by Franz Amussen
THIS WEEK saw the debut of London Spy, a gripping new five part mystery on our small screens, in which a chance romance between two men from very different backgrounds leads one of them into something for which he is woefully ill-equipped – the dark and mysterious world of international espionage.
The show opens at dawn with party animal Danny (the ubiquitous Ben Whishaw), contemplating life after a heavy night on the party scene. Standing on Lambeth Bridge he’s feeling lonely –asking the London skyline if life gets any easier. The endlessly fascinating British capital answers him with a chance encounter, an early morning runner who stops to ask if he’s OK, introducing himself as Alex (Edward Holcroft).
An unusual connection forms between these men who are polar opposites in many ways. Danny – extroverted, self-indulgent and adrift, falls for the anti-social, enigmatic and brilliant Alex. But just as they realize they’re perfect for each other, Alex is found dead under circumstances that Danny is sure have been staged. And so begins Danny’s descent into the dangerous world of global espionage. Out of his depth, Danny seeks help from his friend and wise mentor, Scottie (Jim Broadbent). They embark on a journey where no one is who they seem, including the formidable Frances (Charlotte Rampling), a mysterious yet omnipresent figure from Alex’s life.
This latest strong outing from BBC America is written by best-selling author Tom Rob Smith and directed by Jakob Verbruggen. A tautly-wound tale, it benefits hugely from the presence of Rampling and Broadbent but it is Whishaw who truly shines, finding depths of resourcefulness and endurance that seem completely beyond him as the show fades in. An added benefit of course is the backdrop of the magical, dangerous and electric city of London, which as so often, provides the most compelling of settings for an engrossing tale.
London Spy, airing Thursdays at 10:00pm on BBC America.
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