London Spy (BBC)

Jasnah

Has anyone else seen the first episode of this? I thought it was quite good, although I've always had a soft spot for Ben Whishaw (what with his recent proclivity for spy movies…). Looking forward to seeing how it progresses as the story seems somewhat intriguing, and it's certainly a bit different from normal spy fare…

FloatingVoter

Yeah, it took ages to get started. I'd have given up except the preview in the Sunday Times said it more or less comes good if you stick with it. I'll be watching episode 2.

Harry Palmr

I liked it, Scottie is surely the key to the drama. A Whitehall functionary with a gay love life who's friend's unexpected and now late lover just happens to be a Russian spy.

Jasnah

I'm actually loving the slow pace of this combined with the excellent casting. Really makes me want to see the next episode. Seeing some criticism of the script in reviews, and while it's true that it can be inelegant at certain points, I think it's an excellent story.

Harry Palmr

Full of intrigue - a sort of Prisoner/Tinker Tailor hybrid as filmed by the people who did The Retuned (only with brown and not blue as the dominant colour)

Harry Palmr

Fantastic episode tonight, wonderful mix of the opaque and the explicit.

Jasnah

Agreed. That should quieten those with complaints about pace. Throughout the episode I kept looking to see how long was left as I was anxious for it not to end, and for next week to begin. A good sign, if irksome.

Jasnah

It's really, really worth a watch for anyone reading the thread. If you like intelligent drama with exceptional acting and great filmography.

heathledgerlove

Watched only the first episode & found it slow paced & the characterization a bit weak, but might watch more as the reviews are full of praise

mynameis905

Thought it was great until the most recent episode that completely jumped the shark.

9/11 Hijackers and a secret algorithm that detects lies?

That was seriously the best idea they could come up with?

Technocentral

Is this on any Netflix region?

mynameis905

Anyone else watch the finale? One of the weirdest and unsatisfying endings to any series I've ever seen.

Script was awful, so stagey and a couple of real clangers of lines

Jasnah

I loved the series as a whole, but it certainly did have a number of faults.

Regarding the nitpicking over the big revelation last week, I think people would have complained no matter what it had turned out to be. However, I felt the revelation was actually redeemed this week by the way in which it was used in one of the more climactic scenes. Also, as critics have pointed out elsewhere, the show was an examination of character – people getting caught up in the intricacies of the revelation are slightly missing the point.

Script could certainly have done with a lot of work, it was especially weak at points this week, to the point of annoyance and distraction. My major issues with it centre around the security services: their constant surveillance, yet constant non-interference or bizarre meddling? It was dealt with well in the beginning episodes but it had gotten incredibly lazy by the end, doing the plot a great disservice.

Ben Whishaw though, what an actor. Charlotte Rampling too, although the script left her down this week.

Considering the ending, I actually quite liked it, and I also felt that it was a relatively natural progression of events. I especially liked the very end, which I know has received some heavy criticism, but I saw the thought process, even if it was let down by the weak script.

brian_t

I too thought it was very unsatisfying.

The spy discovered an algorithm to detect lying and they used it against him in the end.

It would have been a bit better as 3 parter - 5 hours was just too long.

heathledgerlove

* wails *

I really liked it in the end! And here I usually am a steadfast cynic. But it was a case of style over substance quite really; the cinematography (right?) and lighting and atmosphere were great though cliched - ah sure that's why you watch that kind of thing, not for realism. Poor little Danny what an absolute trooper :P

Flawed, yes, I can understand the reviewer's reservations, but overall, for what it was, I do believe it worked. Was just gritty enough and the pace did pick up, the ending suitably bombastic.