a password/downloading stuff'. Its all designed to cater for someone like my 74 year old Mum, love her. The screen font is set to about 45 for a start and its all so bleeding obvious. Trust me it needs to be. As well as it not being real life anyway some times there has to be quite a lot of signposting going on so some people (not us!) can keep up.

Some of you may never watch Spooks in a mixed ability group with other family members or friends. Trust me, it can be painful!

[Beatriz]

I have mixed feelings about this episode and I want to watch it again to talk about it and try to decide if I like it or not. I was very sleepy when I saw it at 1am... Firsts thoughts:

I don't know what to think about Lucas anymore, if the writers want us to feel confused about Lucas they are succeeding, at least with me. Not still sure about this whole Maya thing is about... Loved the scene where they both kiss and he has a big knife in his hand
I can't decided if he's a good person or not... And what about the twist in the end?

I love Dimitri more and more; he had more screen time than in the other episodes.

I also like watching how's Beth is struggling to be a good officer, she takes her job very seriously and she wants to make a good impression. I liked what Ruth's says to her, she followed her advise and she was right in the end.

[AnnMarie]

(12-10-2010 07:47 AM)BravoNine Wrote:  And from what I can see, Vaughn is slowly bringing out the dark side of Lucas who when in survival mode, is willing to anything to get what he wants, even if it meant innocent people gets in harm's way.

See, this is what is troubling me. The "innocent people" being sacrificed is so not what I think of Lucas. If so, wouldn't he have sacrificed someone during the 8 years of his torture and imprisonment Also, while being tortured, wouldn't they have come across that Lucas was John? Unless John is the legend and Lucas is real....hmmm

[Jackdaw]

Last nights episode was the best so far this season. We saw a glimpse of the old Harry back. Witty, in control, protective and still compleatly in love with Ruth. (I must have replayed the "sorry about your lips" and "fitted with a cow bell" scenes about 50 times at least on my sky plus box. Infact its getting that bad I actually know the actual minute to locate said scenes on. In the word of Lucas North "I need to get out more".

Speaking of Mr North, Ok I have never been a Lucas North fan. Sorry to all his little army of fans out there. I loved him in North and South and Vicar of Dib and even in Strike Back. I convinced myself that my dislike of him grew from the fact that Adam Carters team was my fave. But we now have Beth and Dimitri who in my head have repleced Jo and Zaf and are doing a bloody fantastic job of it.
I look forward to scenes and strorylines with them in it. But with Lucas its so damn boring. There was more sexual tension in Harry and Ruths phone call than there was of them snogging and in bed together. The writers need to cut there losses with this character. Its just the same old crap.

As for Ruth. How the hell has section D coped with her absence is beyond me. Why is everyone so suprised that Ruth can cope undercover. Other than Harry himself she is the only one who can do every job in the place. Not only is she a genius but she can improvise along with the best of the field officers, and there is no limit to her bravery, loyalty and sacrifice. And unlike some members of the team (LN) she can carry this without scowling every two minutes and constantly displaying a chip on the shoulder attitude.

I apologise to LN fans who have taken offence, but im so bloody frustrated with his romances and the lack of Harry and Ruths its unreal.

[Tea Lady]

(12-10-2010 01:24 PM)Jackdaw Wrote:  There was more sexual tension in Harry and Ruths phone call than there was of them snogging and in bed together.

Heavens !!!! How did I miss this ????

I know what you mean about Lucas and I'm not his biggest fan either but I just have a feeling the writers are going to throw us a curve ball here. We just can't see what direction it is coming from at the moment. I don't think this is going to turn out as predictable, as we are thinking at the moment.

[AnnMarie]

(12-10-2010 01:32 PM)Tea Lady Wrote:  [quote='Jackdaw' pid='33366' dateline='1286889884']

I know what you mean about Lucas and I'm not his biggest fan either but I just have a feeling the writers are going to throw us a curve ball here. We just can't see what direction it is coming from at the moment. I don't think this is going to turn out as predictable, as we are thinking at the moment.

God I hope not!

[I Want Jo Back]

Having watched last nights episode i cant believe we are half way through the series already again after watching last nigt we have been left with more questions than answers. The second half of the series is going to have to have a lot of answers in it. What can Lucas have done to the chinese he has p1ssed off a lot of countries in his life. I have convinced myself that Vaughn and Maya are working together i think she left the door open downstairs for vaughn to get in

[Nitrus]

(12-10-2010 10:18 AM)khananel Wrote:  I'm new here and probably amongst the 'older' group of the Spooks viewership. This is in the nature of a very critical review.

I feel that Spooks seems to be heading downhill fast. They replaced Malcolm with Tariq, nice bright kid, but too young to be so 'experienced' with the 'systems' he operates. Even a genius has to have experience... Its like he can take over any IT system in the UK, or the world, at will, and manipulate it instantly and effortlessly. Just too implausible... Or maybe he's a very youthful 35-45...

They got rid of the older lady who turned out to be a traitor. Shame, they didn't replace her with someone from a similar age/experience group, just for balance and plausibility.

