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TV Show Reviews
"The
Game" review by Suzanne
11/29/14
Airs Wednesdays 10/9c on BBC America
This is a 6 part miniseries and from what I've read, it's
not going to have a sequel. I've really been enjoying it.
It's taut and suspenseful, intriguing and funny as well as
sometimes shocking.
It started out really slowly and a little bit confusing,
but then it got much better. It just takes a little to draw
you in at first. The characters are really good, and the
plot twists and turns a lot.
It's about a small group of MI6 agents during the cold
war (early 70's) who're trying to figure out what the
Russians are up to. At first, you don't know who the good
guys are and who the bad guys are. Don't expect "The
Americans" because it's nothing at all like that show.
It's fun to see spies in a realistic setting (not at all
like "James Bond") and yet dealing with early 70's-style
technology like reel-to-reel tapes and rotary phones. I
really love the guy who plays the protagonist, John. He was
great in the recent "Miss Marple" movie that they showed on
PBS, and he's even better here. He's playing a multi-layered
character. I'm sorry to be kind of vague, but I don't want
to give too much away.
You should definitely watch this. Heck, it's only 6
episodes, so if you don't like it, then it's not much time
spent. I doubt you will dislike it, though, if you like
great drama and a good story.
MORE INFORMATION:
A complex invisible war is being fought by skilled spies
trained in the high stakes world of covert espionage. In
1972 London, tensions are at a terrifying peak as the
world’s super powers plot against their enemies. The threat:
a dangerous and deadly Soviet plot, designed to bring
Britain to its knees, dubbed Operation Glass. This is where
The Game begins – a stylish, character-driven
spy drama that explores the lives and lies of the invisible
soldiers fighting a secret war. When an MI5 agent is
contacted by a defecting KGB officer about the plan to
destroy the British establishment, MI5 leader, Daddy (Brian
Cox, The Bourne Supremacy, An Adventure in Space
and Time), assembles a secret committee to investigate
the threat in a frantic race against time. Their mission:
stop the plot, save Britain and in turn, the world.
The Game, a suspenseful six-part,
edge-of-your-seat thrill ride, created by Toby Whithouse (Being
Human, Doctor Who), premieres Wednesday, November
5 at 10:00pm ET as part BBC AMERICA’s Dramaville.
Videos
Season 1 | Episode 1 | Original Airdate: November 5th,
2014 | 10:00PM
London 1972. When a defecting KGB officer, Arkady Malinov,
reveals Operation Glass, a devastating Soviet plot that
could change the course of the cold war, Daddy, the head of
MI5, assembles a secret team to investigate. As the Soviets
awaken a list of sleeper agents all over Britain, Daddy’s
team must move swiftly to gain information about the plot.
But when Joe Lambe, Daddy’s prized agent, becomes obsessed
with the reappearance of a dangerous nemesis, a Soviet agent
codenamed ‘Odin’, he risks letting his personal vendetta
jeopardize the operation. Written by Toby Whithouse.
Season 1 | Episode 2 | Original Airdate: November 12th,
2014 | 10:00PM
The next agent on the Soviet list, Tom Mallory, is a
brutal man currently in prison for assault. Without his
freedom, he can’t perform his task and bring MI5 one step
closer to thwarting Operation Glass – leaving Daddy with a
terrible choice. Joe, haunted by events in his past,
continues to struggle with his lover’s killer’s role in the
plot. But when it’s revealed that a possible nuclear strike
is imminent, Joe makes a deadly decision to stop the
information from falling into enemy hands. Written by
Toby Whithouse. Guest starring: Steven Mackintosh
Season 1 | Episode 3 | Original Airdate: November 19th,
2014 | 10:00PM
The team discovers a sleeper agent with terrifying
connections in the US military. Faced with a formidable foe
who not only appears to be a traitor, but a trained spy with
access to US bases, MI5 may be out of its league.
