emlogomain.jpg

Main
Facebook
Tumblr
News/ Updates
DVD Reviews
Blu-ray Reviews
Movie Reviews
TV
Interviews
TV show review: CONTINUUM season 4
PHOTOGRAPHY

MI-5 Season 9
DVD review by David Blackwell

DETAILS:   473 minutes (8 episodes on three discs), no extras
VIDEO:  1.78:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen)
AUDIO:  English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Subtitles:  English SDH

STUDIO:  BBC/ kudos/ 2 entertain/ Warner Home Video
RELEASE DATE:  7-12-2011

Lucas North faces a new crisis in his life as an MI-5 agent.   An old acquaintance from the past, Vaughn Edwards , is trying to get Lucas to steal the Albany file from Harry Pearce, the head of Section D, or he will reveal Lucas took over the life of the real Lucas North.  Harry is at a crossroads as his bond with Ruth keeps growing as he has thoughts of quitting MI-5.   He brings in new recruit Beth Bailey as part of the team headed by Lucas.    Dimitri and Tariq also form part of the team.  They face threats from terrorist groups, stopping assassination attempts, and countering the moves the Chinese are up to.  

 

Season 9 of MI-5 is where the MI-5 team is threatened from within and from the outside.   The team starts to show itself fracturing again as they must also contend with threats that even may come down to one of their own.   Sophia Myles is a welcome addition to the cast (sadly it is only for this season).   The arc of Lucas North concludes here while setting the stage for the ultimate test in Harry's career as the ultimate betrayal may lead to be costly.   I believe in most of the story of Lucas north except I wish they foreshadowed it before this season and I find the final twist by Lucas comes out of nowhere like the writers were grasping for a way to end the season's arc.   MI-5 is still gripping even though the final twist in the Lucas north saga seems to be beyond belief and yet it sets such good relationship drama for Harry and Ruth who take center stage in this season alongside Lucas.   The show takes one step forward with Harry and Ruth where they take one step back with Lucas as the season goes on and they take the step even further back.   The central plots with the real threats out there are still as gripping as ever while I wish they found a better way of concluding the tale of Lucas North as they built up his character over the last two seasons only to tear him down.   Season  10 is rumored to be the last season with only six episodes while season 9 is eight episodes.

 

I do wish they imported the extras from the UK release because the north American version includes none of the featurettes or audio commentaries.   It is a big disappointment they stopped including extras after the season 7 DVD release where the UK release still gets the extras.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  MI-5 Season 9 features some good stories where the character drama is up and down with this season.   It isn't the best season where previous seasons shine brighter.  Even MI-5 not at it's best is still better than most of the TV dramas out there.  I hope they include extras again with future releases.

this DVD review is (c)7-31-2011 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com