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London Spy

(52 Posts)
ninathenana Mon 09-Nov-15 22:15:50

Won't spoil it for those that intend watching.
I enjoyed it, I don't think the sex scenes added anything though. DH seemed uncomfortable during those scenes.
That was my beach they were on smile

LullyDully Tue 10-Nov-15 10:48:57

How interesting.

I was enthralled by it but DH went into the other room as he thought it was boring!!!!! Seems pretty common according to the rest of you. I thought it was good slow but that was part of the intrigue.

Seems I shall be watching it alone next week.

Greyduster Tue 10-Nov-15 11:04:13

Well we started to watch it; I like Ben Wishaw. But I could see that DH was uncomfortable with the gay element, so we turned it off and watched HFW instead. I'll probably get it on catch up later in the week, when he is doing something else. Like whitewave I wonder why some men are uncomfortable with anything that has a homosexual element in it. Is it a generational thing, do you think?

annodomini Tue 10-Nov-15 11:23:25

I thought it was intriguing and touching. Ben Wishaw is a fine actor (great as Q in the Bond films) and the presence of Jim Broadbent adds weight to the plot - not sure exactly what his position is. I must ask my sons if they watched it and if so how they reacted to the gay scenes - maybe their generation is less twitchy. They certainly have openly gay friends and colleagues.

Tegan Tue 10-Nov-15 12:24:54

Ben Wishaw seems to be in everything these days [and never looks any older]. I fell in love with him in the film Bright Star but, [I know this is really pathetic and stupid] when I realised that he was gay had that pang of misery that I used to get in my teens when a favourite pop star was found to be married sad. We didn't see London Spy as we were at the cinema seeing him in The Lobster; must watch it on catchup [so many good programmes at the moment; spoilt for choice.

mollie Tue 10-Nov-15 13:11:35

My mum thought it was excellent too, she didn't mention the sex. I wonder if she fell asleep?

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-Nov-15 13:14:00

I saw Ben W on stage in London a couple of years back. Play called Mojo. He is very good. Portrays emotions well.

Tegan Tue 10-Nov-15 13:26:45

Oh lucky you envy. I need to watch 'Perfume' properly as well [have seen it in bits having caught the second half on tv once].

ninathenana Tue 10-Nov-15 13:40:25

It is interesting that men find watching other men uncomfortable.
I hope I didn't give the impression that I'm homophobic in my op. I just didn't feel it added to the plot to show them "having sex" no matter what their gender.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-Nov-15 13:56:21

No, no one thinks that ninathenana. I think us slightly older people will always have a right old mixture of feelings about homosexuality. That's not to say we are homophobic.

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 10-Nov-15 13:57:09

Haven't seen that film Tegan. Just ordered the DVD (off of Amazon shockwink)

Tegan Tue 10-Nov-15 14:15:19

It's a bit scary/weird shock, but shows what an amazing actor he is. Nina; my ex couldn't even stay in the room if Julian Clarey [who I love] was on the telly.

whitewave Tue 10-Nov-15 14:25:24

Just finished watching it - excellent!!!! Felt a bit retro like the Smiley stuff. Atmospheric and emotional. Alex/Alastair a classic spy.

Tegan Wed 11-Nov-15 11:40:03

Watched it last night; didn't really like it I'm afraid... rather slow and the camera shots seemed to be trying to be too clever [although I guess it did make for a feeling of disorientation]. I'll stick with it, though because of the quality of the acting.

trisher Wed 11-Nov-15 22:01:48

Think the sex scenes were important, and will become increasingly so, because of what it revealed about Joe/Alex, that he was totally inexperienced and therefore not what is likely to be concluded from all the stuff in the attic.

Eloethan Wed 11-Nov-15 23:48:43

trisher Given that this drama is apparently based on a real event, perhaps the writer has his own views about the outcome of the investigation. It was (I think) concluded that the man was engaging in some sort of weird masochistic act that led to his unintentional death.

trisher Thu 12-Nov-15 09:33:49

Yes makes you wonder doesn't it!

Teetime Thu 12-Nov-15 10:15:30

We watched it yesterday and I think there is a really good story there so am looking forward to the next one. It was slow and the sex scene was tolerable I suppose but it could have been shorter but its BBC2 and it does that kind of thing from time to time to remind us how arty it is supposed to be. Love Ben Whishaw!

ninathenana Tue 08-Dec-15 15:19:38

Well I found the the last episode left a lot of unanswered questions. The Charlotte Rampling character gave me a few surprises.
DH says there has to be another series.

LullyDully Tue 08-Dec-15 18:44:50

I enjoyed the last episode because I thought it had finished last week so was more confused last week than this!!!!!!!

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 08-Dec-15 18:46:05

I didn't realise last night's was the final episode. Must watch it again. And probably the one bfore that. At least. hmm

jinglbellsfrocks Tue 08-Dec-15 18:46:48

I don't think they could make another series out of it could they?

cornergran Tue 08-Dec-15 19:23:19

Thought it ended as if there could be. smile

LullyDully Tue 08-Dec-15 19:42:45

I think know a second series would devalue the first. It usually does. Homeland should have finished ages ago......with a bomb at the end of first series IMO

gma Wed 09-Dec-15 10:22:27

I Thoroughly enjoyed London Spy. Atmospheric, brilliantly filmed,BBC drama at its very best. Ben Wilshaw, Jim Broadbent and Charlotte Rampling were outstanding, I had forgotten what a great actor Charlotte Rampling is. There must be a BAFTA award there.
If you find the gay sex scenes disturbing or uncomfortable, either close your eyes and just listen or press that little button marked OFF!!
Come on BBC let's have more like this.
Happy Christmas gransnetters.

Tegan Thu 10-Dec-15 12:27:02

I saw it through to the end and found it flawed but brilliant in equal measures. I can't say that I enjoyed it. The last scene made me think 'surely this isn't going to turn into the 'Beiderbecke Tapes, 2016' and half expected some jazz music to start playing as they drove away....