Forgive me. It’s been far too long since I last ranted that the brilliant BBC drama, Spooks (MI5), was better than it’s American counterpart, 24. Not to worry. With every new season, comes a host of reasons why I will forever continue to believe that Spooks (MI5) is the best show on television. Series 9 just concluded this past week on BBC1 and is slated for its American premiere on public television stations nationwide beginning in April 2011. Having had the benefit of seeing seven episodes of the newest season (there are only 8 episodes, so I’m anxiously awaiting the finale, which should be in the queue any day now), I promise to not include any spoilers in today’s rant. All I can say is…you haven’t seen anything yet. You just think you know Lucas North. This series just keeps getting better and better, nine years in.

As the newest set of programs concluded in the UK, word is that the Chinese government has taken the newest plot thread just a bit more seriously than expected. So much so, according to The Guardian, that is has instructed Beijing TV companies not to co-operate with BBC Worldwide. So it features Chinese agents engaged in nefarious activities: trying to kidnap a scientist and threatening to detonate a bomb in London if anyone interfered; working with Russians to hack Anglo-US cybersecurity; and stealing the blueprint of a genetic weapon. It’s television. Thankfully, the governments of Syria, Colombia, France, Iran, Israel, Russia and the United States realize Spooks (MI5) is brilliant television, key phrase here being the word, television.

Can’t imagine any government getting upset over something that Jack Bauer ever did. I rest my case.

In: Action/Drama