Plot: GCHQ faces a massive internal and external crisis. Shifting focus to Head of Operations Danny Patrick (Simon Pegg), the six-part cyber-thriller broadens its geopolitical scope from Russia to an alarming new cyber threat linked to China, while unearthing a high-level mole buried within the agency
Season 2 of The Undeclared was Very Good.
Pros: I already felt the high-stakes espionage immediately just as the series began. It immediately grabs your attention each time you watch it. The drama involving who is sabotaging and who’s betraying was quite good. Simon Pegg gave his best work as the bride for the hackers, analysts, and political top brass. Hannah Khalique-Brown was great as Saara Parvin. They don’t shy away from showing the consequences of the choices needed to be made. You felt Nicky Chan’s presence throughout the main storyline. & how it took many twists and turns helped elevate this one being the strongest season.
This series is appropriate for our times involving cyber attacks & dark corners of the internet.
Cons: Vadin & his escapee didn’t work for me as a pair. We didn’t get enough time in Shenzhen & the mole storyline sort of didn’t get a resolution.
Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Created by Peter Kosminsky, Colin Callender
Directed by Peter Kosminsky
Screenwriter: Peter Kosminsky, Declan Lawn, Adam Patterson, Amelia Spencer
Starring: Hannah Khalique-Brown, Simon Pegg, Adrian Lester, Alex Jennings, German Segal, Joss Porter, Tom McKay, Ed Stoppard, Siân Brooke, Danny Sapani, Chloe Pirrie, Jason Tobin & Gavin Spokes.
Theme Music Composer: Debbie Wiseman
Composer: Debbie Wiseman
Executive producers: Peter Kosminsky, Colin Callender, Noëlette Buckley, Daniel Gratton, Colin Teevan, Paul McGuigan
Producers: Robert Jones, Caroline Levy
Cinematographer: Gavin Finney
Editor: David Blackmore
Production companies: Playground Entertainment, Stonehenge Films, Universal International Studios
Network: Channel 4 (United Kingdom), Peacock (United States)
Casts & Characters:
- Hannah Khalique-Brown as Saara Parvin, a second-year computer science student
- Simon Pegg as Danny Patrick, GCHQ Head of Operations
- Edward Holcroft as James Cox, a teacher and Saara’s live-in boyfriend (series 1)
- Adrian Lester as Prime Minister Andrew Makinde (series 1; guest series 2)
- Alex Jennings as David Neal, Director of GCHQ
- German Segal as Vadim Trusov, a Russian programmer, and the son of a wealthy and influential Russian arms dealer, from whom Vadim is estranged
- Joss Porter as Phil, a GCHQ analyst
- Tom McKay as Max Kelly
- Ed Stoppard as Richard Marston, the newly elevated Foreign Secretary and a constant thorn in Danny’s side
- Siân Brooke as Barbara Napier, Danny’s wife, ex-MI6 and now an analyst at GCHQ (series 2)
- Danny Sapani as Charlie Francis, GCHQ’s Head of Security and Danny’s childhood friend. (series 2)
- Chloe Pirrie as Lt Colonel Roz Cavendish, seconded by Marston to GCHQ in the newly created role of Director of Rapid Response, a move which Danny interprets as a threat to his authority (series 2)
- Jason Tobin as Nicky Chan (series 2)
- Gavin Spokes as Alex Sheldon (series 2)
I highly recommend watching this series on Channel 4 or on their streaming service.
Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe