Rating: 
Summary: British Television at its best
Review: MI-5, or Spooks in the UK, is a finely crafted drama. It takes the veiwer on a trip into the world of security that is suprisingly absent in American television. It pulls no punches and not every ending is "fairy-taleish" like most American dramas are. If you are looking for a program with depth and action, this is the one I reccommend.
Rating:
Summary: MI-5 rocks
Review: Mi-5, Volume I is great. The music is a little loud for the soft-spoken actors. When is Volume II coming out?
Rating:
Summary: YES!
Review: OH MY GOD! I normally wait until I can buy series dvds used by this is one that I will preorder!!!! I love this series and can't not wait to have them in my collection. My only hope is that they include the footage that was dropped out of the A&E series. It is my understanding that the A&E had to cut scenes to get it to fit in the one hour format.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant and somthing us Brits can show off!!
Review: Spooks is great. MI-5 is the internal security service in the Britain and so much of it takes place in good 'ol England. The script is really smooth and really makes it tense but manages to stay away from being a plain action thriller and instead gives it an edage of coolness which is why it is so popular. All of the episodes are 'uperb while the last 10 mins of the last Episode is amazing! Roll on Season 2 on DVD which I'm annoyed at beacuse it has come out in Australia and evrywhere else except for the place where it was made and broadcasted.Overall, lets just say that although 24 is tense, Spooks gets an "edge" over it with its edge! Oh and the split screen competition (between 24 and Spooks anyway, considering it has been around for decades) goes to Spooks! Whatever the critics say, Spooks had it first. One more thing USA, change the title to "Spooks" now that you know what spooks are! It is a lot more cool than the plain "MI-5".
Rating:
Summary: amazing tv show
Review: Talk about fresh, fast and always throwing a curve ball. This is worth watching. I cannot wait for season 2 to become available
Rating:
Summary: Ridiculously addictive
Review: Televisions shows don't come more exciting, suspenseful, or addictive than MI-5, originally titled Spooks when it aired on BBC in the UK. This show follows the exploits of Section B of MI-5, the British equivalent of the CIA, as they battle terrorists of all shapes and forms. What elevates this show above its American brethren is its refusal to sugarcoat the storylines. Characters, even the regulars, betray each other, crack under pressure, succumb to temptation, struggle with difficult decisions, and make ruthless choices that we imagine are necessary in the real world of espionage. Happy endings are neither required nor welcome. There are only six episodes over 3 DVDs in this box set of Season 1, but what a 6 episodes they are. I never saw the edited versions that aired on A&E in the US (10 minutes were cut from each episode), but fortunately these DVDs contain the uncut versions of all 6 episodes. I'm hooked and dying for Season 2 to arrive on DVD (it will include the next 10 episodes). The last episode, in particular, will blow your mind with its ending. Alias, with its romanticized storylines, is spycraft-light compared to MI-5 which recalls for me the addictive pace of 24 in its first two seasons, before it descended into recursive silliness. I have just two complaints. One is the convoluted DVD menu which simulates a spy breaking into a computer room. It takes forever for the actual DVD menu options to come up, and after you've been through it once you'll wish you could bypass it and just get to the programs. And secondly, I can't believe I have to wait for season 2 to come out on DVD.
Rating: 
Summary: Transcending the glitz
Review: There've been some uncommonly intelligent spy films produced by British television: TINKER, TAILOR, SOLDIER, SPY and SMILEY'S PEOPLE (both starring Sir Alec Guinness as the owlish George Smiley), and THE SANDBAGGERS miniseries. In all three, the agency involved is Her Majesty's Secret Intelligence Service (MI-6). The operatives are a tweedy lot, and the headquarters, either at the old "Circus" or the more modern Century House, are, like the remains of Empire, comfortably shabby. Thus, it was with some misgivings that I began MI-5, the ongoing glitzy miniseries featuring the SIS's less glamorous sister also known as the Security Service, which like America's FBI, deals with domestic intelligence, anti-subversion and counter-terrorism. The glitz is of Hollywood proportions - almost, for me, an instant turn-off. I'm glad I stuck with it.
The lead "spook" is Tom Quinn, played by Matthew MacFadyen. He runs an undercover operations team, the most prominent members of which are Zoe Reynolds (Keeley Hawes) and Danny Hunter (David Oyelowo). The interior of MI-5's London HQ, Thames House, is ultramodern and high tech; the CIA probably never had it so good. Tom's boss is the hardboiled and sphinx-like Harry Pearce, played by Peter Firth.
Admittedly, I didn't become engaged until episodes three and four, when I realized that the intricate scripts, fast-paced and tautly presented, transcended the glitz. I'm now hooked, and eagerly await the DVD release of the Season 2 episodes in late 2004. My only remaining complaint is the too clever lead-in to each episode which requires excessive button-pushing on the remote to navigate. I mean, just get on with it. Prince Charles will become King in a shorter time.
The storylines are contemporary: embassy take-overs by militant nationalists, insidious plots by Arab terrorists, illegal arms deals by enterprising Russians involving Whitehall cabinet officers, and the occasional appearance of IRA bombers. Gone are the good old days of KGB machinations on behalf of the Evil Empire. The episodes are slickly written with surprising plot twists. And MI-6 across the river maintains a scheming and patronizing presence.
Part of the show's attraction is that it doesn't paint its MI-5 heroes as perfect. They have relationship problems; they embezzle money from the Service; and perhaps have dark secrets in the past that invite blackmail during intra-office power struggles. Why, it sounds like any company I've ever worked for!
The end of the last episode in Series 1 is one of the best I've ever seen. It'll make you think twice before installing that elaborate security system on your house, or at least make you aware of the dangers posed by a small child when catalyzed by chocolate icing.
Rating:
Summary: The best show.........ever!
Review: This has to be one of the greatest dramas I have ever seen. Over in the UK, this show is called Spooks (so MI5 doesn't have the same ring to it) but it's awesome all the same! The tension that builds, even from the explosive start (and I mean explosive ;) ) this show keeps your mind gripped, with you being blissfully unaware from what lurks around the next corner. The show makes your skin crawl, your hairs on the back of your neck rise, and makes you think! When the BBC wants a drama, they get an awesome one! Roll on Series 2 on DVD, and Series 3 on TV in the uk! This DVD is worth every penny, highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Gareth Walters....What Nonsense!!!!!
Review: This IS British drama at its best, the plot, the script, the acting and the pace are very very well done and its a delight to watch. The only bad review given by Gareth Walters is complete nonsense, he obviously has no clue about quality drama, and judging by his wish list i am not suprised, do not be put off by his review, he is obviously jealous of this being the best of British!
Rating:
Summary: Must have for all spy freaks
Review: This set is indeed all of Season 1 -- BBC only produced six episodes for season 1. Season 2 contains 10 episodes (as will Season 3, due to air in the UK in Autumn 2004). Better than Alias (which I love) and heads and shoulders above "The Agency" this show is slick and fast paced.
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