Series 10 - Episode 2 Discussion

[JHyde]

Super episode for lots of reasons. I agree there were holes in it but I was totally gripped the whole way through. This plot was not only very believable (the assets in this episode I suspect are a lot like most of the ones employed by Five) but also very modern.

I have always been on Tariq's team so I quietly wept when he died, even though I was expecting it. He was in the plot outline on the BBC website and that whole little monologue (heartfelt though it was) delivered to Callum was clearly a 'this is what I stand for, now I die' moment. (In much the same way as Ros got in her last episode or Jo in 8.2, the episode before she died.) Truly heart wrenching stuff.

I disagree with TL's characterisation of Martha as naive. She was most impressive and I don't think it's naive to expect that in return for excellent intelligence and stellar service that she might be protected when push came to shove. (Remember that she hasn't been watching Spooks for 9 seasons and knows how it goes.) It's not even like her job was fantastically dangerous compared to some of the other assets we have seen in the series. She was absolutely justified in being pissed off and frightened. I think the Service cutting her out was a bastard move and negligent given the circumstances. Is anyone really going to tell me that they couldn't have protected her if they had really wanted to? Martha's role in the story worked really well, I was on the edge of my seat as she escaped from her workplace, willing her on to safety.

Exquisite set for Elena and Harry's meeting. Lovely touch and beautifully shot. Also enjoyed the shots of Harry through the blinds and glass of his office, they always look good.

I'm withholding judgement on the Sacha storyline for now. I just hope it's going somewhere better.

Nice little addition to Harry's personnel file was the inclusion of Bill Crombie - welcomed by us Harry diehards! I don't buy that his file would be so thin though....

The best scene of the episode was undoubtedly between Harry and Erin in his office. Just fantastic stuff. Lara Pulver is more than a match for PF and that dynamic is a really interesting one, it's not much like any of the others that have come before, so cheers to that.

I'm really excited about the rest of the season.