User Reviews

The third episode is a small step backward for this highly entertaining series. The second episode (which dealt with intrigue involving the British agent Sidney Reilly and his efforts to interact effectively with both Russian and Japanese military representatives at one and the same time) set a pretty high bar for the series. This third episode is more like the kind of situations that usually tend to populate conventional spy series. Here, our hero goes under cover (this time in Germany). He is given the assignment to get secret plans for a new weapon. In the middle of a stressful narrative he still finds the time to get seriously involved with a beautiful woman. The story has a spectacular climax and in the end, Sidney Reilly survives to continue his undercover activities for yet another day.

At this point, Sam Neill (Reilly) is giving us ample evidence that he has made the role his own. Neill's acting is assured, realistic and natural. Consistent with the second episode, the special effects work here is absolutely top-notch, and is particularly effective in the scenes dealing with interaction by two of the principals with a huge and menacing-looking heavy equipment crane. Again the art/set direction adds to the episode's realistic feel.

It is interesting to see these early Reilly episodes and compare their effectiveness and entertainment value with the better-known ones that appear toward the end of the series.

The Reilly series is sometimes compared with somewhat similar American TV efforts such as The Man from U. N. C. L. E. The principal difference between the U. N. C. L. E and Reilly series is that the former tends to spoof the genre and in doing so emphasize comedy over realism, while the Reilly series employs a low key naturalness plus high production values and utilizes a much more subtle and adult sense of humor to tell its tale. It is this understated approach to its realistic story telling that makes the Reilly series so unique.

When an agent in Germany is killed and another agent compromised.

Reilly is sent in to steal the designs of a new naval gun. On the way he comes across weapons dealer Zaharov.

At the munitions factory, Reilly poses as a fireman called Fricker. He also does not introduce himself to the compromised agent, even though the British security service wanted that agent saved. Reilly knows that by doing so he himself can be at risk.

It is a story of Reilly the role model of modern espionage. Cynical, mean spirited, the ends justifies the means. He also promises himself to Ulla the young beautiful daughter of a fellow worker. She is played by Joanne Whalley. Director Martin Campbell would use her a few years later in Edge of Darkness.

There is also a young looking Bill Nighy in this as Goschen, the compromised agent who is at risk. I did not recognise him but you cannot mistake the voice.