Episode 7.1 [Re-watch]

[JHyde]

Most of what I think about this episode has been voiced already but I would like to talk about Ros and timelines.

I agree that Ros was pretty much working for Five not long after she left. Connie we know was drawn into the circle of knowledge at some point prior to this episode. Probably Malcolm too, I'd say. Ben I think not so much and probably not Jo, although yes, she guessed about Ros not being dead, based on that glimpse of her in 6.8.

Regarding the timeline - this is why I think there was a gap of about 2-3 months between 6.9 and 6.10 (Ben would have had at least a couple of months training, just the same as Jo in season 4 [yes, I think there is a comparable gap between 4.5 and 4.6]) and then another couple of months between 6.10 and 7.1. Given Jo's age and the trauma in question, that makes sense to me, although the months were probably rounded up a bit. So there's Ros' 6 months.

I've spoken on other threads about Ros' return, but basically I buy it much more than some of the events of the 6th season and given that Hogan turned out to be a bad guy and it was mostly the Americans were the ones baying for her blood, I'm OK with her coming back. If only because Harry could play the Hogan trump card and buy some space that way. How she got back on the books at Five is another question but again - the Home Sec stuffed up big time in 6.9 and Harry could have used that to get Ros back on board. That's how I justify it anyway. My need to justify it stems from my great love for the Ros of her later seasons - she really is a changed woman when she returns. I'm surprised more people don't carry on about what an about face this character had in many ways.

I agree with Silktie about why Adam's loss is such a hard hit, he really does seem to be back on form for the first time in quite a while. And yes, the Wes scene is heartbreaking and yes, I think it also implies that there was more socialising between Harry, Wes and Adam beyond the lovely scenes of 4.9.