1.3 and 1.4 DVD commentary

[lwhite53]

1.3 DVD commentary:
-Tom in sunglasses throughout ep -- Matthew had a burst blood vessel in his eye, had to wear dark glasses.
-Scene with Harry and Danny clearing out Helen's stuff after her death was almost cut because of time, but they decided to keep it because it showed a piece of Harry's character -- that his officers were important to him and he got upset when something happened to them, even if he didn't necessarily show it.
-Meeting with Johnny Marks -- first time Harry is off the grid and sets tone for H's character -- he has an interesting and colored past, he's done some underhanded things and he can be absolutely ruthless.
-What's not said in the scene is almost more important than what is said -- gives evidence that there's more to Harry than meets the eye.

1.4 DVD commentary:
-Tom -- spy as con man; for a spy it's more natural to lie than tell the truth. He doesn't let Ellie all the way in because it's psychologically dangerous to do so -- once he starts to tell the truth, where will it stop?
-Peter Salter -- "fallen angel." The "bad apple" scenario which is a nightmare for all security services.
-Different style of writing for this ep (Howard Brenton) -- scenes hold for much longer than is usual for spooks thus far.
-Creation of Jools Siviter -- Hugh Laurie's comic playing the heavy gives the character great depth. Also gives Harry and Tom someone to loathe and brings them together.
-"Red herring" tramp -- (Jools, Harry and Tom walking to shop) -- thrown in to get audience wondering, really meant nothing to the plot.
-Harry -- suppresses all sense of the personal in his work; "that in a curious way, is his success."
-Dead ground map -- actually exists and is continually updated to show unsurveilled areas of the UK.
-Phantom agent sub-plot -- a real problem in security services; if found out, officers not prosecuted -- retired or sent off to the boonies to serve out their careers.
-Clear bond between Tom and Peter, both know how it has to end, which sets up the suicide -- teacher has one last thing to teach student.