Just back from a little pre-Christmas jaunt to sunnier climes and have been catching up on some missed television. Two episodes of the always-sublime The Thick of It (the Richard Bacon episode was about as joyous as it gets), an episode of Miranda (heartening to see deservedly healthy ratings), and an assault on the stack of In Treatment I need to catch up with.
And of course, there was an episode of Spooks, something that for eight seasons I have always relished. Until now.
I’ve had an uncomfortable feeling about this new series. It started off well, the opening couple of episodes being fairly tight and tense. And hurrah! The return of Nicola Walker as the divine Ruth Evershed, long missed from this perennial of dramas.
And then it all went a bit wrong. Episode 3 started it off - it was fairly mundane, slack stuff by Spooks standards. And no amount of bad writing can be covered by the death of yet another Spooks regular, especially so soon after the shock death of Ben at the hands of Connie last series. Now that was genuinely unexpected and brilliantly played, but Jo’s death was a waste of a long serving character’s exit. Killing off regulars in Spooks has officially become hackneyed.
To be fair, Spooks has always sailed very close to the wind when it comes to believability, but zesty writing, tight direction and good performances have always kept it restrained just enough. But I can’t put my finger on just what the problem is? Has the show become a touch too worthy for its own good, believing it’s perhaps a bit better than the reliable piece of espionage fluff it always as been in the past?
There are two major problems I can pinpoint. One is some duff casting here and there, especially in the Grid’s CIA counterparts. Brian Protheroe didn’t particularly distinguish himself as the ill-fated Samuel Walker, complete with a wince-inducing American accent that would make Dick Van Dyke blush. But, and this pains me, it’s Genevieve O’Reilly who lets the side down.
As Sarah Caulfield, the CIA’s liaison to MI5, she is about a miscast as any actress I’ve ever seen. Dreadful accent, dreadful performance. I like O’Reilly, she was great as the lead in ITV’s The Time of Your Life, but something has gone horribly wrong here. I find it inconceivable that the production team were unable to find two better American actors working in Britain to fill these roles.
It doesn’t help that O’Reilly has been saddled with a storyline that’s been seen before in Spooks - the CIA liaison officer getting it on with an MI5 agent was seen way back in season two. Is this is a sign that the show may have gone a season too far?
Elsewhere, there has been some ropey dialogue, epitomised by an exchange between the Home Secretary and Harry, referring to a plot to challenge the world order as we know it. I know Spooks has had some lines over the years that have been a bit, shall we say, chewy, but it’s getting silly now. Who speaks like that?!
There are saving graces - they still have fantastic leads in Hermione Norris and Richard Armitage, not to mention the wonderful Peter Firth as Harry. Their trademark slick direction remains, and the end of episode four was a genuine shock. So a little of the old Spooks verve is still there. Let’s just hope it isn’t gone for good.
Well, if the wonderful tabloids and their suspiciously anonymous "insiders" are to believed, we haven't seen the last of main characters being bumped off for this current series.
And Richard Bacon was excellent in TTOI.
I heartily agree with you on the woeful miscasting of Genevieve in this role.
I am an American fan of Spooks and honestly find it hard to believe Lucas (who is indeed wonderfully portrayed by RA) would fall for this cold blonde with an accent that is a horrible mish-mash of Boston, the Bronx and a touch of the South. I'm offended aurally every time she opens her mouth.
There seems to be virtually no onscreen chemistry between the two, alas, although the always dependable RA is doing his best. I have never seen GO in anything else, and sadly, this performance doesn't make me WANT to see her in anything else.
I have said again and again - why can't they cast American actors for some of these roles? We do have some very good ones, you know.
And next to Sarah, Walker sounded just fine to me! Absolutely loving Ros - Hermione and RA are the best thing about the show right now (along with the return of darling Ruth).
I am also an American fan of Spooks and am THRILLED that I'm able to watch this season is real time via the internet.
BRAVO on the return of Ruth!
I was SHOCKED at the sudden demise of Jo's character in the third episode; it definitely came out of the proverbial left field! So sad; really liked the character and the actress.
As far as Sam Walker (Brian Protheroe): His American accent wasn't too off , though certain words/phrases made me chuckle. I think he was SUPERB in "North and South" with Richard Armitage; Mr. Protheroe is decidedly an actor worth watching.
And...Richard Armitage..well, what can one say? A pure DELIGHT in everything he's in:)
I agree that there is little (if any) onscreen chemistry between Lucas and Sarah. And as for Genevieve's American accent: YIKES! No disresect to Ms. O'Reilly as an actress (she was wonderful in "State of Play" with John Simm and John Morrissey--albeit speaking in her native tongue), but her American accent is...conflicted:) She's definitely all over the place. In her defense, I'm sure that just as many of us Yanks would be hard-pressed to speak in a proper British accent.
On that note, I do agree that perhaps the Spooks casting directors should consider using American actors/actresses for American characters; couldn't hurt. I'm thrilled with having Tim Roth here in the states as the lead character in "Lie to Me" (superb show), and speaking in his delicious British tongue:) Of course, Hugh Laurie ("House") and Linus Roache ("Law and Order") give very commendable performances in American shows and playing American characters.
