Episode 1 Discussion [Rewatch]

[JHyde]

It was a year before the Iraqi invasion, but was certainly written during a time of anti Americanism in Britain and then revised during the fear of late 2001 and early 2002. One of the things that assisted this show and others like Alias and 24 that came out within the same six month period is that spy dramas suddenly became very timely viewing.

Spoiler: show

The anti US thing didn't really kick in until season 4 (when it was done really well, more subtly and was written late 2003, aired 2004) and season 6 (less well done, subtle as a brick and aired in 2007).

Christine only appears in that one episode in season 1. I think she was introduced to highlight how the collaboration between those two services increased after 9/11, but also that the relationship shifted greatly in the wake of the Thatcher/Reagan years.