[SPK] Strike Force

TV Programme: Spooks
Season: 2
Episode: 8
Date I watched this episode: 17/10/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 1 day.

Once again, another very complex, very satisfying episode. It's not often that even MI-5 is fooled by a complex conspiracy orchestrated by a wannabe terorrist and a corrupt government department. The differing viewpoints on the crisis eventually led to fractures in the fabric of the grid, which won't repair easily.

Tom played a big part in this episode. Reporting from a remote location, he served as the service's only eyes and ears on what was really going on. Meanwhile he was really strategising, manuevering his way into Curtis's inner circle quite expertly. He didn't "fit in" to the role of a soldier, but this didn't seem to matter; Curtis being blinded by his supposed shared ideals.

The story kept you on your toes. 40 minutes into the episode, it looked like things had calmed down, but this was the catalyst for Tom's insubordination. Woods genuinely appeared to be crumbling under the pressure, but this was exactly what the MoD had wanted. As Tom said, the MoD did completely use and manipulate the Service. Tom really put his heart into talking Curtis down, realising himself that Curtis was being used by the "government of the day" as was Tom himself. That just made it all the more difficult to take when Harry made it quite clear he disapproved of this.

There were a couple of other threads in the episode. The whole "is Ruth going to be extended" storyline was pointless and a complete time-filler. That one shouldn't have been there. The transport strikes storyline seemed equally pointless though until we realised how critical it was to the story of the episode. Meanwhile Sam and Danny danced around each other a bit, and finally agreed to go on a date, but this storyline almost felt too small for the hype that has been leading up to it in previous episodes.

But altogether this was a good episode with some interesting moral questions posed. I certainly came away feeling like my brain had been given a good workout. It also leaves things open for the next episode (or two); I doubt Tom will give Christine up without a fight, Sam and Danny have opened a new chapter in their relationship, Tessa seems to be back on the scene, and Harry will be feeling the strain of that as well as what he's getting from Tom himself. I'm excited already.