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**Nitrus** · 21-09-2010, 03:56 PM

HR had better be taking a backseat this series.

I think it's safe to say Ros is dead.

Lukyan Lyubof · 21-09-2010, 04:17 PM

Great episode cannot wait for the next one!

My Dad ruined the ex HS's death as when Harry sits down he goes, 'he's going to kill you' which was so thoughtful of him
I believe they may have blown the budget as I remember reading somewhere that they couldn't afford to go abroad this year
CGI I thought was a little off when the little boy looks over the edge of the bridge, the wake looked very fake to me but then you don't tend to see that everyday
Intrigued about the whole John thing but then there are many reasons for that; yes he could be John, he could have had to change his name i.e. witness protection (doubtfull) or wanted to legally, or Vaughn could simply have known him as John but tbh I think the first is most likely

Spoiler: show

pokojztoba · 21-09-2010, 07:48 PM

great episode! really, nice adaptation of the forsyth novel. i mean the main theme is very similar to the novel 'the afghan' by forsyth which also has a boat-bomb. but it changed with the subs. great episode

lwhite53 · 21-09-2010, 08:00 PM

(OK -- so because of the death of my modem, I had to hijack an unsecured wireless signal from somewhere in the neighborhood and it took 3 hrs 15 mins (!!) to download this ep . . . but I finally watched it.)

Damn, series 9 does start off with a bang! Loved the whole group working together again, finally. Loved the tension of the ep -- H/R, H and the old HS, Lucas/Dimitri/Beth, Lucas and Vaughn. Was flabbergasted at H's proposal . . . and R's refusal. Loved the comedic moments throughout, again finally. Thought the writing was outstanding -- some really meaty stuff that the actors could really work with, especially interpersonally. Also thought the acting, on all fronts, was great -- especially the new HS, Beth (sorry folks, I really like her character), PF and NW. I was confused (along with others) about where Ruth was going in her last scene with Harry -- that bit about "we've forfeited the chance for that kind of life" and "we couldn't be more together than we are right now" just didn't make sense to me. It's like they're talking about two different things.

I was somewhat dismayed with the "new" Ruth -- she's harder, more cynical and more pessimistic than even just last season. There's definitely something "off" about her, imo. But I did love Harry -- his whole equilibrium seemed to have been thrown off by Ruth's refusal. It's almost as if they've had an emotional role reversal -- H: "These are the choices I didn't want to make anymore." R: "These are the choices we need you to make" -- she's the one pushing him to make an unthinkable decision and later, she's the one telling him that sometimes it really is all just maths.

Did anyone else notice that the new HS didn't even blink when approving the kill order for Abib?

Some of my favorite lines from the ep:
Ruth: re Ros -- "Liked might be a bit strong."
Ruth: "Can't go on, must go on."
Blake: "That dogged, brilliant bitch."
HS: "Sir Harry -- the man, the myth, the legend."
Harry: "Make the most of it. Reintroduce slavery and invade Belgium."
H and R re Blake's death: "How sad." "Not really." (and yes, she knew exactly what he did!)
Harry: "This is my 'I want some good news' face."

Also, I really liked the parallel motifs of wanting to feel clean (Harry, Beth, and maybe even Ruth subliminally) and the concept of timing (Harry and Ruth, and Harry and the HS).

A terrific start to the new series and a hell of a cliffhanger.

**Nitrus** · 21-09-2010, 08:05 PM

I didn't think the HS did approve the kill order? I thought Harry was just letting him know? I could be way off but it just didn't sound like he was asking and getting permission.

lwhite53 · 21-09-2010, 09:10 PM

He didn't explicitly say ok but he also didn't say "what the hell are you thinking." Seemed to me an implicit "do what you need to do but I'm going to remain deniable," which in my books is a sanction.

**Fidget** · 21-09-2010, 10:26 PM

I loved the episode but after all the years we H & R fans have been waiting for something wonderful to happen between them I was really disappointed....Harry saying' Ruth marry me, I don't want there to be only 6 people at my or your funeral' ( or words to that effect) then for Ruth to say 'No', surely the script writers could have come up with something better.....I am so hoping that in an episode very very soon at a more romantic place ( than a funeral) Harry will actually say 'I love you Ruth, marry me' & Ruth will say 'yes'. If the script writers need inspiration there are any number of FF out there that tell a beautiful H /R story

Jericho · 22-09-2010, 02:59 AM

Does anyone know if BBC3 will be airing an episode to follow on from the episode on 1 as happened with the previous series?

Apologies if this is covered elsewhere.

**Fidget** · 22-09-2010, 04:22 AM

I haven't seen anywhere that BBC 3 are going to show it this time, it is being repeated on BBC 1

pook · 22-09-2010, 06:46 AM

OMG just watched it! It was dark, edgy, intriguing, fabulously constructed and written with loops back to the past and cliffhangers whatever's upcoming. I felt like I was watching it on a rollercoaster! I miss Ros and was surprised at Malcolm's absence from her funeral. Her death has massively affected the whole team, Harry is depressed and lost, Lucas is moody and distrusting, Ruth seems harder and more cynical ... and I'm not keen on Tariq's clean shaven look (mostly because it took me a while to work out why he looked different)

Interesting that this thread has been 90% discussion on the characters and 10% on the plot Wink

Roll on next week .... please!