Spooks is a series set in the fictional Section D of the real MI5. The action is packed into an hour long episode without really ever letting up. So, just as a side point of reference, when the US bought it and edited it down to 40 minutes (to fit in their hour slot with commercials) it really is super-fast action packed.
Some reviewers on here are citing the BBC sloppily dealing with issues on facist terrorism, as this seems to appear every series, well for a start, that is down to KUDOS the production company in charge of the production, the BBC merely commission a series. For a second, sadly, the let's-blow-everyone-to-kingdom-come-terrorism is still pretty much in the focus of national security, and SPOOKS always tries to make the stories relevent.
One reviewer on here says that "no-one in their right mind would confuse SPOOKS with the real MI5"...so I should think! It's a TV programme, if they were to show what REALLY goes on in MI5 when dealing with issues like this, no one would watch. It's rather like confusing James Bond with the real MI6 or a show like Big Brother with quality entertainment.
SPOOKS has never tried be anything it's not. It's never tried to do anything but provide high-action, intelligent story-lines that are some how relevent to the society we live in and indeed take a look at some of the issues that the nation "have to deal with". It's all very clever, it's all very entertaining (even the bits that scare the c**p out of you.) and the bottom line is this, SPOOKS succeeds where others have failed, and the others have failed big time.
We all know that it is all highly unlikely, that some of the situations are a little dubious and that never in a million years would we really believe that a government organisation gets through a day without having to fill in numerous requisition forms, in triplicate, before even leaving the office, but heck...that is why we watch it...for entertainment, excitment and fun...not for a highly accurate portrayal of the Secret Service...isn't it?!?
In conclusion, SPOOKS has continued to thrill audiences for six series, and having a big continuous arc this series was inspired. I can think of worse ways of spending ten hours and I would recommend this series anytime! Roll on season 7!