Spooks/MI-5 1x01-1x06

[oyceter]

Gaaaaah, why is S1 only 6 episodes long?

I don't usually watch things like cop shows or law shows or other non-genre shows, with the exception of Scrubs, but I seem to make an exception for spies. Because... spies!

I had some difficulty first getting into the show which was largely assuaged by turning on the subtitles. It takes me a while to get used to British accents, particularly when the plots are very complicated.

I think my favorite bits are actually the way the show deals with office politics, particularly when the office is as deadly as MI-5. It's taking a while for me to get to like the characters, largely because there isn't grand spy angst like other shows. But to be honest, I rather enjoy that right now, probably because the last spy show I watched was Alias.

Episode 1 was ok, but not spectacularly impressive. Episode 2 was when I decided I was definitely going to watch the show, because dude! They killed Helen! Brutally! And it wasn't telegraphed or anything! I seriously though Tom would buckle at the last minute and do something or spill, but they shoved her face in oil and shot her point blank, and she was the new person on the mission. That was a great moment, albeit very difficult to watch.

I like that the show hasn't been taking shortcuts, particularly with the season finale. I sort of figured that Ellie and Maisie were doomed, largely because spy shows don't seem to be very good at sustaining romantic interests, praticularly when they're not fellow spies. But gah. The way they did it, just when I thought things were over because they had already shaken up the agency by firing Tessa.

Looking forward to getting the next season from Netflix.

Anyone have MI-5/Spooks commentary? I found rilina's, but would love to read more.

Comments

[rilina.livejournal.com]

vonnie_k and coffeeandink both have posts, though I'm not sure for what seasons.

[rilina.livejournal.com]

Ah, here you go: link roundup to S1 commentary (http://coffeeandink.livejournal.com/260084.html).

[ellarien]

Gaaaaah, why is S1 only 6 episodes long?

That's quite common for British shows; there isn't the same expectation that a show has to survive for a full half-year season or be considered a failure.

[actoplasm.livejournal.com]

I just watched the first disc and, much like you, was vaguely entertained by the first episode and then the second kind of blue my mind, especially when they killed off a main character who I was getting to like in such a brutal way. Though why they decided to change the name here boggles me.

[rilina.livejournal.com]

Also, have you ever watched Ultraviolet? (Not the movie, the British tv series.)

[oyceter]

Ooo thank you for all the links!

[oyceter]

Ah well...

Fewer episoes for me =(.

[oyceter]

I love the second episode.

I read they changed the name because "spooks" is a derogatory term referring to black people in the US.

[oyceter]

Yeah! I really liked it!

Actually, it took me a while to get into it, but it builds up in a manner very similar to MI-5/Spooks, imho. Also, I adore the scientific version of vampirism and the tackling of assorted social issues as well.

Also, Jane Bennet hunts vampires!

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

It is?

I am so not up on my racism.

You know, I just can't feel too bad about that.

[oyceter]

I can't remember where I heard it, but I didn't know that either. It's in dictionary.com though.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

Oh, I believe you!!!!

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying the show, myself. And, yanno, shirtless Tony Head. I'm really very okay with that.

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I suspect the high body count has a lot to do with Spooks being the spiritual heir to The Sandbaggers. For which there ought to be a drinking game revolving around which main character will get killed in any given episode.

That show's got a body count that makes Reservoir Dogs look like a sand-lot game.

[cofax7]

Eli, IIRC, started a community for Spooks discussion called spooks_speak; if you post there, you might get some talk. Also, infinitemonkeys turned most of us onto the show; you may find some good commentary in her memories.

[londonkds.livejournal.com]

Six episodes is the standard length in the UK for a new one-hour drama series. You tend to get longer second seasons, but the UK is closer to HBO than free-to-air US TV in terms of season length.

[oyceter]

Oh yeah! I totally forgot about that! (what is wrong with my brain!)

Although I have to admit, I had a weird moment in which I was thinking, "OMG, Giles left the Watchers to become a SPY!!"

[oyceter]

Oh cool, thanks!

[oyceter]

I am just grouchy because it means less episodes for me ;).

[zulu]

Just in from friendsfriends--mind if I ask where you got the episodes? Me, I tried downloading the first season, but the audio wouldn't work. And I can rent MI-5, but I understand that's an edited or cut version of Spooks?

Well, anyhow, eventually I hope I'll have commentary.

[oyceter]

Um, I actually just borrowed the DVDs off Netflix. I didn't know it was edited though!

[zulu]

Yeah, I really don't know, either. But according to Zip (the Canadian Netflix), MI-5 comes with deleted scenes; maybe in Spooks they weren't deleted. Hmm. Well, I've added 'em to my queue, anyway. Wouldn't've thought of it if I hadn't stopped by, so thanks. Heh.