Poll: Harry and Ruth - hot or not?

**JHyde** · 22-09-2010, 08:16 AM

Ruth never said she doesn't love Harry. That wasn't the issue, I don't think that will EVER be the issue.

I say that as someone who believes they're over, at least for now and possibly the rest of the season.

**Silktie** · 22-09-2010, 08:53 AM

I guess I would just like better continuity from the writers on HR. Why did they have Ruth make all the moves towards the end of season 8 (asking Harry out for a drink, the hand caress, her concern for him on the roof and later when he left for the hotel where the bomb was) but now she's the one that basically either called a halt to things, or at least slowed them down to crawling pace? It's contradictory.

Interesting role-reversal between Harry and Ruth here, too. With Danny's funeral, Harry is the one interrupting Ruth's grieving process with work, and here it is Ruth actually bringing work along to Ros' funeral. And her statement at the end that sometimes it really is just about the numbers and sacrificing a few to save the many, is something Harry would have said in previous seasons. Admittedly, she was forced to take on this stronger role because Harry is crumbling so badly, but I would have liked a better understanding of why this sudden shift in her. What has made her so much harder than last season?

**JHyde** · 22-09-2010, 09:22 AM

I also hate that it is a bit contradictory to what was going on at the end of season 8. That has been bothering me, in the time that has elapsed since I saw it. But I think we all know that Ruth doesn't NOT care about Harry. That much is obvious.

I also saw the parallels between the beginning of season 4 and season 9. Personally, I think it's a good omen, given how much I love season 4.

**Silktie** · 22-09-2010, 10:46 AM

I forgot to mention this, I wanted to comment on the way Harry handled Ruth's rejection. I quite like that he didn't resort to begging - he stated his case, but when she said no, he left it at that and told her they move on from it. However, once they're back on the Grid, there are a couple of times he quite firmly but politely dismisses her once she's said her piece on work-related matters. He's clearly trying to put some distance between them, by keeping things to the strictly professional. That makes me think he was quite hurt by her rejection, but remained a gentleman about it. Good for Harry.

Possibly that also helped convince Ruth to offer him the slight glimmer of hope at the end, with her statement that they've never been closer.

Tea Lady · 22-09-2010, 01:17 PM

I think he had to put some distance between them and needs to do so going forward, if they are to continue to work together. Things can't just carry on like they were, and Ruth can not have it both ways. If she doesn't want Harry in that way, then she needs to leave him be. How is he ever supposed to move on if she is always in his office, being kind to him, saying soothing words.

I agree that the writers have not always been consistent here but I always feared that Ruth's actions towards the end of Series 8 were that of just a friend or a "mother."

I know JHyde thinks this is the end for now, but I just can't believe they would get it to this point, and not do anything more with it.

**A Cousin** · 22-09-2010, 01:50 PM

(22-09-2010 01:17 PM)Tea Lady Wrote: I know JHyde thinks this is the end for now, but I just can't believe they would get it to this point, and not do anything more with it.

I don't think it is an end. I think this is just one of the trampolines the creative teams are going to use to examine the "personal cost" theme this season is supposed to include. A jumping off point. We simply cannot analyze their relationship based on what would happen in the civilian world because it just isn't the same. I think that they are going to examine it from that perspective.

Naivety · 22-09-2010, 06:32 PM

(22-09-2010 08:53 AM)Silktie Wrote: I guess I would just like better continuity from the writers on HR. Why did they have Ruth make all the moves towards the end of season 8 (asking Harry out for a drink, the hand caress, her concern for him on the roof and later when he left for the hotel where the bomb was) but now she's the one that basically either called a halt to things, or at least slowed them down to crawling pace? It's contradictory.

Interesting role-reversal between Harry and Ruth here, too. With Danny's funeral, Harry is the one interrupting Ruth's grieving process with work, and here it is Ruth actually bringing work along to Ros' funeral. And her statement at the end that sometimes it really is just about the numbers and sacrificing a few to save the many, is something Harry would have said in previous seasons. Admittedly, she was forced to take on this stronger role because Harry is crumbling so badly, but I would have liked a better understanding of why this sudden shift in her. What has made her so much harder than last season?

Exactly, Silktie! Last series, 8.7 (I think) she says to Ros and Lucas that they can't use a 17 year old boy to infiltrate a terrorists' cell and Harry comes over and gently tells her 'It isn't nothing, Ruth and I'm glad you here to remind us, remind ME'. Now when he is questioning all the violence he has to instigate, she wants him to be strong and make the hard decisions. The poor man doesn't know how she feels from one minute to the next. Everytime he tries to get close she backs off and then when she sees how hurt he is, she seems to regret it and comes on to him again.

If only, when he had moved into her ear in the churchyard, he had breathed 'I love you, Ruth' and taken it from there. How different the outcome might have been. I think the script writers rushed it too much.

Having watched the HR scenes a few times again, I think the closing bits on the rooftop are not the end of the relationship, but maybe a new beginning for a new type of Harry and Ruth, one that accepts that they love and respect each other and aims at bringing them closer together. I do hope so anyway.

Kirayuki · 22-09-2010, 06:37 PM

I by no means think it's over, even for this season.
For me the whole of the episode said, 'don't expect them to get married and have kids blah de blah de blah...'

I'm really happy with how it turned out. I got worried through the episode but when Ruth went and explained the situation i think his head cleared. She really did have a good point. She essentially said, 'We are together Harry'. What is conventional just wouldn't work out for them.

I was on my H/R cloud for this episode. (As you would probably expect from me). Tongue

Series 9_ Not_ a spoiler_but_unrelated_other_thing Spoiler: show

Tea Lady · 22-09-2010, 06:59 PM

(22-09-2010 06:32 PM)Naivety Wrote: The poor man doesn't know how she feels from one minute to the next. Everytime he tries to get close she backs off and then when she sees how hurt he is, she seems to regret it and comes on to him again.

So what you're saying Naivety is , Spooks is like real life? Tongue

The writers have deliberately not gone down the "I love you" route. Not yet anyway. That is their end game moment and I don't think we are there yet unfortunately. As I say, we may only get that at the very end of the end of Spooks. Sadly.

Poor Harry though, he does so need a kiss on the lips...

Naivety · 22-09-2010, 07:18 PM

(22-09-2010 06:59 PM)Tea Lady Wrote:
(22-09-2010 06:32 PM)Naivety Wrote: The poor man doesn't know how she feels from one minute to the next. Everytime he tries to get close she backs off and then when she sees how hurt he is, she seems to regret it and comes on to him again.

So what you're saying Naivety is , Spooks is like real life?

The writers have deliberately not gone down the "I love you" route. Not yet anyway. That is their end game moment and I don't think we are there yet unfortunately. As I say, we may only get that at the very end of the end of Spooks. Sadly.

Poor Harry though, he does so need a kiss on the lips...

What I'm trying to say very badly is I wish she'd make her b****y mind up. But I guess scriptwise that would be boring. I get frustrated with Ruth when she backs off because I imagine (no, actually, wish) it was me in her shoes! And I would willingly kiss Harry anywhere, never mind on the lips Silba

I have a feeling we will see a H/R passionate moment this series.

Poll: Harry and Ruth - hot or not? This poll is closed.
The greatest thing since the turbine engine	36	90.00%
Old, decrepit and just wrong	4	10.00%
Total	40 votes	100%