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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Terrifying..., 7 Aug 2005
When I first saw this drama - or should that be docu-drama? - I thought it was just another hyped, over-the-top American series that glamourised the war on terror, exaggerated the threat and left America and the West smelling of roses. It seemed improbable and unrealistic. Recently, I watched it again, this time in a totally different light - given what has happened recently in London. Now, every single element of what happens in 'The Grid' seems plausible and all to realistic, from the release of sarin in a London hotel, to al-Qa'ida's plan to attack the London and New York underground systems. The procedure and course of the investigation seems authentic, encompassing among others a Muslim CIA officer who struggles to strike a balance between his faith and his country, an MI5 officer who at one point admits he "hasn't a clue" as to how to proceed, and - towards the beginning - a suspected terrorist whom armed police shoot with a taser stun gun as they try to arrest him in London. It makes use of extensive research, and is not afraid to depict the squabbles and disagreements between the different agencies - which sometimes lead to tragic failures in intelligence (in this instance, the boming of an oil conference in Lagos). 'The Grid' deals intelligently and authentically with the war on terror and the threat we now face, and does not shy away from making the connection between this threat and the actions of Western governments in the past. The debate about Islamist extremism is dealt with subtly, but impressively, and this programme serves not so much as a drama, but as a warning of what could happen. The ending may not be quite as strong as the rest, but the notion that the threat will never go away is all too apparent. I learnt a lot from this drama, and in light of the London attacks, realised just how chillingly authentic 'The Grid' actually is. I recommend it, but with a coda: this is real-life stuff, and was made prior to the recent attacks. As such, it doesn't deal sensitively with attacks in London or suicide bombings, but instead focuses on the intelligence services work and dedication to preempt and investigate the terrorist threat, as it spreads from London to New York to Cairo to Judan to Swizterland, and across the globe. What is doubly good is that 'The Grid' also examines the actions and motivations of the terrorists, including British-born suicide bombers and an Egyptian doctor who is slowly turned to extremism. For an intriguing and terrifying look at the background to this war, and how our intelligence services are on the front line, this is a must-see. Forgive the US sentimentality, and you are left with a stunning portrayal of a very modern war.
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