TV Gold

Time some fresh 'subject matter topic blood' in this forum and with its close link in subject matter and certain cast member/s I'd like to start off this thread with...

As the BBC’s classic “Secret Army” series ably demonstrated over three highly successful seasons there is enormous potential for exciting, engaging story telling in the historic setting of primarily occupied territories during World War Two. Keen to attempt to emulate this strong ratings success independent broadcasting company London Weekend Television brought to the screen its own resistance fighters concept towards the end of the eighties in a series entitled “Wish Me Luck”. In mid 2007 the series gained a Network DVD box set release featuring all three seasons spread over six discs. As a long time fan of its illustrious BBC predecessor I’ve recently nabbed a copy of this and as part of my ‘new viewing stuff for March 2008’ I’m making double episode weekly dips into this title and would like to share my thoughts and observations as to how it compares.

Right lets really get into it with this...

For this first season it’s certainly quite a simplistic but highly effective title sequence matched to a catchy, slightly seductive theme tune which you can easily find yourself humming long after hearing it. In between the black and white silhouetted faces of our two series leads cast names are sporadically placed alongside colour images of identity cards, a German Beretta pistol and French currency and some of Matty’s white on black background coded scribblings all of which perfectly convey the subject matter of the series. Rather jarringly we open the first season and series with a scantily dressed female in a darkened room being subjected to an intensive interrogation by a man with a slight French accent. The questioning leads to alternative torture of first making her hold a chair above her head and then undermine her steely resolve by throwing a bucket of cold water over her. Despite this she doesn’t totally capitulate and instead offers alternative explanation for the money she has received rather than give away her true occupation in occupied France. At this point the ‘interrogation’ is concluded and we surprisingly learn that this was merely a training exercise! This and the subsequent three mile long distance run are excellent indications of just how physically tough and demanding training is, but of course this is certainly with good reason considering the dangerous work that successful candidates will likely be involved in. The woman whom showed such stoic resolve is identified as Mrs Liz Granger (played by Kate Buffery) whom, along with others, is attending a secret service training course in the English countryside to ascertain as to whether they have the skills necessary to operate successfully in occupied territories, primarily France. As an introductory instalment there is, by necessity, a great amount of flashback elements prevalent so as to establish the motivations of the series lead characters and convey some of their own personal back story. For Liz we learn that she has a five year old child called Vicky whom had been living with her and Liz’s mother for eighteen months in her parents home in Devon. In my opinion it is the cultural clash of the idyllic South West county countryside and her thoughts about the fate of her childhood friend Claudine in occupied France (further enforced by the emotive broadcast/s by Winston Churchill) that leads Liz to question her current ‘cotton wool existence’. If you also factor in the death of her brother, Jack, an RAF pilot, killed in action a few months ago and her distanced relationship with her lawyer husband, Laurence, whom works in the staff HQ in Cairo it becomes patently evident as to why she would inevitably take the decision to make a more proactive role in her country’s fight against the German aggression. Now whilst Liz Granger is undoubtedly excellent secret agent material the same can’t initially be said about Matty Firman (played by Suzanna Hamilton whom I personally feel conveys a passing resemblance in appearance and mannerisms to Sophie Aldred’s ‘Ace’ in the late 80s Doctor Who seasons) a common youngster whom lives in the London suburb of Stepney with her mother and granddad. Whilst Liz is accustomed to a privileged lifestyle Matty has a more earthy existence as indicated by currently working as a lathe turner in a factory making bridge bits for the Royal Engineers and going out of an evening with her mates to the local dance hall where Armed Forces get-togethers are regularly held. Her first dance partner expresses his anti French sentiment, something that inflames Matty. Although having a common London accent she is has a duel French/Jewish identity which gives further credence to her desire to become more proactively involved in resistance work. At the dance I noticed an inadvertent scripting nod towards the signature tune to Carla Lane’s Liverpool based 70s sit com “The Liver Birds” with a little bit of introductory word play between Matty and her first dance partner (i.e. ‘you dancing, you asking, I’m dancing’). Added into the mix observant viewers might spot a few familiar guest stars popping up in this series opener. Felicity Hunter, one of the hopeful trainees, is played by Gabrielle Glaister, a lady probably better known for her appearance as Patricia Farnham in Channel 4 soap “Brookside” whilst “Only Fools And Horses” ‘Boycie’ actor John Challis features as Victor, a senior secret service employee. Whilst we are talking cast members considerable credit must be conveyed to both Jane Asher (as suitably cool and dispassionate Faith Ashley) and Julian Glover (as the Special Operation Executive commanding officer Colonel Cadogan (whom I personally feel looks really great in his military uniform!)). Although understandably encumbered with partial flashbacks this is certainly a mighty fine series opener which concludes with the powerful cliffhanger ‘hook’ of Matty being turned down after initial training as they feel she would be a security risk on any operation in enemy territory. The only aspect that I initially found rather jarring was Denis King’s incidental music which at some points can come across as being a tad overpowering in a smaltzy, slick and ebullient way especially when compared with the more restrained use of background pieces to be found in “Secret Army”. However this point aside I, like other viewers, are left in no doubt as to the specific nature of the Special Operations Executive, with operatives providing vital secret assistance to both the armed forces and local resistance movement.

...and all credit for the marvellous season case covers for this series... here's the first one... http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z152/saraht1102/WishMeLuck-1.jpg

...and then of the second episode I'd like to say...

We pick the story up in episode two with the aftermath of Matty’s rejection from training and a pleasing initial scene shot in a charmingly idyllic woodland area beside a lily pond. We learn that the training camp is located in the Wiltshire countryside and sadly Matty isn’t the only character to be departing although for Gabrielle Glaister’s ‘Felicity Hunter’ it is through her own choosing. There is a satisfying ‘heart-to-heart’ chat between Felicity and Liz in their bedroom dormitory where having dispensed with ‘training code names’ she confides in her morally stronger colleague who offers more reasoning why she is more convinced than ever in going on. For Matty we see her returning to her daily work environment, alongside other ‘girls’ down at the factory listening to forces sweetheart Vera Lynn as they toil away. However rescue is at hand and with understandable delighted exuberance she receives the news that her training is to be reinstated. Although clearly excelling in the relevant classes (wireless training, coding messages, repairing equipment) to which she attends it is decided that she will indeed go to work as a wireless operator… but in the UK! During this ‘return to training’ period we have a pleasing brief mild friendship develop between Matty and another young hopeful Lois Mountjoy. Matty meets up with Lois later on in a wooded glade where the plumy sounding youngster is discovered rather atypically playing a polished metal concert flute. Apparently she joined up to see more of life than that usually associated with being a vicar’s daughter, something that explains why she finches every time that Matty swears! Meanwhile news reaches the SOE that the situation in one particular French port area worsens considerably which forces them to select three of the more adept trainees for immediate active duty. Obviously Liz Grainger under her code name of Celeste is an obvious choice however with great initial reluctance and serious misgivings they select Matty (code name ‘Aimee’) as the groups wireless operator. Naturally she is delighted by this and there then follows a moving scene where she attempts to convince her granddad that she is doing the right thing. Certainly a considerable amount of these first two episodes is entirely faithful to that which is conveyed in ‘Resistance!’ (relating the story of real life patriotic resistance fighters and British secret agents working deep behind enemy lines) the bonus special feature included with the Season Two DVD release of “Secret Army”. Episode two successfully builds on its predecessor as Liz and Matty are prepared for duty including painful but necessary ‘dental work’, hair dressing and selection of suitable clothing. In the final briefing with Faith Ashley, Liz asks that a collection of postcards could occasionally be posted to her boarding school attending young daughter Vicky and that they could periodically pass previously written letters to her mother. Cover stories are prepared should they be stopped whilst in enemy territory and in that regard, despite her overt eagerness to blather it out, the fact that she had previously attended a Red Cross course in France seems to indicate that Matty should be reasonably successful in convincing people that she is a genuine district nurse. With the new ‘agents’ suitably prepared they only have to wait for a favourable opportunity for the RAF to fly them across the channel allowing them to return home for a final time. Both have challenges to meet them and whilst I’ve previously touched on Mattys conversation with her granddad for Liz as she approaches her home she witnesses the familiar car of local GP Doctor Ryland. She subsequently learns that Vicky has developed hooping cough leaving her torn between remaining as a concerned parent on going on the mission. The desire to serve her country and break free of her ‘cotton wool existence’ ultimately wins out and the episode tantalisingly ends with Liz, Matty and third team member Colin (Beal) landing under cover of night in a field in France. With the cosy surroundings of England behind them, will their training be sufficient to allow them to survive undetected whilst working in occupied France? I, like weekly television viewers back in early 1988, had to wait breathlessly for the next exciting instalment to find out!

