Spooks

Mutual Friend · #1 09-17-2006, 02:44 PM

This is a thread for the fifth series/season of the TV show Spooks (or MI5 as it is known in the US, they couldn't handle the lack of clarity in the show's actual title we can but assume).

One of my favourite television programmes ever, and this opening two-parter is probably the best story yet. It made me literally cry with anger. Gorgeously shot, full of wonderful actors, just total brilliance and of complete political importance. It reminded me a bit of V for Vendetta, but with more bite, realism, and setting it in the here and now, not hiding behind the idea of the ‘near-future’ or allegorical gestures.

Anyway, I don't know if anybody else on this forum watches it, and if you don't I sincerely and utterly recommend it. You don't need any prior knowledge, the episodes are pretty self-contained, apart from the now customary opening season two-parter.

SeaRex · #2 09-17-2006, 06:41 PM

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Spooks (or MI5 as it is known in the US, they couldn't handle the lack of clarity in the show's actual title we can but assume).

*snickers* What a great title. I wish they used it in America. Oh, they never would have heard the end of it, but it would have been hilarious.

Anyway, I've never even heard of this show, but it sounds very interesting. Does anybody in America know which channel it comes on? And at what time?

Havoc · #3 09-18-2006, 12:52 AM

I thought Spooks was an American term? Wtf? :P
Never heard of this show though, but everything that involves spying and stuff sounds cool. I shall look into it.

***Nate*** · #4 09-18-2006, 01:56 AM

Damn good show. I think I saw the first two seasons. Up until whatshisname's girlfriend and stepdaughter were killed in the bomb - which, even though I knew it was coming, was one of the most horrific/tense scenes I've ever seen on TV. I got out of sequence since then so I should probably download them all and catch up.

Hobo · #5 09-18-2006, 06:58 AM

Dum Dum. Dadaladadum

I love it.

AquaticAmbi · #6 09-18-2006, 08:13 AM

Like V for Vendetta, eh? That's good enough reason for me to check it out.. if only I had cable.

Mutual Friend · #7 09-18-2006, 10:41 AM

Well, I meant that this story in particular reminded me of that film, with the whole government/business/media manipulation of society angle.

It's generally described as the thinking man's 24, which I'd go along with.

EDIT:

:

I thought Spooks was an American term? Wtf?

It's the nickname given to MI5 agents.

Voodoo Hand · #8 09-18-2006, 01:58 PM

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It's the nickname given to MI5 agents.

Well , in the U.S. Spooks is a rather unflattering term for our Afro-American Brothers, hence SeaRex`s comment.

SeaRex · #9 09-18-2006, 02:20 PM

Nate, what channel does it come on?

***Nate*** · #10 09-18-2006, 05:09 PM

ABC

But that's the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. I'm not sure, on the whole, why you're asking me how you can find it - you're not aware I haven't been in the US for five months now?.

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In the United States, the series is screened on A&E, a specialty cable channel, under the title MI-5. This is partly due to the fact that the word "spook" is an old (American) racist slang term for African Americans, and the network did not wish to risk the possibility of causing offence, and partly because in the US, "spook" is more generally associated with the CIA.[7] Series 3 began in the U.S. immediately after the UK run ended and wrapped up with Episode 10 on March 12, 2005. The first two series were shown on A&E as a single 16-episode season. Due to the need to insert commercial advertising breaks, the episodes shown on A&E are heavily edited versions, with each 59-minute installment being edited down to roughly 45 minutes for U.S. showings, often causing some narrative problems for American viewers. The full versions are, however, available on DVD in that country.

Unlike Series 3, Series 4 did not air immediately on A&E after it ended in the UK. It appeared that they were abandoning the show, but Series 4 will air in the US on Fridays at 11pm starting September 15, 2006 after an 18-month absence.[8]

In Canada, the series is also screened uncut and unedited on BBC Canada, a specialty digital cable channel, under its original BBC title Spooks. BBC also shows Spooks on its entertainment channel BBC Prime in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The programme is also aired as Spooks in Australia and New Zealand on ABC and TVNZ respectively. In Sweden it airs as Spooks on SVT1, in France the programme is called MI-5 and broadcast on Canal Plus and Canal Jimmy and in Finland the show is called Erikoisjoukkue on YLE TV1, although the continuation of the show to Series 3 is not certain. In Belgium Spooks was broadcast on the Flemish public channel Canvas and on the French Belgian channel RTBF. In the Czech Republic as MI5 on ČT1. In Israel it was aired under two different names (MI-5 and Spooks) on the Arutz 2 Channel 2 and on cable. In Slovenia it was aired on Kanal A as Tajni agenti. It is aired in Southeast Asia through the Hallmark Channel.

In Brazil, the series is screened on People + Arts, cable channel, under the title Dupla Identidade (Double Identity). In Argentina the same channel screens it as Doble Identidad (Double Identity as well).

SeaRex · #11 09-18-2006, 05:28 PM

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you're not aware I haven't been in the US for five months now?.

Heh. No. I don't keep up with things.

God bless Wiki. Don't think I get A&E, though. Shame.

Hobo · #12 09-19-2006, 10:40 AM

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Like V for Vendetta, eh? That's good enough reason for me to check it out.. if only I had cable.

Yar, that be nothing like Spooks says Hobeard the great pirate.

Arrr

Bullet Magnet · #13 09-20-2006, 05:04 AM

I missed out on Spooks entirely, despite being subjected to the trailer almost every night. If I had watched from the start... but my TV interests developed slowly and matured late, so I would probably not enjoyed it then anyway.

Sassenach · #14 09-24-2006, 05:40 PM

The recent two-parter were really good and I liked it a lot.

Mutual Friend · #15 09-24-2006, 05:43 PM

Are you actively trying to sound dim?

Yes, the answer's yes.

RELEVANT: The third episode, on tomorrow, is also quite good! Quite good, though... not utterly brilliant like the opener.

Sassenach · #16 09-24-2006, 05:44 PM

Pfft!

Though yes, the third episode was very good. Very different from the two-parter, considering that was all epic and stuff whereas this one is just a small-ish story exploring British Muslim extremists.

Mutual Friend · #17 09-24-2006, 05:50 PM

But Spooks has done that before, and I speak as someone who's got the DVDs as proof.

Just felt inconsequential and a bit old hat... the second episode of Series 2 explored the suicide bomber thing with far greater depth, reality and drama.

Sassenach · #18 09-24-2006, 05:51 PM

But was the suicide bomber British?

And I don't remember the episode, so it hardly counts.

Mutual Friend · #19 09-24-2006, 05:54 PM

Sure, it was all about a British mosque recruiting young guys, i.e. mid-teens, as suicide bombers. It was fantastic, caused a little controversy at the time, I think.

Anyway, episode 3's on tomorrow, you'll all be watching I'm sure and can make your own judgements.

Or stick with mine since they're pretty good as they are.

Hobo · #20 09-25-2006, 09:48 AM

Oooh spooks is on tonight!

Dun dun. Dada-lada-da!

Statikk HDM · #21 09-26-2006, 09:20 AM

Isn't a spook just slang for a spy, and is used as a reference to the CIA in America? I know that at one time it was used as slang for blacks, but that isn't used anymore. Racism is very underground, and why the hell call a black person a spook, which connects to ghosts, which are almost always white? A show about all the nasty shit the CIA pulled, now that would be interesting to me. Fomenting violent revolution, assassinations of political leaders, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, MKULTRA, torture ops/black lights.
Oh boy, that'd make for some mighty fine and educational television.
So, when is M15 on in America?