MI-5 (TV Series) The Sting (2005) User Reviews

Frightening

[IanIndependent · 9/10 · 30 July 2021]

A top episode you'd like to think would have no basis in reality but you can sort of believe that these things could and do happen. Therefore this is a scary episode.

It is also one that starts in dramatic fashion and then keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat without resorting to big fight scenes, an excess of bodies, chases or explosions. Ok. The end has disaster prevented at the very last second plus a chase, near explosion and a body but done in the best possible way.

Good performances from the cast in mostly subtle and undemonstrative roles.

Harry was right

[keysam-02610 · 9/10 · 3 September 2022]

Harry was absolutely right. As with the death penalty, it is better one guilty person go free than an innocent one die. So the Americans simply kidnapping people off the street was not acceptable, even if it meant occasionally an actual bad guy went free. If we stop believing that, the crazy death cultists may as well have taken over.

And of course it turns out Harry was also right that there was something fishy about this particular individual, even if it wasn't quite that he was no threat.

Spooks impresses again. I just hope there was someone like Harry at the helm during these years, maintaining the best of our society's beliefs.

The Sting

[Prismark10 · 6/10 · 12 August 2020]

Harry Pearce has had enough of the CIA pushing its weight about and taking UK citizens suspected of terrorism and forcible extraditing them.

One of them is Louis Khurvin, a suspected Iranian supporting terrorist. The CIA let him go but Khurvin later shoots the MI5 officers watching him. It leaves Harry in a hole. He is suspended and the Americans are angry.

Juliet Shaw steps into Harry's shoes. The Spooks team are not happy and Harry contacts several of them even though he is being watched.

Adam Carter needs to find Khurvin. They suspect that some of the evidence has been faked. Khurvin has links with a debt management firm with state of the art IT security systems. It is run by an American businessman who is very careful of his own movements.

There is another breathless finale with an imminent SAM attack on a plane. It also raises issues of extraordinary rendition which was a real life concern at the time.

There are some nice little moments as well. The first hint of a closeness between Harry and Ruth. Also Harry looking out for Adam and taking him and Adam's son to a dog race.