Hope to come back next with with more!

my thoughts on episode three are as follows...

Picking up from their initial night time arrival in occupied France episode three finds Liz and Matty astonished when leaving the field to encounter a group of locals whom had come to welcome them. Hardly a secretive arrival! Coupled with the uncertainty they instil in their French hosts Liz quickly focuses their conversation when they reach the cover of a nearby barn which likens her actions to that of a ‘school head girl’ by Matty. The stark change of locale becomes all the more obvious in the cold light of day when our two ladies set out on bicycles through the open less than picturesque French countryside (compared with the lush rural surroundings of the training camp), heading forty kilometres from the drop site towards an isolated rural church. It is here that a ‘resistance postbox’ system has been set up and they are instructed to look for a message in the fifth bible resting on the fifth pew. The instruction that was left there says to take the Bessinville Road to a farmhouse where their contact will be waiting. Ever cautious Liz elects to go first, advising Matty to wait five minutes before following so as to avoid suspicions of the locals. I guess her ulterior motive is that the structure to which they have been directed is familiar to her from her childhood as indeed is the man to whom they would be meeting and she’d rather, for I presume personal reasons, make the initial contact alone. The farm building, like the church, is suitably basic and totally appropriate to the period and rural location that it is set in and conveys the necessary level of harsh lifestyle environment typical with the series timeframe. As the leader of the regions resistance movement actor Michael J Jackson portrays the character of Kit Vanston with an entirely believable level of initially hostile suspicion towards the new arrivals, pouring understandable (in the circumstances) scorn on London’s decision to send them to aid his movement’s cause. Kit voices their past association by stating that he knew Liz through her brother Jack whom he met at Henley many years ago however his feelings of pleasure at seeing her again are severely strained by the current dangerous situation in which he finds himself. Despite this there is clearly good interactive character background to be explored between Kit and Liz as they attempt to work together under such difficult circumstances. For understandable reasons at this initial meeting Kit seeks to make their time together as brief as possible which primarily means that Matty (whom gains her wireless kit here, a Mk 3 apparently) has another twenty-five kilometres to cycle to reach Rochfield. However when she eventually reaches the large townhouse the lady whom answers the door says that the Doctor has been arrested by the Gestapo and she promptly turns our ‘district nurse’ away. With this unexpected disappointment the youngster goes into town and attempts to check into a hotel however the suspicions of the receptionist are aroused by her identity card and the new arrivals reticence in relinquishing her cases. The woman later comes up to the top floor room which she had leased and confronts Matty with what she had obviously realised were forged documents. With a heavy German military presence prevalent in the building she forcefully states that although she can grudgingly stay the night there is absolutely no chance whatsoever of her transmitting from this location. The following morning the obviously crestfallen undercover agent cycles away only to be knocked off her bike down a country lane by a lorry driven by her colleague Colin Beale. Although this seems to typify their encounters so far it’s a mighty relief that it was someone she knew because a local or German would have quickly been suspicious of anyone cycling on the wrong side of the road! Anyway with his assistance Matty finally secures a more secluded place to stay and from where to attempt to transmit. Having wrapped the aerial around the frame of the window of the top floor attic apartment she sets about sending her first message. Back in England her wireless operator contact is vicar’s daughter Lois Mountjoy whom certainly shows signs of her newly trained status forcing Matty to stay on air longer than she’d like to understand what she is saying. This ultimately proves costly as we flick briefly to a circling German army detector van which is attempting to locate her transmission. This makes for a mighty tense and exciting final sequence which will undoubtedly have viewers nervously waiting to see how things will be resolved in the fourth episode when the van arrives outside Matty’s location just before the credits roll. Inexperienced youngster Matty on her first mission with her cover story of ‘district nurse’ is an interesting different take on the ‘wireless operator attempting to transmit under dangerous circumstances’ compared with Alain, the overly cautious, seasoned, experienced local farmer in “Secret Army”. Elsewhere in the episode we continue to fluctuate between the events in France and back in England where apart from Lois anxiously waiting for Matty’s first transmission we see Victor’s subtle seduction of the ice cool Faith Ashley. The couple retire to a classy restaurant where we gain some more character back story to Faith and her previous relationship with Kit Hanson when she was in Oxford in 1921. I did notice a particular good fade between the restaurant and Matty’s apartment when Faith attempts to open the restaurant menu and this is completed with the appearance of the youngsters radio set. This third episode feels like an effective development from the cosy confines of the first and second ‘training camp’ instalments further embellished by the welcome addition of Michael J Jackson whom admirably conveys the tense tortured existence that local resistance members endure under the oppressive regime of nazi German occupation. Prior to his appearance in ‘Wish Me Luck’ Michael J Jackson played Sir Geoffrey, a knight as King John’s court suspicious of the new time travelling arrivals in the two part 1983 Doctor Who story “The Kings Demons”. The other notable role for which I know him is that of Ollie Simpson, father of Nat and Georgia whom have an incestuous affair during their family’s occupation of house number nine between 1996 and 1998 on Channel 4’s Mersey soap opera “Brookside”.

One more for this week then...

