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**JHyde** · 09-03-2010, 04:11 PM

Check out the foxhills site on facebook, mate. Lucas has cropped hair!

TygerBright · 09-03-2010, 04:15 PM

not that much shorter than last season.. but then, I was checking other parts, way more south Tongue

kirmostar · 09-03-2010, 05:25 PM

(09-03-2010 04:11 PM)JHyde Wrote: Check out the foxhills site on facebook, mate. Lucas has cropped hair!

can you send me the link? *begging look*

kirmostar · 09-03-2010, 06:29 PM

his hair looks the same....but as with Tyger....wasn't really looking there...... Blush

TygerBright · 09-03-2010, 06:52 PM

yeah, well.. priorities Wink

Byatil · 20-11-2010, 02:25 AM

In reference to a discussion myself and Binkie (amongst others) are having on this post: http://www.spooksforum.co.uk/thread-1214-page-1.html

In the bathroom scene in 7.1, Lucas is shown topless talking to Harry. I'm beginning to wonder if he wants Harry to realise the significance of his tattoos, and indeed to question them.
Harry does refer to the "Dum Spiro Spero" tattoo, and they discuss it briefly. This seems, however, to be the most 'positive' tattoo Lucas has - so it's interesting that Harry should pick up on it. Perhaps Harry wants to convince himself that Lucas has coped well, as he has been alive and "hoping" all these years. Equally, Lucas could be trying to show Harry that he hopes for answers.

I know his Blake tatoo is supposed to represent a distrust of the system, amongst other things. The fact that Lucas shows it so blatantly to Harry could suggest a hint towards his distrust of his superior, and the fact that he needs redemption.

Another visible tattoo is the "Gnothi Seauton" one, which could be another hint towards gaining Harry's approval and trust. He's asking Harry to think about his actions, and to realise who he actually is as a person. Could also be an underlying message of asking Harry to explain why he made the decisions he did.

The crosses on Lucas' back are the representations of the years spent in prison, as has been said. This is obviously a clear, visual representation of the length of time he spent in Russia for Harry, and I seem to remember Lucas having his back turned to Harry for quite a while in this scene - once again, subliminally making the point that he made a huge sacrifice for Harry, and that he needs answers.

I'm wondering if the quote on Lucas' forearm or the 8-point star could mean anything significant in terms of his relationship with Harry or not, but I can't remember exactly what they signify... I think the star is something to do with freedom? I could be horribly wrong though!

Anyway, nice bit of over-analysis for you there Wink

BoHenley · 20-11-2010, 09:29 AM

Interesting thoughts, Byatil. Once again, the unexplained tattoos, the unexplained time in a Russian prison...

Then again, seeing RA with his shirt off to SEE the tattoos is such a hardship Silba

Belle · 20-11-2010, 12:54 PM

(20-11-2010 02:25 AM)Byatil Wrote: In reference to a discussion myself and Binkie (amongst others) are having on this post: http://www.spooksforum.co.uk/thread-1214-page-1.html

In the bathroom scene in 7.1, Lucas is shown topless talking to Harry. I'm beginning to wonder if he wants Harry to realise the significance of his tattoos, and indeed to question them.
Harry does refer to the "Dum Spiro Spero" tattoo, and they discuss it briefly. This seems, however, to be the most 'positive' tattoo Lucas has - so it's interesting that Harry should pick up on it. Perhaps Harry wants to convince himself that Lucas has coped well, as he has been alive and "hoping" all these years. Equally, Lucas could be trying to show Harry that he hopes for answers.

I know his Blake tatoo is supposed to represent a distrust of the system, amongst other things. The fact that Lucas shows it so blatantly to Harry could suggest a hint towards his distrust of his superior, and the fact that he needs redemption.

Another visible tattoo is the "Gnothi Seauton" one, which could be another hint towards gaining Harry's approval and trust. He's asking Harry to think about his actions, and to realise who he actually is as a person. Could also be an underlying message of asking Harry to explain why he made the decisions he did.

The crosses on Lucas' back are the representations of the years spent in prison, as has been said. This is obviously a clear, visual representation of the length of time he spent in Russia for Harry, and I seem to remember Lucas having his back turned to Harry for quite a while in this scene - once again, subliminally making the point that he made a huge sacrifice for Harry, and that he needs answers.

I'm wondering if the quote on Lucas' forearm or the 8-point star could mean anything significant in terms of his relationship with Harry or not, but I can't remember exactly what they signify... I think the star is something to do with freedom? I could be horribly wrong though!

