Here we are, back in the arms of Her Majesty’s Security Service, cuddled, teased with tasty shots of the city, made to witness death and obliged to stay in light of narrative tension. Isn’t it great? We are already on episode five and now ISSUES are being dealt with, the spectre of current AFFAIRS floats over us. Egad, Spooks is written relatively recently! And the fears of a nation have been expertly crystallised into hour-long drama. I am tickled.

Enter antagonist: Alexis Meynell, economic terrorist, occasional bona fide killer, posh, secretly Czech and who likes shouting (‘don’t touch me!’, ‘where are all your balls!?’) and growling.  Ros goes undercover for some high-grade snoopin’ and manages to catch his eye in the process, which eventually leads to a rather disturbing sequence where she has to literally lie back and think of England. Poor Ros. Billions are played off against billions (it’s like enormous poker!), malicious e-mails are proliferated and undercover alerts are delivered via a delightful coffee ordering code. There also appear to be Russians everywhere; one Black Sea fracas and the floodgates have opened.

A summation of my next reactions in exclamatory form, please enjoy out of context:

Mercy! The old bank buffoon has only gone and killed himself. What is he hiding? What is he hiding?

Dang! The Russian scary man recognises Lucas. They know he works for MI5. Does he? He does! He is firmly ensconced filling the role of alpha male chez Spook and Adam is still well dead but we do not talk about that because we are Professional.

Marxism! Prague Spring! Alexis is not a capitalist pig, he loves communism! He has ideals! The bad guy with potentially legitimate grievances…but who also enjoys killing people, blimey. What can we do about this moral ambiguity?

Statements! Malcolm making loads of cash by accident! Bluffing! Spending plans! Sugar horse! Crikey!

&c.

Finally, ultimatums are delivered, guns are pressed against temples, double crosses are discovered, put-downs are delivered and there is even a bit of time for a girl power session. Oft ridiculous, but taut as a tightrope and jolly good fun. More please!