How did you feel about Season 9?

[Onion Terror]

I hope personally that the conclusion of series 9, and of the Lucas storyline in particular, will be a turning point for Spooks. Although I've still really enjoyed the last few series, the writers seem to have taken the show in a direction I haven't been too keen on. Without wishing to over-simplify the programme, the first 5 series were (on a very basic level) about the 'good guys' of Section D dealing with the threat posed by various 'bad guys'. With the exception of Tessa way back in series 1, there was never a member of the team who was portrayed as untrustworthy; the viewer could always rely on their integrity and inherent 'goodness'. For me, this changed with series 6. Ros became involved with the Yalta organisation, then in S7, just as we began to trust Lucas, Connie was revealed as the mole. And of course we have had the Lucas/John saga throughout S9, in addition to Beths actions in (I think it was) ep.2.
I know this might sound like a naive point of view, but I would like to see a return to what you could call 'old school' Spooks. Don't get me wrong-its still one of only 2 or 3 TV shows I actually make a point of not missing-but for me the first five series (especially 3-5) were the best. Still looking foward to S10 already though, and would be made up if they could go back to a 10-episode series. 8 just doesn't seem enough!

[Naivety]

Series 9 for me was, on the whole, mesmerising, exciting and frustrating. There aren't many shows after nine seasons can have me glued to my seat. I have watched every episode from series one and this one was certainly one of the better ones. The acting from Peter, Nicola and Richard were supreme. The best performance was probably Nicola, especially in episode 7 - she nearly broke my heart with what she was saying to Harry. Peter Firth was also virtually faultless throughout.

I didn't like the blatantly obvious using of the same scenes twice. There was the scene on the embankment in ep 3, the scene in the dark on the roof, and I reckon they used at least one other of Harry sitting at his desk drinking whisky. This annoyed me and stopped me concentrating on the storyline. I didn't like the use of several points of view in ep 2, and the voice over in ep 8 was a bit weird. I prefer them using the board room briefings to keep me up with the plot. Another gripe would be the lack of humour and pithy lines that have always been a trademark.

My best episodes were 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8. The episodes directed by MCJ were the most stylish and photographic.

There has already been lots said about Lucas. For me, because I never quite connected with the character, I wasn't so narked about the change in his character. I never really bought the way he was introduced to the show in the first place. But I enjoyed his scenes, heartbreaking though they were. It gave RA to show of his acting skills and the ending for me was completely unexpected and shocking.

[theeyeshaveit]

The other good thing that could have come out of using something in Lucas' MI5 past as the catalyst for a story line, is that it could lead to as much interesting storytelling involving Harry and maybe even others as it does Lucas. All we had from this storyline was Harry's reactions today, enjoyable and brilliantly played though they were.

[A Cousin]

For me and as others have mentioned, the individual episodes worked very well but the over-arcing theme, while ambitious, intriguing and worthwhile (to me anyway), was overshadowed. For me the over-arcing theme was of a philosophical bent as played out through Harry, Ruth and Lucas jointly - in parallel and in conjunction. (I could quote Kierkegaard here - but I can feel the collective eye-rolling, so I won't. Suffice it to say: The Three Stages of Life.) From the first lines of the series out of Ros' mouth: "Don't make a decision you can't live with" through to Lucas' "I am nobody", they attempted to address the issues of how the decisions they have made affects their personal lives, the question of truth and decency, how they lose parts of their selves, I could go on. I think they were reasonably successful in every way except one.

To that thematic end, they "had" to send Lucas on the journey they sent him on - warts and all. The problem was that, even for me, someone who has always thought Lucas was at worst under-developed and at best suspicious from the get-go, the leap of faith was a little too contrived in many ways. So it took over and overshadowed what I thought they were trying to really achieve.

For me, Spooks is at its best when it balances plot and character. The first 6 episodes were great for the most part. The pendulum started to swing off balance in 9.7 but was saved by some great acting. In 9.8 the pendulum swung completely over to the character side.

Filming - nicely done in general. I particularly liked Simon Canton Jones' 9.2 and 9.3 and, despite my misgivings of it, I thought 9.8 was beautifully filmed. The rest of the episodes for me were more standard Spooks filming, well done but not obtrusive or distracting.

Acting - no complaints there. Someone just needs to hand PF, RA and NW their BAFTA's right now. I was happy with all of the secondary characters, except Maya. The guest artists were a cut above, esp. Benedict Wong, Johnathan Aris, Amanda Hale, Donald Sumpter, Paul Freeman, Fiona Glascott, and Trevor Cooper.

Overall, I give it an 8 out of 10 because the main overarching theme played out very successfully with Harry and Ruth, but not so successfully with Lucas, the individual episodes were generally very well done, the actors were brilliant and S9 had me guessing and very emotionally involved up until the last episode.

