Series 9 Episode 8 discussion

[Jhokur]

The whole series 9 had the theme of truth & lies, being real & being fake. People facing their pasts to make their futures.

For Lucas/John, the past was stronger than the present, thanks to Vaughn - I got that "Lucas" was damaged from day 1 when Harry brought him back and Lucas said he'd spy for the Russians. He probably wasn't lying. He came to realize when he came back though everything he lied to get was being stripped away, dominated by the events in prison breaking him further, and when Vaughn came back into the picture - here was the lie he could try to hold onto again. I think when Lucas told Ruth that she was the one he was most afraid to find out about his past, it's because of the compassion Ruth had for him as part of the team - Harry was dad, Ruth mom. You can disappoint your dad and he'll forgive you in time. Moms hold the hurt for a long time. (feel free to disagree, happens to be the way my family is...)

For Ruth and Harry, their lives couldn't be more screwed up because of each other, and yet they desperately wanted to be together. They lie to each other that it's alright, mostly for the job and I guess to stay sane.

Ruth herself was damaged by the events with George and his son - a part of her died. A part of her I think we saw come back to life at the end when she thought Harry was going to die, then realize Lucas spared him to take his own life.

Harry was burned by both Ruth's refusal and Lucas' betrayal. For a man that has to do such bitter maddening things for 5's sake, he has the biggest heart when it comes to the team and especially Ruth. I believe he's been trying to save Ruth from what Lucas and Tom went through, albeit both of them went through their disintegration for very different reasons. Couple that with Blake's betrayal... it's a wonder he's not drinking more!

For Beth, she was caught up early - her lies came out very quickly and almost cost her everything she worked for. Now she's burned as well by Lucas' actions and how he was supposed to be her mentor.

Every time we saw or heard about Albany, it was a lie or a fake, then for it to come out to be a failed project - a lie, a fake threat. The painting stored as Albany on the mainframes, Malcolm's package that was to be Albany, and finally the "real" thing. All for nothing.

Even the Grid took a hit when Dimitri blew the bomb (and the servers?) so they could track down the hackers.

I think Dimitri & Tariq were the only people to come out unscathed from this, mostly because they
were both underused? Same goes for the briefness with Malcolm - hopefully he'll be back for S10.

Hopefully S10 will be about the truth, which it seems likely - I'm going to take a stab and say that for the most part the series will be about Harry's inquest, where the team has been - likely flashbacks from S1 to "now", and what Harry's been hiding. I'm guessing another MI-6 member will be brought on to take over as Section Chief, with much apathy and second-guessing. Harry will be punished for the Albany situ, but will survive. For as long as Harry's been doing the job, there is ZERO chance they'll get to replace him with someone immediately - it would take them a long time just to get up to speed to what Harry knows, let alone how to handle the Grid. They've tried numerous times to discredit Harry (even take down Section D in Series 3)- he knows enough to keep his job. Ruth said it herself - the Grid will fall apart without him, though if he does go I see everyone going & being replaced with all new staff. I can't see that happening unless it's the last episode ever. NOBODY wants to see Spooks become what happened to M.A.S.H.

Mind you I'm not ranting - I'm mostly trying to think out what Series 9 meant to me and Spooks.