[SPK] I Spy Apocalypse

TV Programme: Spooks
Season: 2
Episode: 5
Date I watched this episode: 08/09/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 8 days.

I have mixed feelings about this episode. I must admit I was quite looking forward to this episode, after reading a preview of it before I started this season (I think this episode was the last to have been filmed at the time the first episode was broadcast). The episode, which had an amazingly good premise, seemed almost a bit shoddy in places, even at the start when they had a "previously on" scene (with Tom and Vicki) which had been deleted from the previous episode, and a teaser act which was mostly completely irrelevant to the episode as a whole.

What was most disappointing though, and almost universally spotted by other reviewers of this episode, was that it was so predictable. I mean, with a premise like this, they can quite easily create an episode which plays games with your mind, a psychological thriller where you're never really quite sure who to trust or what's going on. And it did start off quite promising. But from the moment they said the prime minister had been killed, or when Harry was dying, it was pretty clear that the whole thing was just an exercise. If this had been a season finale, perhaps it would have been slightly more believable. But if this had happened in the middle of a season, the entire mode of the show would have changed for the rest of the season and any future ones, from something which tries to show viewers what things could really happen in the world we live in right now, to something out of a fantasy novel.

However, if you look past that fact, the episode does actually have some good features. I think the key point about this episode is that it is really all about character development. If you watch it from that standpoint, it does actually seem like it has achieved its purpose. Much like [TWW] "No Exit" and similar to others I've mentioned before for this plot device ([OTH] "Every Night Is Another Story", [PRB] "Subdivision", [JER] "Rogue River"), it just throws all the characters together in an extraordinary situation (even for MI-5) and shows how they would react.

Zoe is a complete mess after the incident with Carlo in the previous episode. She is basically livid at Tom: although it wasn't really his fault, it was just his reaction to the whole incident, or lack thereof. She is gradually forced to co-operate with him under these desperate circumstances. She doesn't act very professionally and she doesn't stand up well to the pressure - probably signs that she isn't really cut out for this job.

Tom does show tremendous leadership skills in the episode and some acting from Matthew McFadyen that I have rarely seen before. In particular his disregard for rules when it is for the greater good, and standing up to Mark who makes some very valid but morale-destroying points, are important character traits. He also keeps a clear head throughout, or at least appears to, confiding in Ruth when he has internal fears. His human side is wonderful to see.

As well as being Tom's shoulder-to-cry-on, Ruth was perhaps the calmest person in the episode, showing her strength even in an emergency, but believable due to her personality. This was perhaps the best acting in the episode - Nicola Walker really showing her true skills. Ruth also showed her true loyalties at the end, really showing caring for her fellow colleagues when she called Harry a "bastard".

Sam had not really had any development til this episode. She does fit in really well to the already established character set. Here we finally got to see what she is about - she doesn't break down in the same way as Zoe and she keeps that fiery aura about her even in a crisis. She and Danny finally made some progress in their relationship, when Danny admitted it was "very okay" she just wanted to come on the barge trip because of him. Their first kiss is not far off I expect!

Colin and Malcolm were more prominent in this episode than normal. We even saw Colin in a fight against Danny! I guess because everyone was stuck in one place, it made more sense for them to be in the thick of it, especially when the problems were technical and they are the technicians. These two, who have been in it since the first episode, are becoming more and more prominent, until the stage where I think I may have to regard them as main cast (since this show does not distinguish between main, recurring, guest and co- stars, then that would be my decision to make).

Even Vicki, who wasn't actually there, had her character developed to some extent in this episode. Vicki is showing more and more signs of being unstable and crazy, something we only had an inkling of when we first met her in the season premiere. Finally they have broken up - it's never going to work. That final scene with Tom and Vicki and the "Salmon Mousse" was also a great piece of acting from Matthew, and a fitting end to a rather depressing episode - if it had just ended on a high then it wouldn't be in keeping with this show.

I have to admit that this episode was strangely gripping despite the predictability. The mood of the show, characterised by the shocking scenes (such as Tom sending the firefighter to her death, or Paul Dunbarton from Downing Street shutting off communications because he is ill), the darkness, and the music, moved from Ruth's "oh what fun!" through scenes of utter despair through to the climax which was definitely a satisfying climax. The "acting" of the characters who were in on it was superbly realistic, from Harry's illness to Paul being incredulous that people thought it was a drill. Like I say, it was only let down by the far-fetched story elements.

We are left wondering what would actually happen in this scenario. In this sense, it is somewhat similar to the radio broadcast of "War Of The Worlds", showing how people actually react to something which is devastating and changes our whole world. In this instance, MI-5 takes over the government, and despite those who say "we must wait for instructions from some authority", Tom takes the difficult decision based on the fact that there isn't any authority. In addition he decides to take up arms in his own workplace, which must have a profound effect.

So like I said I do have mixed feelings about this episode. It wasn't as good as it could have been, but it was still an episode worth watching, and definitely developed all the characters.