MI-5, Vol. 2

Spoiler WARNING!!The series ends with the main protagonist character being framed for murder/ assasination. His boss wants to arrest him and bring him back to MI-5 HQ. Instead of being jailed, the protagonist shotguns his boss and runs away. He then supposedly walks out into the ocean and commits suicide by drowning himself. Or did he? It does show him doing this and then a body being recovered! But was it his? Supposedly, the British DO think he had died by drowning. HOW HARD would that be to verify? He would have needed to find a plausible double/ substitute on the spur of the moment, then drown this character, and be able to pass off the dead body as the real deal. THIS is RIDICULOUS!This series is a little uneven, but has good drama, interesting plots, real characters with character development and dialogue. It is not just another good guys vs. bad guys shoot em up.

Like many shows, a series grows on you as you feel more acquainted with the characters. Such familiarity fleshes out the story lines that are also necessary for a successful show. MI-5 is a well developed series that deals with exciting issues that are relevant to our current world. The writing is generally first rate and the stories are well put together. Season 2 was excellent for its introspective look at the characters as the stresses of the "spy business" took its toll. Amidst this personal look at the individuals involved, there were exciting and often tragic stories told about today's ongoing war with terrorist elements. I have really been "hooked" by the series, am into Season 3, and look forward to the fact that I think there are still 5 more seasons to view.As an aside, I have found that watching shows without commercial interruption is addictively enjoyable. Even though I tape a number of network series, having to constantly fast forward through the ads is distracting. We recently watched live a series that we had been introduced to by viewing past seasons on Amazon. We really enjoyed the past seasons, but felt the current one lacking. I'm convinced that the show seems less well written and acted substantially because it is interrupted about every 12 minutes by ads.

MI-5 is simply one of the most amazing TV drama shows to have been made. Focusing on that part of the British security services that focus on domestic threats (MI-6, in contrast, focuses primarily on international threats), MI-5 shows how the "Defense of the Realm" is carried out by normal individuals who join 5 to help it with its mission. The show is intensely exciting, intelligently written and superbly acted, and is so well produced that episodes seem more like one-hour movies than a television show. Episodes are focused on how MI-5 responds to a seemingly never ending series of domestic threats of all types, economic, political, terror, and public, and often highlights the toll these duties take on its members. The political backdrop under which 5 executes its duties is also often explored.In Season Two, the show really comes into its own. As we move past the Season One cliffhanger, the series starts kicking even further into high gear, and it is at this point that we can clearly see that everyone involved in the show--the writers, the directors, the actors, and the cast--have now precisely figured out how all the pieces of the show best fit together, and what can only be described as an immense amount of talent is focused solely on the development of the stories and plot lines. (MI-5 is really designed to be watched in order of episodes, without skipping, as the series is supremely good at weaving multiple, concurrent and intersecting plot lines that work across an entire season.) The emotional and dramatic levels reached in Season Two are high, and each episode ends with the viewer anxious to see the next installment, a characteristic of MI-5 that will now not stop all the way to end of its entire series run. We see all types of threats emerge in this Season, and the manner in which 5 is required to deal with each requires ingenuity, diligence, skill, and some amount of risk taking.There are few shows that I have seen that could compare to MI-5. It is a superb show. It's complex and intelligent enough to force you to stay on your toes to understand it all. It's dramatic and powerful. It makes you think about and question the proper role of the security services in any country, and the best manner in which to respond to the type of threats highlighted in the show. It doesn't shy away from awkward contradictions in political and security apparatuses, neither does it shy away from taking direct shots at a whole variety of national policies in both the UK and other countries. You will certainly be entertained, but you'll be educated at the same time, and you'll be made to think.On format ...There are as of late 2011 no Blu-Ray discs for any of the MI-5 Seasons. We can only hope these will be released in the near future, but for now, it will be on DVD that you watch. But that's not entirely a bad thing. The production and post-production values are so high that the DVD's really shine. MI-5 presently a glossy, artsy, and high-resolution world, even on DVD. (Consider coupling it with an upsampling DVD player, and you'll be getting a bit closer to Blu-Ray.) Some of the Seasons have been expensive to purchase, but prices seem to be coming down. There are typically between eight and ten 60-minute episodes per season.The Seasons: MI-5, Volume 1 MI-5, Volume 2 MI-5, Volume 3 MI-5, Volume 4 MI-5: Volume 5 MI-5, Volume 6 MI-5, Volume 7 MI-5: Volume 8 Mi-5: Volume 9 Volume 10 not yet released (Dec 2011)

Threats constantly bombard the UK and only the gang at the MI-5 can save their country from destruction. The cliffhanger from Series 1 is quickly resolved in the first episode. Master Spy Tom Quinn begin a freefall as he tries to find love and a personal life despite his secret life as a spy.Zoe and Danny are back as part of Quinn's team. Little mistakes can be costly and their jobs are constantly on the line. The mysterious Tessa pops up again and again and her power struggle with Harry becomes stronger and becomes deadly.Series 2 has one of the most gripping episodes of TV that I have ever seen. A deadly biological attack has hit London and several other cities. The team is trapped in their offices unable to leave and contact with the outside world is cut off. It's a truly fascinating episode. They MI-5 staff can't stay yet they can't leave. Don't miss this episode.Series 2 ends with a more intense cliffhanger than Series 1. Has Tom Quinn finally gone off the deep end and changed sides? MI-5 is a fascinating look into the lives of people whose jobs are secret and whose lives and their lives of their friends are constantly at risk. How do they keep doing their jobs?I enjoy the modern, high-tech look of the series. It is funny to see the old Mac computers that looked like table lamps with the swivel arm. Top of the line for 2003 but now looking so sorely outdated. Of course, MI-5 keeps turning up Bond-esque gadgets. Always fun times at the MI-5...well, maybe not.

Dreadful

Season Two is as good as the first season and better than some later ones. The original cast is here, with the welcome addition of Nicola Walker as Ruth Evershed. Hugh Laurie makes a couple of unforgettable appearances as Jules Siviter from MI-6. Personal tensions ramp up for everyone, but the second season is all about Tom unraveling.The commentary tracks on some of these episodes are very entertaining, especially when the actors playing Colin and Ruth are doing them.

I thought # 1 ended on a real cliff hanger and was looking forward to # 2. Bit boring and I thought the story line silly and the actors rather wooden. Don't think I will bother with future episodes. The Brits love this series. Me? Mwah!

This series just gets better and better. It's a pleasure to watch a program of this caliber. Great story lines too.

Item arrived as advertised.