Review: The Sandbaggers (Series 2)
- Article 4 of 7
- Action TV, June 2006
There’s much debate in connoisseurs’ circles about which of the various contenders is the best British spy show. It’s relatively easy to dismiss glossy and shallow shows like Spooks and older fare like The Cold Warrior. Serials such as Smiley’s People and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy put in considerable competition, although may be too lacking in action for some. Most arguments eventually narrow down to two shows: Callan and The Sandbaggers.
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“It Couldn’t Happen Here” raises the spectre of conspiracies in the JFK Assassination, years before it had become de rigeur. More importantly, it asks the question “Could MI6 follow the CIA or FBI and assassinate a member of the government – even if they knew him to be a spy?” It’s an eye-opening episode with neither Burnside, who favours the disposal of the spy, nor C, who strictly forbids such an act of treason, ever shown to be in the right – both can see the disadvantages to their beliefs as well as the advantages. The eventual conclusion is typical Sandbaggers and typically unsettling.
The last episode “Operation Kingmaker” follows Burnside’s attempts to thwart the rise to the position of C of a personal enemy. To do that, he has to do the unthinkable – try to get the deputy C promoted, despite his obvious inadequacy for the role. While in no way as explosive as the season one’s conclusion, “Operation Kingmaker” sees something unbelievable happen, with Burnside being outfoxed by others even more adept in the ways of intrigue than himself.
Acting quality is somewhat varied in the episodes, with Marsden and his fellow civil servants giving fine performances; Lonnen is likeable enough but lacks the gravitas to be totally convincing as an ex-paratrooper turned spy. The other Sandbaggers, including a young Michael Cashman, are moderately uninspiring, as are most of the guest cast, although there are particularly fine turns by the likes of Wolf Kahler among others. However, there are no performances that actually drag the show down.
Compared to modern shows like 24, The Sandbaggers is slow-moving and visually unchallenging. It has no incidental music whatsoever. Much of the screen-time is taken up with statically shot arguments between talking heads in brightly lit 70s offices. The rest of the time is spent with silent, meandering walks by Marsden through London and film work in whatever part of the YTV area is being used as the country of the week.
Yet for all that, The Sandbaggers remains as enthralling and disturbing as it was 25 years ago. There’s little daring-do, few bullets fired and people die brutally and with disturbing regularity, often because of decisions taken hundreds of miles away from them. It’s not the escapist fare most people are used to, but it’s essential viewing for anyone who wants to see a spy show whose only problem was a lack of budget.
PICTURE AND SOUND QUALITY
Picture quality is poor, with no attempts having been made to remaster the show. Sound quality is fair to good.
EXTRAS
Unlike the equivalent Region 1 release, there are no extras on this two-DVD set.
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