THE AVENGERS with Patrick MacNee as John Steed
This brilliant ground breaking series went through several successful metamorphoses. The character of Steed was a huge hit. Yet by the final series of The Avengers proper, there was too much pandering to American tat, with the absurd 'Mother' and the less than satisfactory Linda Thorson. Nevertheless it was almost inevitable that The Avengers would become a parody of itself. With Diana Rigg, Steed's character reached a brilliant perfection, and those earlier studio-limited stories do have some charm of their own.
My favourite episode: 4.8 A Surfeit of H2O. Inventive (but then that's true of most stories), scary and wildly improbable (ditto), but I think everything comes together in this one. Emma looks stunning and Albert Lieven must be the ultimate black and white villain, why, he's foreign!
Dud stories: Ignoring the Linda Thorson series, the ones where Cathy and later Emma keep on getting trapped alone in a mansion.
The Most 'Must See' story: Elizabeth Shepherd in the pilot version of The Town of No Return, surprising she didn't land the role.
Best moment: 2.22 Man in the Mirror, as Steed finds Venus in the fairground.
My Favourite character: Venus Smith- am I alone in believing she was the best of Steed's partners?!

FIRST SERIES
Sadly most of these videotaped stories were wiped, but we live in hope.....
1.1 Hot Snow (Jan 7th 1961) - the beginning only, so until the complete copy surfaces, we will never see how Steed first makes his appearance. What we do see however is a well drawn out first act with a contrast between Dr David Keel's cuddly engagement to Peggy and a sinister intruder searching for a parcel wrongly delivered to his surgery. In it, £4,000 worth of "snow" and Peggy is the one who can identify the courier: "I'm afraid the girl'll have to go." Outside Vinson's jewellers she's shot, an act leading to Dr Keel vowing to Avenge her death....
1.6 The Girl on the Trapeze - A girl jumps off a bridge. Though Dr Keel rescues her, she later dies. "One wrong move" and there'll be a diplomatic incident" since she's a trapeze artist with a circus visiting from abroad. Keel and Carol stumble on a plot to force an important metallurgist to quit Britain. They are taken prisoner backstage, so surely Steed will ride to their rescue! He must have been on holiday this week, but who needs him, the police do just as well, despite facing seasoned opposition from the villains played by Kenneth J Warren and Edwin Richfield
1.15 The Frighteners 5* - the "real frighteners" is being put on Jeremy de Willoughby, and Frightening is an apt word when it's Willoughby Gray as The Deacon behind the frightening. "Lay off that girl," is the message de Willoughby is given, from "most vicious" rich businessman (Stratford Johns), who wants to protect his daughter 'Marylin.' But in a shock turn around, Steed and Keel play out a charace to expose a fraudster
1.20 Tunnel of Fear

On video - With JULIE STEVENS as Venus Smith, a 20 year old blonde singer who lives in Manchester. Her exact relationship with Steed is hard to determine, but she provides a strikingly naive contrast to Honor Blackman and her later incarnations.
2.3 The Decapod 3*- Death in the shower, not a lot like Psycho though. Dead girl is private secretary to The Balkan Bandit, Steed finds a replacement, in the shape of Venus. The plot moves slowly and happily to a contrived climax of a dull wrestling match. Philip Madoc offers the best role as Steed's enigmatic counterpart. Julie Stevens is too blonde, not vulnerable enough in this
2.6 The Removal Men - What's Steed up to locking the wife of Dragna (Reed de Rouen) in her bathroom?! He steals her jewels in order to infiltrate Dragna's gang who's next job is to shoot a famous French sex symbol. Venus is working in the gang's French club and inadvertently blows Steed's cover. There in the deserted nightclub, Steed and Venus look down the barrel of a gun. While she sings, Steed switches out the lights. Songs include An Occasional Man, whilst the Dave Lee Trio also play one jazz number
2.17 Box of Tricks 6* - The Disappearing Lady magic trick with a difference- the illusionist's assistant Valerie reappears shot dead! Same thing happens to next helper Denise. A nervous Venus, who is singing at the Gemini Club, becomes assistant number 3. She also sings It's a Pity to say Goodnight and It's Delightful. Steed poses as a masseur to prevent quack faith healer Dr Gallam from passing top secret info
2.20 School for Traitors 6* - a certain old fashioned charm to this, which begins with Venus, in garish college garb, singing Varsity Drag at a Rag Week dance. But research scientist Davies, she finds dead. He was a victim blackmailed by a sinister group run by who? Steed uses a non-existent suicide note to expose the principal and alligator loving Clare.
