Evolution of Spooks.

[Naivety]

(29-04-2011 06:16 PM)loladom Wrote:  Some great observations and I would add that the major difference for me is the move from personalisation of the characters. In seasons 1-5 there was a focus on the action, the espionage, the intelligence gathering and the PEOPLE behind that. Now, especially in S9, that is completely missing. We learned little about Beth and zero about Demitri. There are no personal scenes anymore and there is also little humour. Sadly lacking are the one liners and excellent sarcasm.

I also think they've lost the intelligence of Harry and Ruth with the new writers and reference to philosophers and literature.

The world is now sadly all about explosions and guns.

I agree absolutely with you on all of the above. I would also say that the earlier series relied on excellent actors who weren't so universally known, therefore there was never one ego dominating the storyline.

I'm not a huge fan of the series 'arc' either. I think the interaction of the characters with each other provides the only story arc it needs. I loved the completely random stand alone stories that made up each episode.

As for the writing, it has lost the subtlety; the very clever one liners that Peter Firth put his stamp on; the Jane Austen style romance of Harry and Ruth and the sinister John le Carre edge.

Having said all that, I still love it to bits!