Rating: 
Summary: glad I bought the dvd, but...
Review: I was thrilled when this came out in dvd in a format for US viewing and pre-ordered it immediately, have really enjoyed seeing the uncut episodes in order to get all the details. The only criticism is the overly complicated menu in order to get to the episodes, you put the disk in and wait for a menu to appear, and instead you get a picture of a desk top, and then you realize a voice is droning in the background and what it's muttering are instructions on how to get to the episodes. There are a lot of extra features, but they're included in the overly cute menu packaging where you have to either try to pay attention to the voice or consult the 3-page outline included in the packaging, and then click on the feature you want and wait an unusually long time for it to load. It would have been a lot more convenient if they had run the episodes on the first two disks, and put all the extra features on the third. After all the work that went into the over-complicated menu, the actual packaging is cheap and I had to break one of the plastic tabs to release one of the dvd's. But if you love the show by all means get the dvds in order to see the episodes in entirety.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: I'd give it 6 stars if I could.
The best series I have seen since Band of Brothers.
It's tight paced and has fully believable characters.
Viewing more than one episode per night is emotionally draining.
Driving the episode menu is poor, but once you are in, it's a wild ride.
Rating:
Summary: The Anti-James Bond
Review: I've always despised James Bond. As a spy, James Bond sticks out like the sore thumb painted neon pink. This show is the anti-James Bond. MI-5/Spooks is brilliant. Matthew Macfayden in particular is great. He's not the stereotypical hero and that makes him all the more believable and likeable. He's got underpinnings of sadness and anger that MacFayden brings out with ease. The supporting cast of characters are just as well written, played and tightly wound. The show's scriptwriter's don't give into the usual sappiness that generally plagues American television. The camera work is original and quirky. This show hits you right between the eyes and leaves you wanting more. If you are an American fan of the series from A&E, get the DVD and see what you've missed for the sake of commercials. The flow of the series is disrupted terribly by the cut scenes and commercials that A&E inserts. I am very glad I got the DVD and I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of the second series on DVD!
Rating:
Summary: BLOODY BRILLIANT!!!!!
Review: If a show were to capture the actual nature of being a (security service) spy, this is probably it.
Take advantage of bad situations, be morally dispassionate, infiltrate any activist organization larger than a football team, avert or CREATE disaster to suit your political needs, and kill anyone who gets in your way. There were numerous times I found myself clapping out loud, yelling: "That's EXACTLY what they do!!"
And of course, the best way to kill a Statesman is to simply steer their airplane into a mountain (Oh yeah, THAT hasn't happened about a dozen times). And the best place to kill a VIP (or royal) is in a road-tunnel where you control the variables. SO BLOODY BRILLIANT!!
You will bite your nails, sweat your palms, and gain an insight into the trade that the English have mastered for over 500 years. They taught us, even though our Company is far more ruthless. And if you think I'm kidding, go learn how to to read.
Thankyou BBC!!
Rating:
Summary: well worth it
Review: If you have a DVD player that is region free, or can play region 0 DVDs, this DVD set is already available on Amazon.co.uk. There is a lot cut out of the A&E versions. Seeing the episodes uncut is well worth the price of the DVD set. I'm eagerly awaiting the release of the second season of Spooks (which is the title of the show in the UK) Amazon.co.uk also has the CD soundtrack for sale.
Rating: 
Summary: Outstanding
Review: If you liked the Sandbaggers series (MI-6), you'll love MI-5. Can't wait for Volume 2. Would have rated the series a "5", except for the music, which is extremely loud and sometimes overpowers the dialogue. Smart writing, great acting, lots of twists and turns. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: BRITS HATE US, HERE'S THE PROOF
Review: In the first episode of this over-produced, too-flashy nonsense aired in the United States (on See-BS-owned A&E) the villain was an evil American anti-abortionist who blows up a woman doctor in front of her family. The head of the CIA in Britain is an evil b*tch who pushes the poor, dedicated Brits around. If this is how Brits see us then it's too bad we helped them out in World War II. This show is crap. If you want to watch an entertaining--though unrealistic--spy show, watch "24" and ship this junk back across the Pond.
Rating:
Summary: Spooks-The British Version(MI-5)
Review: Initially I saw one of the episodes of the second season involving a US Presidential trip to England on "A & E". The show was brilliant. The only problem was that it was about 42 minutes long, cut from a British running time of about 58 minutes. I bought the British edition of the first season (6 episodes)and was not disapointed. Watching Tom try to handle his love life and his job was fascinating. Not to mention the problems of his two subordinates and his boss. The only thing that I regret was not watching the shows from the beginning. "Star Trek" had the infamous "reset" button. No matter what happened last week, the characters did not really change. Here they clearly grow on preceding episodes with the basic story being self-contained. You catch the nuances by watching all the episodes in the correct order. I suspect that this show would bomb on network TV. This is a criticism of US network TV, not of Spooks. The third season of 10 episodes is in production. Season two(10 episodes) of the unedited version is supposed to be released on DVD in conjuction with the new season. I already have a standing order to request it. That is how highly I recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Great Entertainment
Review: It was great on cable, and now it's even better on DVD with the edition of the fifteen minutes of each episode which were lost to commercials in the US broadcasts. This is good stuff -- buy your copy now! Bring on the season 2 set!
Rating:
Summary: Highly recommend this show
Review: Like many in the States I became a fan of MI-5 when it aired on A&E. I had heard there were some concerns about the ratings of the show on the network so I was surprised but extremely glad to find out that the show was going to be released on dvd. I preordered my copy and couldn't wait to receive it. I hope that A&E imports the 3rd season of the show b/c they cannot leave us with that season cliffhanger!
A number of reviews have explained the show, briefly it's about British domestic intelligence and the situations they face in keeping Britain secure and the effect such work has on it's agents. Though I very much enjoy MI-5, I won't trash American shows in praising it because I would assume American and Britsh sensibilites are somewhat different and that influences the content and presentation of their tv shows. I certainly have no issue with MI-5's occasional negative remarks about the U.S. b/c our shows/films make similar comments about the British.
MI-5 is interesting because it is methodical in showing what these intelligence agents have to do to perform their jobs yet is not plodding or boring in it's presentation. The characters are multi dimensional, especially that of Tom Quinn. They are allowed to show their darker sides in response to the stresses that accompany their work. The scripts are intelligent and the actors are excellent. The only major difference I have found from MI-5 and it's american "counterparts" is that there seems to be less "action" in MI-5, i.e. less gunplay and explosions and scenes of people running round desperately. But that does not make the show any less gripping or intense. When action happens on the show it is significant, not just there to pump up the viewers' adrenaline.
As for the dvds themselves, from my estimation the picture and sound quality of the dvds are excellent. The scene selection menu only gives "sector" numbers, no corresponding photo from the scene which I am used to and actually prefer. Have only been able to view the 1st disc, but so far the extras are very good. I was disappointed to realize only the 1st 6 episodes were included but from what I have heard they are the full length, original British tv versions so that's a bonus for us American viewers. I am eagerly awaiting release of the second season!
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