Over seven series, the TV show Spooks has grown from a slick, fast-paced piece of original British television, to a glossy, seriously polished blockbuster with a religious following. No other program quite keeps its viewers baying for more like this one.
Maybe it’s the cliff hangers that leave us teetering on the edge of our armchairs each and every week; or perhaps it’s the fleeting cast of characters who come and go like brief encounters – we feel used but we only want more; or maybe it’s that deliciously thin line the show manages to draw between reality and escapism, fashioning such thrilling plots out of a world that looks so similar to our own, more tedious twin.
Whatever the appeal, millions of viewers will no doubt be glued to their TV screens again, never to see another Wednesday night, or at least, not until the current season ends.
Ruth Evershed Returns!
Season 8 began in such brutally typical form. The heart-stopping bombshell of Harry’s apparent death was quickly followed by the return of old stalwart Ruth Evershed, a stroke of albeit inevitable genius – it never really felt like the Ruth and Harry chapter had been closed for good. Besides, it is one of the show’s finest subplots and a wonderful device for creating dysfunction in the ranks of the MI5, as episode 2 has already displayed.
Jo has returned with that sensitivity that makes her one of the most sympathetic of the spooks. Her tendency to become too attached was all too apparent in episode 2 when she had to suffer the traumatic experience of seeing Bibi take her own life, just as she had personally encouraged the poet to finally kill off her demon, longstanding enemy Urazov. Jo’s voice quivered as she was debriefed by Harry Pearce. Yet despite her fragility she is perceptive and stealthy and as we learnt this week, she will be key to Ruth’s ongoing involvement.
A Secret Affair
With Adam’s shock departure at the beginning of last season the show lost its poster-boy and hero. The icy cold Ros thrived in his absence but his departure still left a big Adam shaped hole only partly filled by a fledgling Lucas North. This season however North already seems to have grown in stature, flaunting a steely self assurance and a gritty, enigmatic edge borne from his Russian ordeal. He even has his own love story developing with the sassy American spy.
In a slightly jarring and fluffy moment, he met with the American Sarah Caulfield at the end of the second episode. It was anticipated from the moment the series began, but there was something sickening about watching one of our finest spies eat out of the hand of the American. In fact, that sycophantic Transatlantic relationship has been developing as a major underlying theme for a while now, something British audiences won’t be comfortable with but then, Spooks is somewhat grounded in reality isn’t it.
The decision to save both Malcolm and Ruth’s child in episode 1 was also a little weak and decidedly lenient for a series that is usually so trigger happy. It did however allow Malcolm, the ultimate gentleman, to leave with dignity. He will be greatly missed, by viewers and spies alike.
Very minor gripes aside, the new series has landed with a serious impact. The usual suspects are back to terrorise the British public with all manner of threats to our national security, from nuclear bombs to crippling gas shortages. There was a big hint at a more serious internal threat this week too. Series 8 is hotting up nicely.
Spooks is our annual reminder that British television can occasionally produce drama to rival its counterparts across the Atlantic. Forget the recession, the country is in danger, and thank goodness our favourite not-so-secret service is back.
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