I guess most viewers, like myself, felt that Matty’s tenure in occupied France was to be prematurely cut short at the conclusion of the previous episode. However, picking the action up from the forced entry into the building by ‘big booted German soldiers’ our impetuous youngster somehow managed to quickly hide her equipment away (stuffing the wireless set and codebook at the back of the boiler cupboard in an adjoining room) before their arrival thus evading detection. With this resolved the central premise rather focused towards Liz and her interaction with three characters. Firstly there are some great interactive scenes between her and Kit whom guardedly bares his sole when he first relates that six months ago his former colleague/friend Maurice’s resistance cell had been decimated with the deaths of six men and three women. With this together with the deaths of his wife and children, killed in a London blitz raid on Cannon Street Underground station, the viewer gains a better insight into his focused, cautious and suspicious persona. Towards the end of the episode Liz receives news about Vicky and her initial delight about hearing she is safe and well is soon restrained by a sense of guilt on vocally expressing these feelings in Kit’s presence due to his loss. Kit is keen to forget his past and expects Liz to do likewise however our series lead feels it’s important to keep certain memories of the previous identites and associations alive. In a clearly impassioned and emotive delivery Liz again reiterates why it is so very import to cling to the past as those elements of freedom and happier times are precisely what they are fighting for! Despite the clearly emotive undercurrents rippling below the surface Liz is undoubtedly proving a dedicated, strong operative and throughout the episode we see her freely moving around the town delivering and receiving messages with cool efficiency. As a main reason for her selection for this mission this fourth episode finally gives us the chance to witness Liz’s meeting with her childhood friend Claudine whom appears more cautious than she remembers. With good reason as we learn that Colonel Werner Krieger (played with a breathless husky voice by Warren Clarke) and his officers are billeted with her in Claudine’s châteaux. Their initial meeting is less than open and cordial than it might have been because of the German officers presence however their past friendship is clearly evident in their guarded conversation. Enjoying a pot of tea its good to see that Liz remembers her training and avoids putting the milk in before the tea which would have been an easy English giveaway. Matty also has a first encounter with Krieger when she is brought in for questioning by Gunther, the Colonel’s Lieutenant. I thought it interesting to note that whilst there were no subtitles when French is used they suddenly pop up as Krieger aggressively berates his junior officer for being overly familiar in using his office to question the youngster. I guess it was a more important sequence that warranted translation, especially when you consider the impassioned delivery that Warren Clarke utters the lines. In a way it was rather fortuitous that Krieger arrived with an injured right leg because Matty was able to demonstrate her ‘district nurse’ skills in attending to the wound which helped to further defuse the tense questioning session although the Colonel’s suspicions about the new arrival are clearly not entirely satisfied. Although focusing on Liz and Matty’s interaction with key new series characters viewers are further presented with an intriguing mystery down at the ports docks where building materials and ammunition is arriving in large quantities. Just what are the Germans planning? The observations, primarily by Colin (Beale) are relayed back to London where Faith Ashley and Colonel Cadogan ponder developments. This fourth episode closes out with a final scene between Liz and Claudine where the latter character finally opens up, in confidence to her childhood friend, about her deeply felt hatred of the Germans, their occupation and being thrown out of her Paris residence when the troops arrive in the French capital. An interesting instalment introducing both Colonel Krieger and Claudine de Valois this script eases the continuing narrative along admirably with plenty of intrigue and enjoyable character interaction and back story conveyed during its duration.

Watching episodes five and six tonight, hope to report back at some point next week!

Was watching the dramatically tense, exciting but most satisfying episodes seven and eight last night but before I turn my attention to them let me say something first about episode five with this (sorry if I haven't said it before but unavoidable spoilers are featured, I guess I'm just getting so caught up in the series that I forget to mention it)...

Episode five gets underway with Liz cycling to a secret meeting with fellow undercover operative Colin whom passes a further secret message for Matty to transmit. Expressing her concern Liz suggests that a friendly face would be appreciated by the young radio operator whom she senses needs a certain amount of reassuring. Shortly after they have separated Liz encounters a German checkpoint and having momentarily assessed the situation elects to quietly divert into the tree lined ungrowth to her right. The occupying military glance in her direction and although she is safely gone from their sight they still retain sufficient significant suspicion to let their dogs off the leash and investigate. There is understandable panic from our series lead despite, for me at least, the slightly jarring incidental music matched to this tense sequence. Having ditched the bicycle she eventually returns to Kit in a muddy but safe state, the message safely still in her possession. Colin does indeed follow up on Liz’s recommendation although he, like the viewers, are rather taken aback when he arrives at Matty’s current residence. Gone is the plain looking brunette district nurse persona and in its place the youngster wears a pretty dress, blonde hair and calls herself ‘Marian LaFarge’, trader in cosmetics. To Colin’s disbelief to the sudden more out going transformation the youngster replies with impassioned conviction of her angered frustration at having nothing else for her to do except lots of waiting about in the same old places. For Liz there is trouble brewing on the domestic front for whilst she is in France her mother, Vivian Ashton receives the morning post which includes a card for Vicky and, more importantly, a letter from Liz’s husband which causes her to contact Faith Ashley. In their subsequent face-to-face meeting she informs of Laurence’s puzzlement about his wife’s war work and that he is to be posted back to England. Ever the suspicious person Vivian retains the same distrust of Faith and ‘as an ex-army wife she recognises a smoke screen when she sees one’. Whilst it might be fine to keep her in the dark about Liz’s activities she feels that should not extend to her husband whom understandably has a right to know just what her wife is doing. With such dramatic developments I guess it was no surprise that our series lead would be recalled back to HQ but it no doubt left viewers wondering if this might be the end for Liz’s undercover work in Normandy. When the news of her forthcoming return becoming known both Kit and Matty view this with differing emotional reactions. There is a touching final scene between Liz and Matty where the two former trainees momentarily reflect on their first meeting earlier in the season replete with a few clips to further enhance the tinge of sadness that they both feel regarding their imminent parting. Before they separate Matty asks if Liz could visit her granddad and mother when she gets back to check that they are alright and pass on a small gift. Although the viewer can detect genuine fondness between them Kit still retains a protective detached feeling towards Liz (no doubt further strengthened by the fact that British agents are now to be considered as partisans rather than military personnel) and initially unbeknownst to her he requests that London send a male replacement trained in sabotage. Back at HQ there are certain members of Colonel Cadogan’s staff whom view this with the relived feeling that Kit has come to his senses and although reluctant to admit his decision was wrong the Colonel selects agent Nigel Pickett as the best man for job. In addition to his suitably trained background he is over thirty-five meaning that he is not likely to be picked up for forced labour. Although his decision to replace Liz is received with a frosty reception, most obviously by Matty, there is a more obvious reason for requiring differing training skills at this point with the forthcoming ‘Operation Osprey’ raid on the area to further help undermine resources and fortifications at the port. Episode five is also an important instalment for Claudine de Valois whose dangerous existence associating with both the resistance movement and the Germans takes a decidedly serious turn for the worst. Following her muddy escape from the security checkpoint Liz falls ill and is forced to rest up at Claudine’s chateau where her childhood friend offers to deliver the vital message she is carrying to Matty where she watches the youngster transmit the information whilst she waits. Later following a conversation with Krieger’s ‘mistress’ Therese she learns that the Germans have learnt of Liz’s evening return to England and plan to be there ready to prevent it occurring. We open the third part of this episode by witnessing her rushing to Matty’s current location, extremely anxious to relate the information back to England so as to halt the pick up. With just ten minutes to go before the coded message to give Liz the go ahead that the collection is on is to be transmitted Matty comes through on the emergency frequency causing the necessary level of panic from Colonel Cadogan whom attempts to contact the BBC liaison officer. Unfortunately he has already left for Bush House so the Colonel races over at breakneck speed to the personal message studio of the French section just in time to hear the coded ‘Aunt Maude will be going on holiday’ words transmitted. Despite this a retraction to the statement is given so everything is alright however it certainly made for a mighty good tense sequence irrespective of knowing the eventual outcome. As he waits in vain in the darkness of the evening it quickly becomes evident to the ranking German officer precisely whom had given the warning. Colonel Krieger pays Claudine a visit the following morning with the ultimatum that either she becomes a ‘double agent’ or he will, regrettably, ‘hand her over to the Gestapo’ for interrogation. Without a decisive response from Claudine viewers are left to ponder the tortured feelings she is now feeling until the next instalment. Together with another emotive passionate conversation between Kit and Liz which concludes with the two characters embraced in a passionate kiss there is much to mull over during the initial weekly transmission however fortunately for myself (and other owners of the DVD box set) I don’t have to wait that long for more developments.

