M.I. High: The Sinister Prime Minister and Other Adventures (TV spy-fy review).
Years ago, I caught a few snippets of ‘M.I. High’ on TV and thought I would look for a boxset. The first season comprises a 5-part series. 88 episodes, and that’s all we get in one season!
After the other MI espionage services failed, school teens formed MI9, a new team of three, with a 3-mile-deep basement serving as their base. Blane Whittaker (actor Moustafa Chousein-Oglou) is the muscle; Daisy Miller (actress Bel Powley) is an upper-class social chameleon; and Rose Gupta (actress Rachel Petladwala) is the technical specialist. Lenny Bicknell (actor Danny John-Jules) is the school caretaker’s boss. So you have five missions. The team isn’t exactly a cohesive unit. Blane may possess physical strength, but he lacks other essential skills. Daisy, Posh, and Rose are also a part of the group. When their pencils light up, they have to make their excuses from class, although their teachers never figure out that it’s always the same three leaving. You will need to verify your security clearance to access the content. National security and all that. A lot of their enemies work for SKUL, and you wouldn’t want them after you either.
Don’t underestimate children’s shows. They are often as funny as adult fare, and they certainly have some surprising guest stars. In the opening episode, actor Robert Llewellyn guest stars as… a robot Prime Minister. So, if you’re into ‘Red Dwarf’, you see them in different roles.
The lack of additional seasons is regrettable. It is slightly formulaic but also a lot of fun, often working against type and stereotypes. If you want some light relief but a lot of world-conquering, then it’s worth a look.
GF Willmetts
May 2024
(pub: Kudos, 2007. 1 DVD 5 episodes and one extra. Price: varies. ASIN: CTD10634)
cast: Bel Powley, Rachel Petladwala, Moustafa Chousein-Oglou and Danny John-Jules
