Episode 5

A Complicated Plot Of International Espionage, Violence, And Sex Makes "Project Dawn" A Satisfyingly Adult Thriller
In a curious decision, Cinemax decided to import the British spy adventure "Strike Back" to its U.S. viewing schedule. In and of itself, that's certainly not a strange choice as this entertaining program is an expert blend of espionage, action, humor, and sex. What is odd is that they started with Season Two (must have to do with money, always has to do with money)! So the designation used in the DVD release stating that this is the Complete First Season is a tad misleading. It is simply the first season that was brought to a North American audience. For purists or completists, the first season is being sold on an All Region DVD/Blu-ray (with potential playback problems for some U.S. players) as "Chris Ryan's Strike Back." So check that out or hope for a Region 1 DVD version. It is six solid and self-contained episodes featuring a tremendously astute and multi-layered performance by Richard Armitage as the central hero John Porter. Armitage does show up to play a pivotal role...

It's About Time! A Rated "MA" Cross Section of 24, The Border & Spooks!
24 off the air! The Border off the air! Spooks in the final season! Caught Strike Back on Cinemax and it is great to watch a series with a budget that is not hampered by US censors. Violence galore, nudity and a very interesting plot. Strike Back may not have the complexity of Spooks, though with much more in your face violence, it is like 24 on steroids with some of the witty dialogue reminiscent of the last 2 seasons of The Border. As this is done in a serial format, watching in a few sittings would be like a really long non stop action movie. Highly recommended.

SPOOKS (aka MI-5) meets 24 with a certain 'Cinemax' touch!
Ahh, Cinemax. Home to all of the same movies on HBO but also home to everyone's favorite late-night soft-core porn. So how does this channel look to distinguish itself from HBO other than the soft-core porn? Two words: Original Programming. But since it's Cinemax, it has to have a program that not too dissimilar in flavor to what Cinemax is so well-known for. So they imported a show from the UK originally called CHRIS RYAN'S STRIKE BACK, shortened the title, and according to information about that show, Cinemax splashed it with a super-sized helping of pretty graphic violence and lots of (mostly) unnecessary sex and lo and behold Cinemax gave us STRIKE BACK.

The show is, in essence, a volatile chemical mixture of the conspiracies and action of 24, the stand-alone episodic suspense and serious character work of SPOOKS (known here in the US on PBS as MI-5), the kind of tech and teamwork of THE UNIT, the kind of graphic violence Premium Cable allows for, and some of the...

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