Episode 1 & 2 Discussion [rewatch]

[A Cousin]

I'm lagging behind. Again.

Regarding Boyd's (horrible) accent, I had to go back to my speech classes in drama school. He had particular trouble with the "-er" and the "d" sounds. He was OK until he got to those. Pity, because many of the other American accents in these episodes were fine.

I like it when they bring in Harry's history. It heightens the reality if they don't ignore what must have come before as if Harry didn't exist prior to S1E1.

I too am not familiar with Martine McCutcheon from East Enders, although we get it, I have never watched it. I remember watching this episode the first time, I thought she was going to be recruited. The Tash story line is a plot device that Spooks does very well, and completely unsentimentally, that I like to call The Everyman device. They create a civilian character that the audience a) can (hopefully) like and relate to and b) creates a natural outlet for any exposition that may need to happen re: methods and motives, in this case Adams (but also Malcolm and Harry at the end). I liked the Tash character. She is brave, resourceful, out-spoken, smart, and strong - but an innocent in the ways of MI5. She reacts like a civilian. Strap her to a bomb at the end and the stakes go way up because there is a sympathetic face to what it is they are protecting. We learn a lot about Adam in particular through this device. Well, look at that: the Mad Dog is HUMAN!?!

These terrorists are not very good. First, they wire a bomb so that it can be defused with one clip and then they bomb the closest hospital? Very good luck that. I would think that they could have been much more resourceful than that! Or they are grossly underestimating their opponent.

I also like the "babbling" conversation in the car between Adam and Zaf. In one short conversation you learn about the nature of the Adam/Zaf relationship, protocol when a mole is suspected and Zaf himself and his babbling tendencies. So much in so little time.

And Juliet's "carefully coordinated military, industrial, Zionist, corporate, conspiracy" improvisation to explain her "deal" is great! So funny. So Juliet. I can kind of see what Harry saw in her - but I wouldn't want to be on the wrong end of it. I love to hate her!