'Spooks: Code 9': Season Finale

The Spooks: Code 9 finale summed up the uneven nature of the season as a whole, but ultimately delivered a reasonably absorbing glimpse of a claustrophobic and panic-strewn future.

A highly effective opening sequence took us back to the 2012 bombing, although such a flashback should have featured in an earlier episode. The focus on the ravaged London, particularly when Rob and Charlie tried to retrieve Dr Malik's camera, enable the episode to have a visual scope far above previous instalments. Was the budget being saved up for the grand finale? If so, that's a dodgy move indeed as ratings have shown that not many viewers have stuck around.

The prison breakout was exhilarating and tense, with Andrew Knott excelling in his role as Rob. The storyline also finally gave Vik some purpose in the series, albeit to pose as a terrorism suspect. Yet his reaction to the plan demonstrated the undeniably clunky nature of the interaction and dialogue between the young team. "Bloody hell, this is real isn't it?" he gasps. No Vik, it's all a dream and you'll step out of the shower as Bobby Ewing when you wake up.

Similarly, any scene involving Rachel is sapped of any drama, as it seems the character is fed an endless stream of bland dialogue. It seemed to transfer by osmosis to the traitorous Yates as the end approached. Her explanatory speech to the wounded Rachel was one of those contrived, painful scenes where the villain inexplicably stalls to reveal their motive and allows the heroes just enough time to arrive in the nick of time.

As if that didn't feel forced, there was also the groansome sequence in which Kylie tried to deploy 'honeytrap' tactics on the prison doctor. It transpired that the unsuspecting young man batted for the other side, but within mere seconds he revealed himself to be a drug-lover so Kylie got him seriously high instead. How convenient.

Nonetheless, the stark improvement in the latter half of the first season has been enough to show that the format of Spooks: Code 9 could work well with some major retooling in certain areas. Certainly, the finale leaves us wanting more...

> What did you think of the finale? Share your views