2.22 Man in the Mirror 7* - Venus' amateur photography at a fairground captures the image of Victor Trevelyan "who died last week." So we come to the incongruous sight of Steed in his bowler searching the fair for this cipher expert, a potential defector. This, the best story of this series, contains many striking visual shots in a ghost tunnel, an iconic coffee bar plus trendy music to match. It's inevitable that Venus gets captured, and Steed, leaping to her rescue, also falls into the baddies' clutches after a shootout round the amusement park. The pair face being blown to bits before the traitor is rounded up. In lulls, Venus sings the flat Nothing Like Love, as well as the classic I Know Where I'm Going
2.24 Chorus of Frogs 7*- Steed investigates when an agent dies after diving off the ship of Archipelago Mason (Eric Pohlmann). Coincidentally, Venus happens to be working on board as a singer. She sings, Hush Little Darling, plus a snatch of The Lips that Touch Mine as though auditioning for Play School. Steed is in top form as a stowaway, exploring Mason's laboratory where "something very funny is going on," actually the Chinese are exploiting it as a testing ground for an advanced midget submarine. The plot gots a little lost but memorable support from John Carson and Colette Wilde boosts the enjoyment

With JON ROLLASON as Dr Martin King
2.9 The Sell-Out 3* - protecting diplomat M Roland, Steed himself is suspected of being the instigator of attacks upon him (surely not!). He poses as Roland, it is up to him to expose the real rotter of a traitor
2.14 Dead on Course 6* - Steed is at Shannon Airport where another jet plane has crashed. Motive: theft of £250,000. Only survivor is air hostess Margo, whom Dr King treats at a convent. Only person unaccounted for is Bob Slade the co-pilot. Margo is murdered amid sinister goings on at the nunnery, the mother superior isn't the only dodgy character. The ending is very sudden

With HONOR BLACKMAN as Cathy Gale (also on tape). What you've always wanted: Cathy lives at 14 Primrose Hill, her phone number PRImrose 0042, her birthdate October 5th. Steed's address is 5 Westminster Mews, his phone is WHItehall 0011. On film we see that Steed drives a sports car CPT75, then 880CPA, though a new car appears in #3.12.
2.1 Mr Teddy Bear 7*- You can see why this was shown as the first of the series, even though not the first made. It introduces the sinister Mr Teddy Bear, international assassin, who bumps off the Colonel, on live tv. Cathy meets him in an isolated house, or at least she meets a teddy bear, "all rather grotesque." She says she wants Steed killed! Mr Bruin sends her a photo of the corpse, but for once he has failed, "why aren't you dead?" Cathy inquires of Steed. She herself ends up in Mr Bruin's clutches, "you win Mr Teddy Bear." He's a whale on gadgetry, but Steed beats him with a neat trick of his own
2.2 Propellant 23: 3*- Meyer, a courier with a sample of new rocket fuel, dies at Marseilles Airport, or at least a studio mock up of it. The flask goes missing, Steed and Cathy must retrieve it or "governments will fall." Paul Manning (Geoffrey Palmer) and Siebel are "competitors" in close pursuit. Lt Leclerc uses some of it as a hair restorer, but the remainder is fought over in the showdown at a baker's. Well drawn characters among the red herrings
2.4 Bullseye 3*- The chairman of an arms firm commits suicide, Cathy joins the board, and nearly gets "her fingers burnt," suspected of murder, as other directors are eliminated one by one. This is a too static story, lots of talk, not much else
2.7 The Mauritius Penny 5*- a rare 1847 stamp leads Steed to a close encounter with a dentist's drill ("if I were you, I'd change my dentist"), and worse, a Nazi Euro coup. Only Cathy is standing in the way, "nothing can stop us now!"
