[spoilers] Lucas. Just Lucas.

[conniesachs]

I started watching Spooks when Lucas returned from Russia. Not because of RA, didn't know who he was at the time, but because I was brought up on Le Carre and Deighton, so the spy coming in from the cold appealed to me. So I've always had a soft spot for Lucas and I will be disappointed when he leaves. I don't mind him leaving, I appreciate RA will want to move on to other projects, but like many here I don't want to think Lucas has been bad all along. Over the last couple of weeks I've gone from it's too obvious he's bad so there must be a twist, to the twist might be there isn't a twist and what you see is what you get, and back to there must be a way he is redeemable.

I watched ep 7 again last night, and I know what is going to happen, well in my world, not necessarily in the writers. The Dakar bombing involvement story was implanted by the Russians when they sent him back, they knew he would renege on being a double agent. They find out about Albany and send Vaughn with his box of memories to trigger the unwitting sleeper. Vaughn is double dealing with the chinese. Harry knows John/Lucas was blackmailed into going for Albany, but he needs to know who employed Vaughn and who, if anyone, told them about Albany. When he agrees to meet face to face he's gambling that he can get through to Lucas, before John kills him. He does get through to Lucas, explains the importance of Albany and persuades Lucas to help him spring a trap. Lucas goes to the chinese, persaudes them that John will sell Albany to them so he can run away with Maya. Lucas "kidnaps" Ruth (though only Lucas and Harry know its a set up) to give Harry a plausible reason to betray his country. The plan almost works, then the Russians turn up, queue Lucas' chance to redeem himself. He either dies or Harry lets him slip away so John & Maya can start a new life, depending on whether RA wants a permanent ending or later return option.

OK, I know it's not very plausible, but it suits me, and if things don't turn out well for Lucas tonight it's the version I'll stick to.