I'd like to share my thoughts about episode six before going away to ponder the relative merits of episodes seven and eight where it will I guess be virtually impossible to avoid an significant element of spoilers...

We open episode six with Liz safely arrived from France, back in Army uniform entering the HQ building in London ready to spend a few days on stand by duty before going on leave. Here she learns that her husband Laurence has been reassigned to the Legal department of the War Office. With its sepia tinted aspect it is indeed a touching sequence where Liz is reunited with her husband Laurence whom is played by the familiar smoothly charming fair-haired persona of Nigel LaValliant, best known for his roles in ‘Casualty’ and ‘Dangerfield’. During this instalment I felt that Nigel conveyed well the deeply concerned aspect of uninformed husband Laurence whom shows an understandable level of curious suspicion as to his wife’s military activities whilst he has been stationed in Egypt. They attempt to ‘get back to a normal loving relationship’ existence initially by scenes in their Knightsbridge apartment and time spent at the smart ‘The Mayfair’ club. Whilst dancing to suitable music of the period they recall their last time spent there which was the occasion of an anniversary party just prior to Laurence’s being posted to Egypt. The most significant scene for this reunited married couple however occurs back on their estate at their home in Devon. Whilst on a countryside walk across the fields with Vicky and Vivian their young daughter comes across a clearly distressed injured rabbit in the wood. The young child is deeply upset and instead of seeking solace in her father prefers to rush to Liz’s mother. Laurence states that if he had his gun he’d put the animal out of its misery however, to his amazement, Liz moves forward and with cold dispassionate resolve, picks up a medium sized rock and clubs the animal to death. This was really the main catalyst to an emotive scene later on when Liz has to come clear about her ‘behind enemy lines’ activities with the expected level of outraged astonishment from her husband. Aside from this Liz makes good on her promise and pays a visit to 37 Victoria Street, Stepney where she meets Matty’s granddad and mother, the latter of which she give the wrapped box of Chanel perfume that the youngster had asked her to give her. Turning my attention back to France where her dangerous existence continues we find Kit attempting to further caution Matty not to relax her vigilance regarding the chances of her being discovered. Our radio operator counters this by stating that she transmits no more than three times from any one location as an indication how serious she takes her dangerous work to be. Later when Kit has left Colin pays a visit to the Parency location, a residence which from an exterior shot appears to be about four floors up in number twenty-seven. Suddenly German soldiers and a detector van appear on the scene and, with no time to escape, the pair are forced to bluff it out by jumping into bed and pretending to be a young couple making love. On this occasion the pretence works and the military personnel depart empty handed. No doubt this raid was following another tip-off from Claudine whom early in this episode we witness her spending a period of further solitary reflection and then later in an important scene with her persistent tormentor has reluctantly acquiesced to Krieger’s ultimatum. We had prior to this seen the German officer and his men storming the location where Matty had previously been living however the place was empty. Seeking further assistance he persuades Claudine to assist in creating an accurate pencil sketch of the features of the radio operator whom they are seeking. It was this that ultimately proved the downfall for Matty when two plain clothes operatives returned and discovered our youngster about to leave, radio set in hand. Realising that the game was up she gives a suitably spirited defence, so much so that I’d be surprised if, on repeat satellite transmissions, this sequence might be significantly edited having, as it does, a couple of vicious kicks to the groin area of her assailants. This ultimately proves futile and the episode dramatically concludes with our outspoken, impulsive resistance operative staring up at a loaded pistol aimed in her direction. Aside from these key elements to this instalment Kit inducts newly arrived agent Nigel briefly to key resistance member contacts and where he will be billeted whilst in the area. In their first conversation together we learn that prior to the war Nigel was a former physics teacher hence his knowledge of explosives and subsequent successful sabotage tactics training. Once again another fine instalment which much to ponder over, polished off with an excellent tense cliff-hanger ending which no doubt further fuel viewers continued interest in the series.

hope to report back at some point next week (the week of my birthday!) for some more!

Oh alright then here's the first of the two that I've prepped over the weekend (as usual beware of spoilers (rather unavoidable I'm afraid!))...

A car pulls up outside German military headquarters and the figure of the now discovered resistance radio operator Matty is pulled out, a bruise clearly visible around her right eye where the undercover operatives had inflicted brutal treatment in the concluding scene of the previous episode. Yes this opening scene of the seventh episode of this first season of “Wish Me Luck” will undoubtedly draw comparisons with a similar fate that befell “Secret Army” character Alain in “Prisoner” the sixth episode to be transmitted during that series third year. We witness the battered and bruised youngster taken down to the cells area where following her being registered by the military personnel present she is roughly shoved into a cold bleak stone cell. In stark contrast to the chilling fate that now seems to face her we initially counterpoint this plot thread with events back in the idyllic rural setting of Devon where Laurence continues to convey his difficulty at coming to terms with his wife’s undercover resistance work in occupied France. Attempting to further understand her reasoning, and for his own peace of mind, he attempts to discuss at length her experiences and those with whom she has worked with however Liz, understandably is reluctant due to ‘official secrets act’ obligations. Liz feels she does not have any need to justify her actions although her resolute stance clearly is driving a wedge between the couple. Naturally Matty’s fate takes more precedence in this and the subsequent eighth and final episode of this first season and can be considered as effectively a mental battle of wills between the youngster and Colonel Krieger, with neither willing to give ground to the other, knowing the potential repercussions should they acquiesce. The German ranking officer continually pleads with Matty to capitulate to his demands for her to tell her what he knows saying that it would be better for her in the long run. He attempts to gain her sympathy and further undermine her resolve by saying that he is coming under considerable pressure to turn her over to the Gestapo and all that their more extreme interrogation methods may involve. Krieger, still playing the reasonable but firm ranking officer also conveys knowledge of other resistance members in the area which fails to gain a significant response from the youngster. For the most part the measures employed are largely intimidatory however there is one sequence where she is forced to her knees, chained to a desk and her naked back is wiped, no doubt meant to convey fairly mild treatment compared with what conceivably the measures that the Gestapo might employ. Matty is returned to the cells where she encounters local prostitute Marguerite whom gains her guarded friendship. This later feels like it is blown away as in a subsequent interrogation with Krieger the German officer uses knowledge of her mentally impaired mother coupled with the fact that he has two sons as emotional leverage. Realising that there is only one way he could have learnt of this Matty returns to her imprisonment and attempts to throttle her collaborator cellmate. Under such physical pressure Marguerite relates that the Germans have her sixteen year old son and used him as emotional blackmail to get her to accede to their wishes. With her radio and code books confiscated Krieger attempts to substitute Matty with one of his enlisted personnel however back in England her ‘godmother’ Lois soon becomes suspicious of the new style of transmissions coming through and takes her concerns to her superior. Although the Sergeant dismisses her opinion Lois remains concerned and later raises the matter which is brought to the attention of Colonel Cadogan resulting in a ‘trick question’ being set on the next scheduled transmission. Unfortunately the false questions don’t confirm whether Matty has been captured so, with great reluctance, the Colonel decides that they need to send another operative in to confirm what is happening in the area. Realistically there is only one person for the job and, despite considerable consternation from Faith, it has to be Liz. This later results in a significantly emotive scene between her and Laurence in their Knightsbridge apartment where her husband makes one last impassioned and desperate (and almost tearful) appeal to prevent her from going. Laurence has little faith in the local resistance movement and is understandably frightened as to just what kind of life-threatening situation her wife might be returning to. This is indeed with good reason as, having already betrayed Matty, Claudine’s service for the Germans continues with Krieger now using her as a resistance movement message collector. The only other aspect worth mentioning about this seventh episode is Amy, Matty’s considerably distraught mother finds the mental tortured pressure about her daughters fate too much to bear and in the latter stages of this instalment her granddad returns to the house, the strong smell of gas pervading the house. He rushes in to the kitchen to find the woman lying with her head in the oven, clearly beyond rescue. Despite reassurances from Faith and then later Liz and the continued presence of Matty’s granddad I guess this development, whilst understandably upsetting, was not entirely unexpected. With the continuing dangers facing the incarcerated Matty and the imminent return of Liz in the escalating dangers of the area the scene is set for a tense exciting eighth and final episode.

will polish off season one on my next visit to TVGold!

