JadeTiger

I have never seen MI-5. I like shows like la Femme Nikita, and 24. I was a big fan of Nikita. Do you think this would be a good blind buy?
Thanks

squidget

I do. At least the first 2 seasons. Season 3 was good but the first 2 were superb TV IMO.
Better than 24

MrX

Yes, the cliffhangers at the end of season 1 and 2 were excellent

nemein

You might want to rent it first. I would put it more along the lines of the old Mission Impossible than something like 24 (haven't seen Nikita the series). Think more drama than action, but I still strongly recommend it.

movieking

I would highly recommend it. Awesome show.

MechanicalMan

I think you should try to watch at least one episode before buying it. Most people like it, but I got the first season from the library and wasn't very impressed. I haven't bothered to watch the other seasons (yet), and I seriously doubt I'll ever buy the DVDs.

BDB

It's a little more smart than either of the shows mentioned, its a great show though. I'd think its more like a Prime Suspect. there isn't a whole lot of blowing things up, its not a stylistic show, more gritty and realistic.

I loved it, and have Season 5 waiting for me to watch!

Oh and you really really want to get the Region 1 DVD's over the US release as they edited the bejesus out of it. too much removed for my liking.

Sessa17

Aren't the Region 1 DVDs the US release? What's the difference?

As for the show, it's a great show, but from my experience, the people that like 24 tend to actualy NOT like MI-5, b/c 24 is so in your face, non-stop action action action. Mi-5 is a lot slower, better written & more down to earth then the over the top 24.

BDB

Sorry my bad, the Region 2 releases, I done got confused.

squidget

S5 started? I thought they just wrapped s4.
Also, the US dvds are uncut - they were cut for time to air on Bravo but the dvds should be whole.

squidget

This is a correct assessment. I don't like 24 very much. I enjoyed the 1st season but after that I got sick off it.
I also like the storylines/situations of MI-5 a lot more. They seem more plausible

MrBob

Yes, the show is one of the best produced and written shows that I have seen. It has a highly tense and highly realistic feel to it. Each episode feels like it is it's own little movie. One of the best shows that I have ever seen. And to give you an idea of my taste here are some shows that I compare it to:

The Shield
The Wire
Battlestar Gallactica
Sopranos
Carnivale
Rescue Me
24
Heros
Alias (first couple of seasons)

BDB

S5 is done and dusted from the UK..

GMan2819

I would recommend you try to catch it on A&E (if they ever rebroadcast them again) before forking out the bucks for the box sets. $60 per set (@ DDD) is kind of expensive for a blind buy.

slop101

Woah! I did not know this - I like the show and own the first 3 seasons, and was happy in my ignorance until now. Just how much stuff have they cut out, and is it cool stuff? Would it be worth re-buying it from R2 to get the uncut episodes?

BDB

Essentially in the UK it's a 60 min show, they showed it on Bravo or A&E in an hour with the normal 18 or so mins of commercials.

I have no idea how they decided what to cut. I've seen a couple of episodes both ways, and it's a lot of dialog and a lot of background stuff that someone deemed unimportant.

In the 1st season episode 2


After that I only watched the UK versions of the show.

slop101

Ah - you're talking about the American TV broadcasts then.

Phew... you scared me for a bit, making me think the R1 dvds were edited.

I just checked and each episode runs for about 59 minutes on the dvds - so no edits.

nemein

The only disadvantage of the R1 DVDs is that they come out about 6 months after the R2 ones.

Sessa17

Another disadvantage is that they are also insanely expensive

squidget

R2 ones are kinda pricey too with USD to GBP conversion rates.

nemein

At Amazon.uk they usually have them for 50%+ off a few months after the release (about the same time as the US release)... that helps.

Rex Fenestrarum

*HUGE* Spooks fan checking in...

I agree with the "rent it or catch it on A&E before you buy" crowd. It's a great show, but as has been mentioned, $60/set is a bit much for a blind buy.

As has also been mentioned, the version on A&E is "edited" in that stuff is cut out to allow for commercials. IMHO, the editing was pretty good in S1, but goes downhill after that. I watch the original BBC versions and occasionally catch the A&E edits when there's nothing else to watch, and in the past couple of seasons I've noticed some gaping plot holes\non sequitors in the A&E versions.

The US DVDs are "unedited" in the sense that nothing is cut from the shows, however they still retain the US "MI-5" opening sequence.

Lastly, IMHO, seasons 1, 2 and 4 were awesome. Season 3 is very hit or miss (due to casting changes). Season 5 just ended in the UK, and I feel that the quality of the show went downhill badly this go-'round. However, I *hope* that there's a season 6 (or at least a 2-hour movie) to wrap-up the show. The ending of season 4 was almost perfect (the show's creators thought that the BBC wasn't going to renew the show, so it had a nice wrap-up; the BBC ended up renewing the show, and the series 5 ending was the LEAST interesting (compelling) ending of the entire series.

JadeTiger

Update:

Thanks to everyone who gave me some feedback on this show.

I got MI-5 season 1 for Christmas.......... I think it is a great show.

Episode 2 .. (the spoiler that some one mentioned in the thread) I did not see that coming.

For anyone else that is looking for a better price on the season 2, if you use google checkout at buy dot com it makes the second season less than $40.