Product: The Sandbaggers Collection Set 1
Rating: 5.0
The Best in Captivating, Thought-Provoking Suspense Drama!
I have no hesitation in saying that this is one of the best dramatic series I've ever seen. Certainly, so far as intelligently-written, intellectually-satisfying British dramas are concerned, it is second-to-none.The series stars Roy Marsden as Neil Burnside, the Director of Operations for the SIS (Britain's Secret Service) and head of the Sandbaggers (a special unit of highly-trained operatives within the SIS). Burnside is a multi-faceted individual, and like the system of which he is a part, he is not without flaws. A former Sandbagger himself, Burnside will move heaven and earth for his operatives--a devotion which is commendable. But he is also ambitious and capable of being ruthlessly manipulative. While he cares deeply about his operatives, it is in those rare instances when the needs of an individual collide with his or her job as a Sandbagger that we see a surprising--indeed startling--side to Neil Burnside.Roy Marsden (who will be familiar to many as Adam Dalgliesh of the P.D. James' dramatisations) is simply splendid in portraying the nuances in Burnside's personality as well as in evoking often conflicting emotions on the part of the viewer. In fact, it's hard to imagine anyone else in the role.The portrayal of the policies, priorities, and hypocrisies within the SIS, the Ministry of Justice, and indeed the government in general is thought-provoking not to mention disturbing. If you've enjoyed the humourous (albeit highly accurate) depiction of government in the Yes Minister and Yes Prime Minister series, you will certainly enjoy this series. The approach is a serious one (although punctuated with comic relief in the form of witty remarks), but the insights into the running of (and indeed corruption of) government remain the same.The DVD boxed set contains all seven 50-minute episodes from the first series (there are three in all), each of which is absolutely first-rate with very tight, fast-paced plots. There is suspense, but it is not long and drawn out. There are twists and surprises galore, but all are intricately connected to the storyline; none have been inserted gratuitously merely for the sake of thrills.Whether or not you like the spy genre in particular, so long as you enjoy intelligent, impeccably-written and consummately-acted suspense drama, you will enjoy this superb series, which is as much a drama about people and human nature as it is about spies and government corruption. Quite frankly, I simply cannot recommend it highly enough. It's nothing short of outstanding!