Meanwhile, Daddy is on a mission of his own to secure the
safe defection of his favorite Chinese dancer. But when his
assistant, Wendy, goes to carry out the admin, Bobby
Waterhouse catches wind and manipulates plans to gain
information about Daddy’s secret life for his own personal
gain. Written by Sarah Dollard. Guest starring: Anton
Lesser
Season 1 | Episode 4 | Original Airdate: November 26th,
2014 | 10:00PM
Discovering the KGB is one step ahead, Joe tries to
convince the team to run a double agent scheme – a perilous
game that understandably makes his colleagues uneasy. But
with dangerous assassin Odin at large, the team is unsure
KGB defector, Arkady, would risk his life to help them.
Meanwhile, Alan grapples with a shocking discovery that
could jeopardize his marriage to fellow agent and wife,
Sarah. Bobby’s world begins to unravel when Daddy thwarts
his attempts at ascendance and raises questions that
threaten to destroy his career. Written by Debbie
O’Malley.
Season 1 | Episode 5 | Original Airdate: December 3rd,
2014 | 10:00PM
The team is reeling from the shocking discovery of a mole
among them, and as the Soviet plot continues unabated, it is
up to Wendy to give the team the break they need.
Meanwhile, when Sarah finds herself in danger, Alan is
forced to make a decision that can make or break their
relationship. Joe has trouble of his own when leaked
information threatens the investigation and the lives of the
team. Written by Toby Whithouse and Sarah Dollard.
Season 1 | Episode 6 | Original Airdate: December 10th,
2014 | 10:00PM
The team is reeling from a KGB bombing and the mole’s
confession, but with Operation Glass hurtling towards a
shocking climax, MI5 is running out of time to piece the
puzzle together and avert disaster. Bobby and Wendy make a
crucial discovery which could have implications at the
highest levels of government. Written by Toby Whithouse
Daddy
(Brian Cox)
Powerfully built, both physically and
intellectually, Daddy is the mastermind that
holds MI5 together. No one knows his real name,
only his ironic nickname. A man of immense
political power, and a Whitehall veteran, Daddy
knows the true scale of the threats facing
Britain. Bearing the scars of the multiple
failures of MI5, Operation Glass is Daddy’s last
chance to restore the reputation of the agency.
But will his specially selected committee be
loyal to him, or loyal to themselves? For Daddy
has his own secrets that could jeopardize
everything he’s worked so hard to achieve. His
growing infatuation with an exquisite Chinese
dancer, too young and too beautiful for him, is
a dangerous game for a powerful married man.
Joe Lambe
(Tom Hughes)
Joe is a gifted intelligence officer who
is an expert at undercover work. He’ll go
to any length to gather the intel he needs,
including and often time, flirting with the
enemy. MI5 makes good use of his brooding
good looks and charm, but bedding forgotten
wives isn’t the career Joe was destined
for. Everything in his life changed after
he met and recruited Yulia, a chef in the
Soviet embassy. Though the affair was brief,
it was charged with the kind of intensity
and desperate immediacy that can only happen
in wartime. And after years of service, Joe
allowed himself the hope of a new life
without secrets or deceit. But when Joe
loses his lover in a brutal way, he returns
to MI5, bringing the weight of his secrets
with him. When Daddy recruits him in the
mission to stop the Soviet plot, Joe
accepts; hoping to redeem himself and prove
his loyalty to his country, but mostly
because the mission will lead him to his
lover’s killer. Can he start afresh or will
he be forever consumed by a quest for
revenge?
Bobby Waterhouse
(Paul Ritter)
Bobby Waterhouse is the arrogant, louche
and ambitious Head of K Branch
(counter-espionage), who will do anything to
get ahead. Harrow, Oxford, and the Secret
Service have given him confidence, wit, and
an impressive address book that gets him
access to every corner of the British
Establishment. But at home, he is like
someone living in a country under
occupation, treading on eggshells for fear
of antagonizing his ferocious mother, Hester
(Judy Parfitt, Call The Midwife, Little
Dorrit). While he’s good at his job,
Bobby’s successes aren’t quite enough to
ensure his place in line for the top job.
