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By GERRY
SUNDERLAND
This second season of "MI-5"
covers quite a range of activities, which may or
may not constitute a threat to the state. Unlike
some of the more glitzy, glamorous shows about the
secret services this is a little grittier and truer
than similar shows, and is effective in shining a
light into the dark, showing some of the creepy
crawlies running hither and thither. This is part
of the attraction of the show, which demonstrates
the depths to which public servants will stoop to
allow us to continue our daily lies.
The only drawback to this drama is that it is a
BBC production, which, by its very nature,
exhibits a little schizophrenia -- a highly
polished production with a gloss and an angle to
push.
Having said that, there is more than a little
truth that permeates the plotlines such as the
constant competition between the different
branches of the services and law enforcement
within Britain itself, as well as a constant
competitive process with other foreign agencies
throughout the world -- most notably from the
American Security Services. What results is a
love-hate relationship on both sides and
trust is a dirty word.
It seems more than a little odd that more is not
made of the exploration of the tendencies of the
elected political establishment to be recorded and
noted and exposed when it suits the services to do
so. Given the range of activities included in this
season, the exclusion seems stranger still.
Similarly the depths to which elected government
officials will stoop in following their own
agenda is not a central focus here, although it really
ought to be.
U.S. viewers, seeing the complete episodes for the
first time in this collection, will note the
relatively open jibes against the Bush
administration and its foreign policy approach,
which permeate the entire season and are continued
on the third, currently showing in truncated form
on A&E. Since the show first aired this has been a
constant theme and demonstrates a political aspect
of the BBC, which really has no place given the
exclusions mentioned above.
Typically too for a show that sells across the
world the season acts as a little tourist guide,
particularly to London, with some exquisite shots
of some of the panorama that makes up Britain's
capital city.
This series of fictional tales explores the
difficult personal lives of the major players
involved, which typically involves some difficult
sacrifices and the consequent tendency to
inbreeding with similar types of individuals. Who
do you trust and whom can you trust?
It seems to me that the notion of the national
interest is extremely subjective and much depends
on the political outlook in vogue at the time.
Many people are often left wondering whether or
not these tales reflect actual events that are
thinly disguised, while others believe they are
merely fiction.
It is hard to tell but to any observer of events
over the last forty years or so there is more than
a grain of truth in each of them.
I highly recommend this season, notwithstanding any
earlier remarks made about BBC bias. It is
certainly a little more cerebral than your average
spy show, but I would like to think that the show's
producers intend to make us think about what is
done on our behalf in the name of democracy or
whatever we prefer to call our system of
government. Interestingly enough the whole notion
of this show being produced in this form by the
BBC in a time when a Labour Government has the
watch is enough to set off conspiracy theorists
across the world.
In terms of extras, there are commentary tracks by
the cast and crew, as well as interviews with
them, deleted scenes, character bios, photo
galleries, and the featurettes "Creating Season
2," "Controversy," and "Scoring MI-5."
Quis custodiet ipsos custodies? |
