What a show!!! I love watching MI-5!Thank you for the most interesting TV show today! MI-5 helps us to see and understand better the important role spies play in preserving the world safer. It helps us remember that thanks to the countless sacrifices spies have made throughout centuries we have a better world! And that many of the privileges and luxuries we enjoy, and often take for granted, we owe to them! I wish I could understand why the producers had to kill Ruth Evershed!??? Was it really necessary??? What an extraordinary role she played and how well Ms. Nicola Walker played the role! THANK YOU, MS. WALKER! I would like to thank the producers also for creating a role where a woman is portrayed as extremely intelligent, rational, fair, just, daring, tenacious, sensitive, courageous... I do wish to know why Ruth's character had to be eliminated... was it because the actress's contract expired and she decided not to renew it? And if so, was it just because of money? Will we ever see another female interesting and enchanting character again in this superb and unique British TV show?

If I could give this a 7.5 I would, but sans .5s I'll give it an 8 because when this series was good it was really good.For those of us in the states whose main exposure to espionage thrillers was 24, this series is different from that in 2 main ways: 1) the series doesn't revolve around one main character and so main characters do die and 2) the production values/budgets are not as high as 24, especially in the first few seasons, so as sometimes is the case suspense is generated in MI-5 in ways that derive more from actual espionage and cat and mouse games than gun battles or high-tech surveillance.At least in the first few seasons, which may be difficult for viewers accustomed to fast, perfectly synchronized and action packed 24 type entertainment. (Don't get me wrong, I am a fan of 24, especially the first 3 seasons, but after 9 seasons of one character having literally a 100 lives, one need something a bit more close to reality). Guns are used by the main characters only with absolute necessity, and I don't think they ever used anything above handguns. As the seasons progress though, this series incorporates more and more elements from a 24 template, from a more frenetic pace, prevalence of guns and especially bombs, explosions and big set-pieces, to stories that incorporate conspiracies within conspiracies. although thankfully the number of arcs dealing with corporations pulling the main strings were limited.The greatest source of suspense in this series is the fact that save for the possible exception of Harry Pearce, no character is safe from exile or death (mostly the latter). Because this series, at least for the majority of the first 8 seasons, is procedural, this is even more important, for in any one shot episode featuring a villain who will not appear again, almost any character can be killed or forced to leave MI-5.Not that this is a character-centered suspense series. Althoughh we get glimpses into the main characters personal lives for the first 8 seasons, for the most part the characters are seen only as in their importance as officers of MI-5. And the guest characters, mainly villains, are not portrayed as either instanly sympathetic or villainous, but mostly a combination of both. The lack of over-sentimentality is often seen in the officers' use of assets, ie. people who can serve the successful completion of their mission. They are often used and discarded by the MI-5 officers, often with minimal remorse.Around seasons 5, 6 and 7, this series becomes an amalgalm of its first 3 seasons and a 24 type entertainment. It is here that this series is at its best, where big set-pieces and vast but compelling conspiracies combined with the fact that we know any character can die at any moment create cool and satisfying suspense.2 things to note: 1) there is a heavy anti-American theme throughout the series that permeates even to the horrific and cringeworthy American accents employed by the English actors. (but to be fair, no one from the Russians to the own British government is safe from being villainous as well). 2) Seasons 9 and 10 are atrocious. Unnecessary and ridiculous backstories are created for the 2 most likable characters simply to generate shock value, and characters are made to do preposterous actions that make no sense either in their character arc or by logic. Despite this, this series overall is very entertaining, especially in its middle seasons, and is well worth a watch for anyone craving smart suspense that is not overly contrived.

I would have given this show a 9 if they had continued with the excellent writing through series 6. The plots were intelligent, the acting superb and other than a couple of small 'suspensions of disbelief' required by the audience; it was thoroughly enjoyable watch.Unfortunately, this all fell apart in the 7th series (and has continued to fall apart since). Either the show changed their writers or the writers decided to stop trying to actually make the 'puzzle' work. There are huge gaps in the plot, events that happen that are entirely not possible unless people could teleport etc.. etc...They fell into the trap of writing plots that would be exciting as long as the viewer did not spend any time thinking about whether their events could - in any time relevant world - actually happen. They also wrote a lot more about cyber crime and computer hacking. Two subjects which the writers obviously knew nothing about.(In other words, if you program computers; be prepared to scream at your T.V. a bit) Anyhow, it is a good series overall. It is still ongoing, so I hope they will replace the writers or at least force them to step up their game a bit as the series proceeeds.

I have been around a while now in my mid-fifties and so i have watched a lot of movies and TV series. Rarely have I been so caught up and involved in a series and as it unfolded over the span of 10 seasons, I couldn't get enough of it. When the end came I wanted another 10 seasons to enjoy and felt a little bereft at the loss.What sets this series apart is not just the well crafted plots, which vary in intensity and realism, but it is the characters that develop and interact in such a wonderful manner. AND, perhaps most impressive of all, this is no star driven drama. Apart from the head of Section D, Harry, most of the characters either die off or exit the series to make way for new and interesting additions. Unlike most dramas, these additions do not serve as second fiddles to those who have been billed as the stars, but become as important in their own right as the previous characters disappear.I couldn't believe how the 3 main characters in the first season were all gone by the middle of the second season.The human strain of working in this exacting and morally ambiguous profession is a treasure to watch. I highly recommend this and if you live in the US, it is currently showing, all 10 seasons on Netflix - go for it.