Well here we are once more and on my birthday (which is no laughing matter!) I'd like to offer up my thoughts on the eighth and final episode of this first season...

An illuminated wire mesh cell with a bedraggled dozing figure grasping on for support is shocked back into life by the sudden use of a pressure water hose wielded by a uniformed German soldier which has the desired effect of manoeuvring the figure back across the barred window, knocking into a stool before falling over. Replete with a brief snatch of chilling incidental music this stark sequence lasts only a few seconds but in that brief moment the tense atmosphere of this eighth and final Season One episode is effectively conveyed in the viewer mind. This new imprisoned environment is certainly in stark contrast to the darkened stone cell to which we observed Matty incarcerated in during the previous episode and helps indicate that the interrogation of their captive has taken a much more dangerous turn for the worse. Although seemingly slightly distanced from her interrogation Krieger still continues the questioning in this setting far removed from the cosy confines of his office. In particular there is one sequence where he maintains the verbal pressure in his usual softly spoken but forceful manner whilst Matty, a head wrapped in a white sheet, is forced to stand under a shower dripping freezing cold water on the clearly shivering individual. Further to reuniting with Kit in France and learning of Matty’s capture Liz pays a visit to Claudine where it soon becomes evident that it was she whom betrayed the youngster to the Germans. Her opinion of her former childhood friend appears irrevocably shattered and having vented her vengeful feelings by grabbing her by the throat she later states her realisation that ‘you’ve done everything for yourself!’ With Matty’s capture by the Germans now known back in England Colonel Cadogan has an appointment with his superior Liddiard (played by Jerome Willis whom some people may recall from playing Stevens in the 1973 Doctor Who story “The Green Death”). Although the possibility of rescue is possible and has been considered it is with much sole searching that the Colonel proposes that it may be more helpful if Matty remains as a prisoner of the Germans. Liddiard empathises with the Cadogan’s difficult position as he has recently lost his son, a young boy killed in the north Atlantic on his first tour of duty at sea. Naturally an attempt to rescue Matty is considered back in France although cooperation of all involved takes a sever knock when the word comes through from London that Whitehall has said no this action. Despite the dissenting voices around him Kit persuades the communist movement to supply him with a getaway car in exchange for ammunition. Although understandably suspicious of where her sympathies lie Liz turns to Claudine one last time asking her to keep Krieger occupied whilst they attempt to rescue Matty. Claudine still exhibits attraction for the ranking officer and can be seen during this episode attempting to defend him at the dinner table when his superior visits. The latter stages of this episode focuses on the rescue of Matty and in the darkened gloom of the night this lengthy sequence is certainly effectively dramatic and exciting as resistance members including Liz, Kit, Colin and Nigel make their way up the lift shaft and towards the cell block. In the midst of such a tense situation Liz and Kit admit to each other than being together allied to a common cause has left both feeling very much alive. Liz further states that if it wasn’t for her daughter Vicky she really can’t see any reason to return to England which leads viewers to suppose that her marriage to Laurence is potentially over. The mission (which rather echoes similar instances in “Secret Army” like for example Monique’s rescue from the hospital in Season Two, fourth episode “Trapped”) isn’t entirely successful however with an element of difficulty and danger it is successful however instead of returning to London with Liz and Matty, Kit elects to remain in France, his relationship with the communist movement will undoubtedly leave questions in the minds of viewers as to his future resistance role in the continued occupied territory. The failure to break Matty’s resolve coupled with his dalliance with Claudine during the rescue mission leaves both Krieger and the misguided lady of his affections with obvious repercussions to be faced. Back in England there are mixed emotions facing our series leads. Matty, her work now clearly concluded, is delighted to be reunited with her granddad and return to some sort of normal life however this joy is tinged with the sadness of her mothers suicide. For Liz we watch her, as the credits roll, walking up the driveway of her Devon home with a final freeze frame of her looking back leaving the viewers to ponder just what situation with her husband Laurence she faces. A bittersweet rather poignant ending to a marvellously enjoyable first season of this war time drama which effectively blends some fine acting performances in a continuing engaging narrative effectively realised by London Weekend Television. Despite the occasional overpowering incidental music there is much on offer here that will find favour from fans of its illustrious BBC predecessor with similarities between characters motivations and personalities, settings and plot developments in “Wish Me Luck” emulating those you’d find in “Secret Army”.

So that's season one 'done and dusted' and I've printed off a copy of my thoughts for inclusion in the box containing the two DVD's that contain the eight episodes. Time to turn my attention, this evening, to the first two episodes of the second season...

Here I am once more turning my attention to Season Two...

For April 2008 I turn my attention for the first time to Season Two and the 1989 run of “Wish Me Luck” straight away the viewer is aware of a different feel to this run conveyed by the new opening titles and theme tune. We see a moon lit night sky, a few grey flecks of cloud obscuring the full spherical image before a transport plane flies up and straight across the illuminated disc. Next we switch to the sight of a figure jumping from said aircraft and the parachute deploying whilst making their downward path towards the occupied territory below. This fades to a hand transmitting and writing radio coded messages as well as lines of coded white text on black background under a microscope. This fades as the partially silhouetted faces of the seasons six principal characters appear replete with the actors names running below on a moving ticker tape whilst the image of the parachuting figure making a safe touchdown runs in the background. With this concluded this gives way to the moving barrel organ type mechanism of the radio receiving equipment producing the title on its display which fades to a much larger letter at a time rather crude and stark title caption. In my opinion it is a far more relaxed, less imposing theme tune than its predecessor which certainly has quite a morally typically British uplifting feel to its composition.

...and another great cover from Network with Liz sporting one of the attractive hats that she wears during this season... http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z152/saraht1102/WishMeLuck-Season2.jpg

Right then lets 'get really stuck in' to this second season and have a good look at the contents of episode one...