[molecatcher]

Series 9? Inspired! In my review of E1 I wrote that my heart sank in the first few minutes when Harry proposed but that I should have had more faith in the writers not to go down a sloppy happy ending route. Little did I know just how prophetic that was. As the series progressed and Harry unravelled more and more Ruth became stronger to the point of being annoying to me, only because I wanted her to show more empathy as far as Harry's moral and emotional struggle grew but I have to admit it was clever to have his uncertainties drive a wedge between them. As frustrated as I was it gave PF and NW so much scope to act their socks off and they did. Both were outstanding throughout.

For the first time since Lucas' return from Russia I felt an emotional attachment. No longer the doe-eyed lovesick wimp but a confused, psychologically disturbed character who I so wanted to redeem himself and come out alive but of course this is Spooks so fat chance of that! However I applaud Kudos for it and that's why I'm an avid fan. RA showed me why he is considered by so many to be a rounded and great actor. The more John/Lucas became entangled and was doing his worst the more I felt for him. However, the one niggle I had throughout the series was what seemed like only a 2 minute segment at the end of each episode to introduce the Vaughn and Maya story and carry what was after all the major series arc. More time could and should have been allocated to their development because although Vaughn came across immediately as the thorn in Lucas' side Maya didn't stand a chance with viewers with just a few seconds of a pained look or quick snog. Her scenes in the last episode proved she could have contributed far more if allowed.

The weekly stories were brilliant especially the lockdown on the Grid and the professor and his daughter doing their best to keep their secret from the terrorists and Russians. Dimitri could have been given more to do than defuse bombs but I loved his humour which was probably the only light touch throughout the series. Beth's introduction was okay and I enjoyed her first episode inspite of still missing Ros at that time but unfortunately she seemed to get sidelined as time went on and the dialogue for her character was at times ludicrous.

The Harry and HS scenes were enthralling and I loved the almost bitchy conflict that grew between them as the series progressed. Let's hope nothing changes politically in the next year to mean a new HS in office.

For me it was the best series ever and one I will watch again and again for its moving and sometimes disturbing character developments.

Oh yes, and my postscript ~ THANK GOD THE SHAKEY CAMERA WAS PUT TO REST. Superb directing thoughout!

That's it from me until 2011. Time to get my life back post~Spooks. Happy Christmas everyone and a Spooky New Year!! xxx

[tastiger]

I thought Season 9 started off well with the introduction of Beth & Dimitri. What bothered me about losing Lucas was the easy way the writers chose to do it. It was very predictable and gave absolutely no credit for the past 2 seasons when we followed his journey back into the MI-5 fold. No one was introduced into the storyline to take his place as when Tom or Adam left. As much as we love those characters we immediately were given another intriguing character to focus on. Not so with Season 9.

I've figured out...that's why I felt so empty at the end of the episode. Don't get me wrong....I am an avid RA fan, he did great with what he had, and I hated to watch Lucas disintegrate before my eyes with a weak plot line...but without someone else to fill the bill as section chief and on top of that Harry losing his position....well, that summed up makes for a pretty depressing situation. I usually can't wait for the new season to begin since Spooks always leaves me wanting more.....can't say the same now.

[JHyde]

Actually, that was something I forgot to rate pretty highly. The direction on just about every episode was pretty stylish and it LOOKED good. To be honest the re-using shots thing didn't bother me, I truthfully didn't notice it, which is unusual.

There was nothing extraordinarily impressive but it was subtle, decent directing.

[HellsBells]

I also didn't notice the re-use of shots. But if they have to do that to keep the costs down I guess it is fair enough.
I agree with molecatcher that there was not enough development of Beth and Dimitri and I hope they are allowed to develop in series 10.

[Katja]

You know, a little distance to get over the "gosh how sad" feeling and I'm starting to enjoy the beauty of this series--the parallels, images, tragic beauty of the story--maybe it's just my age making me forget about the plot holes and could have beens?

Jury's still out, but I think I may like this one very much with a little time to process it all...

[Logsie]

(12-11-2010 04:12 PM)Katja Wrote:  You know, a little distance to get over the "gosh how sad" feeling and I'm starting to enjoy the beauty of this series--the parallels, images, tragic beauty of the story--maybe it's just my age making me forget about the plot holes and could have beens?

Jury's still out, but I think I may like this one very much with a little time to process it all...

Oh I absolutely agree about the parallels. I loved the recurring theme of "making a difference"

Nicholas Blake told Harry that his certainty "limits a man" and that Nightingale had given him a chance to actually make a difference. Harry told Ruth that what had prompted his resignation was the realisation "that I make a negligible difference". Lucas told Harry that his reason for carrying out the Dakar bombing was that Vaughn offered him the chance to "be something, do something, to make a difference".

Then there was the pain in Ruth's eyes when Lucas asked her to imagine a time in her life when everything made sense, "What wouldn't you do to go back?". Her look said it all. Her life with George was peaceful, simple and perfect. What would SHE do to go back?

Harry's pigeons are all coming home to roost. His career is to be picked apart and he will have to confront what he has done in the name of "the job". Vaughn said to Lucas "Our actions either marr or make us; we are the children of our own deeds"

So true...