Series 2, Episode 2: Russian Roulette

Down the Line: a Secret Army podcast

'That megalomaniac upstart is rapidly degenerating into a latter-day Caligula!'

Our review of Secret Army's gripping second series continues with John Brason's Russian Roulette: soon after hearing about the death of their leader Lisa, Lifeline have to contend with two Russian evaders, Brandt is asked to join a plot against Hitler, and Albert accepts Kessler's invite to a sinister garden party...

While AJ realises just how much of the episode they had forgotten, Andy disagrees with himself from the past about both locations and musical instruments. The pair agree that the episode could also be called 'Natalie's Very Bad Day' and consider issues as diverse as: Alain's family and his share of the Muny farm; why everyone is suddenly and inexplicably calling Lisa, Yvette; the meaning of European hand gestures; and the decision not to subtitle the episode's plentiful Russian dialogue.

There's also Ryan's reaction on first viewing, Alex Wilcock considering both the episode's title and Kessler's return invitation to Albert, and Joanna from Australia who first watched the series at ten-years-old.

The book that AJ mentions is The Nine by Gwen Strauss about a band of daring resistance women who escaped from Nazi Germany.

If you would like to contact us then please email us on, or send a voicenote to: [e-mail] or send us a message on Bluesky: AJ is on secretarmypod.bsky.social while Andy can be found at andypodding.bsky.social. AJ is also still on Twitter at @secretarmypod. We'd love to hear from you, especially your takes on the Series 2 episodes Trapped and Not According to Plan which are in preparation. Thank you!

Next Time: Lucky Piece