It was also intended that the episode established that although spies plan heavily before operations, things can go wrong. Among the main cast, Peter Firth was attracted to appearing on Spooks after hearing of Howard Brenton's involvement in the series.
The episode intended to convey that even though spies meticulously plan their operations, unexpected issues can emerge. Peter Firth was attracted to joining Spooks because he had heard about Howard Brenton's connection to the series.