7.5 [Re-watch]

[Silktie]

Ros goes undercover, Harry investigates Connie and Jo freaks out in the middle of an operation.

Watch and discuss.

[Silktie]

They tend to lose me whenever the show is about financial matters, so I have no idea whether it is the slightest bit realistic that one man could be able to bring down a bank and bankrupt the British economy as a result. It seems a little farfetched to me, and perhaps that is why I struggle to accept the Alexi character. I find him to be over the top, which takes me out of the threat of the week storyline somewhat. That said, HN delivers a great performance in this episode, and even though I'm not a Ros fan, I do feel sympathy for her here.

I thought it was a nice touch that they brought the threat 'home' to the team, in the sense that Malcolm's money is in that bank and he stands to lose everything. Also loved the fact that he made loads of money off their scheme in the end.

Loved the Connie/Harry stuff. Both actors did terrifically well in the scenes in Connie's house. So is Connie in the clear? Did Qualtrough try to set her up when he told Harry that she could be the mole last episode? But if it's not her, who is it then?

I also enjoyed the tiff between Harry and Lucas, when Harry admitted he'd lied about Sugarhorse and asked Lucas to try and remember everything he could about it. Does Harry have the right to ask this of Lucas? Absolutely, in my view. In fact, he is obligated to do so, if he thinks there is a threat to this network. But just as much, Lucas is entitled to get angry about being asked it. I think that's why Harry apologises for asking in the end, and similarly why Lucas does what Harry asks; both realise that the other has a point. And of course, Harry could have been more sensitive in the way he asked.

So now Harry knows that Qualtrough is a bad 'un. What will he do with this information?

[Sparky]

This was on the telly last night so I finally got round to watching it.Its not one of my favourite S7 eps but I did think Ros was great and I'm not normally a huge fan. As Silktie also said, the banking eps tend to lose me a wee bit as I have no real interest in it and the fact that one person can bankrupt a country is (i'm very much hoping) a little farfetched - even for Spooks!

Loved the final scene when Harry suddenly realises his 'mentor' has been playing with him all long!

[inveniam]

I'm currently watching, and I'm liking it so far. Sugarhorse etc and Maynell is a delightful little villain. I was never keen on Ros, not even sure why, some characters just grate at me the wrong way. But I'm starting to have more respect for her character now. I'm also interested in the Jo/Lucas relationship. Not in romantic shipping way, but in a friendship, and an understanding way. I hope they have a longer convo about what happened to them both, and comfort etc.

[JHyde]

The Ros of seasons 7 and 8 is fantastic. The Ros of seasons 5 and 6 not so much (although she does get some great moments in 5.8, 5.9 and 5.10).

[A Cousin]

Hah! My "Armchair Critic" (AKA Mr. AC) and I are working through S7 - first time for him. Maynell gave him the heebie-jeebies. When Maynell and Ros started going at it, he said, "Man! Are they going to have some ugly babies!"

The Armchair Critic still does not trust Ros, even after that. He can't get past "Jakarta Is Coming" with her.

[allanah]

(08-11-2011 08:56 PM)inveniam Wrote:  

I'm also interested in the Jo/Lucas relationship. Not in romantic shipping way, but in a friendship, and an understanding way. I hope they have a longer convo about what happened to them both, and comfort etc.

Lucas and Jo do have some interesting scenes in this episode. There are quite a few parallels between them - they're both having flashbacks to their troubled pasts. In the scene where Jo drops the drinks and Lucas drags her into the kitchen she looks so uncomfortable when he says he thinks he knows whats going on. I don't think that she knew that he knew about her rape until then - she must hate the fact that everybody knows about something so personal.

[SweetTea]

This was my first rewatch of this episode and I remember Meynell giving me the creeps and I felt really bad for Ros and what she had to do. For some reason, Meynell's face made me think of Michael Jackson's face, but I'm not exactly sure why. Just something about the narrow nose and small eyes, perhaps.

I'm glad (and I think, so was Harry) that Ros was the one to speak with Jo. Especially after what Ros had to do with Meynell, it made what she said to Jo more meaningful. I know that Harry and the guys (Lucas, Adam, et al) realize what other pressures women in the service face, but they can't truly comprehend what that would be like.

When Connie heard Hugo's voice saying that she had been quite precious to him and he never told her, I really did feel sorry for her. GJ and PF both did so well in that scene.

I liked seeing Selina Cadell as Gillian Calderwood. I'd only ever seen her as the neutoric Mrs. Tishell on Doc Martin and I almost didn't recognize her without the cervical collar.

The final scene between Harry and Lucas where Harry realizes he's be screwed over by an old friend is fantastic. Harry's trying to keep his face neutral, but even Lucas can see the look of 'oh f*ck' under it all.