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A review by mummy2harry on Spooks - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set) (DVD) June 4th, 2007
Author's product rating:
Did you enjoy it?
Loved it
Story
Outstanding
Characters / Performances
Outstanding
Special Effects
Outstanding
How does it compare to similar films?
Outstanding
Advantages:
Amazing programme, great acting, fantastic stunts
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
I rented this series on DVD after seeing the latest series (Series 5) on BBC 1, and I thought it would be a good idea to go back to the beginning and see how Spooks began.
The show started in May 2002 on BBC 1, a new show which was about the British Secret Service MI5 and it's officers. I think it was about time that British television made a show about our Secret Service, America is always producing shows about the CIA such as 24, and Alias. The first series centred around 5 main characters, who I will go on to explain about in a minute. It is about not only their profesional lives as Spies, but their personal ones too, trying to lead a normal life doing what they do.
The term Spooks refers to the Spies themselves, it is what British Intelligence officers call each other.
*The Characters* The main characters are as follows:
Matthew MacFadyen plays the head of the Spooks, Tom Quinn. He is a man very dedicated to the job, but one who is struggling to balance his work life with his new relationship. He used an undercover name with his new partner Ellie, but eventually the truth came out, and Tom had to try to salvage the relationship. He is a very dependable character, proud of working for his country.
Keeley Hawes plays the very clever young character of Zoe Reynolds, an up and coming young intelligence officer with a lot of skills on the table. However, she had a tough time in Series 1 when she found out that the woman she admired in MI5 was actually corrupt, and she had to tell her superiors. She is a great undercover officer, and was a credit to MI5 when placed in danger when an undercover operation went wrong.
Danny Hunter is played by David Oyelowo. Danny got into trouble with his bosses at MI5 when he was caught fixing his credit rating on the MI5 computers. Danny lives with his colleague Zoe.
Jenny Agutter plays the formidable Tessa Philips, an Intelligence officer of over 20 years experience. However, her career comes to an abrupt end at the end of Series 1 when she is dismissed from the service for creating false Spooks, an action which made her a traitor in the eyes of MI5
Finally, the boss Harry Pearce is played by the talented Peter Firth. Harry is head of the Counter-terrorism department at MI5. He started out in the army, and then moved into the intelligence service. He is a wel respected member of the team, very calm cool and collected.
*Episodes in Series 1* Episode 1 begins with a controversial subject, abortion. A car bomb is set off in London, and the Spooks are at a race against to stop more bombs exploding. They are being set off by an American woman who is targeting doctors who perform abortions. Zoe has to go undercover to convince the suspect to give up the location of the bomb...will Tom and Danny make it in time to stop her setting off the bomb??
Episode 2: The team uncover connections between racist ring-leaders, politicians and mass killings of immigrants. Tom and a fellow colleague Helen (played by Lisa Faulkener) who is keen to make her way up the MI5 ladder, go undercover and befriend Robert Osborne's wife, the man suspected on creating racial hate rows across the country. The ending to this episode was quite shocking, and the first time I have seen something like this on British television. It is worth seeing this series just to watch this episode! Viewer discretion is advised, NOT for younger viewers.
Episode 3: This is the episode in which Zoe is placed in danger by being in the Turkish Embassy when it is stormed by Kurdish rebels, making demands for their family to be released. Zoe has to tell the terrorists that she works for the Government after her surveillance equipment is uncovered. In another twist, Tessa finds out that an ex lover of hers, and a British spy Johnny Marks is still alive. He has captured a bankers daughter, who works for Ministry of Defence payroll, and he is threatening to get hold of information about MI5 and MI6's undercover agents. Harry thinks the siege is a diversion for something happening at the bank, Tom and Danny manage to end the siege but Tom is shot. Marks turns up at Tessa's flat, and leaves the information about the undercover agents behind, taking only the money. But will Tom survive??
Episode 4: Tom's girlfriend Ellie is finding it hard coping with life with a spy. Tom's mentor Peter Salter is undercover, an operation run by MI5 and MI6. Tom orders him off the case but Salter flees. Things become further muddied when Harry, keen to regain control, commands Tessa contact one of her covert agents who, it’s thought, is undercover with a related anarchist group. Zoe finds out that the agent does not exist, and Tessa pays her £10,000 to keep her silent. Salter is eventually caught, and Tom gets him to admit betrayal, but when questioned about his motives, he kills himself by hanging. Danny realises what he was up to and manages to save the day. This episodes guest stars Hugh Laurie as head of MI6.
Episode 5: An ex-MP is released from prison, proposing to publish his memoirs. Plenty of people are interested, and when a double agent is murdered, the plot thickens. Hampton Wilder has been in prison, and requests to see MI5 when he is released. It turns out he has made some damaging accusations in a book about someone in the MOD being his successor in the arms trade. The memoirs were stolen from their hiding place, and MI5 need to get them back. However, the accused is the star of the governments and the best friend of the Prime Minister. The manuscript is eventually leaked to the press, with the accused resigning from government...but is everything what it seems??
Episode 6: The final episode of the first series leaves us with an amazing cliffhanger. Tom meets with an Irish terrorist who claims to want to help MI5. Zoe and Danny are told to go behind Harry's back doing an operation under orders of Tom. They manage to stop a bomb exploding, but they dont know if it was enough to stop the terrorist McCann. Tom takes home a laptop containing secrets given him by McCann home to his maximum security house, but he gets telephoned by a distressed McCann to say that there is a huge bomb in the laptop on a timer. Tom is locked out of the house, with his girlfriend Ellie and her daughter Maisie inside with the ticking time bomb. Can Danny instruct Ellie to disarm the bomb before Tom loses them both?