Lacking respect, and having never been
married, engaged or even involved with a
suitable woman, his domineering mother has
noticed. And though homosexuality has
recently been legalized, the Hester’s of
this world see things differently, as do
Bobby’s enemies on both sides of the Iron
Curtain. If the world knew his secret,
Bobby’s carefully built image and career
would crumble around him.
Sarah Montag
(Victoria Hamilton)
Wry, sardonic and very bright, the
chances are Sarah will be the first female
director of MI5. She’s worked hard to
progress in the boorish male dominated world
of espionage and Daddy has noticed. Though
Bobby Waterhouse desperately seeks Daddy’s
throne, it is Sarah –‘Daddy’s girl’- who
looks set to be his successor. Hers is the
opinion everyone seeks and her instincts are
invaluable in this shadowy world. Sarah,
though universally liked, can be incredibly
tough when she needs to be. Married to
colleague Alan Montag, she is one of the few
senior officers who maintains a happy home
life alongside her work. While her timid
husband would blink in bewilderment when
insulted, Sarah returns the blow with
devastating accuracy and protects her
husband like a lioness. But will her
ascendance up the ladder tamper with the
delicate balance she’s managed to maintain
at home?
Alan Montag
(Jonathan Aris)
In the 21st Century, Alan Montag would
most likely be a multi-millionaire software
maker. But this is the ‘70s and his
wizardry is most useful for MI5. A part of
the assembled team, the eccentric,
disheveled and enthusiastic Alan has a phone
number length IQ, egg stains on his tie, and
is utterly immune to the wearying politics
and power plays of MI5. Thankfully he has
the small but fearsome Sarah Montag, his
wife, to watch out for him. His devotion to
her is almost tangible, and Alan is never
happier than when working at her side.
Although he is talented, it’s Sarah whose
career is beginning to glitter, and her
marriage to this loveable oddball has raised
many an eyebrow. But their affection is
genuine, their relationship strong and
loving, and Alan would do absolutely
anything to protect her.
Jim Fenchurch
(Shaun Dooley)
Jim Fenchurch is the Special Branch
police liaison assisting the MI5 team with
their new investigation. Jim has a
simplistic, perhaps idealistic, view of the
world and is almost aggressively plain
speaking. The notion of treachery almost
bewilders him. A volatile and punchy
outsider, he’s not constrained by the MI5
hierarchy and free to comment on methods and
modes of conduct he finds baffling. Jim sees
things in black and white, but will soon
come to realize that in the world of
espionage, life is lived in a shadowy gray.
MI5 must break rules to keep the Soviets at
bay, making Jim uneasy. But being thrown
into partnering with Joe Lambe, he’ll learn
first-hand about the dangerous work that
goes on to keep the world safe from nuclear
war and may come to understand the
complexities of espionage.
Wendy Straw
(Chloe Pirrie)
Wendy has been a secretary at MI5 for a
few years. While Sarah Montag climbed to a
power position, progression for women is
still a battle. So when Wendy is loaned to
the team from the ‘Nannies’, Wendy sees it
as a chance to prove herself and get one
step closer to a crucial promotion to Junior
Desk Officer, following in the footsteps of
the revered Sarah. The youngest member of
the team, Wendy is there to take notes and
assist them all, but in doing so, she sees
deeper than anyone else. And in the
politically treacherous world of MI5, she
must be careful about the alliances she
makes. When unexpected support comes from
the conniving Bobby Waterhouse, Wendy may
get a lot more than she bargained for.
Arkady Malinov
(Marcel Lures)
A defecting KGB officer seeking solace in
the arms of the British intelligence agency,
Arkady Malinov is risking everything to help
MI5 solve the Soviet plot that even he is
unsure about. But why? Is it
dissatisfaction with his government position
or something more? Where his loyalties lie
no one knows, but he’s all MI5 has and he’ll
use that to his advantage. When a sleeper
agent’s name is revealed, he’ll make contact
and dispatch a message, most of which is
given in puzzle form. And as he works with
Agent Joe Lambe, a trail of bodies are left
in their quest to solve the mystery.
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