Spooks: Series 9 (2010)

I love Spooks. I think it's the best drama on British TV since ever. I can't believe it's 9th series has recently finished! Has it really been going almost a decade?! I really enjoyed the 8th series, with it's duplicitous American agent and the force of nation that was Ros Myers. Sadly, series 8's cliff-hanger ending was resolved in a low key manner with Ros' funeral at the beginning of series 9, leaving a large hole in the series where Hermione Norris used to be.

Lucas North (Richard Armitage) took centre stage this series, and I have to say, he's no Ros, and he's no Adam (Rupert Penry-Jones), but with the continued revelations about who 'Lucas North' really is, the character became not just interesting, but fascinating. New recruits Dimitri (Max Brown) and Beth (Sophia Myles) were introduced in episode 1, and despite being rather pretty, they never really got given much personality. There was a bit of a charisma void in Spooks this series. Technician Tariq (Shazad Latif), introduced to replace Malcolm last series, is another character who's beautiful but undeveloped.

However, Harry Pearce (Peter Firth) and Ruth (Nicola Walker) were there to save the day, many times, in many ways. Their relationship has always been multi-layered, leading up to Ruth turning down Harry's proposal this series, and eventually leading to Harry giving away state secrets to save Ruth's life. I've enjoyed how Ruth's character has been given more to do this series, and even chance to get off the grid. Nicola Walker is a great actress, and it's a shame she doesn't do more TV, and she's turned Ruth into a major player, with real emotions who really feels the impact of every service death. She is the heart of the series.

Simon Russell Beale added some much needed levity as the new Home Secretary. He's been an absolute delight, and he follows some great actors in the role. A new addition I hope isn't going to hang around long next series was introduced in the last episode, Alec White. He was played by Vincent Regan in too broad strokes, he felt cartoonish in the realistic (!) world in which Spooks resides. Either he needs toning down or axing. 

There seemed to be more standalone episodes this series, and with more variety than just having Islamic extremist bad guys as the villain's of the week. China seemed to be the main big bad, until Lucas revealed his true colours. I talked in my review of Wallander how it was brave of that show to have Stefan kill himself in the last episode, and it looks like someone at Spooks has been taking notes. To reveal a major character as not only a killer and a terrorist (he planted a bomb in a foreign embassy), but then to deny him redemption and force his end over the edge of a building... It gave the final episode an emotional wallop, and allowed Lucas the kind of memorable exit that Ros, killed off screen, was denied. Even with the gripes mentioned above, I still maintain Spooks is head and shoulders above other UK dramas, even in it's ninth year.