[spoilers] How Did You Rate Season 8?

[almh]

:pats sympathetically:

In a way it would have been nice to see Jo interacting with Ruth back on the Grid before Jo died... (I feel another fanfic idea coming on. Fanfic overload atm )

[Kirayuki]

Couldn't agree more! I'll be reading it if you write it.

[almh]

I wouldn't promise to reading any of my fanfiction - it's coming out in bucket-loads at the moment. Too much fanfiction to write

Anyway, back to series 8

[Kirayuki]

Yes, sorry about that. Got a little off topic...

I think i'll have to leave it at "I'm another one of those people who thinks that the bad/worse aspects of this series were beaten round the head with a heavy, blunt object by the return of Ruth and H/R".

[Adam Carter]

At the end of the day, I think this was a solid series, but it was a significant step down from Series 7. The biggest problem was the lack of a true team dynamic. Killing off Jo as early as they did really crippled the show, and I thought it was a mistake not to bring in a third officer.

Lucas and Ros are terrific characters, but the show became solely about them and them only. Some of Spooks best moments have come from the simple interactions and deliberations between characters, like during the Tom/Danny/Zoe days or the Adam seasons. The emptiness of the grid became glaringly noticeable and a tad bit unbelievable.

The Lucas and Sarah storyline was solidly written, but it was marred by a really mediocre performance by the actress who played Sarah. Their lack of true chemistry hurt the believability of the relationship between them. And since so much of the series was built upon their relationship, nearly everything else suffered. On the subject of Lucas, I thought he was marvelous in this series, and I think he will learn greatly from the mistakes he made. He needed to grow, and I think the Sarah conflict will catapult him to becoming a much stronger officer (and possibly Section Chief).

Ruth's return was great, though in some ways, I felt she was underutilized. Once again, this was a case of the team dynamic not being present. Ruth's best moments in the past were when she would clash with characters (like Tom and Ros) over viewpoints of particular issues. There really wasn't much of that this series, and I was surprised by how smooth her transition to working for Ros was. Then again, some of that credit goes to Ros maturing as a character.

Speaking of Ros, if this is the end for her, it's a sad farewell to a character who really blossomed as her time went on. She went from a backstabbing ice woman to a genuinely strong leader on the grid. Hermoine Norris's acting was absolutely impeccable during her time on the show, and her presence will be greatly missed. God bless the woman who has to replace her. Yikes.

Malcolm's departure and Tariq's introduction wasn't as effective of a transition as I was hoping for, but Tariq was immediately likable so that made things a bit easier. His rapport with Lucas was great, and I look forward to seeing him come into his own next series.

I thought it was interesting how much they scaled Harry back this year. In Series 7, it seemed like Harry took over as the new central focus (versus a field officer), but Series 8 seemed to be a return to Harry as pure overseer. Which, for me, is a good thing.

And lastly, the Nightingale storyline had a lot going for it, but I agree with others who have said the exposition was overly dense. I didn't feel the same sense of tension and mystery that came with the Sugarhorse plot from Series 7.

Overall, despite its faults, Series 8 was still very enjoyable. I mean, it is Spooks after all. It wasn't as strong as some series, but it sets up some really interesting developments for the future. *crossing fingers that there IS a future*

[Beatriz]

Things I liked:

- Ruth came back and we have great HR moments
- Tariq, I didn't mind he wasn't introduced properly... They don't need to make a fuss everytime there's a new member, but it's true we need more backround. I really like him.
- Tariq and Ruth interaction, Tariq is a sort of Jo to Ruth ATM.
- Ros was great this series.
- Nightingale storyline, I reallly enjoyed it.

Things I didn't liked:

- Too much Hollywood style
- Lack of interaction between the characters
- Jo died too soon, I'd also love to have seen Jo and Ruth in the Grid and Jo-Tariq.
- Lucas-Christine 2.0 relationship (but I love she was there to call her Christine 2.0 )
- Very sombre, not many happy moments Only in the last episodes we get to see some smiles
- Grid too empty

Just two things to end:
Ruth's comeback totally makes up the bad points
I really liked RG as HS but the I like the new one, I know too young but I really like him
Episode 1 sooo moving, I'm still affected

[Kirayuki]

Fantastic post! I agree with everything there.

I feel like reviewing the whole series a bit more... might get around to it at some point but i'll need to watch the series over a few time first.

If i'm not to busy in the future i'll do it.

[JHyde]

You know what worries me about this season is that there are a hell of a lot of loose ends to tie up. Not just Nightingale's existing operatives all over the world, and Ros, and the HS, but also the immediate threat of nuclear war between India and Pakistan.

[almh]

I don't think they're going to fully tie them up next season, unless they do it in the first couple of episodes - I think it'll be a case of new season, new plots.

[JHyde]

Yeah, it's just we didn't even have a tie-up like season 7 where they had all the details of Tiresias operatives. This leaves a heap of stuff floating.