Spooks - Series 3 - Complete (DVD)

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 ...
...saving the country. Despite this Spooks is definitely not suitable for younger viewers at all and the 15 guideline should in my opinion be strongly adhered too.

== Opinion ==
Spooks Series 3 is a superb series in my opinion and totally worthy of a place next to the others. People may disagree with me claiming that the loss of three cast members is too much for one series but I personally didn't find this a problem, as the introduction ... more

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 the previous series' on DVD to ensure that I didn't miss out on anything.

Basic Information

Series 3 first aired on BBC in 2004 and is all about a branch of the British Secret Service called MI5. It centres around not only the professional lives of the agents but also their personal lives too because as you can imagine when you throw yourself into a job as much as they do then it is often quite difficult to separate the two. This gives the audience the ability to grow accustomed to the shows main characters and to peer deeper into the lives that they live.

What you get

The second series DVD box set contains all 10 episodes from the second series, with each episode focusing on a different issue or task but with long running storylines and threads running between them. The box set also includes a plethora of special features, which include interviews with cast members, deleted scenes, behind the scenes information and a gallery.

Characters and Changes

Now Series 3 is the series in which a lot of things we have come to take for granted in the previous two series' change. A quantity of the established cast has their final episode within this series and new members are introduced. Despite this however these replacements seem exceptionally natural and in keeping with the show as an entirety. Furthermore the new members to the team add a new dimension to the show and help it to progress.

Harry Pearce played by Peter Firth heads up the counter-terrorism department that the show is based around. He is calm collected and series about his job but at the same time has a fantastic sense of humour. Harry is well respected by all of the team and this series really allows this to shine due to the situations in which the team are placed.

Tom Quinn (Matthew McFayden)has been the team's section leader for two series now but after the cliffhanger final episode in series 2 Tom's stability as an agent is constantly under-pressure and this sees him de-commissioned as an agent early on in the series.

Adam Carter (Rupert Penry Jones) is an agent from MI6 brought in to handle the Tom situation at the beginning of the series. He is introduced to the audience as a loose cannon whose reputation Harry knows well. Liking to get on the nerves of other security services and ultimately prove that his service is the best Harry makes Adam's loan period more permanent and within no time Adam has settled in well with the team who quickly come to respect the amazing field presence he has.

Next in line Danny Hunter who is played by David Ovelowo. Danny is now a well-settled and established member of the team. He works well with most people but has a certain soft spot for Zoë and struggles a little too cope with the prospect of her being in a serious relationship. His departure from the team makes for sad viewing but certainly proves how much the job and other members of the team meant to him.

Zoë Reynolds played by Keeley Hawes is more than settled in her position with MI5 and is building upon her skills daily. She initials struggles with Tom's removal but warms to Adam almost instantaneously and learns to follow his lead. The departure of Zoë is something that you never expect to happen but something that highlights the perils of the job they undertake.

Ruth Evershed is still firmly in post although technically on loan from GCHQ. She fears being sent back there and so is always trying to prove how good she is. Ultimately however the team already know that Ruth is a trust worthy and loveable person that will find out everything there is to find if you give her the chance.

Sam Buxton continues to work closely with Ruth throughout the series and progresses in her skills under Ruth's eye. She gels well with the entire team and takes to Adam from the start. Her naivety however can still be a little problematic.

Malcolm and Colin are MI5's technical team. Malcolm is charismatic but ultimately quite shy although his humour is one of a kind. Colin is again very shy and deeply conscious of his job but again he gels well with the team and proves to be a brilliant asset.

The second newcomer to the team is Adam's wife Fiona. Fiona and Adam have worked together on numerous operations in the past and have a strong work ethic. Fiona however isn't her real name as before her marriage to Adam she was an undercover agent in Damascus and her identity has been changed for her own protection. The rest of the team however aren't aware of the history that both Adam and Fiona have.

The Episodes

Due the fact that there are 10 episodes in this box-set I am not going to tell you about each one in turn as quite simply this would take too long and would probably ruin some of the surprise of watching the series itself. I am therefore going to give you an overview of the entire series.

In my opinion Series 3 is just as action packed as the previous two series have been. Throughout the episode we see the team dealing with tremendously difficult situations and making life and death decisions for the sake of national security. All of the officers within the unit are pushed to their limits from the word go and all must undertake tasks and be placed in situations to which they are not accustomed.

Each episode focuses on a different threat to security and places the team in differing situations. Throughout the series they are forced to activate a sleeper reluctant to be awakened, locate the source of contaminated drugs, find out why a soldier of fortune is digging up cold war weapons and locate the missing son of a celebrity couple. On top of this they must deal with they own personal lives and react to any situation that may pose or become a threat.

The final episode is not a cliffhanger like those in the previous two series' but is just as powerful in its own way. Two members of the team are kidnapped by a group threatening to kill them unless the Prime minister changes his on-coming speech. Not being ones to give in to terrorist threats the request is therefore refused but with the lives of two team-members hanging in the balance what will the rest of the unit do?

Scripting and humour

A great deal of humour is also incorporated into the series. This is done by using a quantity of irony and satire that has greater emphasis if you have watched the previous two series' as well. You soon learn to realise that Harry is not the sort of person to let someone get one over on him, that he's not particularly fond of the Americans and that politicians aren't his favourite people. This adds another dimension to Harry who is already a wonderfully developed character.

The humour however also serves another purpose as without it the show could have become rather dry and a times clinical as well as being shocking and a times realistically harrowing. The use of characters that have very human flaws also adds another element to the show and helps to offset the gritty day-to-day tasks of saving the country. Despite this Spooks is definitely not suitable for younger viewers at all and the 15 guideline should in my opinion be strongly adhered too.

Opinion

Spooks Series 3 is a superb series in my opinion and totally worthy of a place next to the others. People may disagree with me claiming that the loss of three cast members is too much for one series but I personally didn't find this a problem, as the introduction of new members was done in a way so as it didn't seem like the old ones where simply being replaced but more like the service was progressing.

The introduction of the husband and wife team, Adam and Fiona, is also a refreshing change. The banter between the two of them as well as the scenes of them in their day-to-day life at home gives the show a sense of being grounded in reality. This therefore heightens the on-edge drama of both the undercover and surveillance work conducted by MI5.

Conclusion

Spooks is certainly something that I would recommend. It is exceptionally easy to get into and soon you find that you have become swept up in the whole atmosphere of the programme. I guarantee that once you have seen this series you'll want to see the rest. 

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