Spooks. Still with the UK Spies of Manly Anguish

[lesbiassparrow]

Quite frequently I find myself watching a version of a show that is quite different from what other people watch. Though I suspect with Spooks the whole just watching for Lucas North aka Mr. Thornton Who Did Time in Russian Jail and Got Tatoos of Emo Manpain is in tune with those on flist who also have watched the show. But just to show that I am not a person with a one track mind I will also say that I watch for the Lucas North's completely screwed up relationship with his ex-wife. It's not on much but it is clearly the very best thing about the show. In this I am absolutely right.



SHE BECAME A SPY TO SAVE HIM FROM JAIL. You can imagine that that has got to be sending mixed signals. Yes, she's got a son and a husband and clearly has Moved On the way you do when you think your husband is dead or run off rather than being tortured and getting manly tattoos of emo in a Russian jail, but when she found out he was in jail SHE BECAME A RUSSIAN SPY BECAUSE THEY PROMISED TO LET HIM GO. How awesome is that? And she's supposed to be his handler but then tables get turned and man, you have no idea how great it is because then he has to make her go get information* and endanger herself. I am really disappointed that they don't do more with it because it is totally Kdrama in all the best ways.

However, I am clearly the only person who thinks so. Everyone (tragically for me!) writes slash about Lucas North and Adam, aka the GUY WHO GOT BLOWN UP THE DAY AFTER THEY MET. Or maybe it was the day of. How do you write slash about that? Seriously! HE WAS BLOWN UP WITHIN HOURS OF THE MEETING AND THEY SPENT THE REST OF THE DAY RUNNING AROUND LONDON CATCHING TERRORISTS. I could get Lucas and Harry but as Harry is not pretty that's never going to be written, is it? I get the Lucas and Ros stuff, though it would be a brave man who would go within 15 feet of her and she does not strike me as a woman looking for anything outside herself. But at least they have spent time together. AND CRUCIALLY SHE WAS NOT BLOWN UP WITHIN HOURS OF THEIR MEETING.

Outside this I am entertained by the number of people who are double agents. Or triple ones. Sometimes it seems like everyone on the show is spying for someone else and I get confused about who is loyal, who is partly loyal, who is loyal but looks disloyal (and vice verse), who might be disloyal but probably just is shifty looking. And surely, the odds would mean that you wouldn't quite have that many, except through spectacular incompetence? And they might think about getting more more non-white spies. Having one for all of England seems like it might not quite be enough, you know, what with the many different peoples who are out there with nothing better to do than threaten Britain with doom every episodes.

*This is surprisingly easy. Apparently even if you're a low level spy, basically picked as pressure on your ex-husband, they apparently let you waltz out with all sorts of files for no good reason. Being a double agent is clearly very easy, except for the bit where you could get killed.

Comments

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I have only seen 1 season of this, but you make me anticipate future seasons greatly.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I have zero interest in the spy stuff - but the manpain and anguish of Lucas North is massively entertaining. And quite, quite lovely.

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to see that you are still focusing on the most interesting and important part of Spooks - the gorgeous, brooding and sexy Mr. A. I was looking for the web site where they had literally taken screen captures of every episodes that he's been in and put them up, frame by frame. But, alas, it seems to have disappeared. However, there are a lot of nice fan videos up on uTube as well as clips from the show so all is not lost.
Did you ever see the episodes of the Vicar of Dibney where he ends up marrying Dawn French? I think that she's very funny but the contrast between his 6' plus thin frame and her short and - well, shall we say very chunky self - was not that appealing as a romance. The comedy, however, was very funny.

Vicar of Dibley

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

I saw the first episode of that two parter and then wasn't around for the second. I should get hold of it at somepoint; I hear there were daleks at the wedding... (Daleks are EVEN better than brooding and attractive manpain.)

Re: Vicar of Dibley

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

I don't remember any Daleks but there was a hilarious musical number.

[pontisbright.livejournal.com]

The Lucas North Manpain works even better if you are also mentally superimposing the Guy of Gisborne Manpain over the top. It goes all the way into parody and back out the other side, while looking a bit sweaty and beaten-up. Score!

Twas a bloody good year for Spooks, that one. Oh, and they did have some other non-white spies, but they killed them. They kill everybody on Spooks. It's like an entire cast of unusually good-looking redshirts.

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

The Lucas North Manpain works even better if you are also mentally superimposing the Guy of Gisborne Manpain over the top.

I only lasted about three episodes into that Robin Hood. Even the many charms of Richard Armitage couldn't make me keep watching, I'm afraid. Though now you talk about it I am sort of tempted again. I could ff through all the Robin stuff (even though it feels so wrong to watch Robin Hood and want to kick Robin most of the time).

They are really keen to kill people off on Spooks, aren't they? I rather admire that. No happy endings for you, Mr/Ms Spy!

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

Hi there! *waves madly* I think we may have encountered each other on mutual friends’ threads before, but as a new convert to North & South and therefore the many charms of Mr Armitage I wanted to say how much these Spooks posts have been making me giggle. I thought the one where you described the show as the one “where Bridget Jones' mum, Captain Wentworth and Mr. Thornton spy for Queen! And Country!” was particularly inspired *grin*. I hadn’t really noticed how incongruously they were speaking for a modern show, but you’re so right (and it’s all so delightfully po-faced, as if they are absolutely refusing to acknowledge the great cheesiness). Of course, I too have started watching mainly for the Lucas-North-Manpain-cum-Guy-of-Gisborne-Manpain (perhaps Guypain for short?).
And I myself haven’t yet succumbed to actually watching Robin Hood (other than GoG shirtless scenes that little sister xiaobellsa has thoughtfully shown me). I stress 'yet'. I’m teetering, though...

[lesbiassparrow.livejournal.com]

Hi! *waves back* I am glad you are enjoying the Spooks commentary, though it is sadly very one track. I tried Robin Hood, but there are some things that I cannot do, not even for good manpain. And apparently sitting through that show is one of them. Though I must admit from time to time I do waver. I suspect I would have to watch with my finger on the ff button...

[salimbol.livejournal.com]

It would take a soul of iron... Oh god, I think I do want to try to watch it! Not that I (remotely) have a soul of iron; that's what the first mad throes of Armitage lust must do to a person :-). Well, if I end up a frothing twitching bundle, it's not like I wasn't warned about it...