Right away this second run begins dramatically as the credits fade on this first episode to be replaced by the scene of a German firing squad facing three figures standing in front of a fairly grand building in the midst of a French town square. In the foreground we can see a fairly large group of locals assembled to watch the horrific events unfurl as a graphic example of what befalls all those whom pursue traitorous acts against the occupying military force. As the German officer positions himself to the left of his platoon of men a caption conveys the information that we are in ‘South Western France in the autumn of 1943’. They take aim and, at the command open fire. As the men fall to the ground one woman (later identified as Marie Ferrier (Gillian Raine)) in the crowd expresses her extreme upset by turning and running away across the square, through the town and straight into an adjacent shop building where she conveys what has just happened to a wheelchair bound elderly gentleman. Now the actor who plays watch repairer Len Jouvet is a gentleman called John Boswell. It didn’t take me long to connect him with his appearance in the sixth and final televised ‘Sapphire and Steel’ story where he played the crotchety petrol station attendant who berates our duo for intruding on the private area of the business. Although it is indicated that Marie has a son it seems from his decision to move out and join the local marquee resistance movement that Luc Ferrer (played by Mark Astee) may not be featuring too heavily in the series. Switching our attention back to HQ in England we begin by getting a fleeting glimpse of the familiar acting features of Tom Chadbon, here playing Ned Balfour, a character clearly employed in a civil service role judging by his suited attire. In a way this season two opener has a similar ‘new agents in training’ feel as was prevalent in the previous year however there are certainly subtle differences this time round. The most evident in the London HQ is that Faith Ashley now shares an office with Liz Grainger, the former resistance operative having a much move involved role in the selection and training of prospective new agents something that her more seasoned colleague observes ‘they seem to get younger’. However the initial item of business which falls to Liz is the unhappy task of informing next of kin of the deaths of their loved ones whilst on active service. Of the three men Faith says that Bob Mating only has an elderly mother whom he doesn’t want to be informed whilst Donald Cooper has parents living in Scotland so leading to their being told by telegraph. Regarding the third man, John Ashton he has been happily married for fifteen years and with his wife living in nearby Richmond it is close enough for Liz to visit and deliver the sad news in person. It soon becomes evident that his widow, the pragmatic, resilient Vivian is an atypical individual with unique skills and useful contacts. This becomes further evident on a subsequent visit when she requests Liz arrange a meeting with Colonel Cadogan whom she surprisingly announces to knowing that he is the ranking officer of the Organisation for Infiltration of Occupied Territory. In the relaxed convivial atmosphere of her home, replete with impressive self painted artworks, whilst plying the Colonel with fine wine she makes the proposal that she has admirable qualities to make her a first rate agent. These include an artistic flare for detailed sketches and her involvement in the ‘family’ wine business. Colonel Cadogan admits to having a firm friendship with Vivian’s husband prior to the war with him supplying wines however he was not aware that it was Vivian whom was the main contact with the vineyard owners back in France. Meanwhile back in the HQ office Faith Ashley conducts an interview with a promising new recruit, Emily Whitbread, a very young keen and eager ‘WAF’ girl whom trained as a telegraphist at school, possesses a good musical ear and speaks fluent reasonably impressive French no doubt aided by the six weeks she spent living in the country no doubt prior to the war. As a former girl guide patrol leader she certainly has intuitive self sufficient qualities and appears to have limited, rather tenuous connections to her family. Emily relates that her father is a Kent Doctor and with her family currently taking in refugees in addition to her two brothers and four sisters she is lead to believe that her parents won’t overly know of her potential long term absence. We also observe that Emily has a loving relationship with Miles, a young man serving in the RAF whom understandably has mixed feelings about her wanting to work ‘behind enemy lines’. Despite certain misgivings Faith agrees with the Colonel that the positive attributes outweigh the negatives and puts her forward for training where she clearly forms a friendly partnership with Vivian. Its interesting to note that the pair indicate that the new theme tune is now being used by French resistance instead of a verbal password and in fact this signature composition crops up occasionally in various incidental music pieces created by Jim Parker, a composer whom offers a much more restrained and pleasingly suitable accompliment to the on screen action. Not surprisingly they do very well in their training and with their final exercise (stealing the Police Chief constables car) satisfactorily concluded they are put on standby ready to fly out at short notice. I was very surprised to find that they plus the newly retrained (as Area Seven Leader) Colin are treated to a sumptuous roast dinner replete with fine silver cutlery and white table clothes in the RAF aircraft hanger, certainly Liz and Matty were never treated to such finery when they departed after their Season One training! Early on we witness Liz and Laurence at their Knightsbridge flat and despite the tortured emotions he faced regarding his wife’s resistance work their marriage has remained intact although clearly Liz still has feelings for Kit as indicated by the brief glimpse of her former resistance colleague in the compact she received on completion of her training. This is rather poignant as the flames of this relationship are rekindled when with both Colonel Cadogan and Faith Ashley otherwise occupied she is called upon as the ‘official representative’ to welcome Kit back from France. Liz attempts to retain a professional and personal persona on their meeting and whilst driving him back to the nearby hotel but clearly he can see right though this. One last point worth mentioning is that despite the actress not returning we learn, during a conversation between Liz and Faith that Matty has surprisingly returned to France, back on active duty as a radio operator which certainly shows courage beyond the line of duty considering the very real danger that she faced at the end of Season One.

...and whilst you are probably reeling from all that I'll weigh in with my thoughts on episode two...

Episode two opens with our watching Emily, Vivian and Colin parachute into night time France thus emulating the series titles and a distinct change from the plane landing used to deposit Liz and Matty when they completed their training last year. Unfortunately landing does not go well for Colin whom injures his ankle however this later proves fortuitous as it provides a plausible cover story as to why he has not been conscripted for forced labour. As before Vivian and Emily separate and make their way to their respective safe houses and to take up their new cover story identities. For Vivian she becomes a nanny for a former friend and for Emily a distant cousin of Marie Ferrier here for rest and recuperation after a bout of TB illness. Although not much learnt of Vivian’s friend at this point we become aware that Marie has a rather nosey neighbour Annette, the actress playing this character, namely Carmel McSharry, might be recognisable to some viewers. For those of you familiar with Carla Lane’s Liverpool based sit com she appeared in latter series as the deeply Catholic mother of one of the series leads, Mrs Boswell. Now just like Matty, Emily forgets the direction of traffic however whilst her predecessor was knocked off her bicycle by fellow agent Colin, Emily’s transgression potentially is more serious. With it occurring in the centre of the busy town it is only the quick-witted actions of Vivian to dissuade a Merlic officer from questioning her that saves the youngster from a potentially serious situation. Aside from this her first transmission goes well despite the surprise encounter of a French policeman. Fortunately, as Emily later learns from Colin, there are many local officers whom are sympathetic to the local resistance and he prevents the Germans searching the building for anyone breaking the local curfew. Regarding our limping agent he too has his tense situation to contend with as a particularly young female Merlic officer stops him in the street and whilst examining his papers engages him in some mild questioning regarding his occupation of insurance agent and how long he planned to stay in the area. Although this apparently was satisfactorily concluded the youngster remained sceptical as illustrated by her conferring with her male colleague as the injured figure hobbled slowly away. This was later proved correct as when he returned to his apartment Colin found this female official had broken in looking for evidence against him. Well it rather looked to me as self defence however attempting to hid the body will no doubt cause subsequent major problems for the area seven leader, the resistance movement and local residents in general. I have to say there is a marvellous filmic quality to the ‘French location filming’ scenes in and around the towns centre and it is clearly evident that these must have been filmed most likely in the summer months which certainly help to reinforce the seemingly tranquil rural atmosphere of the rural area. Regarding events back in England and initially it is Faith whom suggests that Liz spends more time with Kit so as to help him to heal from the pain of losing his wife and children in an air raid. No doubt this was further supported by the former resistance area leaders despondent response to Colonel Cadogan’s suggestion that he take a months leave at their meeting in his office. Now resplendent in military uniform Kit seemed ever anxious not to be denied further opportunities to serve his country and avoid the pain of his own shattered home life existence. We first see the two together at ‘Albertinas’, a smart upper class restaurant however it is later acting as morale support that Liz accompanies him to his impressive mansion home, an empty largely boarded up dwelling to which Kit feels he no longer has any ties to. Although there are fleeting memories of happier times prior to the air raid and his lengthy resistance work in occupied territory Kit bears up well however as they move to leave he notices a few pairs of Wellington boots on the mat by the door. The stark realisation of what has happened then proves too much for him and it is certainly all credit to Michael J Jackson for convincingly handling this scene where his character breaks down and emotionally says to his companion ‘Oh god I need you Liz!’. I guess its partially concern for a friend and partially the romantic attraction prevalent but Liz asks Faith if she could take a few days leave under the pretence of visiting Vicky and her mother down in Devon. In reality we watch her and Kit drive out to a charming ‘holiday home’ owned by Kit’s friend Tommy Vinster whom had loaned it for a couple of days. Despite being overtly impassioned in their argument about the current military situation the subsequent walk across an open area of countryside there seems to be an overriding good natured symbiotic outlook on life. This is best indicated when, as they look towards a wide open space in front and below them where a cricket match is currently taking place they both think ‘wouldn’t that make a marvellous place for a landing site!’ Although there is still no definitive resolution to the Liz/Kit/Laurence relationship triangle the episode moves to its conclusion with a significant development in France. In the latter stages of this second episode Emily has been feeling most unwell, attempting to put it down to merely a stomach bug however when she confides with Vivian that she has missed her period it looks very much likely that her final romantic dalliance with her boyfriend Miles just before flying out to occupied France lead to a far more serious situation. Just how can her probable pregnancy be explained by Marie to inquisitive neighbours like Annette? Lastly I must again say how much I’m really warming to Jim Parker’s incidental music for the series with him successfully weaving the theme tune, in a rather subtle way into various moments in the story alongside the occasional Gallic French tinge as best exemplified when Colin initially limps away from his apartment. I also liked the relaxed piece as Kit and Liz drive along the country lane and then the haunting arrangement used as Kit enters his empty home as well as when he is walking down the stairs with Liz in close proximity.

