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I just finished the third season, and I must admit... I'm a little hesitant to continue. All 3 of the main cast simply leaving the show in a very short time period? Ouch
I'm Canadian, and don't watch British television much (Doctor Who, Torchwood, Skins, Being Human, the old comedies), and I have to wonder... is this common in British TV?
I mean, Skins (I show I love) replaces its cast every 2 seasons. Torchwood has killed of half the cast. Doctor who has a new companion all the time (though, to be fair; I don't mind that, and am quite used to it....huge original series fan).
The seasons are so short as well.... 10 episodes in North America usually indicates the show is about to be canceled.
I guess in the end.... is it worth sticking with (even without my favourite members), and is this a common occurrence in brit-tv?
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I totally understand where you're coming from. I initially started watching Spooks because of Keeley Hawes, and sort of thought that I wouldn't continue watching after she'd left. But I felt drawn to the series in general and the other characters involved, which made me continue watching in the end. It's something that I've never regretted because Spooks seems to continue to come up with brilliant loveable characters and it would be impossible for me to name just 1 favourite amongst them. The storylines continue to be brilliant, and all in all it's just an amazing show.
So while I understand your hesitation, I'd suggest you continue with series 4 and so on because it's so worth it 
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I started with series 3. I loved it, but see what you mean. Try seris 4. I thought that was fantastic, and now I'm slightly obsessed with Spooks!
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My personal favourite series was series 3, but then after watching S5 I loved that even more, so I'd say it's absolutely worth continuing
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Hi L.R.!
I missed the original trio very much indeed (especially Danny) and was hesitant to continue when Season 4 came round.
But I decided to stay with it "for a couple more episodes" and have ended up staying with it for a further five seasons.
And, regarding cast changes, I can tell you that this is most un-common in British TV in general. (Indeed, I think British shows change their casts more now because Spooks proved programmes could be just as good even with the changes. )
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yeah I felt the same way when I started watching british tv, I'm like what the hell, everybody dies???
but after a while, I really get into it and can't get enough of it
I cant really go back to the usual happy and shallow type of show
spooks is real gritty and dark, and I guess its not the kind of entertainment that cheer you up
its the kind that makes you think and feel bad about something
once I got used to it, I ditched alot of my rental list that mostly mindless entertainment and got hooked on the grittier ones
and I had to admit, I like most of the new character more than Tom, Danny and Zoe
they always bring in a fresh character and started them real solid so you forgot about the old ones
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When I started watching Spooks, it was mainly for Matthew MacFadyen whom I found to be absolutely gorgeous in Pride & Prejudice. In the beginning I thought I might stop watching after him leaving the show ... I didn't like the "early" Harry at all ... I didn't like the thought of Adam (who entered in 3.1, I think) to replace Tom ... BUT I'm still watching and growing more and more hooked to it ... up to now I watched till 5.5 (sigh) ... I'm dreading to lose Adam ... I got fond of Harry despite his "limitations" ...
All the people involved in creating the show do such an incredible job. Even though they let me feel the pain of failures and death of main characters, I do care to stay with the remaining characters and it is always intriguing to watch the new characters "unfold".
I've watched and loved a couple of US series before but it was somewhat annoying that they used to have this "reset button" undoing all changes that might have happened to the main cast (except perhaps at season's end when contract negotiations had not been successful).
In Spooks, the stories and the conflicts the characters are involved in seem to have a really meaningful quality. They have to deal with very serious and essential decisions. In this aspect, the show reminds me somewhat of Star Trek - The Next Generation: They often used to ponder questions of general and timeless relevance within their Sci-Fi scenario.
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silentlibrarian wrote:
I cant really go back to the usual happy and shallow type of show
Oh well - this is why I simply cannot watch something like "Sex and the City" - I just don't care so much about the right shoes to wear matching my new hairstyle ... 
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I would say absolutely continue with it - you've got nothing to lose.
I've watched from the very beginning and, whilst each series has its good points and bad points, overall I think that all the changes keep it fresh and as original as possible. Afterall, it's now getting towards 80 episodes all about different terror threats - that's a pretty hard thing to keep up.
I'll be honest and say I can't remember how I felt about series 4 starting. I don't think I thought *that* much about it - I must have just accepted it. Tom was never my favourite so I was ready for a change in the form of Adam, but I do remember being upset at the two episodes in which Danny and Zoe exit. The good part is though, although the characters are replaced in the technical sense, the newbies that come in aren't all just carbon copies of the ones which left - they bring something a little different to the dynamic of the team. I love some of those series 4&5 characters as much as, of not more than, the original trio. Don't forget, too, that there are certain characters remaining which act as a constant to keep the show together - I think that helps, too
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nonsenseandmischief wrote:
Don't forget, too, that there are certain characters remaining which act as a constant to keep the show together - I think that helps, too
Well, certain character now 
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Well one went and returned and one lasted well beyond S3.
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True true. 
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