London Spy starts on BBC Two - Monday 9 November - 9pm

[sadwidow28]

A new 5-part thriller is starting on BBC 2, 9th November at 9pm

A romance between an MI6 code genius and an ordinary man promises happiness. But tragedy strikes when the spy dies in suspicious circumstances, forcing his lover to pursue the truth behind his death.

Have a look at the trailers and write-ups and see if you fancy watching it and joining in this MN thread.

''You might be the most innocent person I know'' - This is a clip from episode 1: On a walk by the sea, Danny flirtatiously questions whether Alex did background checks on him before going on their date.

Incidentally, if you like spoilery hints...

"...And if you don't, I'm going to give a spoilery hint anyway"

I haven't said what the spoilery hint is though SoupDragon - it's to do with someone in the cast list, if you don't actively go and look at the cast list for episode four you won't see the character's name.

I have actively been and looked at the cast list in my just delivered Radio Times. Intriguing!!

I saw it and thought "huh?" then I googled the actor's name and it was suddenly more clear!

Cult Box have now got a one-line Radio Times-esque summary for episode five on their episode guide page...

Loved last night's episode, thought it really picked up in the second half. I'm sure I sound very cold indeed but I thought the scene where he was diagnosed went on a bit too long.

Do we think Scottie is going to die? He might sacrifice his life for Danny's or he might yet turn out to be a wrong 'un. I'm not sure.

Ooooh givemushypeasachance, thank you. I did follow your hint to go to iplayer for episode 4 and look for one rather interestingly named cast member, an Italian actor.....

Interesting - very interesting.

Going to be catching up with episode 3 tonight. Trying to avoid spoilers on here :o

Won't look at iplayer 'spoiler'. Won't look at spoiler

Off to look at spoiler.

Thank you. very interesting.

Really enjoyed last night's ep, although it's taking me further and further away from my beloved Mr. Cheekbones

I hadn't made the connection between Sweetie Guy and the anti-retroviral either. Hmm - so is he a goodie Sweetie Guy or a baddie Sweetie Guy?

I thought the Danny-in-the-pool scene was to show his 'rebirth' - rediscovering the joy of living, of ordinary people doing ordinary things (waving at old lady, etc) and finding the strength to fight on for Alex rather than curl up and wait to die.

Like the way (if Scottie is playing it straight (no pun intended)) that he's getting the chance to try to get one over on the establishment after they set him up and shafted him (again, no pun intended )

Oh yeah, and the pool's blue - after Scottie's big talk about the failed redemptive power of blue.

I did think his flatmate must have a very keen eye for (non recreational) pharmaceuticals if she recognised the HIV medication from one solitary pill.

Mitzy I'd assumed the pill said 'AZT' on it, but googling shows those pills just have some number code. Maybe one of the other flatmates is also HIV+, though then how would she be sure it was Danny's pill?

The swimming scene healing metaphor went on a bit long, but otherwise I'm loving it - the club scene was full of quiet menace. I'm starting to think Scottie may be legit after all, which means he will probably meet a sticky end 2/3 the way through episode 5...

I was surprised Scottie made it out of the club alive. Certain a bullet or a passing stranger with a knife (Spooks-y) would put an end to his enquiries while they were waiting for a cab.

Oddly I interpreted the swimming pool scene differently, particularly because it related to the opening credit scenes. I saw only drowning, being cut loose, floating out into the unknown, reaching for help, eyes wide open and seeing nothing but blue ...

Perhaps the flatmate is a med student/junior doctor/nurse? She could well be in on it...

How would the police be able to infect someone with aids?

I see the opening as floating in the amniotic fluid. But what I loved about the baths was the older woman swimming and the gentle nod of hello between the two.

I was scared of the be-goggled person. Anticipated an underwater fight, glint of steel, water turning red ...

It certainly is one of those stories that continues in one's head long after the closing credits.

