MI-5 - new season

[Ed W]

KRSC began the latest and last run of the British spy series "MI-5" over the weekend.  Called "Spooks" over there, it's a long-running series that has never hesitated to kill off the main characters, sometimes in appallingly gruesome fashion.  The teams have fended off attacks from the right and left, foreign and domestic, and even found itself countering a secret and nearly successful coup.

Interestingly, the American intelligence services have been portrayed as devious rivals and only occasional allies.

KRSC runs some British series, including the inestimable "Prime Suspect" which far above the recent pale imitation. 

One other thing about the Brit series - they run without commercials, so expect to sit a while.  With MI-5, you're bound to miss something if you run off to the refrigerator.

[HoneySuckle]

I love MI5.  Why can't they call it "Spooks" over here anyway?

The Office was a good one, but I would not waste my time on the American version.  Saw like 5 minutes of it one day and wanted to throw up

[Ed W]

American versions of British shows have a mixed reception.  "The Agency" was supposed to be based on MI-5, but it wasn't nearly as dark or morally conflicted.  I think "The Closer" may have been taken from "Prime Suspect", and while it's a good detective show, the original was so much better.  And I won't bother watching the American "Prime Suspect."

PBS had a short run of a new Sherlock Holmes series set in modern London.  It was only a couple of episodes but it was very good.  I'm hoping it continues.  Although I've read all the Conan Doyle stories, I still watch the video versions if only to match wits with the great detective.

No commercial breaks on PBS and KRSC requires excellent timing for bathroom breaks, though!

[DolfanBob]

Oh wow. I thought I was alone in watching British series. I am more of a British comedy person myself.
I discovered "Rising Damp" back in the late 80s on A&E. I had to set my VCR to record them because it was on at like 4 A.M. I then started paying attention to other shows and got hooked on "Brush Strokes" and later on PBS "Keeping up Appearances" and "Are you being served" everyone was telling me to watch "The Vicar of Dibley" and for some reason I just didnt think it was all that funny. Oh I almost forgot one, on MTV I watched "The Young Ones"
Ed the best way around the bathroom breaks would be a DVR. Thats the only way I watch Television anymore.

[stageidea]

I have always enjoyed British shows.  Keeping up Appearances is a great program.  Top Gear, James May's Toy Stories, Doc Martin, An Idiot Abroad (British version is better than the Science Channel version), The Restaurant Inspector etc.

I will be sure to check out MI-5

[Hoss]

I have always enjoyed British shows.  Keeping up Appearances is a great program.  Top Gear, James May's Toy Stories, Doc Martin, An Idiot Abroad (British version is better than the Science Channel version), The Restaurant Inspector etc.

I will be sure to check out MI-5

My mother loves Keeping Up Appearances, and will stay up late on Sunday just to watch it on PBS.