Three things I like about the new series of 'Spooks'

[altariel]

1. It has scenes in which people are deep in conversation on Primrose Hill. All the best spy dramas have people deep in conversation on Primrose Hill.

2. Tim McInnerny's character is wonderfully, unctuously evil. Better than that, it's like we're seeing his character from A Very British Coup twenty years older and twenty years further up the greasy pole.

3. Jan Chappell was in it the other night (I think that's the episode that will be on BBC 1 tonight).

Comments

[matildabj.livejournal.com]

I'd never seen Spooks before this series started and one of my classmates recommended it to me. I'm hooked after 3 episodes. I like the New Boy particularly.

All your points are good points. Primrose Hill, yes. Tim McInerney, yes (he should leave a slime trail!) and ooh! Jan Chappell? Yay.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I like the New Boy too. The Old Boy was one of the reasons why I didn't really watch Spooks in the past, although I liked his story at the start of this season.

[dberry.livejournal.com]

*cringe*

I hate "Spooks". It's painful to watch.

"Hustle", on the other hand, is awesome (if only for the presence of Jaime Murray) . . .

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Ooh, what do you hate about Spooks? I like it because I think it's secretly sending itself and its genre up, I love all the shots of London, and loads of character actors pop up in it.

I didn't see any of Hustle, although the trailers were super-stylish.

[dberry.livejournal.com]

I think it's secretly sending itself and its genre up.

It's the same with "James Bond" -- why hide behind your own genre? Is it because the series isn't going to be good enough as it is? Toung-in-cheek TV often gets on my nerves.

It's also really predictable. The last three TV shows I watched were "Little Britain", "Panorama", and "Creature Comforts" -- and none of them went as I expected. That's essential, to keep things interesting. Watch the first ten minutes of "Spooks" and you can predict it all.

I only watched the first series -- I'll watch next week's episode, and let you know what I think?

I didn't see any of Hustle, although the trailers were super-stylish.

It was excellent. Bizarre, skewed, funny, sexy, and sleek. And Jaime Murray.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

It's the same with "James Bond" -- why hide behind your own genre? Is it because the series isn't going to be good enough as it is?

Quite possibly: I think Spooks knows it's a bit cheesy, and just revels in its cheesiness. I don't think it sets out to be anything spectacular or ground-breaking, just enjoyable. (There was a great episode last season with Alexander Siddig in it which was edgy and dramatically very tense.)


And Jaime Murray.

:-D That reminds me of the character in Peter's Friends who, when asked if he likes Top Gun for a variety of reasons, finishes the other person's list with: "...and Kelly McGillis!"

[dberry.livejournal.com]

There was a great episode last season with Alexander Siddig in it which was edgy and dramatically very tense.

That one caused a lot of controversy in the Muslim community I think -- I watched a BBC3 repeat of it, and Siddig's part was the only redeeming thing.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I thought that was one of the most effective individual episodes of Spooks, so you're probably not going to enjoy this new season either, I suspect.

[fifitrix.livejournal.com]

I love spooks too. Thought Jan was fab in last nights episode, although a little brief.
New chap is very very cute (Rupert Penry-Jones?) and I like the fact that he is a bit cocky about being a spook as well as being bloody good at it. Matthew Macfaddyn's (sp?) character always seemed to take the whole thing far too bloody seriously, for my liking. (Even when things didn't need to be that serious).

This season is an improvement on last so far - although I enjoyed the last one too.

Agree about the scenic shots of London - and all the lurking about on bridges just makes me die. If you watch it back on vid or DVD you can actually play London bridge bingo - try to spot all the bridges in the background! Double points for the wobbly bridge or if tower bridge is moving.

[altariel.livejournal.com]

Jan always puts in a great performance; I was sorry it was so brief too. I also like that Adam is cocky about the whole, and his relationship with his wife promises to be fun (although she really needs to do something about that haircut!!). I like angsty spies, of course, but Tom just didn't do it for me at all. Liked his burnout at the start of this season, tho'.


London bridge bingo

Cool! I'll be doing that now!

Three cheers for Tom ! Tom, Tom, Tom !

[gfk88.livejournal.com]

I love Spooks too - highlight of my viewing week at the moment. Though I thought series 1 was the best and I'm a bit worried that it's sliding (very gradually) downhill.

I thought Tom was fab, though admittedly a bit of a miserable sod on occasion. It was great the way he consistently got everything right at work and completely, uselessly wrong at home. My jury's out on this new guy.

I love Harry too. Yeah, I know he's a caricature but he's great.

Re: Three cheers for Tom ! Tom, Tom, Tom !

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I am shallow enough to prefer Adam because I didn't fancy Tom. I did like him in his swansong episode.

And yes, Harry's brilliant!

spooks

[iceangel7.livejournal.com]

You guys are very lucky - they've just started replaying the old series here in Australia and I have a feeling it will take many months for them to get the new one - wow! I'm excited that one has been made - I felt as though there was nowhere to go after the previous end of the series - thanks for the news :D I wonder how it will turn out

Re: spooks

[altariel.livejournal.com]

I've only just picked up Spooks with this new season (season 3), and I've really been enjoying it. Most of it is out on DVD in the UK, but I don't know if they're playable in Australia.