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.

Just as an aside, if the pill he was given was PEP, I believe they use a blue pill called truvada. So no idea what the White/grey one was...

I think PEP is for after you've been exposed to HIV to reduce the chance of contracting it, not for treating it once you're positive.

Oooh good theory Ria and others - that would make sense with Sweetie Guy offering "life insurance".

Yes, as others have said, "guessing is okay". It's part of the fun of joining in a chat thread. We had great fun on the Unforgotten thread studying all the flash backs from the episodes and trying to piece the story together as it went along.

I am liking the idea of the code being based on the telephone number or coordinates.

You have really got me thinking again and I might have to re-watch a couple of parts.

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Right, we don't know what the phone number is but in episode one, Danny is talking to Scottie:

"So we're on the doorstep, saying goodbye and I'm trying to give him Pavel's nymber, because I don't have a phone... except he doesn't write it down! And I'm like... "If you don't want to... If you don't want see me again..." And then he says, "numbers Danny, I have no problem with," like he could remember every phone number in the world... and then... we shook hands!"

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Episode two - the chat with the American (with the sweet)

American: I have a sweet tooth. It's easier to quit smoking, I swear. Not very British, talking to strangers, is it? I've worked in your country for ten years now. Do you own a house?

Danny: No.

American: A car?

Danny: No, nothing.

American: Well, you have your health. That's the most precious asset of all.

Danny: My health?

American: Lots of people think they have nothing to lose, but in my professional experience, they just haven't thought it through.

Danny: Are you threatening me?

American: Threatening? My, oh, my! This is just a conversation, a chitchat. Two people passing in the night. I can see why you're so confused, over the years I've adopted quite a few of your country's customs, but that great British reserve escapes me. I enjoy talking too much. And, once in a while, someone unexpected tells you something... that might save your life. Be sure to put that card someplace safe.

[But we know that Danny tears up the card and has to re-draw it in episode three to ask Rich what it means.]

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I still haven't figured out any coordinates (episode one) or read the writing on the medication when Sara found it (episode three). I'll be back later.

sadwidow (makes me just typing your name ) Wasn't the card that Danny tore up the 'life insurance' card, whereas the one he had to redraw from memory was the card the police showed him - the card for the gay escort/club with the double 'M' symbol on it?

I'm pretty sure they were two different cards.

He does mention taking PEP medicine after his melt-down night - but he says he was on it for, um, 28 days or something... so if the blue pill is a PEP pill, surely he'd recognise it, and he'd need more than 1?

JustCallMeDory I know that people in Telly Addicts want me to change my name - and I will do. I have explained that I am no longer sad - but I was in 2005 when I joined MN.

I just have to remember my password so that I can change to contended1 or something similar.

I truly AM contented in my life choice after DH died 14.5 yrs ago - I didn't even look for another partner because I was happy that I had had 25 yrs with late-DH. But after DH, I then lost 3 of my 5 brothers (all 3 who I was so close to and gave homes/holidays to when needed). I can't change that. I did feel very sad at that time I joined MN when 1st brother (youngest) died in 2005 because I felt so alone, no children and living at a distance from family.

I'll never forget the hand-holding that MN posters offered to me during those very sad and dark days.

(Mind you, I need to start a thread about the terrible way I am currently being treated by my surviving siblings ................. Nah! I'll just keep enjoying telly Addicts )

So when I figure out how to change my ID without losing my cyber friends here on MN, I will do so.

No, no! keep your name sadwidow - it always makes me sad for a second when I think about why you must have chosen that name, then I re-invent you as some kind of 1940s noir vamp 'The Sad Widow' - all Rita Hayworth hair and Lauren Bacall swarve, and then I think it's the best name, ever.

I'm so, so sorry for all your losses, OP. Truely. I hope you don't think I was being flippant.

Keep your name!

Just marking my place, about to catch up

I would also say the blue pill is Truvada and it's not just used for PrEP but also in combination with other drugs to treat HIV once contracted.

Either way I'm not sure if The American was warning him to stop looking into things and value his non HIV status/health or he'd be infected or perhaps he knew he'd already been infected by Alex and was helping him... I would say the former seeing as the CIA was one of the countries in the 'joke'.

Well.
It's too subtle for me

Y'know that look Danny gave Scottie after the 'joke'? Yeah, that's me, looking to you guys to explain it all.