Right that's me done for now, I'm off to post a couple of product reviews over at play.com

best wishes to one and all!

...turning my attention to the third 'Season Two' episode with this...

We open episode three with the sight of Vivien striding purposefully across the town towards the apartment block of Colin. Having climbed the stairs to his first floor residence she discovers the distressing scene of her colleague holding in his arms the young attractive lady Merlic officer he had just killed. As practically resilient as ever Vivien immediately contacts Gordon to arrange the discrete swift hiding of the body in a secluded wooded spot where they hope it will not be discovered. Despite attempts to console him Colin still feels emotionally shattered by killing a girl whom was so young and beautiful and in a later scene his authority is challenged by Gordon whom believing that he is a security risk ultimately takes command of the area seven resistance movement. Colin’s future ultimately leads to his being smuggled out across the Spanish border and then back to England, a lengthy sequence that intermittently pops up in the episodes latter portion replete with breathtaking picturesque scenery. We’ve only just satisfactorily concluded this matter when another problem raises its head for our gallant freedom fighters. From the initial scene of the distraught Colin sheltering in a French farmers barn we switch to a park bench located next to a railway track where the guilt ridden Emily has a dramatic revelation for the new leader. As suspected in the latter stages of episode two she confirms that she is indeed (six weeks) pregnant and despite suggestions that they can easily arrange her rapid transit back to England she is adamant about staying in France and continuing her vital work as the groups wireless operator. Naturally the news is not welcome back at HQ where Faith tells the Colonel that they have none of their current trainees remotely ready for deployment into the field. On reflection she further cautiously suggests that there may be a way of inducing childbirth early through medication provided it is taken before Zoe reaches eight weeks. Due to her Catholic upbringing this is indeed a difficult decision and although for the best of intentions her situation is not made any easier by the heart to heart conversation she has in a wooded glade with Vivien whom herself admits that she as well faced the same predicament at her age. However for Vivien her successful birth in pre war France lead to the child, a young girl, being offered up for adoption shortly after. You have to say that from this point on this has a corresponding knock on effect of destabilising Vivien’s focus as a reliable resistance member with her now distracted by the potential of tracing her estranged daughter. Her first starting point is contacting a local priest whom originally helped facilitate the adoption and in a series not especially noted for significant guest stars I was delighted to see, playing the aged cleric, the almost legendary cult television actor Kevin Stoney (a man whom crops up in series like Doctor Who, Blake’s Seven and Space 1999 to name but a few). His character in this, that of Father Giraud is initially unable to offer any concrete information to Vivien about events from twenty years ago although he has some vague recollection that the foster parents later moved out of the area with the child, now identified as Yvette, about three of four years after being christened by him. For quite some time now the relationship of Liz and her husband has been noticeably strained since Laurence returned from Egypt however the situation reaches damming breaking point in this third episode. Although it comes as no surprise judging by the tense conversations the couple exchange on the fleeting times they meet early on the final cataclysmic event is no doubt all the more damming. When an operation to fly agents into occupied territory is cancelled Liz returns home early to find Laurence in bed with another woman. Understandably shattered from this revelation Liz ultimately goes to see Faith at her home seeking some degree in solace by confiding in her colleague just what faced her at her Knightsbridge flat. There is obviously a ‘morning after’ scene between Liz and Laurence which eventually escalates, quite understandably into quite a vocally explosive exchange between the couple as recriminations and emotions become ever more heated. Laurence relates that the woman is called Alice, a ware office driver/secretary whose husband was killed in 1941. She has a seven-year-old son and he feels he wants to do the honourable thing and following a divorce from Liz marry Alice. As if that wasn’t enough he further adds that he intends to seek custody of Vicky which understandably further traumatises Liz. We later witness our series lead going to ‘Chandos Preparatory School for Girls’ with the hope of explaining the situation to her daughter. As she arrives she is shocked to witness Laurence and Alice taking the young girl away with them and as their car drives away the damming words of Laurence (‘you’re not fit to be a mother, not now’) can be heard as she looks on in stunned disbelief. We next switch to her sitting in Colonel Cadogan’s office intent on convincing her commanding officer that she is the best choice as the new leader of area seven. Despite reservations about sending someone whom has knowledge of HQ set up there is an understandable sense of relief from the department leader and following Liz’s further assertion that this has nothing to do with her current personal situation (she relates with cool unemotional resolve that ‘her marriage is finished’) he agrees to her request. Naturally Faith is understandably outraged by this and after making her feelings know to the Colonel she rushes out of his office, picks up a phone and places a call to Scotland and Major Kit Vanston. Kit, unaware of the disintegration of her marriage to Liz, journeys down to London and attempts to persuade her not to go ‘into the field’ and instead marry him but this rather falls on deaf ears. It appears that their relationship is irrevocably shattered with Liz so single-minded at proving her worth and that all she now has left is her value as a ‘dam good agent’. Although viewers may question her emotional state at present the fact that she says to Faith ‘I’ll be back’ indicates that she is not seeking a suicide mission on this trip.

one more and then I'm off to play.com for a couple more reviews this fine sunny morning...

