Spooks - Season 5, Episode 1
Thu 22 May 2008
Jacqueline Smith, Journalism
The reappearance of Spooks sees the return of the outstanding British MI5 spy drama for its fifth season.
The long awaited first episode, aired Saturday night on the ABC, revels in conspiracy theories. Britain is facing its worst crisis yet as two terrorist attacks in four weeks shake the foundations of the British Government.
Members of government sections and security services attempt to use this instability to undermine the government. They plan to execute a covert coup d'état that will keep the Prime Minister and government ostensibly in charge of the nation, but move the true power into the hands of a fuel corporation CEO, a media mogul and the commander of MI6.
The trio fantasise about installing a fascist regime in Britain and undermining democracy by ramping up public fear of terror attacks.
The first two terror attacks are committed by al-Qaeda, but when the Spooks MI5 team prevents anymore immediate attacks MI6 plans to execute a third attack, hoping to push the public and the government into a state of blind panic.
This episode discusses highly relevant issues such as the erosion of civil liberties, the consequences of climate change and energy shortages, corporate and media influence over governments and the increase in terrorist attacks.
Split screens, handheld camera work, abrupt editing techniques and slow motion action add to the complexity and pace of the story.
In episode two the MI5 team must prevent terrorists from colliding two passenger jets over London.
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