Series 9 Episode 7 discussion

[Silktie]

I have rewatched very carefully, with everyone's theories in mind, and here's what I think.

I think there is a greater link between the Russian mafia bloke plot and the main Lucas/Albany/Chinese plot than we realised. That French assassin that Ruth had the run-in with, was in London to kill the Mafia bloke - who was bringing in 50 million Euros laundered money. But we also know that when the Chinese heard Lucas tell Vaughn that he was having problems locating the Albany file, they called and told to a French person that there was a problem. Now, this creates two possibilities:
1. The Chinese were working on their own, planning to steal the laundered money to pay for the Albany file, using the French mercenary to kill Mafia Guy. Maybe French mercenary was also there for another job, namely to kill Vaughn, Lucas and anyone else who knows about China's plans re the Alabny file.
2. The Chinese and Russians are working together to get Albany, and the Russians knew about the mafia money shipment and decided to steal it with the help of the Chinese (and the French mercenary would do the dirty work), then neither government would have to come up with the money to pay for it.

I still don't see anything from Harry that indicates to me that he is involved in this somehow. I don't think he knows anything about the real Lucas, or our Lucas being undercover in Dakar or anything like that. His distress about Lucas' betrayal rings true to me.

So if there is anything going on like Lucas being brainwashed or manipulated in some way, the only way I can see it happen is if my option 2 is correct, and it was done to him by the Russians during his time in prison there. Unfortunately for the Lucas fans, I still don't see that being the case.

Series 9.8 Spoiler: show

I believe the main question in 9.8 is not going to be whether Lucas really did all those things in Dakar, but whether he will try to redeem himself in Harry's eyes by setting up the Chinese for a fall somehow, or whether he will continue on his treacherous ways and be willing to give Albany to them if he is able to get it.