Episode 3 Discussion [Rewatch]

[Beatriz]

I also feel a bit uncomfortable watching this episode. I agree the party uses means that aren't justifiable. I'm not sure if they would do or actually they do this kind of thing nowadays...

I reallly like aunty May, poor lady If I were a spook that would be the kind of job I could do I think, but now I have second thoughts...

Adam and Fiona are perfect for each other in my opinion, I like their conversation about Wes, whether it was selfish to have him. Lovely scene.

I agree there was place for every character in this episode and wonderful guest actors.

[A Cousin]

This is a really succinct episode. There aren't any twists, deviations, or surprises. Not that that is a bad thing. It makes this episode very clean and concise as if there was an issue the writer and producers wished to deal with so they just dealt with it in as direct a fashion as possible. They present the issue, outline what the team is going to do to fix it and then you watch the dominoes fall.

Even the character development is simply placed in front of you to take of leave and there is a lot of great character stuff going on. To paraphrase Harry, I always enjoy a good pissing match with Harry and Juliet.

Loved Zaf's mischievous glee in the dirty tricks campaign. Also love Harry's reaction to Zafs apparent joy in the idea. This is one of Zaf's meatier episodes. "Aesthetic Anarchy" is going to be the name of the next band I am in.

Great supporting cast. David Threlfall has the ability to instill the most abhorrent of characters with some sort of sympathy. Moran's platform and personality may be disgustingly reprehensible, but he really believes in it and he's loyal to it. He was completely ineffective until Sampson gets involved. These two characters show the power of language and spin. We have our fair share of people who are frightening in their ability to spin an issue in such a way that it makes sense to the uninformed and disenfranchised population. If anyone has heard Rush Limbaugh speak you will know what I am talking about - scary! But my opinions are showing....

I will mention that, upon first viewing, this is the episode in which I fell in love with Ruth myself. As Teddy Roosevelt once said: Walk softly and carry a big stick. When she asked if she should hit again, I yelled "YES! Do one for me!" Sweet of her to ask first though....

OS and RPJ have wonderful chemistry. I hadn't really seen that to notice it before. And yes, 20/20 hindsight, it is selfish and stupid for them to have had a child, IMO. He is one cute kid though!

And sweet Malcolm re-assuring Fiona re: Adam. There is a lot of talk about Ruth being The Compassionate One on the grid, but I think sweet Malcolm rates up there as well. He is just more covert about it.

That's all she wrote.

[Kazters]

i think for me watching this ep for the first time at the weekend, it parralled what could realisticaly happen to us here in this country in certain parts. I for one felt a little comforted that they had infaltrated the brittish way! but also disconcerted at the lengths people go to.

I did love ruth getting out into the field, i love how she and Adam interact they always manage to bring comedy to it.

[Silktie]

Can't remember if we discussed it before, but I think it's great that they use real newscasters to do the news bits on the show - it lends a lot of realism to it. I noticed this again because my all-time favourite Sky newscaster featured in this episode, Mark Longhurst.

[Nia M]

Hmm yeah, I think it's great to get the newsreaders in the action too

I've seen several BBC London readers I recognise

[YourFutureMuse]

Caught up with this ep last night and also made my Mum watch it muahahaha. (I think I like exams really - I can command pity, demand my favourite meal for dinner and monopolise the TV )
I love the humour in this ep - Zaf and his dirty tricks campaign was hilarious - I think this was when I really started to love Zaf and his cheekiness. I love the painting of the door and the car alarm muahaha. And his flirty postman act
It is also one of my favourite Ruth episodes,, she was veryy impressive in the restaurant and the should I hit him again Adam has to be one of my favourite scenes of the show! I think we should see more kickass Ruth haha. It definitely seemed to impress Harry And her face when he said they were sending her back to GCHQ Harry cruel to tease her lol.
There was also the scenes with Perry which were funny like 'are we still counting the ginger scotsman' and the Nazi references I liked. What must poor Harry think now

I also liked the more serious aspects like Fiona and Adam talking about Wes (who is just soo adorable - and I hate children! hah) and the whole having to destroy democracy to protect hmm. It it scary to think that a party like British Way would ever gain popular support but I have more faith in people than that (being naive and young as I am ). But as i watched I related the British Way with the BNP/UKIP and although obviously they are completely abhorrent as a democracy then even the crazy people have to have a say and I wouldn't want to think MI5 would ever interfere.

[Tea Lady]

(26-06-2010 04:13 PM)Silktie Wrote:  Can't remember if we discussed it before, but I think it's great that they use real newscasters to do the news bits on the show - it lends a lot of realism to it. I noticed this again because my all-time favourite Sky newscaster featured in this episode, Mark Longhurst.

I never have quite understood, why they didn't use the BBC news team from the start of the series. Kudos seem to use SKY until at least S5. It does add something to the show to have real news presenters though, I do agree.

[Nia M]

Don't they use BBC newsreaders for the EERIE excercise episode of S2?

[deathbymascara]

Haha musey a bit harsh to compare UKIP with the british way, no?

And I agree re: newcasters is does add a degree of realism to the show which I like. You can actually imagine the story as it would be reported and it feels like it could actually happen (which with some farfetched storylines in spooks is necessary!) It also makes me wonder when I watch the news what part Harry played in it all, if a big storyline breaks )
And especially nowadays with the 24 hour news channels they would be all over a story like the little girl getting murdered - I really can imagine it

OMG if I was a newscaster and got asked to be on spooks it would actually make my career!! And my life too I wonder if the ones they choose are fans? Haha