One of the first shows that really hooked me on BBC was MI-5. I think the first season was like 6 episodes and I whipped through them in one night on NetFlix. I loved every episode until the one where Tom left. I won't tell you how in case you ever decide to watch the show. After that, I had a hard time getting into it and I think they lost their way for a season and when Danny was gone I was too.
That being said, there is no way you can do this show in the US. Oh, I mean sure you can do it but it will just turn out to be like every other interchangeable drama on television. It has been announced that ABC has bought the rights to the show so it will probably be kind of like Alias with some CSI and some sex thrown in too.
The strength of the BBC version is not so much the action but the writing. Even if the show takes place entirely in one or two rooms, the writing is so good that you don't need to have big action scenes to keep you going. The show would work on HBO or one of the cable networks but will never work on ABC.
We have BBC America...and if you can get it in your area....Do so at once, the quality is so far superior to our television ....so good..
ReplyDeletei must say, we spend alot more time with BBC America, there are some great shows on it. of course Dr. Who was the reason we started watching, but there are a whole bunch of really good shows on it, and not one plastci looking person! loves it!
ReplyDeleteOk I'm not going to get in the whole "Office: U.S vs U.K" but when I saw the remake they were trying to do about The IT Crowd starring Joel Mchale...It was just awful!. Life on Mars wasn't bad at all but still there was something missing.
ReplyDeleteWhen the show is really good why even remaking it? Is the creativity all gone?
PBS in Los Angeles runs the show on Saturday nights every so often. The Tom character (Matthew McFadden) was great, but Adam (Rupert Penry-Jones) is a pretty good replacement.
ReplyDelete*headdesk*
ReplyDeletehave we learned NOTHING from the AbFab and Coupling remakes? this sounds like another disaster waiting to happen.
Loved it while Matthew McFadden was on. It's a great show.
ReplyDeleteTrust this... when MI5 comes here, it will get the studio treatment - dumbing it down to the lowest common denominator, resetting of locations, and depending on who's schtupping who at the time, an ensemble cast that will in no way resemble the original.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, it is definitely by the grace of all the forgotten Gods that Torchwood was spared this - they were at least picked up by Starz instead of Fox - so when Torchwood: New World starts, we'll at least be able to recognize it.
I can't believe that MI-5 hasn't caught on in the States. I've watched every episode through Netflix and even own a couple of the newer seasons.
ReplyDeleteThe latest season that is available in the US (Season 8) features Richard Armitage and I think he does a very swell job.
But I have to say that it really ticked me off when they killed Danny. And Colin. And Zaf. And Ben. And Adam. And Jo.
Thanks everyone! Just added to my Blockbuster list!
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