Series 9 Episode 8 discussion

[Byatil]

The other thing that I found odd was that Lucas was apparently so... mentally impaired before he even joined MI5 and was captured in Russia. His mental issues post-Russia can all be explained through his torture and captivity, however we are offered no explanation as to why exactly John felt the need to "be somebody"? He supposedly had a promising future but just fell in with the wrong crowd... however, how can this argument be supported through anything Lucas has ever told us? Supposedly he grew up in "the Cumbrian countryside" with a "Methodist minister" for a Father. If we believe that to be true, surely Lucas would have had it drilled into him that drugs = bad? The involvement with the drugs trade could be perceived as him "rebelling against authority", but it still seems like an incredibly stupid thing for someone of Lucas' apparently high intelligence to do. If he's smart enough to create an entire persona and indeed, fool the national security service for 10 years+, then why exactly was he stupid enough to get involved in a drugs plot in the first place?

As to RA's availability... as I assume "The Hobbit" will largely be filmed in the New Zealand Summer (ie now), wouldn't that leave him free for filming in British Summertime? Even if only for a few 'flashback' scenes, or something similar. I have no idea of any other known filming commitments of his, so please correct me if I'm wrong!