The worst episodes of Spooks

Ranked by viewer rating, lows first. Lit marks on the season rail place this list across the run. Vote on a placement to back it or contest it.

  1. 01

    S10E06 · October 23, 2011 · 1h

    Episode 67.9

    Harry is handed over to the CIA, ready for deportation to the US, but events are thrown into turmoil when the team receive detailed knowledge of an attack on the UK.

  2. 02

    S10E04 · October 9, 2011 · 1h

    Episode 48.3

    Two former inmates are released from jail and set to launch an attack in London. Erin and the team must step in at the eleventh hour to prevent massive loss of life.

  3. 03

    S03E02 · October 18, 2004 · 1h

    Episode 28.8

    Harry reawakens sleeper agent Fred Roberts, a renowned chemist and family man. As Fred becomes more deeply involved with deadly terrorists, Tom has a crisis of conscience which could jeopardise his career.

  4. 04

    S04E04 · September 29, 2005 · 1h

    Episode 48.8

    MI5 discover that an Islamic terrorist is planning to enter the UK and launch an attack. Adam travels to Turkey to infiltrate the route, and seemingly persuades his target to work for MI5. But can they really trust their newest recruit, or is he actually more dangerous than ever before?

  5. 05

    S10E02 · September 25, 2011 · 1h

    Episode 28.8

    Top-level secrets are stolen when Calum is mugged outside Thames House. A random robbery or a theft-to-order? Either way there are lethal consequences for the agents.

  6. 06

    S08E03 · November 13, 2009 · 1h

    Episode 39.0

    The pressure is on for Section D when a secret meeting of powerful tycoons is stormed by armed terrorists and eight of the world's richest men are taken captive.

  7. 07

    S09E08 · November 8, 2010 · 1h

    Episode 89.0

    The team face their toughest-ever challenge: tracking down Section Chief Lucas North, a man who has nothing left to lose.

  8. 08

    S05E06 · October 9, 2006 · 1h

    Episode 69.2

    Whilst Adam and Zaf hunt a team of terrorists who have infiltrated Britain, Ros is left safeguarding a delegation of Saudi princess.

  9. 09

    S05E08 · October 23, 2006 · 1h

    Episode 89.2

    A Muslim cleric advocating violence in the West is murdered by a Christian assassin.

  10. 10

    S01E01 · May 13, 2002 · 1h

    Episode 19.3

    Tom is informed of 20 bombs that have gone astray in Liverpool. Minutes later a car bomb kills a family-planning doctor and their daughter. Can the team find the remaining 19 bombs before they go off?

  11. 11

    S01E04 · June 4, 2002 · 1h

    Episode 49.3

    Danny and Zoe are sent to London as anti-capitalist demonstrations intensify ahead of President Bush's UK visit. Peter Salter is on an operation to infiltrate an anarchist group, but Tom suspects his motives.

  12. 12

    S06E01 · October 16, 2007 · 1h

    Episode 19.4

    Adam and Zaf target a UK-bound terrorist with a train bomb in Tehran. As the operation goes catastrophically wrong, the team learn of the darker goals of theirmission and the influence of a mysterious external agent, with the repercussions of the Tehran blast felt on the streets of London.

  13. 13

    S06E04 · October 30, 2007 · 1h

    Episode 49.4

    As an Algerian extremist escapes his home detention, the team fear he may be plotting a terror attack on US businesses in the UK.

  14. 14

    S06E06 · November 13, 2007 · 1h

    Episode 69.4

    The team discover that Iran has acquired nuclear triggers, despite the efforts of MI5 and the CIA. Adam and Ros go to Tehran.

  15. 15

    S06E09 · December 4, 2007 · 1h

    Episode 99.4

    An old adversary of Harry's appears out of the woodwork to inform the team about a bomb he's planted in central London.

  16. 16

    S07E04 · November 3, 2008 · 1h

    Episode 49.4

    The team is stunned to discover that Al Qaeda's number three wants to negotiate. It's a risk, but Harry and the team have to take this chance for peace.

  17. 17

    S09E04 · October 11, 2010 · 1h

    Episode 49.4

    When a highly skilled trio of Chinese agents arrive in London for 48 hours only, the team must find out why they are here.

  18. 18

    S09E07 · November 1, 2010 · 1h

    Episode 79.4

    Lucas is plunged further into his past when Vaughn takes manipulation to a new level. Ruth is followed by a council snooper.

  19. 19

    S01E05 · June 10, 2002 · 1h

    Episode 59.5

    Disgraced MP Hampton Wilder's memoirs, written whilst in prison, could create a scandal big enough to bring down the government - and the manuscript has gone missing. As Tom and his team try to distinguish fact from fiction, an ex-KGB spy is murdered and the manuscript is mysteriously leaked to the press. Tom begins to wonder who's really pulling the strings in this operation.

  20. 20

    S02E08 · July 28, 2003 · 1h

    Episode 89.5

    Britain is in the midst of a 'winter of discontent' and MI5 have been closely monitoring the re-emergence of union strike action. Firefighters, nurses, teachers, air traffic controllers, council workers and rail unions have all clashed with New Labour and their strike action is bringing the country to a standstill. Unions dominating the political agenda poses a real threat to the stability of the country, but MI5 have had word of something far more serious - they've been informed that a section of the British Army is planning strike action of its own.

  21. 21

    S02E09 · August 4, 2003 · 1h

    Episode 99.5

    Eight Customs and Excise officers are killed while on a surveillance operation monitoring the Chala Cartel - Colombia's biggest drug traffickers. The team have the task of stopping them from turning Bournemouth into Bali.When surveillance shows there's a connection between the Chala Cartel and the Director of Finance at Petcal UK, one of the leading British oil companies, their concern grows. Is there corruption in a national corporation?

  22. 22

    S03E04 · November 1, 2004 · 1h

    Episode 49.5

    The latest round of Middle East peace talks are abruptly halted when a key delegate is killed. With the peace process derailed, MI5 investigate a newspaper mogul and renowned Israeli extremist.

  23. 23

    S04E01 · September 12, 2005 · 1h

    Episode 19.5

    When a devastating bomb explodes in Central London, causing multiple deaths, a terrorist group with a hatred for human life claim responsibility. With their leader facing extradition, the bombers announce thatcrippling attacks will be launched at ten hour intervals until he's released. Will the team be able to track down the perpetrators before they strike again?

  24. 24

    S04E05 · October 6, 2005 · 1h

    Episode 59.5

    When a legendary ex-MI5 officer unexpectedly kills himself, Harry is immediately suspicious. It soon emerges that the death was staged, but as the team go on a desperate hunt for the killers, the search turns out to lead dangerously close to home.

  25. 25

    S05E03 · September 18, 2006 · 1h

    Episode 39.5

    Zaf goes deep undercover, risking his life to infiltrate an Al-Qaeda cell that is on the brink of a crippling attack.

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