Radio Times

You have been abducted by masked gunmen and imprisoned in a grubby Walthamstow flat. Your sabre-wielding captors will show no mercy unless the British government concede to all their demands. Never mind, anytime soon golden-haired Adam Carter and his snappily dressed team of top MI5 agents will come sashaying up the garden path. Feeling reassured? No, me neither.

Time was when you had to be pretty ruthless to work for the secret service. But all that must have changed when tender-hearted Harry Pearce took over. Ceaselessly kind and compassionate towards his staff, he takes their safety personally, retiring to his gloomy little glass cubicle to fret whenever a mission gets under way.

And if he's not agonising over young Adam, Harry's brooding on the welfare of the enemy. After all, maybe they have a point? Should he really trust the British government? They're such a horrid lot with their uncompromising demands and Whitehall airs and graces. But if they're the bad guys, then who are the good guys?

While Harry tries to remember which government he's working for, his team are engaged in hazardous missions across the globe to purchase the best designer spy-wear they can lay their hands on. Defusing a bomb? Taking out a balaclava-clad terrorist? These undercover agents always make sure they stand out in a crowd.

In one memorable episode Adam was seen loitering at a station in the Middle East disguised in stripey beanie and natty cropped jacket. Oddly none of the locals seemed to notice him, but I would have opted for something a little less this season.

So, if you need to look the part to join the upper echelons of MI5, what further rigorous vetting would a wannabe spy have to undergo? Well, it's easy peasy, actually. Jo was a breathless student who got chatting to Adam over a cuppa. They seemed to hit it off and the next thing we knew she was saving the capital from nuclear attack.

This sense of camaraderie among the spooks would be truly heart-warming if it didn't compromise national security so often. Harry has quite a talent for picking bad eggs. First it was Ros - who is back on our side, apparently, which is nice. Now we have Lucas, whose spell in a Russian jail and FSB connections have in no way hindered his career at MI5.

Thirty years ago John Le Carre's spy novel Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy was adapted for TV. Anonymous-looking middle-aged men shuffled across Europe, caught up in an impenetrable game of espionage. The dialogue was barely audible and it moved at snail's pace. But it really was enigmatic and, yes, riveting - something caring-sharing, fashion-conscious Spooks will never be.

Ok then,we`ll be left with Harry and Tariq playing countdown, if they cut any more of the budget. At leas get rid of the credit crunch laughable and repetitive chase scenes.

There is going to be another series,But how they're going to get around the exits of so many characters is difficult to imagine.There is no-one left to care about; only the new lad(Tariq)is in any way plausible or sympathetic.

There is going to be another series,But how they're going to get around the exits of so many characters is difficult to imagine.There is no-one left to care about; only the new lad(Tariq)is in any way plausible or sympathetic.

For my money they've killed this show - it used to be great - credible, revelatory and exciting - now they've turned the spooks into single handed action heroes a la Arnie - it just doesn't work anymore - dumbed down and out !!!

Survivors just gets better and better. Once again Alison Graham is completely off track.

Faithless, I totally agree.The Yanks can see through rubbish just as well as anyone;Spooks was dropped by the A & E network AND BBC America due to low ratings.Poorly conceived shows such as Spooks, Bonekickers,Day of the Triffids and Robin Hood will only harm the BBC's reputation abroad abroad and will possibly mean lower revenues for future programming.

Isn't this due to the belief - on the part of programmers - that they have to commission glossy rubbish to be able to sell it abroad? If you look at all the sub-American crap we've had inflicted on us in recent years - Torchwood, Primeval, Hustle - isn't there a common theme? Completely unrealistic story lines with scripts that have no internal cohesion, but lots of colour, handsome sets and good-looking characters. Frankly, I am unable to watch any of them.

Spooks ought to have been axed ages ago.It looks cheap and the plotting is ludicrous.If Lucas was supposed to be a top agent then God help them; he`s totally incompetent, veering between soppiness over the appalling Caulfield woman, and bullying the young Asian lad. The show is mundane, with no chemistry between the characters,and no amusing banter.The only vaguely believable toughie, Ros, is going.The only sympathetic characters,Harry and Ruth, are given nothing to do.So why bother reintroducing Ruth?

re: 'Mikado' comment - They would indeed be missed - If you don't think so, why watch them?

In the inimitable words of "The Mikado"…There's none of them we'd miss! Bring on The Lord High Executioner and axe the series, NOW.

Kill off Ros and a whole universe of facial expressions will return to Spooks.

Can't wait for series nine - and please don't kill off Harry.

Spooks is great total unreality show just what we need. Reality shows on the whole are dunb!!!

