OK my thoughts on this ep.
Directing: Hands down can we put up the money anything to make our director of ep2&3 happy enough to do all of s10?
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OK I am totally going to talk technical here for a moment. Loved the continuous shot of Harry and Mr. Russian Ambassador (aka was also back in time with Gene Hunt hope you all caught that as well)as they were walking with Parliament in the back. Beautifully framed and blocked. Harry was a stride ahead of the guy. Perfect on this because it showed so much 1)Harry in power 2)Harry needs to stay ahead of the Russian's and their game 3)Harry in the end will have the upper hand on him
Beautiful steady shots the whole way through. Body language, body language, body language the whole way through! This ep would never have the same feel if it hadn't been for it. I'm not just talking about Harry and Ruth on this as that is key and will make my points on this later. Over all body language for most of the characters. Also another great key element a few camera angels. The bathroom scene with the daughter and the guy drowning her. What is fantastic is the blocking for this as well. If you notice he was on equal level with her until he had to force her under the water but when in the water he was just a bit over her. Now this was very significant it showed that he didn't want to do it yet was needing to but with a bit of reservation. There is guilt for what he is doing. Now when Mr. FSB man comes in he is always towering over her and that includes the fantastic shot of him smoking the cigarette while she is laying on the floor. This is showing he has no mercy what so ever. He is the dominate force and will not allow her to be some what in control.
So in the end I could read where the directing was going without scratching my head saying "what the....
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Ruth: Love how they are finally getting it right in terms of lighting, make-up, and wardrobe in this series!!!!!! Ruth has been growing so much in this series and this episode more. Finally more character development that we haven't seen the likes of since s4!! She really is taking up a leadership role. Will say a bit odd that she was the "Russian analyst to the HS" that really should be Lucas. Then again she can take a look at things from a different perspective where Lucas would have a bias opinion. What I liked from several scenes at the beginning she makes the decision to have Lucas pick up the guy as Harry hesitated. Something Ruth wouldn't have done even last series. She is matching Harry, challenging him, pushing him in the right way to get his head out of butt to do his job, she is encouraging Harry as well. So much growth just loving it!
Harry: Oh, Harry so much in you this ep. Frosty towards Ruth. Not trusting your own judgment, tricking HS and the Russians, then softening up towards Ruth. A lot of depth and we are seeing another layer to Harry this series. This is a new layer one in which it is a major battle going on within him. Another great example this episode of how Harry is dealing with many things. The loss of Ros and Adam are still haunting him. At the same time he is dealing with practically a new team, new HS, and how to balance his love for Ruth to which in his eyes anything with her has just about demolished. Loved the way he even challenged her in this episode on all areas.
Beth: Granted there wasn't much room for giving her the "I know you killed her to shooting Mr. FSB" but I like that. I am totally going to go off and say I will not compare Beth to Zoe, Fiona, Jo, or Ros. SHE IS NOT THEM AT ALL!!!! She is from a different world in terms of spy and I like this.
Dimitri: Oh, poor guy when will you get to do more?
Tariq: I can't take you seriously with the tech babble as it just seems far too impossible. Yet credit for delivering the lines
Lucas: I'm almost to the point where I don't care anymore about his past. It just seems too C plot to me. If he wants Harry to trust him then he needs to tell him what is going on and don't b.s. around.
Harry and Ruth: Body language in this ep was everything to deliver the lines. If the body language read differently then every scene wouldn't have been executed or believable with what was going on. This is where brilliance of acting between Nicola and Peter come in. The distance, the closeness, the harshness, and the giving in. These were some of the different body languages to be read. Each scene with them blocked just right. If you watch their scenes again with an eye on the body language and think "what if" they stood up more straight in this shot or further back. The scenes would take on a completely different feel and not convey what they should.
What a breath of fresh air NO AMERICANS so far!!!! Had to say that as the American here ;D
Fantastic ep all around and very strong.