London Spy, Pt1/5, BBC2, 21.00-22.00hrs each Monday

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The plot is turning into a fairly orthodox "secret technology" idea - but I love the (more important) human relationships that are thrown into sharp relief by the extraordinary events happening to the characters. The performances remain superb ... this is what's sustaining the incredible aspects of the story and maintaining my commitment to the series.


And I'm looking forward to the Christmas special set in Belarus - A Minsk Spy.

[Serial_Apologist]

And I'm looking forward to the Christmas special set in Belarus - A Minsk Spy.

That pun is raisin a bit of a smile... currently.

[Nick Armstrong]

The performances remain superb ... this is what's sustaining the incredible aspects of the story and maintaining my commitment to the series.

Haven't seen the latest (this evening's) yet, but I share the sense that without the performances, this would be less compelling.

The aspect which (in episodes 2 & 3) would have otherwise started to put me off is the tendency for long sections of the production to be over-stylised and... not sure what the right phrase is... self-regarding, perhaps? The first episode wasn't so guilty of this, it seemed to me, perhaps because of the impetus of the plot exposition. But from time to time, I was a tad exasperated in the 2nd and 3rd episodes. Then again, once Broadbent's character returned to the forefront in Ep.3, and the plot picked up, it's compelling - the encounters with James Fox and Harriet Walter were wonderful...

And I'm looking forward to the Christmas special set in Belarus - A Minsk Spy.

Oh ho ho ho - been working on that one for some days, fernster?

You almost had me heading for the Christmas schedules to find out more!!!

[Nick Armstrong]

That pun is raisin a bit of a smile... currently.

He's such an old tart!

[Serial_Apologist]

He's such an old tart!

He might already be on the brandy sauce, but I'm not sure he's that old?

[Nick Armstrong]

I'm not sure he's that old?

Merely a term of endearment, old fruit!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Moving on ...

I agree with Cali's assessment of Ep2 - but again the redeeming feature of Ben Whishaw's depiction of grief maintained the compelling-ness ( - there's one for the "teeth-edge" Thread) of the series; and there was sufficient menace and mystery behind the stylistic self-awareness I thought.

I like the way it's used the conventions of the spy story, but placed more emphasis on how the events of such a story might impact on people's relationships.

[DracoM]

Again, I really cannot for the life of me see why this has caught so many people? I watched tonight after so many people on here had said it was terrific. Erm..............??
The sheer self-indulgence of EVERYTHING.
Saved for me by fantastic acting by Jim Broadbent - acting everyone else off the screen.

[Nick Armstrong]

I like the way it's used the conventions of the spy story, but placed more emphasis on how the events of such a story might impact on people's relationships.

That aspect (a key reason I love spy stories - there are all sorts of allegories about hypocrisy, dishonesty, reality v. appearance &c &c floating around all the time) is hardly original though - the story and fate of Leamas in Le Carré's Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1963) being the main and classic example to spring to mind.

[Barbirollians]

Shame the story and the bumping off of the characters is becoming so absurd - if the acting wasn't so good I might have given up halfway through tonight .

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

That aspect (a key reason I love spy stories - there are all sorts of allegories about hypocrisy, dishonesty, reality v. appearance &c &c floating around all the time) is hardly original though - the story and fate of Leamas in Le Carré's Spy Who Came In From The Cold (1963) being the main and classic example to spring to mind.

You're absolutely right, of course. (It's still extremely well done in London Spy, too, though.)

[vinteuil]

The plot is turning into a fairly orthodox "secret technology" idea - but I love the (more important) human relationships that are thrown into sharp relief by the extraordinary events happening to the characters. The performances remain superb ... this is what's sustaining the incredible aspects of the story and maintaining my commitment to the series.

... I thought the commentator in The Guardian got it right - "I’m trying hard not to let this colossally unconvincing and underwhelming revelation tarnish the many things I love about this series, but it’s not easy..."

I forgive its self-indulgence most of the time; Messrs Broadbent and Whishaw are compellingly watchable.

[Stanley Stewart]

And so we reach the final curtain? Not entirely convinced but found the whole series a strangely compelling experience, played with depth and finesse. From Part I, I had constant reminders and images of Eliot's, The Family Reunion; the presence of the Eumenides and an obsessive need for expiation. I'm ready to retrace another look at the whole series and grapple with the sheer technique of Ben Whishaw's conversion which now places him in the first rank of his profession and an example of the power of that 'little something extra'. Well done, all round.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Yes - I felt a distinct lack of gruntle at the "happy"(-ish) final couple of minutes, and there were "sticky" bits in this last episode, but also some very pleasing thematic twisting (which I won't mention until people have caught up) and Ben Whishaw's performances throughout have been astonishing.

[vinteuil]

... they shd have stopped at the third episode. Lordy, what a falling-off!

After a glorious start this series really collapsed at the end. The plotting not up to a 60s 'Avengers' episode; the grotesque theatricality of la Rampling; the dialogue going from creaky to cliché; the self-indulgence disappearing up its own bottom...

Yes, Whishaw was compelling throughout, but apart from him... Such a disappointment. I think some serious editing could have produced a three-part masterpiece.

Eheu.

Well, mme v consoles herself with the continuing delights of 'The Bridge', and I plunge back in to some Balzac