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Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - JHyde - 05-07-2010 03:39 AM
'The Book' is the episode where we first meet Jo after Harry's old boss is murdered by fellow officers.
I must admit my favourite parts of this episode were, once again, Harry and Juliet sparring. (That dynamic was such fun.) But the sequence in which the shooting starts at the safe house and Jo smashes the car windows is also terrific viewing.
Implausible though Jo's recruitment is, she becomes a really useful plot device for the rest of the season. Through Jo's eyes, exposition unfolds and things are explained to us as an audience. I think Jo was a less 'clumsy' character than Sam, and making Jo an officer who actually goes out in the field after a bit makes her more interesting too.
What did you think?
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - Nia M - 05-07-2010 06:11 AM
Gosh yes, her recruitment certainly is highly irregular and implausible, but it's certainly a unique way to join the service!
I rather liked her introduction to the series - we got to see her technically in the field before she's even an officer - good bit of work with the mobile phone, even if it was accidental!
I miss her with long hair though
Oh and this is the episode with the Ruth & Harry coming over 'To your place?' slight misunderstanding - oh for it not to have been simply to meet Hicks...
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - Silktie - 05-07-2010 06:25 AM
I truly love this episode, although I think its premise (that they would kill one of their own because he plans to publish a book) is a tad far-fetched. The services could just deny all the claims in the book and discredit the guy instead, something we know they are pretty good at.
But I love the episode for the many things we learn about the characters in this one. How great must it be to have Harry as a friend? He's so loyal once he lets someone in. Even though he thought what Clive did was incredibly stupid, he was still willing to go to extreme lengths not to let his murder go unanswered.
Also love what we learn about Juliet in this episode - that she is extremely ruthless and does not abide weakness of any sort. She really is truly scary, and somneone you would want on your side rather than against you. It's interesting that she aqcuiesces to Harry here. Nothing stops them from just getting rid of Harry as well, yet Juliet agrees to rather send Woodring somewhere else so that his path not crosses Harry's again. Juliet seems to still have a lot of respect for Harry.
I also loved the little details in the episode, like Ruth and Zaf's interaction with the HR specialist - there's many little looks and smiles in there as Zaf tries to fake the fact that they had actually prepared for the meeting, and Ruth refuses to help him out. Brilliant. Also enjoyed Malcolm in this episode.
The Harry/Ruth moments were also great. She's the only one brave enough to ask him if he's alright after Clive's death, and to offer a shoulder to cry on. The late night phone call is also quite funny, as Harry clearly thought for a moment there she was inviting him over for far more personal reasons than introducing him to the annoying Gary.
I liked the introduction of Jo, but geez, it doesn't say much for Adam and Zaf's skills that they didn't notice the big black cab following them. That was a bit unbelievable.
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - Kazters - 05-07-2010 06:56 AM
i like the relationship between jo and adam, even thought it starts off with her thinking he is the gas man ;-) but she fancys him and i think initialy thats what she is after.
I agree i love the missunderstanding between harry and ruth ;-) always good! i also agree how great it must bve to have harry as a friend!
im not a huge fan of jo i find her annoying at times, but she did bring a new dynamic into the group and was eager to learn even if the way she joined was rather err unusual!
i think that a bond was created between jo and adam, and for the rest of there time she would always go to him first for anything.
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - lwhite53 - 05-07-2010 08:34 PM
This ep is on my list of favorites, too, Silktie. The underlying plot idea of the govt. killing one of it's own to silence him may not be provable, but I suspect that many people believe it could be true -- perception sometimes trumps reality. (Although, my experience has only been with stories of the CIA so that may color what I am prepared to believe!)
This was definitely Harry's ep -- we learn a whole lot about what lengths he's prepared to go to get to the truth, even if it means pissing off all the members of "the club." Again, we see that loyalty is paramount for Harry, even though he knows that what Clive has purportedly done is well out of bounds. He also gets some of the best lines of the ep:
"I like to know the sordid details of anyone I'm going to be working with intimately."
"If this isn't hugely important, I hope your passport's up to date."
"I don't want to be part of any team that sactions killing it's own."
"Clive McTaggart had more integrity than any man I've ever known. I can't let his murder go unanswered. I owe him that."
