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saucybetty · 05-11-2009, 12:49 AM

I'm glad I'm not alone in my feelings about episode one. I previously liked Ruth and was somewhat of a H+R 'shipper, but this episode made me feel manipulated. From the moment the new husband appeared on screen, I knew he wouldn't last to the end of the episode (I put the kid's odds at even). Something in Ruth has definitely changed, as it should. None of us are the same person we were just a few years ago. But I'm not sure if I like this new Ruth. And why did Malcom have to leave?

Also I'm a little bit bored by the fact that the new CIA officer is a) a blonde b) a female and c) the de facto love interest for Lucas for the season, I'm sure. Snore. When did Spooks get so predictable? The only interest for me now will be to see who they get to replace Ben/Connie/Malcom. I bet they only add one cast member in lieu of the three.

lwhite53 · 05-11-2009, 12:57 AM

Just tried the download link mentioned above -- "does not exist or is not available." Not real, I'm afraid . . . and I was really, really looking forward to it. I'm seriously tempted to contact the BBC to see if they'll sell me a private download license!!

**JHyde** · (This post was last modified: 05-11-2009 03:30 AM by JHyde.)

It kept buffering but I got through it. Try fastpasstv.com if you want to watch outside UK.

Personally, I loved it. I've been meanign to say for quite some time that one of the most moving moments in the entire show is that scene in 5.1 when Malcolm has an outburst at Harry about Colin. Malcolm so rarely loses his temper that I blub when he does it. It has the same effect at the beginning of 8.1.

As to Ruth being different. Ruth had always longed for normality. Think back to season 3, with 3.5 and 3.7 in particular. She loves her work but she also always wanted life to matter in an everyday sense. Her life in Britain was over, and of course she would move on and try and experience it from the other side. But, of course, the stashed passports and bag bely that the spy in her was alive and well and ready.

The writers used an old and brilliant trick to keep Harry and Ruth apart at least for the beginning few episodes, and it looks like she's not back until maybe right at the end of episode 2 (judging by some of the photos taken on set by fans). Remember that Ruth was never a field officer, thinking rationally in the field was never something she had to do. In her heart of hearts, she knows what Harry did was right. She's not naive ( Wink

) but she's not trained in the field and she'd just watched her husband die for God sakes! Of course she wasn't thinking rationally. This isn't Adam immediately after Danny's death.

It's a difficult thing to overcome. I'm not sure how they plan to.

Spoiler: show

In some ways, terrible and dreadful and possibly insurmountable as this is to overcome, I rather think it levels the playing field. Nicola Walker once described Ruth as "worshipping" Harry, a little bit of hero worship maybe which is perhaps what her initial feelings came from. This experience must surely remove that. When she says "you heartless bastard" you can almost see it melting away. Maybe something more honest can grow from this, although truthfully, in real life, I think it would be very hard to do. And of course we know that Harry would have died rather than see what happened, happen.

I always found that internal conflict about Ruth one of the great things about her - she loved being a spy, but she loved normality too. Personally, I loved the episode, and I'm really excited for next week.

dannyfriar · 05-11-2009, 03:36 AM

Yeah, the new CIA woman; another Christine Doyle me thinks. I loved that Ruth had changed and got on with her life though. It would have been way too cliche if she had retained all of her former personality and declared her love for Harry as soon as she set eyes on him. By the looks of next week's episode trailer, maybe Jo has a little action?

**JHyde** · (This post was last modified: 06-11-2009 08:12 PM by JHyde.)

On the subject of The New Adventures Of Old Christine (Spooks style): I'll withhold judgement until we see how it plays out. I trust the actors, and it's a completely different writing team.

I love that Ruth describes her Cyprus life as "elegant", that normality has such classy appeal for her. And I don't think Harry lied about the location to her, I think that it was subsequently moved after her leaving Britain.

And I LOVE that "A Dog So Small" came into Spooks again - it was mentioned in 5.3 and such a perfect choice for a book Malcolm would have loved.

saronno · 05-11-2009, 04:30 AM

Some critics: Last minute Ruth's rescue scene was too much predictable.

However we had a great Harry. He did the right thing.
Bleeding heart people is not good for Spooks we need some
good cynicism. Big Grin

I am curious to see the new geek .... It'll be very hard to replace Malcom.

almh · (This post was last modified: 10-02-2010 07:54 PM by almh.)

Ok, I've now slept on it (and hopefully become more rational about the whole thing,) and have to admit that it was right for Ruth to have moved on. But I like the sound of what you said JHyde - I really hope

Series 8 Spoiler: show

**JHyde** · 05-11-2009, 06:33 AM

Oh me too almh. Don't get me wrong I loved it and think it augurs well - people seem to be peeved only because they wanted Harry and Ruth to fall straight back into each others' arms. But I'm totally wrecked as these guys are my favourite TV couple ever, joint first with Danny and CJ from The West Wing. And there were problems there too.

(sobs quietly)

I'm tipping a kiss in episode 8

Spoiler: show

pokojztoba · 05-11-2009, 07:16 AM

just seen the episode. Malcolm's leaving was brilliant, first his action, then his asking for retirement was so brilliant. it is in fact probably the first time in the series someone did that. Good that they point out that people in MI5 do retire and do not all get shot. The fact he does not say goodbye is so malcolm, he never makes a big fuss, so why do it now.
The cia-liaison do reminds of christine dale in series two... pity.
The reurn of ruth was superb. discussion of her moving on is pointless. She was for everyone dead. full stop, britain for her was dead. as she longed for normality ever, off course she moved on. she in my opinion never completely forgot about harry, why would she apologise to harry otherwise? She probably never expected to see him again ever....
ruth will probably replace connie. Malcolm will be replaced by a new tech guy.... and ben? not clear yet, we'll see.
altogether a superb opener of the season, we can only hope they can keep up the level for the whole season, but this was very promising and making i can't wait for the next one. pity the next one is not aired forward as last years....

Tea Lady · 05-11-2009, 09:05 AM

I am not sure we will see Malcolm again unfortunately. No farewell party. I think he only said goodbye to Harry, because he wanted no fuss, yes, but also because he didnt really care about anyone else there. As I said before, the way he was so happy to see Ruth at the start of the episode. Someone from the past. He hated Ros who quite frankly had even less respect for other people in this episode than normal and Lucas was just someone he used to know. Harry was his only true friend and Malcolm helped to save him and Ruth's step-son. That was enough for Malcolm. Job done.

I also wonder whether some of the "not too keen on the new Ruth" comments made, are by people who read spoilers about the series before hand. By knowing before hand that she was going to return and Harry was to survive to at least episode 2, I wonder if some people set themselves up for a big fall when it didnt work out how they wanted it to. If there were no spoilers available before hand I wonder whether people would have just been happy to see Ruth return in any stage of her new life, as now she is back there is a chance for H/R, no matter how distant it seems now....one to ponder