This is the first episode to move the Reilly saga toward the most significant period of his life---direct involvement with the 1917 Russian Revolution that toppled the Romanov dynesty and dramatically thrust the Bolsheviks into power. Sidney Reilly was Britain's man in Russia at the beginning of this confusing and unstable period of world history. His role was mainly to help restore order to the Russian government, and convince them to pursue the war against Germany as an ally of England. Lenin and the Bolsheviks had their own agenda, and it did not align with Britain's interests in the war. The situation was very fluid and dynamic---and contemplated such radical possible options as the assassination of Lenin and the.installation of a pro-British government headed by Reilly!
For the first time, we encounter one of the most significant (and least known) figures in Soviet history: Felix Dzerzhinsky. He became the head of the first two Soviet secret police organizations that dealt with post-revolution security--Cheka and its successor OGPU, both of which evolved into the better known KGB. Reilly and Dzerzhinsky will cross paths throughout the rest of the series---as Reilly became more clearly identified by the secret police as an enemy of the Revolution who obviously did not support the increasingly apparent anti-British character of Soviet policies. Dzerzhinsky was played with almost reptilian intensity by the eminent English actor Tom Bell---who had established a substantial reputation on the stage, in film and also on television. He will occupy a level of importance in the later episodes of the series that would be comparable to the Zaharov role played so vividly by the Australian actor Leo McKern in the earlier episodes.
Sam Neill's Reilly now dramatically resembles much of the character of the fictitious James Bond. It is worth contemplating how Bond might have evolved after the retirement of Roger Moore. It was at this point that Neill was considered for the Bond part, but it was offered instead to Timothy Dalton. This is an exciting and compelling episode.
For the first time, we encounter one of the most significant (and least known) figures in Soviet history: Felix Dzerzhinsky. He became the head of the first two Soviet secret police organizations that dealt with post-revolution security--Cheka and its successor OGPU, both of which evolved into the better known KGB. Reilly and Dzerzhinsky will cross paths throughout the rest of the series---as Reilly became more clearly identified by the secret police as an enemy of the Revolution who obviously did not support the increasingly apparent anti-British character of Soviet policies. Dzerzhinsky was played with almost reptilian intensity by the eminent English actor Tom Bell---who had established a substantial reputation on the stage, in film and also on television. He will occupy a level of importance in the later episodes of the series that would be comparable to the Zaharov role played so vividly by the Australian actor Leo McKern in the earlier episodes.
Sam Neill's Reilly now dramatically resembles much of the character of the fictitious James Bond. It is worth contemplating how Bond might have evolved after the retirement of Roger Moore. It was at this point that Neill was considered for the Bond part, but it was offered instead to Timothy Dalton. This is an exciting and compelling episode.