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“Stifled potential. I see it all the time. Minds get blocked somewhere along the way, locked into something - an institution, a relationship – that freezes them where they are."
It seems that – finally – the Spooks writers are listening to me. Or, you know, making sensible story decisions, which is pretty much the same thing. Yes, that's right, what I've been longing for is here. Both the Dimitri-centric episode and a Ruth/Home Secretary pair up.
And major credit to Max Brown – he takes advantage of his moment in the sun as much as he can, managing to take Dimitri's slightly ridiculous plot and ground it in reality, particularly playing his fondness for Natalie. Brown has been a real asset to Spooks since he arrived last series, able to provide strong support to the central characters but also more than capable of stepping into the spotlight himself. This episode was no exception, full of brooding and comedy and everything in between.
Being kind, his storyline wasn't exactly watertight, full of typical Spooks plot holes and head-scratching moments. I was just a little bit surprised that the team so easily bought Johnny's bluff that he trusted Ryan – surely they'd have expected him to be a little more suspicious of this estate agent who's suddenly turned up in his sister's life around the same time that he arrived with the ingredients for a dirty bomb? And would a hardened agent like Dimitri have bought his sob story so easily? The moral dilemma elements felt a little shoe-horned in, and Erin's 'perfect Dear John letter' once again proved just how much she isn't Ros. But I'll have no-one slag off the climax of the episode, in which Dimitri managed to escape the effects of a dirty bomb by running away. Oh Spooks, I'm so very, very glad you haven't gone all sensible on us in your final days.
Following the death of dear Tariq last week – doomed from the moment we saw inside his flat, poor love – Calum suddenly took up the mantle of the Spooks geek with gusto, providing Dimitri with some excellent gadgets in a very Q-style scene and doggedly searching for Tariq's killer. In fact, I rather liked him this week. Still can't stand Erin, though.
But, even though this was dear Dimitri's episode, it was pretty much stole from underneath him by two brilliant scenes involving Ruth – without Harry. I found Elena more intriguing this week, partly due to her story about her parents' death, but mostly because of her scene with Ruth. Her perception and wisdom about Ruth's relationship to Harry made me understand more why he had loved her, and Nicola Walker and Alice Krige were marvellous together, all understated and brilliant.
Even more understated and brilliant together, though, were Ruth and Home Secretary William Towers. He completely nailed her relationship with Harry, their love for and dependence on each other and how that has stifled Ruth. In the middle of Dimitri's fun and games, it was a totally compelling and mesmerising scene, thanks to some wonderfully sparse writing and the talent and screen presence of Walker and Simon Russell Beale. When Spooks ends, I'd love some sort of work-place comedy involving the two of them, please. Thanks.
This closer look at Dimitri wasn't exactly perfect, but it was certainly intriguing, with enough moments of sheer madness to entertain, nicely interspersed with the ongoing storyline. What? The Americans might be the baddies? Oh my. Oh my, indeed.
Spooks continues Sunday 9pm BBC1.
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