Liz arrives in France early in episode four to the amazement of Emily and immediately states that she is the new leader much to the initial consternation of Gordon. After spending some time getting to know the general set up and resistance deployment in the area she gets to work on coordinating the principal mission of destroying the u-boat transmitter station. The majority of this particular second season instalment centres around the planning and execution of this vital objective although there are two destabilising elements present that critically impel the success of such an undertaking. Following on from the previous episode Vivien continues her quest to locate her estranged daughter to the detriment of her resistance work bringing her in direct conflict with Liz. This single minded obsession leads the newly arrived resistance movement leader to comment that she finds Vivien to be ‘a dam good courier but has become completely irresponsible!’ Father Giraud eventually provides the location where he believes her daughter to be located and, against Liz’s wishes, Vivien visits the residence under the pretence of enquiring about children becoming ‘pen-pals’ for British service personnel. She is initially startled when a young girl enters the room however the woman to whom she is talking with says that this is infact her other daughter Madeline and that Yvette left them about a year ago. This thereby means that Vivien had a wasted trip and she needlessly imperilled Zoe (apparently getting over a suspected miscarriage brought on by the medication sent from England) by asking her wireless operator colleague to cover for her should ‘big boss’ (her charming opinionated name for Liz) so ask about her whereabouts. Despite this Vivien does offer vital assistance in the key u-boat transmitter raid through her initial sketches and reconnaissance information of the area. She further assists in the raid by working with their current undercover operative, a lady called Jan, by donning glasses, a headscarf and emulating a common accent so as to pass convincingly as a poor British hating (daughter killed in an air raid) cleaner/laundry worker. This is indeed successful and she is taken on to deliver fresh produce and assist Jan a couple of times a week. However the other destabilising element relates to Jan herself whom, whilst attempting to gain a clear impression of a side gate key is captured by a diligent German guard. Having subsequently been ‘taken in for questioning’ the senior German officer of the establishment, Voller (played by Donald Gee whom some viewers may have seen a few years earlier cropping up in the Doctor Who story “The Monster of Peladon” as engineer/traitor Eckersley) uses the further persuasive leverage of holding her thirteen-year-old son hostage to gain her complicity to his requests. With this unbeknownst to our resistance movement London transmits the coded message ‘aunt Doreen is taking the boys out to lunch’ to say that the raid is approved however under cover of darkness as the raid begins Jan rushes forward and shouts out to her comrades hiding in the bushes opposite that it is a trap, and promptly gets shot for her trouble by Voller. As is already mentioned on the back cover blurb of the Network DVD regarding the subsequent episode the raid (which is excitingly filmed replete with effectively moving incidental music) is a failure and this fourth episode closes with the remnants of our brave heroes scurrying away in their truck, after much gun-play their future fate now uncertain. One last point to mention about episode four is that Colin does indeed reach the Spanish consulate and we later see him lying in a hospital bed, back in England being consoled by Colonel James Cadogan and Faith Ashley, his occupied territory work now clearly behind him. In a way its rather sad considering the valuable contribution he gave during the first season and how highly he was thought of by the Colonel however it just illustrates the unpredictable nature of dangers facing resistance agents in the field, something that no amount of training can prepare them for. This is an entry that focuses more on the tense dramatic primary mission with character development for the most part rather muted so there is not a great deal of significant material to chew over. Having said that I wouldn’t consider it particularly lacking in its ability to further build on previous entries in this highly enjoyable dramatic series and it still makes for entertaining quality television.

Oh then alright I'll offer up some thoughts about the fifth 'season two' episode with this...

Under cover of darkness episode five opens shortly after the disastrous radio station raid with one of the initial scenes featuring Liz and Vivien struggling to carry the injured and partially conscious Gordon back towards the Ferrier’s residence. Once there it becomes clear that the impulsive resistance member has had a rifle bullet through the left shoulder, a wound that is far beyond that which can be treated by those immediately around him. It’s a valid point that, as a wheelchair bound invalid, the old man would attract the least attention to seek out qualified medical assistance and we then see the aged Leon Jouvet manoeuvre himself through the nearby German checkpoint and on towards the local (albeit retired) Doctor. Despite much consternation regarding the deep internal bleeding sustained the subsequent operation is conducted on the kitchen table and the Doctor further states that there is a chance that Gordon may not regain the full use of his arm if he recovers. Emily is not so lucky in being able to make a swift unnoticed return to the Ferrier’s stimulating more concerned interest from Annette as returns the following morning. This consternation about the bad reputation she brings to the Ferrier’s is something that she later brings up first in a fairly emotionally fractious and terse exchange with Marie (using the insistent wording ‘as a friend I was concerned’) and then later again with Emily directly although this is interrupted by Leon’s sudden appearance. The elderly uncle takes great exception to the speculated possibility of the young girl having any kind of romantic relationship with the Germans. We learn that his moral stance is influenced by his own personal experience as a veteran of the last war when he was ‘shot to bits’ in that conflict which has no doubt resulted in his current incapacity. Still conveying excellent leadership qualities in the face of such a dangerous situation Liz instructs Vivien to stay at the chateau and that Emily should leave the Ferrier’s for a new ‘safe house’ location however, as we later learn, neither are willing to comply with their leaders orders. Over the time that she has been in France it is quite clear that Emily has built up a considerable warm relationship with Marie and Leon which is obviously compromising her and their safety. You can certainly understand Liz’s incredulous reaction when she later finds her still present under the pretence of first ministering to the still rather weakened Gordon resting in the upstairs bedroom of the Ferrier’s residence. The danger of her remaining is further strained to ultimately devastating effect when Emily’s last remaining radio set breaks down and, under cover of darkness, Leon offers to repair it in the back room of the shop. Acting on an anonymous tip-off the Germans suddenly appear on the scene, raid the place and although Emily escapes (following her brief hiding under the bed) thanks to the soldiers initial (but ultimately fatal) struggle with Leon, Marie is taken captive. This is a particularly well filmed sequence accompanied by the use of suitably fast paced dramatic incidental music that successfully enhances the extremely tense and no doubt distressing nature of the scene. Continuing the ongoing plot for Vivien we witness her receiving a letter from Yvette’s mother and against orders with Emily covering for her, she sets out towards a face-to-face meeting with her grown up daughter in the nearby town. Entering the apartment some viewers might be surprised to see that the blonde haired youngster in a yellow floral dress is played by none other than Trevyn McDowell, an actress whom later found fame as German financial trader Michelle Halpimann in ITV’s “Capital City” series. In a very warm, cordial first meeting they both seem to strike up a good initial relationship however Vivien is in for a shock when her boyfriend calls. Yvette rushes to the door and delightedly falls into the arms of a young German Lieutenant. Back on the home front there is good news away from the office for Colonel Cadogan when he arranges to meet his son, Julian, now an British Army Lieutenant around 6pm at his club. This encounter occurs shortly before the youngster goes on active duty and he conveys an upbeat, confident stance in their conversation about the prospect of serving his country. We briefly see Colin still residing in the hospital and this is primarily so as to set up a scene between him and Kit. In their conversation sitting out on the lawn of the establishment on a beautifully sunny day both have a sense of suitably gloomy frustration about ‘sitting out from the action’ rather than serving their country although for Kit he has the additional burden of the failed relationship with Liz. Although there is still no change forthcoming for Colin, Colonel Cadogan calls in Kit to say that they do indeed now require his services. However as an explosives expert his first mission is to participate in a raid on an engineering plant located in area seven, the exact point to which Liz is now currently in charge. Despite having reservations about sending in ‘for reasons that we both know about’ Kit assures the Colonel that there will be no ‘past association’ problems from him. We do get to see the interior of this particular company which makes spare parts for enemy bombers during the time that Liz is talking with the owner both on the factory floor and in his office. With a typically cool, dispassionate resolve our series lead attempts to blackmail Sylvestre in the disabling of his company for the good of the British war effort which at this point seems to gain his eventual agreement. With potential problems for Vivien, the emotional repercussions of the Ferrier’s fate playing on Emily’s mind and forthcoming developments and eventual implementation of the raid on the engineering plant coupled with Liz and Kit’s working together once more this fifth episode continues to admirably advance the continuing narrative forward leaving viewers suitably hungry for more.

Now off to ponder the marvellous final two episodes from this season probably over Sunday morning and hope to report back some time next week... best to one and all!