Someone on another twisty TV thread said they were out of their depth. That is absolutely the point of the opening sequence here surely? Danny being completely out of his depth?

(After all my struggles to express what they suggest to me )

I also feel I'm not clever enough to second guess or work things out.
I even posted on the wrong thread asking if anyone knew the location of Alex/Alastair's family home (and wondered why noone had replied)
I thought I was on this thread, but must only have been dipping in and out as I had to watch two episodes on catch up and did a double sitting.
I've been looking at lots of pictures of Hever Castle and its Maze, but can't make it fit, besides the drama isn't listed on its filming page. Anyone know where it is, or if it's more than one venue?

The whole set up of Alastair's family and staff is strange. I know Alex was a strange character, but I did think the portrayal of his father supported it all quite well, the way he ate etc. I'm actually wondering if Frances, his mother, is MI6 or some kind of double agent. She is one cold fish and I absolutely loved how Danny stood up to her and defended his knowledge of Alex and their relationship.

I've been reading the thread on Digital Spy which has some interesting theories and comments including a screenshot of the table/capsule from the sweet and a link to a chart of current HIV medications. Of course that could be over thinking and dramatic license may have been employed.

There is also a theory I can link to Here which is incredibly complicated for my tiny brain cells, but which I think implies that Alex may have discovered a theory which would make all codes crackable. At least that's what I think they're saying and that's why all the international security forces are both involved and in accord.

I think the feeling of being out of depth and a shadowy world of not knowing who to trust is portrayed beautifully. It is very atmospheric, it leaves us questioning what is "true" just as Danny does. Nothing is as it seems. Superbly subtle acting.

Yy, to Danny standing up to Frances. Is she Alex/Alastair 's mum? Is what she says true? Danny is walking through through a metaphorical maze.

I'm certain Alex/Alistair's house was supposed to be in Scotland. Whether it actually was filmed in Scotland is of course another matter. I see that the scenes in ep 1 were filmed in Kent (Isle of Grain).

ENtertainment Thank you so much for that link. It is indescribably beautiful.

Couldn't say whether it's relevant as I failed my Maths O'Level ...

Well, I am trying to figure out the medication. The first image is a screenshot from episode two when Danny has cut the capsule out of the sweet.

I think I can see ZUZ or ZUL on the side.

The second image is from episode three after Sara (flatmate) found the medication ..... and what was she doing looking in the tin box in Danny's drawer? Hmmmm??

They 2nd one looks more like a licquorice torpedo (sweet) to me!

I can't find anything with ZUZ/ZUL on the HIV medication chart - but image 3 is the closest to shape and colour.

I am thoroughly enjoying this series, just watched ep3. Love the palette, lighting, shot composition; it is beautiful to watch

My withered brain cells are just about keeping up. But why didn't Danny take another (private) hiv test? Seems like it would be an obvious thing to do in the circs.

The nurse or doctor left the room with his blood sample for both tests. Apparently that's not what happens. Likewise, in the event of a positive, procedure differs and the second sample is sent off to a lab.
Again we don't know whether that's dramatic license or a plot twist.

I don't know if we're overthinking it, or if it's going to turn out to be very complicated.

One thing that annoys me (amongst the many good things so far) is that we saw so little of the 8 months that Danny & Alex were together.

Makes it hard for me to quite believe they were a couple. Jars somewhat.

I think the doctor leaving the room was purely to have that amazing scene of Danny's reaction.

Fiderer I thought we'd see more during flashbacks but that hasn't happened. Danny is so sure in his beliefs about what kinda person Alex was and its hard to know whether he's right or blinded by love.

We probably are over-thinking it, but part of the problem is that we don't even know who is telling the truth. I want to be believe that Scottie is all he seems to be, but I am not 100% convinced yet.

I read about the HIV testing and, yes, it appears that it wasn't accurate. But as Danny had been tested before at the clinic I was giving that episode the benefit of the doubt as a scene plot device.

I guess we'll get more clues and pieces of the puzzle tomorrow so I am looking forward to the next episode.

Remember when Scottie told that story about how he was celibate for 11 years... He never explained what happened after the 11 years. Did he meet someone? And if so, who?

And Danny's housemate found the pill. Which I distinctly remember him putting into a box and then in his desk drawer. How did she find it? Was it her number Alex said he didn't need to write down? She also is ideal person to leave recording equipment in Danny's room so his 'advert' story could be recorded?