Spooks/MI-5: Season 1 (complete)

[meganbmoore]

I have to say, I wasn’t really fond of the plotlines from the first two episodes. But then, part of why I don’t watch procedurals and their ilk much is because I’m not a big fan of the “ripped from the headlines” approach.

Actually, I’m not sure I cared about the various main plots at all, but I really like the characters, and it does a good job with the twists and cliffhangers, and it made me go “I can’t believe it went there!” a few times.

But Tom really is the absolute worst spy ever. I thought it was bad enough in episode two when the inexperienced agent he was partnered with messed up and he just handwaved it away. But then he took the laptop he got from Irish terrorists straight home from a meeting with the terrorists. I mean, aren’t there procedures to follow for things like that? And why did he wait forever to call work? And shouldn’t there have been some sort of program installed so that someone from MI-5 could unlock the house from there? And why is there only one entrance to the entire house? (Though, seriously, he told a six-year~-old he was a spy?)

Though the slo-mo “Look! He must watch helplessly as those he loves die!” ending of the season makes me fairly certain Ellie and Maisie will somehow survive. I rather like Ellie and her relationship with Tom and think Tom with Maisie is adorable, but if they do live, I hope Ellie put her foot down and dumps Tom for good.

I have to say, regarding Helen’s death in episode 2, while it was violent and horrible, it wasn’t eroticized, but was blunt and quick. Admittedly, the last two pieces of American TV that I watched were the first episode of Dollhouse (50 minutes of nonstop and deliberate objectification of Eliza Dushku) and season 3 of Supernatural (endless stream of extremely eroticized involving sweat and heaving bosoms and bared backs and shoulders and “artful” displays of dead and dying women…the men tend to die much more quickly and without objectification) so my perspective here is a bit biased.

I find it a bit odd how it’s just assumed that the agents will use their position for personal gain somehow. But I really liked Tessa’s face off with Harry, and hope we haven’t seen the last of her. And I’m both curious and nervous to see where Zoe and Danny’s storylines go. (I just like watching Tom angst and making fun of him. Not as interesting as the other main characters, though.)
 
Also, once I adjusted to Keeley Hawes in modern clothes, I decided that I really like her with short hair.