This was a well developed series and gave an interesting view of the times from across the pond. My interest was spurred by the movie that was recently released, and now after binge watching the 10 seasons it is time to re-watch the movie.Most of the characters in the series were well developed and some of the plot twists were unpredictable. It was a little hard to believe that such a small group of people handled such large responsibilities and were able to be replaced so easily.It would have been nice to see more than 10 seasons, but there must be a reason to end it when they did (my search for sequels is what led me here to begin with). The last episode definitely left me looking for more! I recommend this series to any interested in a good spy series, or those interested in seeing things from a different perspective.

This show started out great. It was a mix of short-lived series Rubicon with the action of a Born movie. I was in heaven. It came to a screeching halt after the first two seasons. I just didn't have the same connection with the characters. And what I took as anti-American sentiment was too much. I've made it through six seasons and will update my review if 1) I make it through more seasons and 2) They improve. Sad because this had the potential to be a new favorite. It is still watchable and better than average, just don't expect the excitement of finding a new, great show to last.

I hate having to do this, because I really did enjoy the first few series; I thought the action was great, the characters well developed and the plots believable. But most importantly, the characters did not act like bloody idiots at every opportunity! I stopped in series 5, it became unbearable. My favourite plot line was the one about the coup against the British government which by all rights should have succeeded given how incompetent the opposition was. You know the PM's son was a target so you send 1 unarmed, newly acquired agent to protect him? Why the bloody hell not send a regiment of the Royal Marines? Why agree to meet with the conspirators and agree to a ceasefire? Why the not just arrest them there and then? Why not just shoot them? Why then did you agree to HIRE one of the conspirators when not 20 minutes earlier she was to be complicit in the overthrow of the state? It is made clear that dozens of high ranking officials were involved in this plot but after a simple 2 part episode, nothing is mentioned again. No purges, no further arrests, no nothing except a brief mention that the lead conspirator will get a "harsh" 20 years in prison. This is in the same episode, by the way, where MI5 agrees to disobey a direct order from the Foreign Secretary and assassinate a bloody foreign head of state based on the rantings of a madman and a single file from some government minister who may want to become head of state himself for all they know.According to Spooks, MI5 is the most unprofessional, incompetent, and traitorous organisation in history. And of course the Americans are all war-mongering, amoral jerks who literally never get anything right. I know the latter is at least partially false and I really hope for our sake that the former is as well. 2/10.

As BBC1's long running spy drama comes to a close it is hard to believe it is almost ten years since it all began; so many characters have come and gone; many in less than pleasant ways. Surprisingly the departure of the lead character hasn't led to a drastic change in the feel of the programme although over the years the centre of attention has drifted towards MI5 Chief Harry Pearce and slightly away from a front line officer; although they were always important enough for the viewer to care about… when an MI5 character was killed off it was almost always somebody the viewer had got to know well for many episodes. The creators made it clear from very early on that nobody was safe when one of the two apparently Major characters was brutally slain in the second ever episode… cuing several complaints as I recall. Over the years the team have taken on a variety of threats including Islamic terrorists, Fascists, Russians, Chinese and even supposedly friendly Americans! Whoever the team take on in a given episode one knows things will get exciting and the threat won't be stopped till the last minute… cliché I know but it works! It isn't all action though; there is plenty of politicking and back-room skulduggery to keep the viewer thinking.As one can tell I really enjoyed this series; this was down to many things; excellent and frequently topical stories; the knowledge that the good guys don't always survive and an excellent cast. The most obvious cast member to praise is Peter Firth who played Harry Pearce in a way that made the character sympathetic but also ruthless in doing what it takes to protect his country, also worthy of note are Nicola Walker who plays Ruth Evershed, Rupert Penry-Jones who played Adam Carter, Keeley Hawes as Zoe Reynolds and Matthew Macfadyen who played the original leading character Tom Quinn. I know that the BBC have finished the series but I really hope that at some point they change their minds and make more episodes.