Poll: Who is your idea of a proper spy/operative?

[SckizoBoy]

So, in readiness for the new theatrical release, I watched the 1979 BBC production of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy which I found thoroughly entertaining. I was quite amused at how quaintly British it was (in particular Ian Richardson). Where else would you find a line of such Englishness as:

Control? Oh, he didn't like anything... except Surrey, the 'Circus'... and Lords Cricket Ground(!)[footnote]'Control' was the codename for the service's chief, Surrey is a county in southeast England, the 'Circus' is the euphemism for MI6/SIS and LCG is the 'home of cricket'.[/footnote]

Yes, I enjoyed it a lot, and found it more thrilling and entertaining than any James Bond film despite the lack of violence, the lack of eye-candy, the distinct mis-handling (or rather, non-handling) of guns, the lack of blood and the absence of foul language (except the occasional ribbing)... Yes, I hear the cries of heresy echoing in my ears now, but shove off, I'm drawn to this kind of urbane affair.

And that got me thinking (as many things do). This is possibly one of the most uninteresting (as far as popular media is concerned) portrayals of a nation's secret service, as there is little except reports, paperwork, chinwagging, perhaps the occasional subtle theft and an even more occasional raising of voices. Yet why do I find it the best and most fascinating?

Anyway, answer whichever question(s) you wish to & discuss amongst yourselves...

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to watch Smiley's People.

/pretentiousness & toffishness =P

 

[Maeta]

I'm afraid to say that I haven't seen Tinker etc. so I can't comment on that... but I have seen the Bourne films, and a lot of the Bond films, and they had the common connection of being generally shit, except Casino Royale with Daniel Craig... but even then he wasn't a spy...

I thought the main cast of Spooks Code9 did the job pretty well, and they get my nod because they weren't all about handing business cards confirming they were a spy... in fact 2 of them went over everyone's heads, and investigated MI5 to find the traitor, and weren't discovered until the very end when they had a 50:50 kinda shot, but had to guess cos they ran out of time... they didn't just shout out that they were on a mole hunt... All in all, they were good spies, and it was a good series.

Then again, for those of you familiar with Downtown from Japan, and the No Laughing game, then Matsumoto would get a good mention for messing around so much to trap the others, and getting punished more than the rest ... and on that, I think I know what I'm gonna be watching tonight

 

[Lucyfer86]

Austin Powers, of course. Yes i am serious, he's just awesome.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

Spoiler: Gentlemen...

A good spy is someone who is never found to be a spy until it's too late.

James Bond is a great character, but he's not a great spy.

 

[zombflux]

Sam Fisher, because of the sneaking + intel gathering

and also George Smiley, because he's pretending.

Jason Bourne isn't a spy, and James Bond is just a joke.

 

[Hero in a half shell]

I think real spies are just regular people that occasionally give important information to a foreign government agent they are barely in contact with. Just a regular Joe at a non-important desk job in a government body that will have information far above his role passed around the office because people are incompetent and someone has to manage MI5s accounts. Then he phones his Russian contact and says
"The military budget this year is going to be £10.56 and four Cornish pasties, it's mainly being spent on Margaret Thatchers' hairdo, and there's a new aircraft carrier commissioned to be built in Colchester due for 1988. I'll fax you the blueprints I photographed of the top-secret plans for Margaret's new Perm."

 

[MurderousToaster]

Michael Thorton from Alpha Protocol when you play the game as an absolute ****. Which is playing the game in almost any way at all.

It's great. He's just such an absolute arsehole in every circumstance. Not exactly a 'proper' spy/operative, but a damn funny one.

 

[scorptatious]

James Bond is just a joke.

The Major would like to have a word with you.

OT: I've never actually seen any James Bond movies or any of the others you mentioned. So I can't really say.

If I had to choose I'd probably have to say Snake from the MGS series. Naked Snake in particular. He can sneak around and silently disable enemies, he can disguise himself to get through heavily guarded areas, and he's pretty tough to boot. So even if he does get caught, chances are he'll survive the torture and find a way out.

 

[Gareth Eckley]

Smiley is fairly accurate, if rather more stylised and condensed than real life. The rest is fantasist wank fodder.

 

[Gareth Eckley]

Double post

 

[Major_Tom]

This is a real spy:
http://www.viruscomix.com/page529.html

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

If I really wanted something done, I would get Jason Bourne to do it.

James Bond would get distracted by tits way too easily. Bourne can pretty much do anything he would need to do in a world that doesn't contain dragons.

 

[Arif_Sohaib]

I have to say Michal Thorton and Stephen Heck from Alpha Protocol.

 

[The Funslinger]

Myself. I'd never suspect me.

Damn that lovable rogue.

Seriously? Roald Dahl. Seriously.

It's not much of an official source, but here's the best summary I can find. It's properly detailed in the book called "The Irregulars".

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/showthread.php?141013-Roald-Dahl-WW2-Spy-and-Epic-Pants-man.

 

[UrieHusky]

James bond without the stupid weakness to women
Honestly that trait is more trouble than its worth.

 

[gmaverick019_v1legacy]

honestly i would say it depends, when you look at a james bond movie and a jason bourne movie they deal with alot of different types of people/things/types of spying.

also it depends on which james bond you are speaking of...i hate the newest bond, didn't mind brosnan too much.

if your talking about hand to hand combat and getting shit done, i'd say jason bourne, but if your talking about sneaking into a suave cocktail party and getting info and banging the main bad guys wife while your at it, i'd def say james bond.

 

[socialmenace42]

Jack Bauer.

Failing that, Mystique. Disguised as Jack Bauer.

 

[conflictofinterests]

Ideally, a covert operative should just as easily be an elderly woman with a gurney as a strapping young man too tall to walk through the average doorway without hunching over. Personalities should also range as such. If I can pick an operative out as being a stereotypical spy, they aren't doing their job very well, are they?

 

[RobotNinja]

Jason Bourne maybe? I'm not sure if he's a spy or more of an assassin. He still kicks ass though.

 

[I Have No Idea]

If you're talking the Craig Bond character, then I'd go with him. If not, I'd have to say Jason Bourne. Even though he's an assassin, I have no idea who the other people on the list are.