Series 1 was a huge success for the BBC, and has gone on to make another 4 series of the hit show. Series 6 is due later in the year. It is easy to get swept up in the show, although you quickly realise that it is the not the kind of lifestyle that your average person would want to lead...too much and danger and lying to the people close to you!
The DVD of Series 1 contains the following: RUnning time: 460 minutes Deleted Scenes Live Action Menus Commentary from the cast and crew Cast And Crew Interviews A Guide To Spooks Terminology Character Biographies Image Galleries Trailers
The boxset is made up of 3 DVDs, each with 2 one hour episodes on it. Please note, the episodes are NOT subtitled. The boxset retails at around 15 pounds in most stores.
I would definitely recommend watching this series...only problem is you'll be left wanting to buy the other 4 boxsets to find out what happens with the Spooks!
More Reviews
Meet the Rulers Review ofSpooks - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set) (DVD)by
MI9to5
Advantages: Great characters and storylines Disadvantages: Possibly a little over the top at times
Spooks is one of those programmes that I just adore. Unfortunately however I can't say that I jumped on the Spooks bandwagon from the very start. To be perfectly honest though the reason for this was the fact that I was only 12 when the first series originally aired and therefore it just wasn't part of my viewing although my dad was watching it. I personally caught on during series 3 and then decided that the best thing for me to do would be to get ... ...Head of the Spooks themselves is the dependable Tom Quinn played by Matthew McFayden. Tom is exceptionally dedicated to his job but currently struggling to balance his secretive work life with a new relationship. Next is Danny Hunter who is played by David Ovelowo. Danny' life isn't currently going exactly the way he played, as after being caught fixing his credit rating on MI5 computers some of his credibility at work has been washed away. The newcomer ...
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21.10.2008
MI5 Not 9 to 5 Review ofSpooks - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set) (DVD)by
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Advantages: One of themost original British TV shows in years Disadvantages: You are left wanting more
Spooks was first shown by the BBC in 2002, it deals with a group of MI5 agents and several different scenarios that they face.
Spooks is one of the most original and innoative programmes that has been shown by the BBC in years, it is also satisfying to know that we in Britain can make something as good as the Americans.
Based within the MI5 the gang have to deal with "the war on terror" making the programme very topical. During the first season ... ...wing party, anti capitalists groups and also corrupt politicians. The main characters are:
Tom Quinn (Matthew Mcfadyen) leads a small team of agents responsible for the missions carried out. Tom is conflicted with issues in his personal life, having met a new girlfriend with a small child he is forced to live a lie. Unable to tell her his real name and what he does for a living (She thinks he is a computer programmer called Matthew). Zoe Reynolds ...
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Spooks - Series One Review ofSpooks - Series 1 - Complete (Box Set) (DVD)by
charliee-1-2-3
Advantages: Amazing programe with great special effects and awesome actors. Disadvantages: hard too navigate special features etc on the dvd
This box set is amazing.
Got it for christmas and ended up watching 6hours worth of it on christmas day. Thats how addictive and awesome it is. At first the way that the DVD is set out it can be abit confusing too work out where to find everything but once that is worked out it is easy to use. The dvd is great as it includes lots of extras such as interviews with just about everyone involved in the making of the film (Actors,Director,Producers,Editors,Writers ...
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Advantages: Slick, exciting, fast, gripping, enthralling Disadvantages: The first series was only 6 episodes long
Don't get me started on Spooks.. I love it! The first series is a fantastic introduction to the best production on the BBC this millenium! Yes, that is quite a claim, I know. These 6 episodes show the viewer what makes a Spook, some of the decisions they face, the conflicts they have with their personal lives, the quick thinking, the gadgets. Oh, it's great. If you are not hooked on the first episode, just give the second episode a try. You will ... ...not! If you like to watch something that keeps you thinking and guessing throughout, this is for you. The first series introduces us to all of the main characters adequately. You will be left wanting to know more. The focus on Tom's personal conflicts is a good touch, and emphasises the point many times that being a Spook is a top secret job, and comes with many difficulties. You want Tom and Ellie to work, but you know that it probably won't. The ...
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Advantages: Highly dramatic, great series Disadvantages: slightly unrealistic
I sat on the edge of my seat when watching this on the Telly and had missed a few episodes so HAD to buy the DVDs. I thinks that this is one of the best things that the BBC has produced for many years, good scripts, great acting and casting and engrossing plot lines that keep you engrossed. For anyone interested in Intelligence and Spys this is a must watch. The cliffhanger in the last episode will make you ruch out and buy seies 2. THe DVD set contains ...
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This television drama series centres on a team of counter-terrorist spies collectively known as 'Spooks' because of the shadowy nature of their existence. Technically speaking, Spooks don't even exist--they have no names, identities, or known locations. Yet these secret agents are all that stand between the nation and the terrorists who try to undermine national security. This collection includes the first six episodes of the award-winning series about the secret world of this most covert of government agencies.
Languages
Main Language: English
Technical information
Special Features: Deleted Scenes, Live Action Menus, Commentaries With Cast And Crew, Cast And Crew Interviews, A Guide To Spooks Terminology, Character Biographies, Image Galleries, Trailers
Award information
BAFTA: Best Drama (Drama Series And/Or Serial) 2002 (Bharat Nalluri, Rob Bailey, Andy Wilson)
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Listed on Ciao since : 02/06/2005
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