Bugs - Le spie senza volto

I used to watch this show every Saturday night with my family, right through from the very first episode. It was brilliant, and I was really upset when the BBC said they would not be making any more, but even more upset that they left it hanging. What ever happened to Beckett, Ros, Ed and Alex? That's what I want to know.

However, I will say that i think that Craig made a much better Ed than Stephen ever did. The on screen chemistry between him and Paula (Alex), made it seem more real, but when Stephen came along, that chemistry fell flat. Why did they replace Craig in the first place? Th only good thing I have to say about Stephen's Ed, is that, unlike Craig, Stephen actually managed to make it look like Ed was a real tai-Kwon-Do expert, and made him kick butt. I think that this was one of the reasons why the BBC axed Bugs.

I've just been reacquainted with it, via the DVD series, after 6 (or is it 7?) long years, and, as a result, i think all us loyal BUGSs fans should start a campaign to bring a half decent TV show back to Saturady nights. BRING BACK BUGS! BRING BACK BUGS!

Bugs was way ahead of its time. When it hit the screens in 1995 on the BBC, nobody had seen anything quite like it. Quirky characters and multitudes of gizmos, gadgets, weaponry, bombs, explosions and not to mention baddies! The show pivoted around its three main characters, Ros, Ed and Beckett, the gadget making one, the daredevil and the team leader. Together they stormed their way through devious plots and baddies, all trying (unsuccessfully) to kill them. The highest point of Bugs for me has always been series two (the plots with the vengeful criminal mastermind Jean-Daniel, thrown in prison by the Bugs team at the end of series one), and, of course, most people's favourite, the end of series 3 'Renegades', when the will they-won't they storyline between Ros and Becket, which had been hinted at since series 2, was finally resolved. Unfortunately, when Craig McLachlan decided not to rejoin the cast for series four, the makers of Bugs sought a replacement and found one in Steven Houghton...well, I suppose there were some similarities...they both had blonde hair. Any others? Uh...no. Steven Houghton was so far off the mark with his portrayal of a once fantastic character that viewers who loved the show turned it off (and the BBC made the unforgivable decision of airing it at 6pm), and so, when series four came to a close with a whopper of a cliffhanger (intending to carry on with the show and not leave it hanging with such an ungraceful ending), suddenly, it was decided to leave the series as it was...and so, the story will never be finished. People might be interested to learn that Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films) appears (albeit briefly) in a series four episode.

Well, Bugs started off with all the promise in the world. Season one was about finding its feet, which it did quite nicely by season two. The end of the second season was fantastic, and we all thought nothing could better it. Wrong. Season three gave the characters personal lives and a whole new situation. It became one of the most watchable shows in the usually dead end summer holidays. But we know what comes before a fall. And season four was definitely that. Changes in actors, naff schedules led many people to switch off what once had us reaching for the 'on' button on a Saturday night.

I revisted Bugs by accident.

I had been discussing old TV shows with a friend when Bugs sprung to mind. I couldn't recall much about it but i remember i enjoyed the theme music when i watched it as a kid so i used a popular Internet video-based site to look up the theme. In doing this i found all 4 series available to watch so began binging.

In the beginning, it looked modern with its use of shooting locations, most notably the (then) recently redeveloped London Docklands.

Unfortunately the stories seem a bit far fetched and the action falls short in places as its clearly trying to keep up more edgy US shows and movies.

It shows its age today but i have thoroughly enjoyed the rewatch. I watch it alone as it can be very cheesey and cringy at times and anyone sitting with you would be well justified in asking, "why on Earth are you watching this?"

But it had good intentions and clearly the budget to back it up with decent FX, ever changing musical score and some set designs that put some other shows to shame.

If you're in the mood for a cheesey, 90s looking, not quite polished in the writing department show, then definitely give Bugs a watch.

Who says only the US can come up with good action shows ?? "Bugs" is thrilling, captivating and intelligent - simply great fun... I especially enjoy the characters development - it´s not as shallow as might be seen in other shows of this kind. If you have never watched it - do so if you possibly can - it´s definitely worth it... ;-)