Episode 5 Discussion

[JHyde]

After 48 hours away from you all, I'll provide my slightly less articulate and coherent thoughts on the episode. By the way Tea Lady - it's nice to see you back and posting. We've missed you!

I disagree that this was a rehash of earlier storylines. Ros is a completely different character to Tom, and Salter's motivations are very different to Colville's. Not to mention That getting some of Ros' backstory was terrific. They're actually very sparing about how they dole out information on the real past lives of Section D-ers, and I like it when they link it in with a plotline like this.

I'll take a leaf out of Silktie's book and break it down thus:

Things I liked -

Stephen Boxer's casting. Inspired. He fitted that character so well, and was equal parts villain and tragic hero (in an Othello sort of way).

The stunts. How awesome was that house explosion? I know HN loves the physical stuff as an actor, and it's a chance for us all to admire her fantastic legs. She's such an ex dancer!

The attachment Harry has to Ros. I'll talk more about this in the Harry thread just to keep this one on topic and my post a little shorter, but these two characters have much more in common than the show has explored thus far, and HN and PF have terrific chemistry as actors. No, I'm talking romanitic chemistry, I'm talking about two actors who obviously like each other, and their admiration and fun is reflected in how they play on screen. I hope that if they and the show both hang on, we'll see more of this development.

The cerebral nature to what was almost a thriller in how it was written and directed. Obviously, it was plot heavy, which is why there was a lot less of the personal stuff such as Harry/Ruth, or Lucas/Harry. Silktie, I'm not convinced we're unlikely to get anymore of either of those dynamics for the remainder of the season, although that might change if they continue to do the plot heavy storylines like 8.3 or this one. I definitely thought this was much more successful than 8.3, but the fact that you needed to pay attention shouldn't be a reason for disliking it.

The one thing that drove me crazy -

The continuity. I love Alrick Riley, he's done fabulous work on the show. But "counter *terroism* unit"? Or Ros wearing combat boots as she runs away from the house as it blows up and then in the next scene, clearly not that much later, and she's wearing her heeled boots again? (And there I was getting excited that she'd dropped the heels, albeit briefly.) That's just sloppy. And the executive producers are as much to blame. To be fair to Riley, this is the 3rd out of the first 5 episodes of season 8 he's directed so he's a little overworked.

I'd also like to address this issue of Lucas sleeping with Sarah just after she lies. If a woman who has previously been denying sex to you comes to bed in an obviously provocative nightgown and then plays vulnerable, to throw that proposition back in her face would tell her very clearly that something is not right. Lucas is a spy. He knows that she'd know something was wrong if he rejected her advances.

Plus, let's not deny the fact that she's pretty good looking and right there looking nice in his bed. And he likes her. This last point is obviously more subjective so don't go nuts trying to dissuade me about G. O'Reilly's looks.

And yes, for the record, it is much easier for an Australian to mimic English accents rather than American ones, because they're much closer in pronounciation, especially in the use of vowels. (O'Reilly grew up in Australia, for those who don't know.) Plus she already has experience with them, she's been acting in England for a few years now. The main pronounciation difficulties she's having are with words starting with "o" and double vowels.

I am starting a new thread to discuss Lucas' tattoos and their continuity, because it seems to be a recurring issue in the episode discussions! Feel free to rave about Armitage's hotness there, if you're so inclined. I will also be starting one on the themes of Series 8.