The only 'oldies' are Harry and Ruth, both welcome, but both not quite acting as more experienced members of the service. Except for the scenes with Harry and the HS that are very well done.

Now we have Dimitri and Beth who can't be more than mid-20s. Now, did they go through screening? Were they trained up? I only ask this because in Episode 4 everyone seems to act like rank amateurs with the Chinese, and Harry admits as much. 'We were played...' I mean this is the nation's security service not the WI! Everyone now seems too young, too inexperienced, too lovesick and too confused. No wonder the enemies are walking all over them! I yearn for the days of Adam Carter and Roz. And the Lucas thing is so confused. Have they screened him? Is he a double or more agent? Is he effective, psychopathic or merely confused? should he be in the service at all?

And Tariq and his impossibly genius talent for taking over technology at the blink of an eye can't make up for these shortcomings. I mean, that Chinese bomb, so, instead of the whole experience of the Bomb squad and a BDO, we have the new Dimitry, and yes Tariq again doing it all by themselves... Implausiblity gives way to plain disbelief. Its becoming a bit daft or even ridiculous for me.

And they got the new Beth to handle the Chinese guy. In reality (what's that got to do with a good story...?) she would have gone under the wing of a Chinese specialist officer to learn the ropes. I mean the Chinese are know for their inscrutability. You don't put a newbie to handle them, certainly not on her own. Harry should have been dragged over the coals for allowing that. Not a, from Ruth ('oh I forgot the Chinese for...') 'your instincts were wrong this time, better luck next time'. It doesn't make even a little sense any more. And last episode they had the FSB guy in the heart of the Secret Service; why not just make Putin PM of the UKand we'll make the UK a province of the RF like Kaliningrad.

The previous episode, episode 3 was a shambles, so many 'holes' you could drive a coach and horses through. I complained to the BBC about that. In this one they were all merely rank amateurs.

If they carry on like this I may stop watching. A (once great) show going downhill fast. Maybe they are aiming for a younger (perhaps less demanding, finicky, grumpy?) age set. And I may be shot down in flames for my comments here. So be it.

Thank you.

I could not disagree with you more on almost every point you made. It is totally plausible that Tariq can do all of the things he does, it's even probable that he can do it *better* than Malcolm could.

You seem to have a real problem with the age of the cast, for reasons I can't comprehend. As for your comments on the training of Beth & Dimitri, it's pretty clear from the little history we know of them that they are basically trained already. Dimitri would've been trained in counter-intelligence while training for the SBS and Beth has been a private security contractor for years, giving her the experience she needs.

[LucasNorthFan]

(12-10-2010 08:34 AM)Tea Lady Wrote:  This is very out of character even after the whole Sarah C thing IMO. That just makes me think Lucas is acting like a love sick puppy for his own ends. He was so cold and ruthless when he set that other officer up, and even Vaughn said he didn't really have to do that, that I struggle to believe he did all of that for one woman. Even if she is the love of his life.
...
Final point. Why the hell did Lucas have his patio door unlocked ?? He lives in London for gods sake. Anything not nailed to the mast is gone in seconds, and he's supposed to be a government officer!!!

I think Lucas is out of character with Maya because he is John with her, then switches back to Lucas with everyone else. He's too vulnerable, too eager, when he met her at the hospital's corridor I saw a young-man in love, as if they were showing us 15-years ago John.

On the other hand, I see some sense on Lucas' behaviour being just self-preservation. I wanted to see more signs of the 8 years in Russia, here it is, he needs love. He held onto memories and beliefs ('I was MI5 then, I'm MI5 now from S7) and wants that life back, he has the opportunity now. Maybe John's life was easier, simpler and wants to live it again.

If Lucas(and Harry) is playing both Vaughn and Maya I'll be one happy girl.

ETA: I thought the door open was a sign that someone has entered, not that Lucas left it open. Or do you mean open, without a lock?

Quick question: Do doctors in the UK not wear white coats?Is it optional?

Quote:I feel that Spooks seems to be heading downhill fast. They replaced Malcolm with Tariq, nice bright kid, but too young to be so 'experienced' with the 'systems' he operates. Even a genius has to have experience... Its like he can take over any IT system in the UK, or the world, at will, and manipulate it instantly and effortlessly. Just too implausible... Or maybe he's a very youthful 35-45...

I don't agree. Now the more experienced people in this area are young, the IT people were I work are less than 35. Hackers are also young. I believe Tariq can comprehend and manipulate any system/technology thingy, there's a reason his is part of MI-5.
I did find doubtful his knowledge on disactivating bombs, were it Malcom giving the instructions I wouldn't have give it a second thought, Tariq did say the mecanism was 'simple' though.

Loved Ruth on the field and loved Beth. They forgot spanish among Ruth's language skills, at least she understood it in last ep

I will say again, I want more Tariq development.

LNF

[age1021]

Didn't like this episode that much, but I do love mean Lucas! the best thing was him setting up a fall guy, but I feel like there is more to that than what we got to see...hmmm.
Anyway, was streaming the video and the last 2 minutes were cut off. Please tell me what happened :-(