Oh dear. After two stunning episodes (read the reviews of episodes 6.1 and 6.2) we were plunged into a mish-mash of hokum, continuity problems and conspiracy theories. Please God that this is an aberration, and we can return to the suspense of the first two.
One bright spot saw Malcolm Wynn-Jones (Hugh Simon) in the field for once, investigating the crash of an aircraft very near to a US airbase at the centre of wacky UFOlogists’ theories about alien invasions. Unfortunately, as Malcolm investigated, the team had to break it to him that there were deadly toxins on board — and that the prognosis for him would not be good. Didn’t we go through this with the bioweapon over the last two weeks?
Fortunately it transpired that the toxin story was a cover, and the plane had been brought down by a collision with a top secret spy plane codenamed Aurora. Meanwhile, Ros’s abduction and subsequent mental torture turned out to be a huge bluff, part of a recruitment exercise conducted by a shadow group calling themselves Yalta, after the famous 1945 conference venue. Yalta’s aim, it transpired, is to counteract American dominance in world politics, and they wanted the super-cool Ros to join them. They claimed not to know where Zaf is, but were able to return his bloodied clothing. Have they forgotten that the bioagent may have present in the blood? Mind you, everyone seems to have forgotten that, while Zaf would have been infected by the bioagent, he never got his hands on any antidote/vaccine…
That wasn’t the only oddity about tonight’s episode. When Ros returned to the grid, she and Connie greeted each other as if they’d always been working together — but Ros hadn’t been in to the office since Harry made the job offer. For that matter, the shadowy man from Yalta was asking Ros whether her colleagues were at “that airbase” — despite Ros not finding out about the aircraft incident until afterwards. Aurora seemed to have tracked Zaf’s exit from Tehran — but Adam and Zaf were extracted, with Asnik, from a point across the border in Turkey.
And just why did the gates to the US air base have “restricted area” signs on the front gate pointing inwards? Surely the people inside know that it’s restricted; the signs should surely have been on the outside?
At least on the serial front, we did discover that ‘Copenhagen’ was a US-run operation after all. The intent was to create the bioagent outbreak in Tehran, to prove that Iran was dealing in WMDs. The US involvement was enough for Ros to pursue a working relationship with Yalta. And while this helps tie in this episode to the ongoing storyline, this felt far too much like a standalone episode that was rather clumsily adjusted to fit the new serial format.
All in all, then, a disappointing episode. However, it did have a truly memorable scene, as Malcolm and Adam shared a moment together when they thought Malcolm could have just days left. As Adam talked about the lies they tell people they’re close to, he asked what his mother thought Malcolm did — an accountant, or…? The lie Malcolm told her was much more subtle: “She thinks I do what you do.” Step forward, Hugh Simon, saviour of this episode of Spooks.
Malcolm oftens saves this show - he is the true hero!
I am so glad though that finally in 06-07 and 06-08 they have gone back to the Spooks of old - really plausible action with even Harry getting out and about and copping a blakc eye for his troubles. Hermione Norris is excellent and so glad to hear she's back next season - although if they don't bump off useless Jo soon I'll be forced to do it myself!