Series 9 Episode 7 discussion

[Logsie]

(04-11-2010 03:55 PM)conniesachs Wrote:  Missed it on Monday and wanted to watch it twice before asking a few questions;

* Think some people have queried what mobile model was used to detonate bomb but no one seems to have questioned whether Senegal had a mobile network in 95. I was living in Botswana at the time and there definitely wasn't one there, and I think South Africa was only just getting their infrastructure in place - could do with some imput from Silktie on this - as I knew a guy who got a job in SA locating and acquiring sites for mobile phone masts, and I'm sure that was in 96. Can't believe SA would be behind Senegal in this sort of technology.
If Senegal didn't have a mobile network in 95 would that prove that Vaughn's version of the bombing was a fake - clutching at straws - or just that the script writers didn't do their research, again?

*According to John/Lucas the young Lucas North went to Dakar because it was crawling with spies and he wanted to get the smell of it.
When Harry wanted to go after Arkady Katchimov (7.2) he said he wanted the smell of him. Thought at the time it was an unusual expression and now it's come up again, and Lucas (the one we know and love) wasn't at that meeting. Also, Harry pressed John/Lucas several times on why the young LN was in Senegal and interested in the intelligence community.
Did Harry tell a young man eager to join MI5 to get some experience first and now realises what really became of him?

* Unless Vaughn and John managed to dispose of the body permanently they left behind a murdered white man. Who identified him? Was he shot or strangled? I know african police forces don't have a good record for efficiency, but the Senegal police must have some records. Did Beth check?

* Harry said the Dakar bombing happened on his watch, but surely events in africa would be in MI6's remit wouldn't they? Or is it because embassies are considered to be part of their country's sovereign territory and are therefore the British Embassy would be considered part of Britain? Does anyone know the protocol?

Good point about the embassy. I suspect that it comes under MI5's remit because British citizens were killed on British sovereign territory - or was it because they already knew the bombers were British?

Re the mobile network (absence of) I would dearly love to think this adds weight to our theories that John's memories are fabricated or at least peppered with half-truths but I suspect it's just down to sloppy research. Kudos should ask the fans to do their research for them, I'm sure we'd be happy to oblige free of charge.

The whole thing is dodgy IMO. If Lucas was applying to join MI5 then surely they would be keeping tabs on him so they would have known he'd been in Senegal in '95, yet when John (who Harry still believed to be Lucas at this point) volunteered the information that he had been in Dakar when the bombing happened, Harry was genuinely surprised to learn of it. And whilst we're on the subject, if Beth found the real Lucas's gym membership in 5 minutes, complete with a very helpful photo ID, how in hell's name didn't anyone find it before now? I think the "real" Lucas identity has been planted there for someone to find. Either that or the writers think we are all a bunch of gullible idiots.