I also liked the slowly unfolding relationship between Harry and Ruth. They are becoming more in tune with each other and he's beginning to react to her unspoken comments and looks.
I thought Jo's introduction was very well done. There's no real hint when she first appears that she'll become at all important and then, whammo, Adam recruits her. Even with Debra Langham hovering, it took me a long time to figure out what would happen.
And the little smile on Harry's face in the last shot is priceless!
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - JHyde - 06-07-2010 02:13 AM
That's true, actually - you don't expect Adam to recruit her unless you knew she was going to stick around. You'd just assume she's like Tash and will never see him or the others again.
I love Harry's line: "I don't want to be part of any team that sanctions killing its own." It's the Harry version of Groucho Marx's line about not belonging to any club that would have him as a member!
I can imagine Ruth dating a journalist in the old days. I think it's fair that sometimes we look back at people we've been with and they're either not who we thought or their ideals have given way to prosaic reality. And I think Ruth is a realist with an idealist core that she hides away until she needs it. Mostly when she's arguing with Adam or Harry.
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - A Cousin - 06-07-2010 04:04 PM
OK - so how much do I love that you are quoting Groucho Marx? Thiiiiiiiis much!
Moving on.... This has always been one of my favorite episodes for all the reasons listed by everyone else and then some.
I love Doug Hodge as an actor. He is a leading interpreter of the late Harold Pinter which I think is a playwright that would lend himself well to Spooks. And maybe now that I think about it, perhaps there has been an episode or two influenced by Pinter over the years. DH brings a very Pinter-esque performance that works very well with NW and PF.
I like how this episode has a lot of balancing going on: Hicks vs Jo as journalists. The sell outs (Hicks, Woodring, Juliet) vs those who maintained their integrity (Jo, Harry, Clive).
I like Jo Portman and always have. I remember being a little surprised but I bought her introduction lock, stock and barrel. MR is a charming and truthful actress. JP is resourceful, curious, fearless and a great liar: the perfect spook!
My man Malcolm is in his geekified element in this episode.
Visually this is stunning episode. There is a lot of work in light and shadow. I love the shot with Jo after the shoot out in silhouette on the stoop with her breath showing and Adam walking down the alley way with his shadow proceeding him on the wall. I love the shot when the penny drops for Harry re: Woodring's involvement when he calls the number. There is an alternating slow pan out on Woodring and slow pan in on Harry. One of my most favorite Harry shots is in this episode. The shot where he has broken into Woodring's house, appears from the shadows and THEN finishes a whiskey he has helped himself to. Love it!
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - Tea Lady - 06-07-2010 04:46 PM
I'm a little late with my homework this week so most points have already been covered. I think this episode is in my top 3 Spooks episodes though. I really never get bored of it and agree it really is a great episode for Harry. The moments with Ruth are also perfect. She is the only one that realises/cares that he is upset about Clives death.
I felt that Juliet wasn't totally on board with the whole killing Clive thing and she seemed totally surprised when Harry told her he was close to him. You do wonder though, where the orders came from to silence Clive. Someone much higher had called in the dogs surely?
I liked Jo's introduction and I felt you got to know her. Brave but principled.
I too loved the shooting scene although I was a little surprised the safe house seemed to be on the same street in London that Tom lived on. I am sure that street has been in other episodes as well. Also, Harry looks to me like he is living in a flat. It certainly is not the house that is in S7.
Loved the Debra Langham/Brotherhood moments. You don't have to make Spooks into a comedy show but these moments do have their place in the show and were sadly missing in S8.
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - JHyde - 07-07-2010 04:09 AM
I'm amazed that this episode is such a favourite amongst all episodes, not just in season 4. Don't get me wrong - it's very good, but it doesn't even come close to making my top ten list.
RE: Episode 5 Discussion [re-watch] - lwhite53 - 07-07-2010 04:18 AM
(07-07-2010 04:09 AM)JHyde Wrote: I'm amazed that this episode is such a favourite amongst all episodes, not just in season 4. Don't get me wrong - it's very good, but it doesn't even come close to making my top ten list.
I think I like it so much because it's such a good Harry ep and clearly establishes his sense of right and wrong, as opposed to his intelligence counterparts who come off as ciphers.