For lucky TV viewers in the UK, Spooks season 8 has already begun airing. And the latest episode - 4 - focuses on Lucas North's literal torturous past.
For viewers in North America, where Spooks season 8 won't be airing for awhile yet, try this link on You Tube.
In this episode, Lucas (Richard Armitage) faces down the man who was his torturer for four of the eight years he survived in a Russian prison.
Truly the stuff of both nightmares and fantasies, to once again stand before someone who tortured you would take 'mindblowing experience' and totally redefine it.
Torture scenes in films and television put me in a cold sweat. I feel physically sick when I sense one is coming in the story, and sitting through one is an ordeal.
If it's real news footage, like the scene in the Vancouver airport of Robert Dziekański's last excruciating moments after being Tasered by RCMP officers - I can't watch and I have to put my hands over my ears. I can't stand the screaming.
The handling of the Lucas North torture storyline on Spooks thoroughly examines the post-traumatic effects this has on the remainder of that person's life. Lucas is shown as being unable to sleep unless he returns to the hard floor, unable to prevent unrelated stimuli from provoking break-through memories from surfacing, and struggling to prove to his MI-5 superiors that he doesn't retain any Stockholm Syndrome feelings towards his former Russian captors.
CLICK HERE to watch a clip from Spooks season 7 featuring our first glimpse into Lucas' torture memories. WARNING: contains waterboarding footage.
Join me later this week when I haul Canada's Defense Minister Peter Mackay onto the carpet for daring to say he was not aware that up to 130 Afghan detainees who were handed over to Afghan authorities by Canadian troops were then tortured.
My Thursday Thirteen will be posted with both barrels blazing. Wear your flak jackets.
I can't actually read this post because I'm just now getting into Spooks lol I looked up Richard Armitage on Netflix to see what all I could get with him in it and put Spooks in my Watch Instantly queue. I'm almost done with season 3, so I have a little ways to go...
ReplyDeleteHowever, I am totally hooked. I love Spooks!!!
VABookworm - I LOVE Spooks, with and without Richard. In fact, the next senior case officer after Tom Quinn (Matthew Macfadyen) is my absolute favorite: Adam Carter (Rupert Penry-Jones.)
ReplyDeleteBut you know I can't resist a tormented character like Lucas.
I really like Adam, but I was partial to Tom. It may be due to the fact that he's imprinted in my mind as Mr. Darcy lol
ReplyDeleteThe new series of Spooks is just great! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, this series is absolutely hectic, emotional, full of twists and turns and I like the fact that they are going into deep with characters. The picture of Lucas in episode 4 is remarkable and Richard Armitage gave us an excellent performance. I liked Tom Quin very much, then Adam Carter and now I'm completely hooked by Lucas North ... I know, I'm rather inconstant. But spooks are spooks!
ReplyDeleteVABookworm - Tom Quinn is my husband's favorite, but Adam is mine. He does a lot of things that remind me of me. Probably why!
ReplyDeleteAkelamalu - I'm so grateful for You Tube. I would go nuts knowing it was airing where you are and me unable to see it.
Maria Grazia - I don't think it's inconstant to get swept up by all three senior case officers. Each one is so different, and makes us care about them for different reasons. I think it's extremely brave of Richard Armitage to go to these dark places for his character. When he's in the moment of the scene, he's really living it.
I've never seen this before. It looks awesome!!!
ReplyDeleteJennifer - In the States it's called MI-5. Probably on BBC America. We get it on BBC Canada. But of course the latest season is not available to us yet - except for the darling You Tube user who posted it! Thank you, Darling You Tube User! *kiss kiss kiss*
ReplyDeleteJust watched episode 4 and holy stress levels. Poor Lucas.