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.

I was expecting a bit more pace last night. At some point he has to be chased down a dank alley.

I love a good chase scene.

Is it terrible that if my first thought after Danny told Scottie he loved him was 'oooh I wonder if Scottie will leave his house to Danny'.

Scottie's murder has been being planned for at least 3 weeks, that's how long they thought his ADs had been replaced for. A post mortem would show (or would've, if Danny hadn't got new pills for him) that Scottie hadn't been taking his ADs, which makes the suicide even more plausible.

What does that detective know? She seemed too upset for it to have been just because she'd lost her main suspect.

I'm wondering if there's going to be a twist at the end, there seems to have been lots of loose ends tied up already - the code, what's inside the container, they've killed Scottie - what else is there? No mention of the HIV last night though. Maybe we'll see more flashbacks.

Arrgghh I can't decide whether to watch the trailer or not!!

The detective? It was her sheer terror that amused me most. I imagine she's been told the investigation has to be dropped because it's antagonising the framee. Which must be a shock if she genuinely believed the (framing) evidence.

Although, now she knows Danny wasn't lying perhaps she'll find herself obliged to change sides?

The interrogation room is v stylish.

Ooh now that would be a twist - detective shows Danny all the 'evidence'!

The detective played Simon Amstell's auntie in Grandma's House. I keep expecting her to launch into that character.

Samantha Spiro, she's great

I watched it last night with my husband - he hasn't watched any of it and the first thing he said was it was all a bit dream sequency, as if bits of it weren't real.
I liked the Child 44 nod, I think there's been a few. I really enjoyed the books, but not the film as it's absolute shite and I've raged about it incessantly

I think I was too tired last night as I didn't really 'get' a lot of it, or remember it today.

Like you SW, apart from the identical clothing I wasn't persuaded the escort was infact a credible doppelgänger for Danny, then again I had been anticipating Alex's lookalike, not Danny's.

When the key to it all was revealed to be no more lying, all I could think of was that Danny could tell anyway viz his conversation with Frances and his explanation.

I don't know if I should watch the episode again, read the transcript instead, or just get on with it.

Ref the location SW, I had seen the lodge and the exterior shots of the shabby fabric of the castle. Not sure where they filmed the interior-looking out shots, but I did wonder if they'd simply dressed the maze with some trailing ivy etc. over statues. Not that it all matters much, it's only idle curiosity really that and a mild fascination about how film sets are built and composites for one supposed venue.

It was the same taxi and driver, wasn't it?

I noticed at the end of the episode it said IN MEMORY OF SEAN-JOSEPH McKEE (He played the Scouse dealer that Danny bought the ADs from for Scottie.)

Apparently, he died suddenly at the end of July - epileptic fit. Aged only 54 yrs old.

That's sad SW.

I think the escort was just supposed to look Danny-ish i.e. Alex's type, rather than suspiciously similar.

Ria, it was just that those of us who look at spoilers felt quite excited at the twist of having a doppleganger for Danny. And certainly, some of us thought that Riccardo Scamarcio did indeed look like Ben Whishaw when they both had 'unruly' hair styles.

But then when they were in the restaurant - both with neater haircuts - the similarity was lost IMO.

squoosh

Dory

I forgot to thank you for pointing out that there were 2 cards:

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 re-watched episode two before last night to get things clear in my mind. Yes, the American handed over a card from Paxman Inc which said "Protecting People and Property for 80 years". I would have been sooooo confused if you hadn't have pointed out my mistake. Thanks x

No, to you for starting such a great thread sadwidow

^ I meant no, don't be silly, thank YOU for starting the thread, not 'no flowers for you'.... in case of confusion!

I agree with allmy it was the same taxi driver. I think Scottie's dead, it's not just a mock up. He said the 4 of them might not last the week, after all. Wonder who's next?

Also agree that the 'doppelganger' was just picked because he fitted the type of man Alex would fancy, based on his falling for Danny.

As I'm a hopeless romantic, I also think that Alex went with the doppelganger for Danny - because Danny had been so concerned that Alex was just with him because he hadn't experienced anyone else - to prove to Danny that he was with him for the right reasons.

A bit of very light-hearted triv for you re the lovely Ben W ...

Simon Amstell - Grandma's House w/ Samantha Spiro in 'Ben Whishaw parody'

Enjoy!

And for the record I adore Ben.

x

So 'they' sent the doppelganger to Alex, and they also phoned Danny and sent him to meet the doppelganger, but are also the ones that killed Scottie? Eh?

EvenGirlCows is that Ramsay Bolton?

I think I might have to rewatch this episode, I think I've missed bits.

I loved Grandma's House!

EvenGirlCowsGetTheBlues That spoof was brilliant! It reminds me when we were on the Downton Abbey thread and someone posted the Barrow/Bates D'arth Vader spoofs.

I am still trying to work out "it's the same taxi driver" comment. I have screen grabbed Scottie's taxi driver (episode 4) but where am I looking for the first sighting?

It was the same taxi driver who took Danny to the hotel I think.

Okay - that is also episode 4

I'll re-watch that bit and screen-shot. Scottie clearly knew his taxi driver was a 'wrong-un' when the exit light was switched off. Then we saw the taxi driver's face in the rear-view mirror.

I don't think we ever saw the chauffeur who drove Rich and Danny (episode 3).