TV: Spooks (UK) / MI-5 (US)

[wideawakewesley]

I'm not sure how many of you have heard of a little show made by the BBC called Spooks, but it's a cracking series. It's often referred to as the British 24, as the show revolves around MI5 (effectively our homeland security service) and their attempts to thwart various nefarious attempts by undesirables to strike at our country.

Much like 24, the show's writers are never afraid to kill off main cast members and the show is smartly written and quite brutal in places. Apparently the BBC are in the process of making a spin-off series called Rogue Spooks, but there aren't many details available yet.

There have been five series of Spooks to date and I'm sure you can probably get your hands on the box sets from netflix or blockbuster.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spooks

Wes

[wideawakewesley]

No other Spooks fans on the board? Shame on you all!

[movieguy]

Spooks is quite possibly the second best TV show that I have ever seen, besides The Shield, of course.

[wideawakewesley]

Filming has started on a Spooks spin-off for BBC Three.

The new spy drama, titled Spooks: Code 9, is currently being shot in Bradford and will hit screens later this year.

The drama is set in 2013, when London has been evacuated following a nuclear attack, and MI5 must establish field offices across the UK.

The series, starring Joanne Froggatt, focuses on the six young spies recruited to help set up the new Field Office 19.

'Action-packed'

She plays Hannah, who leads a team of rookie spies which includes a mathematician, ex-police officer, a former criminal gone straight, a junior doctor and a student.

Producer Chris Fry said: "After the bomb, MI5 needed new officers with ability, dedication and potential on the streets as soon as possible.

"With the exception of their team leader, none of them have been in the field for more than four months and they will continually find themselves in situations beyond their experience and training - they'll only succeed through grit and determination."

BBC Fiction controller Jane Tranter said: "It's brilliant to have the chance of looking into the future of Spooks with Spooks: Code 9 on BBC Three.

"The series promises to be as entertaining and action-packed as Spooks on BBC One has always been, whilst bringing a more maverick, younger perspective."


Rogue Spooks is now Spooks: Code 9

[deegraww]

Sorry on this side of the pond that just sounds like a racist title to a topic.





I'll have to check the show out.

[dcanizar]

Hey,
On this side of the pond, for some reason, the show is called MI:5. They were showing it on A&E a few years back and I watched the first 3 seasons, thought they were amazing (actually, the first two were the best). After those two seasons there was a big change in the main cast and I lost interest. But it was a great, great show when I watched it. I think now they are showing it on BBC America. British TV is some of the best ever. I watch a few things on BBC America and wish they would show more here (I'd watch the shows online if the BBC would let us, but since we don't pay taxes there I can see why they wouldn't).

[4fingers]

I never watched it but I now wished I had, dcanizar is correct in saying that BBC America is currently airing it. Although their currently on episode 5 of season 3. More info can be seen here:
http://www.bbcamerica.com/content/235/index.jsp

Edit: I was just reading that because the BBC in the UK doesn't have commercials during the show it can run for the full 60 min but because BBC America has commercials then you don't get the full episode. If this was true then I would personally find this annoying, it would be better watching it on DVD.

@ deegraww: That's why they changed the name.

[latx]

Okay now that someone posted the American name to the show, I know what your talking about :). I've seen it a few times and have really enjoyed it.

Didn't realize they were cutting out parts of the show to fit the American time slots, that sucks. I really haven't got to watch enough of it to have a good conversation on it. Guess I'll have to add it to my list of shows to see on DVD.

[deegraww]

@ deegraww: That's why they changed the name.

I was totally joking

[tokenuser]

The BBC in the UK does have ads ... they are just blocked at the end of a show. There's not many of them, and they are generally show promos, but they are still there.

BBCA has ads throughout the show (as per the US TV advertisign model), but they are not typically the 3-5 minutes blocks of ads you see on commercial networks. Its a squeeze, but the episodes shown are full length (notice what they do with the credits to squeeze some extra time in for advertising?).

[brodel]

I saw this thread and thought I would check it out since it was mentioned as being like a british 24.

I got 15 minutes into it and turned it off.. now I REALLY miss 24.

[wideawakewesley]

I saw this thread and thought I would check it out since it was mentioned as being like a british 24.

I got 15 minutes into it and turned it off.. now I REALLY miss 24.

You gave it 15 mins, shame on you! Try three episodes and see what you think then.

:)

Wes

[frank_syntax]

spooks is a dead good show, though for my money the last series went a bit TOO 24, with the ongoing storyline rather than the one-story-per-show kinda thing they used to lean more towards.

[brodel]

You gave it 15 mins, shame on you! Try three episodes and see what you think then.

:)

Wes

I'll admit that I didn't give it much of a chance. I just felt like they started and then just kept throwing theories out there and I had no idea who these people were other than that they worked for \ with MI:5. I felt like there was this subtle undertone going on with the characters that I just wasn't picking up on. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it, I might try it again. Tonight I am gonna try Reaper though since I saw the thread on that and it got me interested. :)

[damnedeyez]

It looked interesting to me, when I saw previews on BBC America...never got around to watching (and missed the Hugh Laurie guest appearances.)

I will say, the previews didn't give me the feel of 24...more a feeling like The Agency.