THE MAN IN ROOM 17

Room 17 is an agency within the British Intelligence community.

It is a very, very hush-hush department, its entire operations is run from a single office in a non-descript building. The organization is named as it is because the office room in that building is 17; a title that identifies it while telling people absolutely nothing about it. It is very much a case of if you know what it does, you don't need a better name, and if you don't, well, that is undoubtedly as it should be.

This 'agency' - and I put that in quotes here because while we will see various people out and about performing tasks given them by Room 17, to look at the 'headquarters' you would easily conclude it is comprised of just two people - is known to only a select few in the government and those people seem loathe to even mention it, let alone talk at length about what it does. This, obviously, just enhances the mystique about it. Those curious but as yet unknowing would be very disappointed should they be allowed into this room because while nicely arranged and obviously comfortable for its occupants, it does not look all that special. It is only if its results are studied that its true impressiveness - and to be honest, spookiness - comes out.

Its stated purpose is "to deal with crimes that baffle police and government agencies." This means for those following the cases they are handed (or which they decide on their own intrigue them enough to pull rank and get involved with) that some will deal with criminals, whether organized or just with interesting M.O.'s, and some (most) which deal with foreign operatives, double agents, or people in high places doing things they ought not to.

The most noteworthy nature of the work of the residents of Room 17 is that while they do task others to do this or that, they themselves never exit the room, always preferring to remain at "home" to ponder the facts they are brought, consider valuable tasks to give others, and then to logically or intuitively come up with the answer.

The two occupants of Room 17 (well, three, as you will see) are:

Edwin G. Oldenshaw, a veteran WWII operative turned criminologist, aged 40-ish, largely bald on top with short hair on the sides. He sports a goatee which gives him an aged, mature look. He is prone to walking about the office thinking with his hands in his pockets. He is always the picture of serenity when being confronted by visitors, especially Sir Geoffrey, head of some higher echelon department who invariably comes running (well, given the rotundness of the man, walking briskly) to Room 17 with yet another problem of great urgency and impossibility. One amusing fact about Oldenshaw is that while he appears an epitome of upper-class stoicism, the man has a very droll sense of humor and an encyclopedic knowledge of ruffians, scoundrels, blackmailers, and safecrackers and is able to call upon them with alacrity to do things that others might find objectionable.

Ian Dimmock, a man of approximately the same age though his full head of dark hair and his clean-shaven face makes him appear a fair amount younger. Dimmock is obviously Oldenshaw's subordinate though the two act almost as equals. Dimmock is a far more active man and moves about the office with speed and agility giving him an almost caged animal vibe.

After a baker's dozen adventures, Dimmock takes a prolonged leave of absence, apparently to head to some remote location to conduct studies of the newly discovered Dead Sea Scroll. He is replaced for the next 13 adventures with the equally studious looking albeit much less prone to sudden movement Imlac Defraits, a man with more of an avuncular and scholarly appearance.

As would be considered normal and even required, all three men are routinely dressed in suit and tie with vest; to think of them otherwise would be astonishing.

It has been pointed out by ones more observant than I that Oldenshaw's initials are "E.G.O." and those of the two colleagues are "I.D." Very Freudian.

The third set of 13 adventures sees the return of Ian Dimmock and the departure of Imlac Defraits and a change of venue for the reunited EGO and ID pair. We are told that Oldenshaw had decided to resign from Room 17 and to join his first partner at the Peel Research Fellowship at All Saints College at Cambridge where their new directive from the Home Office was "to investigate the changing nature of crime within a set time period". Joining them in this endeavor is the very interesting and capable Mrs. Hollinsczech, a computer programmer and very organized woman.

Good Lines:
- Said by Oldenshaw, "We are not noted for our tact, are we, Ian. We find it a great time waster".
- Responding to Oldenshaw's noting his use of the slang 'bird' for a young woman, Dimmock observes, "The words are synonymous these days. It is a lower-class word much favored by the middle class who wish to be thought upper class".
- Said by one character to another, "It would facilitate matters if every time you opened your mouth, you'd try to not be so irrelevant."

When you have a television show (or movie, or play, or radio broadcast) with the incredible Richard Vernon (1925-1997), you have a presentation that just up upped its game tremendously. That man could do supercilious with panache in one role, fatherly in control of a situation in the next, acerbically condescending in another, totally clueless in a fourth, and timid and frightened in a fifth - all totally convincing and enjoyable. The character he rules this television series with, Edwin Oldenshaw, is none of those - he is in command but rather than be paternal, he is oh-so-very-bored one moment and lets-have-some-fun another. He is ... delightful.

Now, couple that amazing talent with a young-ish Michael Aldridge, a fellow I enjoyed in numerous different roles, culminating for me with his portrayal of Percy Alleline in the 1979 version of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.

Finally, toss in some incredibly inventive and witty writing by series creator Robin Chapman.

Wow! Please, allow me to repeat myself. Wow!