Anyway, nice bit of over-analysis for you there

I agree with you, Byatil, on the 'Dum Spiro Spero' tattoo. If he had done this tattoo for himself, maybe he would have put it where HE could see it, i can't imagine there were many mirrors at his disposition in prison, so one has to asume that this tattoo was ment for someone else? Maybe it's ment as some 'good advice' like: 'hey, I've spent 8 years in prison and I haven't given up on life yet, so you'd better don't either!' It is placed above the 8 domes, so perhaps there's a link between them?

On the 'Gnothi Seauton' one, I'm not sure this was for someone other than Lucas himself, it is placed were he can read it, maybe it was his way to try to stay human and to stay Lucas North (totally ignoring the whole John thing, here,doesn't make sense, anyway ), I mean, it must be unbelievably hard to remember who and what you are when you are deprived of human contact for the most of the 8 years, if you only have got yourself to talk to, you'd better know who you are, just to keep you from going completally insain.

The 8-point star is known as The Star of Redemption or Regeneration.
The number 8 is meaningfull in many religions (as the 8 paths of Buddah, circomsision at the age of 8 days in jewish religion, 8 immortals in chinese religion,...) and represents balance, harmony and faith in the ultimate harmony of creation. So maybe this is also a positive tattoo on Lucas' body. It might stand for the firm believe that everything happens for a reason, maybe one part of him truly believes that he's there for a reason, namely to protect his country and fellow officers and i think it has been that believe that kept him 'alive'. The other part of him, though, has serious problems with the unfairness of it all and with the fact that no one (Harry) seemed to be in a hurry to save him, so i do not know if this is the right explanation for this tattoo.

It might be easier to analyse them if we knew when exactly during his imprisonment they were placed. It's easy to see that in the begining of that period you still would hold hope, but as years would pas by, sure you would lose that hope!

As for the quote on Lucas' forearm, i'm ashamed to say that i don't know what it says.
If someone knows, please share.

Oh, BoHenley, yes it is hard to look at the tattoos and not at the man!! Wink

HellsBells · (This post was last modified: 20-11-2010 06:24 PM by HellsBells.)

Back at the beginning of this topic kirmostar posted this.

(29-11-2009 01:26 PM)kirmostar Wrote: Those on his torso read Gnothi seauton (Know yourself), Dum Spiro Spero (As long as I live, I hope), MNP (Peace) and Omerta (Silence). The Russian writing down his arm means "See nothing, hear nothing and say nothing to nobody." And there are cupolas (domes) on his back - one for each year spent in jail.
Information from the Radio Times

This was copied from the BBC press office interview with RA:

Lucas has lots of tattoos. What do they represent and do you like them?

I love them – it is a literal layer. Lucas has always had many layers and this year we go very deep into who he is. I love that his prison history has been etched onto his skin and they can be revealed to remind the audience that his past is cluttered with complications. Each one has a specific meaning from a specific period in his past. The most prominent is the William Blake picture, Urizen, on his chest. It depicts God as the architect and it is a reminder to Lucas he may not be able to control or construct his own destiny and that he will always be at the mercy of God.

The tattoos also help me avoid the "gratuitous torso shot" as they take about two hours to put on, so "getting my kit off" has to be carefully planned!!!

KitKat385 · 20-11-2010, 06:30 PM

(20-11-2010 12:54 PM)Belle Wrote: As for the quote on Lucas' forearm, i'm ashamed to say that i don't know what it says.
If someone knows, please share.

It's Russian for "See nothing, hear nothing and say nothing to nobody." If that one was directed towards Harry, than one could interpret it as a little insult, telling him he shouldn't ever betray his officers (since Lucas blames Harry for his imprisonment). However, you also have to remember some of these could have been useful in prison....perhaps he chose it to show to his captors he would be a good little prisoner and not spill whatever he learned, or heard, from his Russian cell.

I did a little research on what appears to be a ship on Lucas's right arm. Apparently in tattoo language, they represent all the tough times people have had. When applying it to Lucas's situation, it's pretty obvious what could have prompted that tattoo! Normally ships symbolize that the wearer has survived that tough journey, so it could have been a little hopeful to Lucas too, showing that he wanted to get out (who could blame him...it wasn't a very fun place!).

That black band that's on Lucas's right arm - apparently it has a few different meanings depending on the culture. In some places, it represents a failed marriage (Elizabeta...?). In Japan, it indicates a convict. Not sure if that symbolism would be as strong in a Russian prison, but it still shows one of the hardships Lucas has gone through. That one could be a message to himself (as Byatil mentioned about not being able to see some of his tattoos), perhaps some sort of reminder? It can also be like a tribute or memorial to somebody lost. Maybe it's to show that Lucas can never go back to the way he was before - or if it's directed at Harry, showing them that he's changed and it's all because of him, etc.

Has anybody ever gotten a good look at the tattoos on the insides of his wrists? One of them appears to be five dots (on his left arm I believe...), and there are some letters on his other arm, but I haven't ever gotten a clear look at either.