I bought the dvd's after reading raves about this on the internet. The series keeps your attention through each well written and acted episode. It's major flaw is that unlike the best spy shows from an earlier era, the politics aren't so grey. The mistrust and disloyalties only hint at uneasy conclusions but are ultimately neatly wrapped up and one-sided. Not surprising I suppose for a series leading us into the Reagan-Thatcher years. It makes me cringe when people compare this to John LeCarre. "The Spy Who Came in From the Cold" is precisely what this is not. Though it might have been less realistic, Secret Agent was braver (and better). Still, it's worth a rental.
Review of The Sandbaggers