I think spooks is a load of old tripe. I honestly cant understand why people think its exciting or sophisticated in any way! Argh!

I like Spooks,don't get what going on half the time,but I have to watch it right til the end anyway,

Spooks is excellent; an oasis in amongst as sea of Soap, reality, reality and more soap. Long may it continue; series 8 has been as good as ever.

I agree Harry is the sexiest male in Spooks.

Come on, Danger Man, Avengers, Man from Uncle,even Doomwatch, I have enjoyed them all, reality its not but it beats alot of the other rubbish for entertainment.

it's boring and so predictable.

I have to agree with the damning blog on Spooks, especially after last week's episode. The script is ridiculous and totally unconnected with reality. Last week took the cake - completely unrealistic (why would the secret service get involed at all - the action would have been taken on by the police (notable for their absence) and possibly the SAS. And the ending - why would a professional stand right behind the target when her colleague is pioint a gun at them; why would the terrorist simply stand like a wax dummy for ages while they make their minds up (companionably holding the gun in a cosy little scenario; why would "Ros" go for a body shot when a head shot would have been safer all round in the circumstances; why didn't the guy holding the button just press it - he had plenty of time. The idea is ok, but the execution, because of the dire scripts, is very disappointing

Spooks is fiction. No one has ever said that it mirrors what the real MI5 do. People probably wouldn't tune in if all you saw them do was 99.9% paperwork. It's escapism and i think we need that flash, suave spying to get away from the doom and gloom of real life. If you don't like it why watch it? And why bother writing a blog about it if you dislike it so.

Must say I like Spooks although I seem to get the episodes in random order which is crazy-making. Obviously, this is not real spying. Whatever else they are, spies are civil servants. They can't make tea and drink it in the space of two hours let alone catch foil an intricate plot to destroy London.

If you believe that Harry is caring and compassionate then you obviously are missing the point that the programme is a postmodernist comment on the 'good guys' and the 'bad guys'.

I gave up on Spooks when Danny was killed. It had started going badly downhill when Matthew McFadyen left, and it had been getting more and more ridiculous. It seemed that every second operative was a traitor (probably because, as the original blogger mentioned, they've replaced positive vetting with just offering jobs to anyone they have a crush on), and the others were all recruited from MI6.

I was also a little puzzled by the fact that MI5 agents were running all over the globe, when in fact they're only allowed to operate within the UK - it's MI6 that operate overseas. It all became ridiculously pompous and overblown ("Let's pretend to kill one of our own agents because otherwise we'll have to let the Americans kill her for real!") and the sense of danger and realism that had pervaded the first few series just vanished. It's now a sad, pathetic caricature of what it once was, which is a shame because it was originally one of the cleverest, edgiest, sharpest dramas on TV. Now look at it.

Love Spooks,great entertainment. Can't wait for Series 8 (will Malcolm be the Rock Harry needs him to be...or is it Lubjanka for him???). Well done BBC for keeping it going.

Spooks won't be popular with everyone, and I am a little envious of those that can find something better on Monday evening TV. Once the six o'clock news is done, I turn the telly off and read a book or listen to the radio until bedtime. Looking at tonight's schedule, anyone who can find something worth watching needs help...

Spooks is a load of rubbish - I can't understand why anyone watches it!

I loved this show until Series 6 when the writers abandoned any attempt at cogent characterisation. The actors did (and still do) a wonderful job - particularly Rupert Penry-Jones, Hermione Norris and Peter Firth, with honourable mention for Gemma Jones) but their characters and relationships have been so cynically manipulated and mucked about that, although it is still a good (in many respects, excellent) action series, I'm afraid I just don't care any more.

and harry is quite ruthless i mean the way he shot katchmov after saying hed look after him

i reckon it suffred abit last seris but seems to be better this one im sad tht they changed the music but i think theyve conveyed emotion very well. As to the speaker of the original post go watch ur 24 rubbish

I think Spooks is brilliant. The actors are great. Its British TV at is best.

Hate "Spooks"! You're having a laugh aren't you? Did you not see the last episode?

I agree with John - It's pure entertainment. So come on girls, who gets your vote for sexist Spook? Adam, Lucas or Harry? It's a close run thing, but my vote goes to Harry. :-)

It's just as well Spooks doesn't take itself as seriously as some bloggers do - what a load of poppycock! Lighten up, sunshine, it's entertainment! It's at least as gripping as 24 and at least the central characters in Spooks don't walk away unscathed from huge explosions.

Disagree in part with the above. It doesn't ring terribly true but it's smashing entertainment and on a Monday evening when all you have otherwise is the bloody awful "I'm a has been get me out of here"it's worth every second of viewing time.

