London Spy, Scottie (Jim Broadbent) and Danny (Ben Whishaw).
“London Spy,” premiering Jan. 21 on BBC America, is a complex, sometimes cryptic import that is worth puzzling over. The cast is first rate, starting with Ben Whishaw (“The Hour”), and continuing through Charlotte Rampling (“Broadchurch”) and Jim Broadbent (“Longford”). The suspense is consistent over the five parts.
The thriller opens with the chance meeting of two quite different men and continues into spycraft, a cover-up and a fight against injustice.
By chance, Danny , a hard-partying young man in a dead-end job, meets Alex (Edward Holcroft, “Wolf Hall”), a buttoned-up, seemingly friendless investment banker. A gay love affair ensues, until tragedy strikes. No spoilers, but Alex’s true identity is exposed: he works for MI6, the secret intelligence service.
The source material is so specific, it’s a wonder the TV adaptation manages to be more classy than lurid: In 2010, the body of deceased male was found locked inside a gym bag in an apartment connected to the U.K.’s security services. That event became a tabloid sensation.
This riveting mystery from author (Child 44) avoids the sleazy angles to focus on the persecution of gays, the abuse of power by government agencies and the power of personal integrity. Was the love affair real? Is there a truth beyond what the tabloids said? Danny is intent on finding out. And Whishaw’s emotional portrayal of vulnerable, raging, ultimately ethical Danny is brilliant.
