Spooks: Episode 1.1 and 1.2

[melwil]

As part of my Spooks month, I'm trying to rewatch and discuss every Spooks episode (at least up to 5.5)

Last night I watched 1.1 and 1.2



1.1

One thing I thought when I was watching this was how clunky first episodes usually seem compared to later, slicker episodes in a series. This isn't Spooks specific - though who was writing Harry back then? - I could apply it to West Wing and Buffy too. It's the problem with trying to introduce new characters and situations while dumping us into a good story.

And the story remains a good one. The car bomb scene at the beginning is still spectacular - I love the fact we focus on the man when the event actually happens. Mary Kane is suitably villainous, and the scene between her and Tom at the end is just brilliant (and of course, called on in the third series). There's not many of the twists and turns we've become more used to in later series, it's just a rollicking adventure.

As for characters - I get a feeling like the people on the grid are fairly new to each other with the exception of Tom, Tessa and Harry. Zoe and Danny seem very new to each other, there's none of the easy friendship of later. Jed (what did happen to Jed?) doesn't particularly seem close to anyone, and Helen (oh Helen) seems to know Danny (and loathe Tessa) but Harry definitely doesn't trust her. It makes me wonder if this is a brand new team that's been put together, or if they've just had another one of their customary 'clean outs'. And of course, to make me happy, there's some Christine Dale!





1.2

I've been dreading rewatching this episode - I don't think I've watched in in a good year and a half. I actually didn't watch Spooks when this first aired in Australia - my parents did, though, and I remember their 'oooh!' at that moment.

That moment remains suitably horrible, and I still have issues watching it, but I found the whole episode to be painful. Tom coming to deal with his relationship with Ellie, Helen trying desperately to make some sort of contact/friendship with Tom, Danny busy with the credit cards, and then - of course . . .

The light point for the Tessa/Zoe fans among us is the battle between Tessa and Tom over Zoe, and the fact that Zoe gets all flushed when she is praised by Tessa. Good stuff.

Hopefully I won't have to watch this episode again for a while. It's just too much for me.



In other news, I actually have an idea for a longer story. Huzzah!

Comments

[sangerin.livejournal.com]

I think you've picked why I do rewatch 1.2 quite happily (except for one minute of it). It's one of the key Zoe/Tessa episodes and that fight (and the thing with the coffee - that's in this ep, right?) over Zoe makes me squee.

[melwil.livejournal.com]

Yes - the decaf coffee!

The long story has two of your favourites in it. I think I'll have to show the tension between them . . . (but you need to watch up to 5.5 so I can discuss it more *g*)

[shezan.livejournal.com]

I actually refuse to watch THAT scene. But I watch enough to want to bitchslap Ellie with a big fat wet codfish. Whatever became of supporting your partner fighting for your country?

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, and we have exactly the same thought at exactly the same time - see below!

[londonsophie.livejournal.com]

I think I'll have to start rewatching along with you - it's been ages since I saw season 1.I always found Ellie rather whingy and irritating, though, compared with the fantastic Christine Dale, so not looking forward to rewatching Tom going through his whole trying-to-have-a-normal-life arc. Get over it and find yourself a nice spook, I say!

[melwil.livejournal.com]

See I forgive Ellie at this point of time, because she really had no idea what was going on. She's met this great guy who sometimes leaves the house in the middle of the night with no explanation. I think I'd be frustrated too.

Once she knows, it's a different matter. But I wonder how much of these initial frustrations affected her later actions?

[sangerin.livejournal.com]

Plus, it's only because we know these people (so to speak) that we like them... if I found out someone I was involved with worked for ASIO - I'd have some really big issues with that. (It's like the fact that while watching Law & Order, and The Bill, and while talking with policemen who I knew first as real people, I can believe that police are reasonable human beings. The rest of the time, they're scary and thuggish and they carry guns, and in Victoira, they had a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later, and thus, I want nothing to do with them.)