I think that its hard to compare both series - first they are made in different times - and the way series are made have change quite a lot. So I don't see why we should compare these two series at all? Tinker Spy was a story about finding a mole - a traitor but Spooks is about all kind of problems the secret services encounter not only about moles! I like Spooks and Tinker series both on their own merrits.

I have been an avid 'Spooks' viewer since it's beginings and can not praise this series more than I have already.

It's pacy, sexy, with fantastic plots, it's something to race home for and enjoy watching. Also the inclusion of the sumptuous Richard Armitage has been an advantage.

I have to agree with you that Tinker, Tailor,Soldier, Spy was much, much better than Spooks will ever be.

I lost interest in Spooks way back in the first (or was it the beginning of the second?) series when the writing seemed to me to be little better than that over an over-hyped 15 year-old. You had such exciting endings as a suspect being sent to Egypt and tried as a paedophile when they decided they couldn't prosecute him in the UK (because obviously Egypt's legal system requires no evidence), and another where the Spooks got a special agent to "take out" a suspect who had killed one of their own.

an attempt to be funny which fails miserably

Real field operatives are more likely to be wielding a chequebook than a gun. Filthy lucre is the key to most information from whatever source

This is blasphemy, the program is the number one rated programme on the BBC!! And the fact you know so much about it shows you are willing to watch lots of it!

OH NOES!!!! I THOGHT IT WOZ RELITY TEEVEEE!!!!

spooks is the number one program on telly ,and long may it last

It's a great show, the fact they don't mind killing off main characters gives it an added edge.

I can't believe my eyes! How on earth can you lot say this about Spooks? It is No.1 on my list of top shows as it hasn't turned into rubbish like so-called 'Reality TV' and it has some amazing actors/actresses. The storylines are incredible and they are completely up to date with what's happening in the world right now. I wish people would get a life and stop criticizing such a brilliant show. Could you do any better?

I couldn't disagree more. I find the writing first-class, the acting superb and the whole programme a blessed relief from the badly-acted poorly-scripted dross that fills the screen so often these days. The BBC used to produce many, many dramas of this quality. This is one of the few that remains. And one of the many things that attracts me to it is that the characters HAVE flaws and weaknesses (including breakdowns), and that they are not drawn in black and white. The fact that there is moral ambiguity in the plot-lines and that it is one of the rare programmes that makes you think as it entertains you is one of its main attractions, at least to me. Thank you and bravo to all involved in making it!

Don't take it so seriously! It's just a story & great to watch....

I think spooks is a good program,i look forward to waching it each week, its far better than watching reality tv i can't stand that rubbish who wants to watch programs about disfunctual people. Years ago there was always good drama's on the TV but now its all reality YUK or game shows we seem to be following America, what a shame come on BBC give us more DRAMA...

Shooting the witness at the end of the episode (18/11/08) seemed tacked on to me. I can not see the point of doing so, because who would he tell; Ros said they would get to the story before it could get out or words to that effect.

I'm amazed at so many negative thoughts about the series. I believe its one of the finest on BBC and generally the stories are very good and engaging. I always look forward to the next installment and the hour episodes always flys by. Come on there must be more Spooks fans out there that still enjoy the programmes. Add your ideas

i think spooks is really good, although i must say last series was better. this one's a bit predictable and there are too many cheesy lines.

I stopped watching in series 3, several years ago now. What put me off was exactly the sort of caring, compassionate claptrap that Harry still seems to be coming out with, judging by the other comments. This idea that the terrorists "have a point", that the West is wrong, that basically we have brought it on ourselves: yep, Spooks is the same old rubbish.

I disagree with all the above, Spooks is still a first class show

Spooks has lost its edge, its about suspension of disbelief. The characters are silky smooth,shiny and too redeemable. Not an episode goes by without a British agent having a mental breakdown or women operatives behaving like heavyweight boxers. I suggest the writers of Spooks view a few episodes of "Callan" starring Edward Woodward, a most unpleasant cold blooded killer, perhaps the word suspense will be understood by the production staff of "Spooks".

Spooks has lost its edge. Most of the operatives seem to have constant mental breakdowns. Nobody will surpass the cold blooded killer that was "Callan" starring Edward Woodward perhaps the writers of "Spooks" should view an episode or two to comprehend the word suspense.

I have to agree with 'MAZY'. Spooks is a load of enigmatic s**t.

Spooks was fine until somone on the production team caught glimpse of 24 and thought "Hey, we can do that, but in a British way". Sadly, the British way meant with a low budget (relative to its much-envied overseas cousin, 24) and hacked storylines. It all went downhill from that point.

The gloss became glossier, the fashions became more central, and the plots became more absurd. I fear the glory days are long gone.