A Spy Among Friends

Based on the true story of a notorious British secret agent, watching A Spy Among Friends feels like a journey back in time to those classic '60s spy thrillers, with various plot threads that gradually weave into focus. Damian Lewis and Guy Pearce are excellent in their respective roles as conflicted old friends and Anna Maxwell Martin is superb as the sharp, dogged MI5 investigator trying to drill down to the truth. With locations including London, Beirut, Istanbul and Moscow, it takes a while to fathom what's going on. And it does a great job of exposing the smug superiority of the old boys' network that ruled MI6.

In the 1950s, John Le Carre (as he wasn't yet known) had to leave his job in the British secret service following the defection of the Kim Philby. Le Carre adopted his pen name and took up a new career as a writer of spy thrillers; and most directly fictionalised the Philby story in his most famous novel, 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy'. This was adapted into a brilliant, talky television drama, featuring many of the outstanding British actors of the 1970s. It was more recently made into a film; but in a very different style. 'A Spy Among Friends' is new, less fictionalised account of Philby's defection, but it's far more like the 1970s version of Le Carre's work than the later film. Guy Pearce, Damian Lewis and Anna Maxwell Martin, among others, sit around talking. I should absoultely love it, given how much I adore its spritual predecessor, and it is good; but it's a little bit too clever, and it can be hard to follow all the subtle twists of plot. The Australian Pearce in particular is very good (and convincingly English) as Philby, but it's a muted affair.

Based upon the real life events of the Russian infiltration of the British security services from around the rise of Nazi Germany through to the early 1960s when the infiltration was exposed and 'agents' fled Britain.

This is not an action spy drama, it's a drama based upon intrigue and strategic thrust and parry - as such it's very successful and weaves a gripping tale. Just what exactly is going on? Whom can we trust? Is this opportunism or another move in the long game, or both...?

The three leads, Lewis, Martin & Pearce each offer nuanced performances that between them create and carry the bulk of the show's dramatic tension - and they each do a fine job of conveying a sense of the 'times they lived in' - times overshadowed by the cold war, memories of fascism and an horrendous world war, and of a looming new world struggling to shake off these attachments and mires of the old world.

The unfolding of the story is a little complicated, with frequent time shifts, which clarify and re-clarify understanding - so this is not a casual viewing show. It demands the audience pay full attention and think about and consider what they're witnessing. It all adds up to a very satisfying experience if you're prepared to invest the time - but mostly, you'll simply get sucked into the story and crave resolution.

On the production side, the world created is a very convincing one depicting, primarily, London in the 60s.

Superb!

I have to say I was initially sceptical given some of the bad reviews until I saw a pattern, most of the negative reviewers hadn't bother to finish it so I persevered and I'm glad I did. This show offers something that's missing from so many TV shows out there - an intelligent story told by actors with real talent. Sure the story jumps back and forth but if you actually pay attention and give it time the rewards are there. All are on fine form especially Damien Lewis who is superb.

If you like intelligent well crafted TV dramas that offer a twisty tale for grown up this might just be for you.

'A Spy Amongst Friends' is a demanding dramatic production. It insists its audience vest close attention in both the key actors, and the rather complex plotline.

Set in the sixties era of the early cold war, it is a classic British spy drama.

For me, supported by an exceptional supporting cast, it is Anna Maxwell Martin who stands out as a performer. Her character, Lily Thomas, is delightfully situated. In her role, she delivers. Her character is positioned as an antithetical antagonist to the misogynist MI5 organisational culture. In a male dominated social space, entrenched by upper class British intellectuals, and peers of the realm, stupidity falls at the feet of the old boys club.

Lily Thomas is literally the cat amongst the pigeons, tasked to evaluate and assess a senior MI6 (SIS) spymaster. Noncompliant with the male network of trust and innately insular existential social hierarchy, she (Lily), cuts through the masculine dogma and gender obfuscation.

This is a fictional drama which uses mostly real world player's involved in a time of near collapse of the British secret services. It is very well written. Actors et al deliver a collective continuum of stella performances. This is not an action movie, but for the attentive, vested viewer it is exciting, compelling and highly rewarding.