The Islamic terrorist episode unsurprisingly received a great deal of negative publicity, but a show that prides itself on its contemporary edge could hardly ignore such an issue. Other episodes tackle computer hackers, Eastern European terrorists, Columbian drug cartels, inter-service territorial disputes with the CIA and even a mutiny in the army. One of the strongest episodes, set entirely within the sealed-off MI5 Section B department, tracks the team's individual reactions to what might be a drill, or a real and devastating VX gas attack. Throughout, this year focuses a great deal on the team's personal problems, notably Tom Quinn's chaotic love life, which ultimately brings his loyalty to the service into question.

Cast changes introduce some new faces, while some old ones pop up in unwelcome places (Jenny Agutter relishing her new role as a villain). Pacy direction and snappy editing, generous use of slo-mo, split-screen and dramatic music all add to the tension inherent in scripts that bring a modern, youthful edge to the creaky old spy genre. Only the final episode resorts to some hackneyed plot contrivances in a rather strained bid to produce the now-obligatory cliffhanger. --Mark Walker

Synopsis
The second series of the television drama series centring on a team of counter-terrorist spies collectively known as "Spooks" because of the shadowy nature of their existence. Technically speaking, Spooks don't even exist--they have no names, identities, or known locations. Yet these secret agents are all that stand between the nation and the terrorists who try to undermine national security. This collection contains all 10 episodes from the second series about the secret world of this most covert of government agencies.