All said and done, I still love Spooks, despite some of the meandering story-lines of late. And the ending of episode 4 with Sarah Caulfield showing her true (evil, I believe) colors, was inspired & thrilling writing. Hope they get her, and good! Thanks for the fun (Spooks' writers), and give some thought to using American actors for your American characters--we won't tell, promise:)
First point - I'm glad you mentioned the repeat of the Series 2 plot thread about a MI5 officer having a relationship with the CIA liaison, because I'm confused by Harry's reaction to it.
In Series 2, Tom was told "relationships with foreign agents, not matter how friendly, is strictly forbidden."
In Series 8, Lucas is told "I should have vetted Sarah."
Ummm, when did the rules change?
Second point - re. "a plot to challenge the world order as we know it". That dialogue is very specific and deliberate, and that's proven with the next episode starting by showing a group of rich and powerful non-political leaders meeting secretly in plain sight. Why?
This year, Spooks is doing it;s take the New World Order conspiracy, which is supposedly lead by (amongst others) the Bilderberg Group, where the rich and powerful meet secretly in plain sight.
Just count the number of times the phrase "New World Order" will be referenced this series and see how much of the NWO paranoia and threads will be used in the coming weeks.
But after this, I can't see anyway for Spooks to go anywhere bigger...
I haven't watched all the Spooks episodes, as I'm mostly following Richard Armitage. So far, I've really enjoyed the series - more than last year. Naturally, I would like to see more RA. Sarah Caulfield's accent was pretty terrible, and she just didn't seem American to me (I'm American with Brit husband.) I loved Brian Protheroe and thought he did a great job. He even got the mannerisms right. He looked and seemed American, relatively. Looking forward to more! Wish it were available in the US earlier.
For Quenby Morrow: Spooks IS available earlier in the US; in fact, you can watch the current season live or on BBC iTV player after its Wednesday evening airing. All you have to do is subscribe to a UK proxy server (it gives you a British IP address) and you're able to watch Spooks (and lots of other BBC shows) immediately. That's how I watch Spooks--I'm in the Western US and have seen all 4 of the new episodes already; NO way can I wait for it to be released on dvd in the US--too long of a wait! I subscribe to a UK Proxy server through Scothosts; I highly recommend it!
On another note (per my earlier post:)
I misquoted the BBC show that Genevieve O'Reilly (Sarah Caulfield of Spooks) was excellent in: It was "The State Within" with Jason Isaacs and American actress Sharon Gless, NOT "State of Play"; apologies for the error.
Spooks is still one of the highlights of my viewing week, but I'm not enjoying this series as much as the last one, and I think the Lucas/Sarah relationship is the reason why. There is no chemistry at all between the two, mainly because the actress playing Sarah is so wooden. When Lucas came back from being in a Russian prison for 8 years, he's effectively sealed himself off emotionally as a coping mechanism, and I can't really buy the idea of him thawing out for someone as cold as Sarah.
There was an episode in the last series where Lucas and Ros had to pretend to be a married couple to infiltrate an embassy party, and there was some great chemistry between Richard Armitage and Hermione Norris, who are both excellent actors. Genevieve O'Reilly is badly miscast and her presence is unbalancing the programme at the moment. Having said that, the ruthless way she despatched her boss last week was promising.
Last night's episode was the best so far this series but the general quality is way below any of the previous series.
The writing doesn't seem as sparky and there is a lot of repetition of storylines. But the big problem for me is the character of Lucas and Richard Armitage. Richard doesn't seem to have any chemistry with any of the characters. I don't know enough about Richard's previous work to say whether the problem is the character, the writing or the actor but I'm afraid he spoils the series for me.
It is about time they brought down the shutters - it has been a great series and it is sad to see it clunking along.
Its odd isn't it - this seems to be a common view of this season - something a bit not quite right, something a bit under cooked - its a shame. But then again I consider season 7 to be by some margin the best season, it just all fired along and it really built to an amazing conclusion. Perhaps the problem is this - a few weeks ago - in Spooks time - the soviets were about to set off a nuclear device in London - pretty serious stuff - and in the process several agents died - and yet, and yet - its like it never happened. Its not referenced, not built from - and something about that makes the whole suspension of disbelief kind of topple over for me. The Connie situation alone would have had some considerable fallout (pardon the pun). It just seems to draw the lack of any really driving narrative under the current series into a harsh light. I hope production get to reflect on this and if they do go with season 9 that they tighten up the areas that are currently letting the show down a little.
I'm really enjoying this series of Spooks & to me it's the best thing on the box.I'm a huge Richard Armitage fan & i never used to watch until he joined.I prefer season 8 to the last & watch both the BBC3 & then BBC1 screenings.Richard is an amazing actor,able to portary so many different roles.i think he's great as Lucas & that Lucas ia a good,interesting character,suffering from the effects of his torture in Russia.I read there was going to be a season 9,so hope so & that Lucas is still on the grid.He & Spooks are the highlight of the week!