I think Alex has infected Danny. Danny had a negative test eight months previously. In my very humble, too much tv watching opinion I think Alex is setting Danny up or using him in some way. I fear for Scottie, don't think it's going to end well for him.

Hmm, so the Italian actor who is in the cast list for next week's episode looks remarkably like Ben Whishaw? Now I'm intrigued.

Has Danny really been infected with the HIV virus? I don't believe that's true. The doctor who carried out the test left the room, he was alone for several minutes. She could quite easily have been approached to swap the samples or give him a false result. He's being intimidated by someone unknown.

Who lives in the flat Danny can see from his balcony when he looks down? The blind is always half down, we never see a face. Is there a connection? Is that how private conversations in his flat are being recorded? Or was there a listening device in Alex/Alistair's phone?

Was the initial meeting when Alex met Danny on the bridge in episode 1 coincidental? Or was that engineered? I'm still puzzled as to how Danny knew Alex had given him a false name first of all. He said his name was Joe first of all and on the beach Danny asked him what his real name was. How did he know that? Did I miss something - maybe he saw something in Alex's flat with his real name on? I think he knew deep down Alex wasn't an investment banker but a spy. He was being watched right from the start. As Scottie said - his story was mapped out from the beginning. He was set up by Alex I think to protect a secret, whatever that is.

And I think Scottie isn't going to survive. I think he's a "goodie" but will be got at somehow.

Mark Gatiss's character gave me the creeps, but he is going to prove useful. However vile he is, he has vital information. What will be unearthed at the escort agency the Police allege Alex has a connection to?

Delighted you both agree with my conclusion!

But (and perhaps I've been over nurtured by Archers thread etiquette) I'm a little ... surprised that spoilers are being discussed here. Isn't it enough to direct people to where they might be found?

Dunno ...

I'm pissed off that spoilers are being discussed.

I won't be back to the thread.

Apologies to anyone who thought there were spoilers in my post. I assumed it would be ok to talk about episodes that had been aired and that, like me, would avoid reading the thread until up-to-date? I don't think I've given away anything more than could be gleaned from reading online, or even glancing through next week's Radio Times? Will bow out of thread if anyone is offended by what I have said

It was talking about the Italian actor in NEXT WEEK's episode that I think has upset some posters.

If we find spoilers on line, we put them in a clickable link with a warning not to open if anyone is avoiding spoilers. Some people don't like reading Radio Times or whatever before the episode is shown.

Talking about episodes that have been aired is okay - otherwise what we we chat about; or how can we ask questions when we are confused. I totally didn't get the swimming pool scene until a couple of posters offered their understanding of it, and I am grateful for that.

As far as I know, we are allowed to 'guess' about roles and outcomes because that is part of the fun of watching a thriller - working out who is a goodie and who's a baddie.

I haven't watched Ep 3 yet and am trying not successfully to stay away from this thread.

And yes, it's fine to talk about aired episodes IMO – if someone hasn't watched it's their own responsibility to avoid the thread if necessary.

As for the actor in Ep 4, I picked this up from reading about the whole series elsewhere, and the cast list is freely available online. So again, it's up to the individual whether nor not they go looking for stuff that may be spoilery.

givemushypeasachance posted about the actor in episode 4 and absolutely didn't give anything away (just told us how to look IF WE WANTED TO).

All good so far.

Some of us looked and posted "interesting".

Still good so far.

Then DuchessofMalfi looked and made a comment about ONE aspect of looking it up - not to be unkind or anything. There was no malice intended; it was just an inadvertent error because we hadn't established the 'rules' for the thread.

That is probably MY fault as I set up the thread.

So perhaps we can all re-group, accept the one accidental mistake, and agree that any spoilers offered are given in code (as givemuchypeasachance did) or put in clickable links with the warning not to open if posters are avoiding spoilers.

Is that okay with everyone?

I thought the Mark Gatiss character was too awful - no one in real life is that horrible are they?
And who was driving his car, and why did he happen to be passing just at the moment that Danny was walking along that bit of road with Scottie?
I am really enjoying this though!