Episode 6 Discussion [rewatch]

[lwhite53]

I liked this ep, especially since it's the first where we've seen the professional and the personal, side by side at the same time, in the person of Harry. Though we've seen the personal side of most of these characters already, those glimpses were totally separate from their work. Now we have Harry at war with himself, professional and personal fighting for the upper hand, and it makes for great drama.

Interesting set up -- IRA splinter group selling their technical expertise to a foreign terrorist group. Apparently, a plausible scenario. I did wonder, though, why we didn't see Malcolm or Colin in this ep, given all the technobabble about weapons, etc?

And Tom, again, misses the boat in his relationship with Ellie. He kits out his house with the best security system available in order to make her feel safe and doesn't understand that all she really needs is for him to let her all the way into his life. They're over and neither realizes it yet.

Harry's skewed judgment shows almost immediately: "We set up a meeting with Patrick McCann and we kill him." Not even close to the measured and calculated responses we've come to expect from H, the man who let Johnny Marks walk away to save MI5 assets. He is clearly reacting emotionally to this situation and the self-imposed blinders keep him from seeing the bigger picture. "There will be no deals with Patrick McCann" -- H is stuck in the past and can't find a way past his prejudices.

Loved the scene with Tom and the DG -- seriousness of purpose vs. comedy of setting -- great juxtaposition.

Tom showed both his leadership ability and not a little courage in taking charge of the situation -- he realized Harry's judgment was compromised and they needed to get around him, but wouldn't let the others comment on it -- great loyalty and great insight into his boss's demons. He challenged Harry professionally, even though he clearly didn't want to: "You always taught me to keep personal issues away from judgment. You didn't. Sorry." It's a testament to the strength of their relationship that Tom got out of that exchange alive!

And once H took a step back, and a couple of deep breaths, he's back in control: "Oh well, needs must." He sucks it up, slips on his game face and they're, once again, a team at full strength. The demons are back in their dark closet and H is the inscrutable master again . . . or is he?

Zoe finally outs Tessa, spurred into action by T's blatant greed in the face of a terrorist threat and Harry's emotions, still a little too close to the surface, come roaring back into play. He ignores the unwritten code when dealing with Tessa: "You are a brilliant woman. If you wanted to get into treachery, couldn't it be something ideological, something grand? . . . I'm going to throw you to the wolves." I think he's appalled at how self-serving and corrupt she's become, how utterly banal and unoriginal her scam. He needs to make someone pay for the day he's had and, as he can't have McCann, Tessa becomes a convenient target for his rage. She certainly doesn't help herself when she challenges him and then calls him a coward! This is Harry at his scariest, ruthless, malevolent best -- "A fight. Oh goodie." Don't cross him when he's in this mood; it'll become a game a russian roulette and he's never lost. The danger and menace in H's voice and demeanor is palpable in this scene, it's almost as if there's an additional character in the room. Would he have gone after Tessa had this been just another day on the grid? I don't think so.

And it all ends with the first great spooks cliffhanger. A great ep and a terrific end to series 1. How could you not come back for s2?