MI5 (Spooks)

[jeregenest]

This week I’ve been watching the first season of the BBC series MI5, as its known to us Yanks, in Britain it was called Spooks. Some good stuff, their tradecraft tends to be pretty good. They make some notable mistakes (the end of episode 2 is still kind of annoying, they writers basically went to violence when if they had the characters follow common sense the situation would never have developed). Sunday night robotnik came over and we watched three. After he left I watched the 4th, which has Anthony Head in it in a very nicely done performance, reminded me of LeCarre in some very good ways. peaseblossom has caught up, and we will probably go get episdoe 5 and 6 tonight. Rob says he’s got some of season 2 on tivo, so I may take advantage of that.

Its good stuff, not Sandbaggers quality, but probably as good as Spygame, if not better. Much better than 24 or Alias, much, much better. To be honest, while I’m enjoying playing catch the Sandbaggers references, I think it would be difficult for British tv-writers to do a good realistic-spy show that wasn’t LeCarre or Sandbaggers.

Though I just found out that the library got in my request for the dvd of John Le Carre's Tinker tailor soldier spy. So maybe I’ll go get that and watch it tonight (or some of it, its six hours long). Anyone interested in coming over and braving the snow?

Comments

[bruceb.livejournal.com]

I find the Tinker Tailor adaptation pretty engrossing, and end up watching most or all of it in a long session unless something really forces me away from the screen. You've been warned.

(It makes an interesting change in presentation, in its prologue. I'd like your thoughts about how it shifts the rest of the work. I like it and think it's sensible for TV, it just shifts stuff.)

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

I've only seen it on Mystery way way back when I was a youngin, so I'm looking forward to watching it. I also have Smiley's People on reserve.

[robotnik.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I liked MI5 a lot. I'd say it's (almost) the writing quality of Sandbaggers with (almost) the production values of 24, which is a pretty potent combination.

I'll save whatever 2nd season eps they air, but they won't add up quickly. It's only on once a week (at a ridiculous time - early Saturday afternoon), and at least every other week it gets bumped for a movie or special or something.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

We should pick a time for you to come voer and we can watch 5 and 6 then.

Of course watching all this MI5 has got me jonesing for running more espionage games. That and watching season 3 of the Sandbaggers. I really should break down and order them someday.

[seanmoon.livejournal.com]

I've really liked the Mi5 episodes I've been able to catch. Have to see if it's on netflix.

What's Sandbaggers?

Sean

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

Probably the ebst spy show ever done. It focused on MI6 in the late seventies/early eighties. Focused around the Director of Ops for MI6 and his special team, the Sandbaggers. Very focsed on internal politics. The main characters were DOps and his Sandbaggers (only permanent one was the chief, Willy), C (head of MI6), Assistant Director, and the Permanent Under Secretary of State.

It lasted 3 seasons, and then ended because the writer disappeared in Alaska, and eys he used to be a spy (of sorts).

The best page is http://www.opsroom.org

If you like spy stuff this is one series very worth checking out.

[sneech515.livejournal.com]

Ah, MI-5, a fine show. I was hyping it to Rob(otnik) when I saw him over the holidays.

Is the Tinker DVD any good? I haven't seen it yet but I figure, with Alec Guiness and a walk-on by Patrick Stewart, it's hard for it to go wrong.

-- S

[robotnik.livejournal.com]

Hey, good to see you over here! Yes, it was on your recommendation that I started TiVoing MI5, and then Jeremiah loaded me up on the first season. I was looking for an excuse to stop watching 24, which I've been watching only out of habit for a while, and now I have it.

[jeregenest.livejournal.com]

We watched the first hour tonight (6 episodes) and I liked it a lot. They've chanegd some pacing stuff, which seems to work well for the different medium. I'm eager to watch more, but Jess couldn't stay awake (the whole pregnant thing). She did however keep the jedi jokes down to a minimum.