I watched this again tonight, and was again impressed by everything: how well Gary Oldman played an intelligence officer whom you forget moments after seeing him, how wonderfully diverse and nuanced each character is despite some having minimal screentime, how bleak and devastating the UK in this was.

In some ways the second watch was even better than the first - Tomas Alfredson weaves everything together masterfully and nothing felt stale. Don’t think I’ll grow old of how Gary Oldman could remain physically still yet radiate so much intelligence, melancholy and ruthlessness.

I was trying to decide what the best line in the entire movie was, and I think I’ve got it down to two moments:

Connie Sachs: That was a good time, George.
George Smiley: It was the war, Connie.
Connie Sachs: A real war. Englishmen could be proud then.
(…)
Connie Sachs: If it’s bad, don’t come back. I want to remember you all as you were.

George Smiley: Look, we’ve both spent our lives looking for the weaknesses in the other’s systems. Don’t you think it’s time to recognise there’s as little worth on your side as there is on mine? 

TL;DR just give these people all the BAFTAs and Oscars ever