Episode 2 Discussion [Rewatch]

[Silktie]

It's hard to remember this episode for anything else apart from Helen's horrific end. That moment established Spooks' reputation as a show that would buck the trend prevalent in TV, where the heroes always come out on top - and live.

Besides that, the thing I enjoy most about this episode, and 1.1, is how much time and detail they spent on showing the tradecraft used by our heroes. It's great how they showed them setting up these alternate personalities, the use of Rosie to provide back-story, how our spies had to practice their cover stories to get them straight, and how one slip-up by Helen in the end blew the whole operation and cost her her life.

We also saw the introduction of Colin in this episode, and set his character up nicely as geeky, knowledgeable but a little condescending towards the non-geeks. He's just so enthusiastic about his electronic toys and what he can do with them, it's wonderful stuff.

I also loved Harry in this episode, with his "You're a little shite Derek" scene, and especially the end where Harry clearly ordered the bad guy's assassination, and the way they showed it happening inter-cut with Helen's funeral. Oh, and he looked mighty fine in his tuxedo too...