[spoilers] Zaf

[JHyde]

I wanted to resurrect this thread as I love Zaf and we're about to encounter his character in the re-watch very soon.

Personally, I don't think Zaf ever had more than maybe two really good storylines that could be considered his own. I think 4.6 and 5.3 were the closest he had. Perhaps this is why Raza left and I wouldn't blame him if it was.

There's this amazing moment in 4.6 (I think) where they're raiding a house of Pakistanis and they're not involved and you see Zaf look around him and his face says 'here we are again, creating chaos that might just come back to bite us on the arse'.

I also loved the dynamic between Zaf and Ruth. That moment on the docks in 5.5 when Ruth asks him to smile if they ever see each other, somewhere in the world again is so, so sad. Because we know Zaf doesn't have so very long himself.

I love that final shot you see of him from behind in 6.1, the last shot of him which adds to the mystery of what happened to him, explored throughout season 6. Zaf's death is the one that in 'spooks world' every officer must dread. For it to happen to someone like Zaf, who was good and kind, is just awful. It's not something you want to think about too much.

This is my 3000th post on the forum. I draw attention to that only because it would be customary for me to make it about Harry or Ruth, but Zaf has always been one of my very favourite characters on the show and I don't think he gets enough attention, so I wanted to come and chat about him for a bit. I wish he had enjoyed better storylines before being written out.