Set in the early 1970s MI5 operative Joe Lambe is given the task of overseeing the defection and debriefing of Soviet agent Arkady. He quickly learns that the Soviets have a major operation planned, 'Operation Glass', but Arkady doesn't know the details. If MI5 is to thwart the KGB's plan they will have to uncover who is behind Operation Glass as well as its eventual aim. Matters are complicated when Joe learns that one of the KGB men behind the operation is 'Odin' the man responsible for the death of his girlfriend before the events of the series. A further complication is the revelation that a mole within MI5 has been leaking details of their counter-operation to the Soviets.
This gripping cold war thriller nicely captures the feeling of the 1970s and more importantly the sense of paranoia within the Security Services as agents wonder who they can trust; they don't even know if Glass is real or just a ploy to make Arkady's defects seem real. The cast does a fine job making us believe in the characters while still wondering whether or not they are the traitor. The only big name in the cast is Brian Cox, who is great as MI5 head 'Daddy', however the rest of the cast more than hold their own; most notably Tom Hughes who plays Joe and Shaun Dooley, who plays DC Jim Fenchurch, a policeman brought into assist MI5. These spies certainly aren't in the James Bond or even the 'Spooks' mould; they are almost bland in their ordinariness; something that suits the story perfectly. As the series approaches its end the tension mounts nicely as we learn just how dangerous Operation Glass is. Overall I'd say this is well worth watching and hope BBC2 continues to provide us with more quality drama like this in the future.
This gripping cold war thriller nicely captures the feeling of the 1970s and more importantly the sense of paranoia within the Security Services as agents wonder who they can trust; they don't even know if Glass is real or just a ploy to make Arkady's defects seem real. The cast does a fine job making us believe in the characters while still wondering whether or not they are the traitor. The only big name in the cast is Brian Cox, who is great as MI5 head 'Daddy', however the rest of the cast more than hold their own; most notably Tom Hughes who plays Joe and Shaun Dooley, who plays DC Jim Fenchurch, a policeman brought into assist MI5. These spies certainly aren't in the James Bond or even the 'Spooks' mould; they are almost bland in their ordinariness; something that suits the story perfectly. As the series approaches its end the tension mounts nicely as we learn just how dangerous Operation Glass is. Overall I'd say this is well worth watching and hope BBC2 continues to provide us with more quality drama like this in the future.