After watching episode 5, "Check Mate," I can see why this show was buried, and not given a chance. It shows how the CIA willingly played the fool for the KGB, and was completely deceived by them! I'm sure pressure was put on to make sure this show never got the exposure it deserved!
"Forget it, Jake - - it's Chinatown!"
No, the truth is even sillier. There was a political kerfuffle late last year about a planned Hillary Clinton docudrama that was going to air on ABC. At the same time The Assets was being previewed. GOP officials complained that the Sandy character looked too much like Valerie Plame, an American Spy outed by members of the W. Bush administration. It's a midterm election year and they complained it was political.
You're a Truncheon, Cutler!
Howdy Doody Circus Army; President
You're right - - that's even sillier!
"Forget it, Jake - - it's Chinatown!"
I wouldn't doubt that the show was deep-sixed for political reasons. This is an excellent series whose realism is both dramatic and authentic.
Out of curiosity, being a big fan or this show as well as The Americans, Homeland, I picked up a book by Pete Earley who's written a ton of critically acclaimed books on notorious spies. He wrote on on Aldrich Ames, the Walker family, and another one called Comrade J, the latter about a Russian who spied for the Americans. It's a fascinating read with a lot of detail about how Russia develops its operatives and its tradecraft. What you learn is that the Russians were superior when it came to intelligence gathering and analysis, and often bested the Americans and everyone else.
But like most govts, intelligence operatives are often vulnerable and can be turned for a variety of reasons. It's pretty commonplace, in fact.
A great study on turned Americans is Christopher Boyce who worked in the secret Vault at TRW and sold secrets to the Russians during the early 70's. He turned in part by the secret ways the US Goverment undermined fre elections in Australia and helped nep-fascist overthrow Allende n chile on 9/11/73. Two books on him are 'Falcon and the Snowman' and 'Flight of the Falcon', about Boyce's escape from prison and his bank robbery spree.
You're a Truncheon, Cutler!
Howdy Doody Circus Army; President
Wow that's really sad if that is the case! Pathetic and scary actually.
Although this gives me a good idea. How about a Valerie Plame mini-series this October ;).
The movie "Fair Game" came out a few years ago based on Valerie Plame's book. The Military-Industrial-Entertainment Complex dealt with it then. Few people even heard of it.
You're a Truncheon, Cutler!
Howdy Doody Circus Army; President
maybe it flunked cause everyone, including americans is tired of listening how america is home of the brave land of the fat or whatever, and of one sided story where russians are portrayed solely as desperate fiends who can't wait to betray their country cause capitalism is so much better, and as monsters who can't wait to kill those traitors.
It's funny how the only traitor of american side, in true spirit of capitalism, did it for the money. He wasn't swayed by promise of free education and healthcare, no, it was money.
As if communism the way it's portrayed in american film and TV is in any way worse than the McCarthy era
___
Anyone who has ever read any spoilers,
knows that Winter Is Coming
You can have free education and healthcare in a capitalist society as long as you agree to it democratically. No need for communism.
The story is based on true stories. Aldrich WAS motivated by money you crazy idiot.
Today we finally get the last 2 episodes of The Assets. I'm looking forward to it. Have my DVR set to record so I can rewatch it later.
You're a Truncheon, Cutler!
Howdy Doody Circus Army; President
This show was amazing! 'Nuff said.
shareI thought the last two episodes were awful. I'm glad they aired everything as I hate leaving things unfinished, but they had a real Lifetime Network quality about them.
shareBecause the two people that caught him were women? That is basically what happened. It wasn't set up to be a feminist feel good after school special, it was a fairly accurate if not a bit time dilated recounting of the capture of Aldrich Ames.
You're a Truncheon, Cutler!
Howdy Doody Circus Army; President
No, not because the two women who who pursued Rick Ames the most. It was obvious going in that Sandy Grimes was going to be the one to get Ames. What I didn't like was the way they kept hammering over and over how (in her marriage) she's the man and her husband is the housewife. The phone calls home, where hubby picks up and talks about what he's doing for dinner, and yes, that sounds good she'll be home soon. Then the phone call later to let him know she wasn't coming home. They established she's a workaholic early on, so it just seemed hamfisted the way they kept having to demonstrate the traditional role reversal over and over. I think the show would have been better if Sandy's home life was dropped completely.
It's been a few week since I watched the last two episodes now, so I can't remember the specific other scenes, but there were others (that had nothing to do with Sandy's marriage) that I thought came off as pretty silly as well. The scene at the book signing where she gets all emotional when the one dead assets granddaughter arrives also seemed very Lifetime/Hallmark channel like.
I think they were just showing how that kinda job can cause strain. I've seen the same thing portrayed with the sexes reversed so I think your reading things into it that are not really there.
Who wouldn't get emotional in a situation like that?
The scenes at home were good for balance, but I will agree that those scenes went on too long in the early episodes. The balance got better in later shows, and the home life scenes then fit well into the story. For example, when Sandy lost a whole weekend to her job the tensions at home showed there was a cost to her stubbornness.
shareIt didn't get any exposure because it is an awful movie with totally unbelievable actors ( except for the Russians). The screenplay is almost amateurish and maybe that is why the acting seems so bad. Could have been so much better with realistic dialogue and less emphasis on making this a women's lib movie. The true story is interesting as is episode 9 where the real people are interviewed. Do not waste your time - go straight to episode 9.
shareHow is it a "woman's lib" series? In real life, it was two female CIA agents who finally caught Ames. Get over yourself about that---your hangups about anything that dosen't completely center around men is ridiculous (which the majority of films of TV usually do.)
share