An interesting new spy thriller series that reveals Russia’s attempts to influence democracy and political affairs in the UK, and the Russian bribes British politicians accept, while brave, honest, and intelligent people aim to protect the UK. The article includes some spoilers, but these are important moments which must be highlighted.
The 5-part ITV series follows the attempts of British intelligence to prevent the UK government from being taken over by a ‘Russian asset’.
The show centres Kate, a spy who works for MI6. While on a mission in Malta, she and her team manage to intercept a conversation between a Russian oligarch and a Russian intelligence officer, stating that the UK Prime Minister is ill, and that they intend to install their own puppet in Downing Street.
The Prime Minister announces that he is in fact resigning due to pancreatic cancer, and that he gives his party one week to elect a new leader and Prime Minister. Two candidates enter the leadership race: Ryan and Imogen. The main question that Kate and her team race to resolve: who works for, and shares intelligence with, Russia?
The TV series is a spy thriller reflecting the modern world and our current state of politics, filled with espionage, murder, bribery, lies, misinformation, and personal secrets. But the central theme reflects what is actually happening in the UK and other European countries; Russia is attempting to place ‘their person’ in foreign governments.
Conscience in exchange for Russian money
The TV series portrays the idea that the world of honesty and principles seems distant from existence while money and lies are becoming tools of survival for power-hungry people.
There are two politicians in the leadership contest. While it would be reasonable to expect a division between good and bad, in the end, both candidates are revealed to have their own skeletons in the closet.
On one side, there is Russian money, threats, and intimidations, with help from the Russian government. On the other side, honesty and a conscience. Which tools will the British politicians choose to get into power? Which factors will influence the British people’s decision on who represents them?
Manipulations of democracy
Democracy is a good system of governance, as long as it is protected from corrupted individuals who take advantage of it to get into power.
Freedom of information is good, as long as dishonest individuals do not profit from it to spread lies with damaging consequences.
The TV series also touches upon the reckless use of technology to spread misinformation, which can lead to chaos, as well as a phenomenon which is on the rise across Europe and the UK: populism.
Ryan plays the role of a pro-Russian populist politician, who attempts to play on English nationalism when asked about a question about a possible referendum in Northern Ireland, on migration, and on rising class tensions. When he is at last elected Prime Minister, his speech includes a phrase, “The days of rule by an arrogant elite are over […] My duty is to you, the people”. This Prime Minister also receives Russian money for his building project, and later from a Russian oligarch based in the UK.
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At the same time, misinformation becomes his weapon as he shares a fake video of refugees causing riots. Kate, the MI6 agent, finds out he was secretly meeting a Russian foreign minister and when this is publicly revealed, he does not deny that he is seeking to create“better diplomatic relations with Russia”. The other candidate, Imogen, clearly calls his rhetoric ‘populist’, though she also received an ‘undeclared donation’ from the same Russian oligarch.
The question of an honest and transparent democratic process becomes central in the show. On the one hand, the leadership contest must be free from any interference from other state institutions. On the other hand, democracy must be free from any interference by other governments in other countries too.
When Kate expresses a wish to investigate the cabinet ministers, the Prime Minister forbids her from doing so. Nevertheless, when Kate starts investigating, Ryan warns her not to meddle in the democratic process, and MI6 chief Zak screams“Our democracy is more important than your suspicions”. Here, the writers illustrate how the state weaponises democracy to hide wrongdoing.
What is more democratic – preventing Russian assets from taking over the government and stopping Russia from interfering in political affairs, or prohibiting security institutions from investigating elected government officials for alleged treason because it might destabilise the election campaign, and at worse end up a waste of time and resources?
What is more democratic – to tolerate politicians using the freedom of speech to spread a populist narrative that appeals to the large part of the public? Or to criticise and condemn them for the lies, divisions, unrealistic promises, and attacks they levy at each other, at institutions, and at particular groups of society?
People with courage and conscience
In the world of chaos, lies, and corruption, the world is held together from falling into ruins by people who have a conscience and a courage.
Kate is one of those people. She remains determined to find the Russian asset even though she knows the danger; a brave mother who takes a gun and runs to save her daughter who is followed and threatened by a Russian spy. There is also Rav, her colleague, who helps Kate to reveal the truth and pays for it with his life. Another is Melissa, Ryan’s advisor. When she finds out that Ryan has been secretly meeting with a Russian foreign minister, she confronts him then leaks the news to Robert Peaston and, in the end, joins Imogen’s campaign.
The TV series illustrates how difficult it is for people with a conscience to fight for what is right when faced with threats, and what courage is necessary for them to survive and protect their families above all, while they want to protect the country they love.
Secret Service is available on ITVX.
