MI-5 (TV Series) Episode #10.6 (2011) User Reviews

Lies and betrayal

[Tweekums · 10/10 · 24 October 2011]

As the final episode of the final series of Spooks started I was somewhat apprehensive; in a series that was never afraid to kill off major characters I feared that the BBC might pull a 'Blake's 7' and wipe out the entire cast in the final scene. Thankfully they didn't go that far but be prepared to shed a few tears when the end arrives. While Harry is being taken to an American air base to be flown to the US Elena Gavrik contacts Ruth to let her know that she has information concerning an imminent threat; but she will only tell it to Harry. The team risk a diplomatic incident by freeing Harry and Elena tells him that a terrorist is planning an attack on London. Erin and Dimitri find evidence pointing to a Russian who is on board a flight to London and Elena confirms that he is planning to blow up the plane over the capital. Harry tells the Home Secretary and suggests that the plane must be shot down… he is of course relying on his faith in Elena.

This episode was a great end to a great series; there may not have been lots of thrilling chases and explosions but there was a sense of tension from start to finish and just when we think we are going to get a happy ending; things turn tragic. As always the acting was great; especially from Peter Firth and Nicola Walker as Harry and Ruth.

A Fitting Farewell

[hillrosemary · 10/10 · 28 October 2011]

Which is exactly what I think the final episode of 'Spooks' was. I didn't think they would be able to tie up all the story threads involving the Gavriks and Harry's past satisfactorily in just an hour, but for me, they did. The acting from most of the cast was outstanding, and from Peter Firth just phenomenal. Lara Pulver and Max Brown were fairly hopeless as usual, (at least in my opinion, their casting was the only thing to have marred this concluding series) but the fact that their characters were kept (very wisely, I think) in a very secondary role during this episode prevented them from spoiling it.

Yes, the ending is tragic, and not everyone will be happy with it, but I think it was the most appropriate conclusion. The idea of Harry and Ruth riding off into the sunset, while sweet, would have been completely out of character with 'Spooks', which has never gone in for saccharine happy endings. The last few scenes of the show, involving brief but very moving acknowledgement of the other officers the section has lost, Harry's own private farewell to Ruth and Harry's return to his desk were beautifully crafted and rounded the whole thing off to perfection. The last line couldn't have been better. Yes, a very fitting farewell to a wonderful show that everyone involved in should be very very proud of.

Finale Time

[jwikstro · 9/10 · 4 June 2013]

I viewed this, the last episode of a sometimes surreal-in-a-context-where-it-shouldn't-be-surreal, but otherwise excellent, series with sadness, as it seemed like this would truly be the end. The last series seemed to take into account what some viewers had been saying, i.e. that the real MI-5 were not always straightforward "good guys", and that they often had to do things which were ethically and morally sketchy. The characters played by Max Brown and Lara Pulver showed this well throughout the 10th series. They were both excellent in that they came across as conscientious, caring people who nevertheless had to lead innocent, likable citizens down the garden path, to the point of ruining their lives, for the sake of a planned special relationship with Russia. In a sense, it shows that getting into bed with the Russians would involve sacrifices that would be dubiously justifiable, at best, and that those sacrifices would be red flags as to the inappropriateness of such an arrangement. The loss of Tariq earlier in the 10th also showed this. Like Colin, Tariq seemed to represent the brains as well as the heart-and-soul of MI-5, but his and Colin's sacrifices seemed to show that heart-and-soul are expendable, whereas brains can be replaced. Welcome to the cruel Darwinian world, or some twist on that theme. The human sacrifice in this episode continues and sums up this theme in grand style. Of course, the characters know the dangers involved and the series has consistently shown the possible consequences. The ep also has other good touches, including Calum's sarcasm, which seems to bring out the contrasts in his character, extremely bright in some ways yet the opposite in others, so deuce at the end of the day. Still, one always hopes that Harry Pearce and the others could transfer to a more idyllic situation, but such will never be the case, and this episode hammers the nail in the coffin on that reality.

Almost Full Circle

[paulstorer-06456 · 10/10 · 29 February 2024]

I have just binge watched the whole 10 seasons of Spooks and about to watch the movie. I loved this programme first time around and perhaps this is the 6th I've binged it.

Seasons 1-9 had such strong characters that in some ways season 10 was a season too far.

For its maiden season it introduced Tom Quinn who we watched as he cracked under the pressure of the double life, the failure to find a family life, the spectacular breakdown to him walking away. Never to be mentioned again, apart from a cameo in the closing scenes of the final episode. We also had Danny who seemed to want the bond life but we saw him change and the end sacrificing himself for Adam's wife.

Chloe was brilliant but this started the rapid, out of the blue character endings. Suddenly we are in court and then she's packed off to South America.

Adam Carter was a superb character. We saw him with a successful marriage and a child. Again she was terminated by her ex husband who appeared out of the blue. Adam's reaction to this was a slight, tightly held grief.

We had Ros Myers who was - well someone you wouldn't want angry with you.

The strength of the characters surrounding Harry Pierce reminded me of a saying of an old boss " To look good you surround yourself with good people"

In season 10 the team around him wasn't as strong and really they were there to support the Harry & Ruth romance.

Sir Harry Pierce was a constant throughout, a sense of right and wrong but did the wrong thing for the right reasons when needed. Whilst everyone else came and went through all the seasons he was a constant. Peter Firth played him superbly.

I thought it appropriate that the Home Secretary said the assassination of the group leader in the final 5minutes had been outsourced. Tom Quinn walked up the path to the Russians house as the assassin. His story after he left MI5 would be a good one to watch.

The Harry & Ruth story came about a little cliched. She had bought the idyllic cottage. Harry finally said he was resigning and wanted to be with Ruth and then she gets killed.

Still stand the test of time. Different to Slow Horses but both have departmental in fighting ( remember Oliver Mace ) but the characters are almost diametrically opposite and..... that's ok!

Sad ending to a fine show

[bvrqmwwf · 10/10 · 8 May 2023]

I thought this episode was a good way to bring the series to a close. Some of the scenarios throughout the series, subsequent actions and decisions have been questionable but overall it was gripping stuff. The chemistry between Harry and Ruth was excellent and their characters believable. The cast throughout the series has been strong and largely well acted. The whole series made me wonder just how many interventions by the security services are made to keep up all safe. Also how many incidents that have happened that have been reported as a gas explosion or a pollutant leak, etc. Alarming stuff contained in this excellent series but I was sad to see it end.

MI-5 Trainwreck

[Johnny_West · 2/10 · 16 August 2022]

The MI-5 clownshow lumbers on to its series finale. Why investigate when you can just kidnap everyone and ask them "This is Your Life" questions and hope they are honest?

In the last season, this show has disintegrated into gratuitous drama created by the incredibly bad decisions of Harry Pearce, the head of MI-5. It is just one big mistake followed by horrible decisions that make no sense, and then everyone joins in to try to make things right, but then another dumb mistake by Harry puts the team back in a deep mess.

This finale features some good drama between Alice Krige and Nicola Walker. It is Bee versus Bee and they both loved Harry but neither one of them really wants him. They just want to manipulate and outsmart him, and revel in pulling his heartstrings to make Harry into a mindless puddle of emotional jello.

It is kind of disappointing to see how easily Harry has been manipulated by various characters who saw him as a weak and pathetic fool.

At the very end, two powerful characters are killed, and it is really pointless and unneccessary. Like the writers ran out of ways to make the story more sad, nihilistic, and depressing, so they just tossed in a couple of murders.