Series 9 Episode 8 discussion

[Gold Cormorant]

I'm still in shock about this episode, but I've been trying to wrap my mind around it. I loved the Ruth/Lucas scene and the looks between Harry and Ruth - my heart just melted. And Harry's message to Catherine? Yeah, definitely crying at that point. I do think that this series wasn't as good as others (lots of holes in writing, weird storylines, etc.), but I think part of the problem is that I'm still comparing everything to series 4/5. Personally, I thought (and probably always will think) 4/5 were the best they've done, and it's hard for anything else to live up to the standard. The team worked flawlessly together, there was positive romantic tension with H/R, and the stories worked.

While this series has been okay, I really felt like this episode was the best. Yes, the Lucas storyline was sudden and bizarre and yes, he seemed to magically change into an angsty lover-boy, but he also redeemed himself. Yes, he was a psycho and threatened Ruth's life (which made me almost hate him), but he was working through lots of his own issues. I'm not saying it was well-written or explained, but it was well-acted. The characters, in this series especially, have been through a lot (again, not necessarily well-written or explained) and it's changed them. They're all unstable, they're emotionally compromised on a daily basis. This episode really captured their emotional turmoil and reminded us that these characters are human. No matter how much we didn't want Lucas to betray his country, or destroy everything for Maya, or jump, he did. Probably because he's human, and with that existence comes a lot of emotion.

I do wish they had fleshed out Maya and Lucas, explained Lucas' sudden burning passion for her, but they didn't. It's up to us, the fans, to imagine that he must have really loved her if he was willing to sacrifice everything for her. As many responses are saying, we don't know the background. Maybe the script was different before "The Hobbit." Maybe it was different until someone just decided they didn't like it. What we know is what they've given us, and we have to make do.

On a more positive note, I can't wait until S10. I'm hoping the first few episodes are the investigation - maybe a new Section Head that can clash with Ruth? - then Harry returns and, in the finale, retires with Ruth. And they lived happily ever after.