2.8 Death of a Great Dane 5* - Why has conjuror George Miller got diamonds in his stomach? Millionaire Alexander Litoff used him in his charity work, but suddenly all his beneficence has ceased. Steed resorts to blackmail, earning £4,000, but then an offer of a million in a story of lots of good ideas but not all followed through. Plot used again in #5.19
2.10 Death on the Rocks 6* - In partnership with recently widowed Samuel Ross, Steed poses as a diamond merchant with a wife "for a couple of weeks," Cathy of course. His attempt to flirt is rebuffed of course, "hello darling." A would be take over of the international diamond market is thwarted
2.11 Traitor in Zebra 4* - Commander Steed is investigating whether Crane is guilty of passing secrets to the enemy from a Welsh lab. Here, Dr Gale joins the staff, the mytsery is solved, though it has always been crystal clear to viewers. After three deaths, this is routine, but with some well drawn characters including the late Rankin (John Sharp) and the wild Franks (Richard Leech)
2.12 The Big Thinker 4*- Plato is almost human, actually a giant computer serviced by The Boy Wonder, whom, though "objectionable," Cathy cultivates. The other side want him too and are sabotaging Plato, which almost solves the mystery itself
2.13 Death Dispatch 6*- the first Cathy Gale episode made, and despite the rough edges (dodgy studio sets etc) shows potential. In Jamaica, Baxter a courier is knifed. Steed takes over, foiling an assassination and revolution, "they don't look like criminals." Steed and Cathy enjoy one sparkling scene in her hotel bedroom, while Gerald Harper offers an officious offical
2.15 Intercrime 5*- Cathy poses as The Executioner, a German criminal. Improbably, she is called on to defend one of the international gang, then has to kill others, including the boss' wife. The usual crisis follows when the real German shows up, too predictably. Steed to the rescue, though Intercrime bosses fall out for a violent punch up
2.16 Immortal Clay 2* - The secret of unbreakable china is discovered, "all that fuss over a little piece of mud!" Cue, industrial espionage, one spy killed, but by whom? Boss Richard (Paul Eddington) or his brother Allen (Gary Watson)? Good characters, but a tedious plot
2.18 Warlock 4*- Mrs Gale is working at the Natural History Museum, where Steed consults her about a hex upon Neville, a scientist who has invented a new fuel. A spell by Cosmo Gallion has lured Neville into his presence. Witches dance impressively, and Peter Arne is convincing as the warlock who lures Cathy to his coven for sacrifice, but of course his plan backfires
2.19 The Golden Eggs 2*- Dr Ashe's lab is broken into, he claims nothing has been stolen. But Leo the thief has nicked two golden eggs, and becomes delirious, and is killed in a crash. Where has he hidden the eggs? It's vital to find them, as Ashe works on viruses. Cathy recovers the eggs as the story drifts tediously to a final showdown with archvillain Redfern (Peter Arne)
2.21 The White Dwarf 2*- An anstromer is murdered. He had predicted the destruction of the world.While the government keep his theory secret, Cathy travels to Tor Point Oberservatory in time for a second death. It's a plot by two Wall Street and London businessmen to make a financial killing. Instead the American is done in also. A scientifically dodgy plot with some loose sub plots
2.23 Conspiracy of Silence 2* - "This man- kill him." The man is Steed, and on film in the park, he plays with his dog. Carlo shoots- but loses his nerve. Cathy stays at a circus to locate Carlo who is in hiding from everyone. Despite some surrealistic camerawork, this is slow moving, not even a punch up to finish
2.26 Killer Whale 3* - Dirty deeds at Pancho's gym, as Steed and Cathy promote boxer Joey. "What are you really after?" Cathy wants to know, and surprisingly the answer lies in perfume. This slow story ends the series, with our two stars going off on holiday, separately, despite Steed's overtures
3.2 The Undertakers 8* - millionaire Prof Renter (Patrick Holt) has gone into "meditation" at Adelphi Park "rather suddenly." He's not the only millionaire residing at this establishment run by Lomax (Lee Patterson), to avoid death duties. Latest arrival is the husband of Cathy (Jan Holden), followed by Mrs Lomax, just so the surviving partners can have it off together. Daphne (Mandy Miller), Paula's stepdaughter shows up at Adelphi Park looking for her dad, just as well Cathy has obtained the job of assistant matron here. The boss is finally rounded up by Steed and Cathy in a long filmed sequence shot in the surreal grounds of York House
3.4 The Nutshell 8* - An "impenetrable" nuclear bunker, level 43, suffers a break-in, "somebody has stolen Big Ben!" This is a vital document, and the traitor must be exposed, though it seems Steed in number one suspect,Yes it's "Steed of all people." Cathy: "Steed, what is going on?...Even for you, aren't you behaving a little oddly?"He is charged with high treason, surely this cannot be! "Steed will have to talk," but even Cathy can't achieve that. In the end of course, all is revealed
3.5 Death of a Batman 5* - Lord Teale (Andre Morell) had the same batman in the first war as Steed did in the second. This batman has died, leaving in his will £180,000, a vast sum earned by "financial pimps" Teale and Van Doren. Lady Cynthia, or perhaps her investments, are wooed by Steed, playing "Samson" to her "Delilah," tracking down insider dealing, which may be altruistic, but also dishonest, "I'm a patriot, not a traitor"
3.6 November Five 3*- "That sort of thing doesn't happen in this country." But one and a half seconds after being elected, an MP is shot dead, "shortest political career on record." He was elected on his promise to expose the hushed up theft of a five megaton warhead. Cathy stands for Parliament amid political manoeuvres that don't quite ignite, despite the threat of "the biggest bumper Guy Fawkes Night of all time"
3.7 The Gilded Cage 6* - Three million in gold bullion is what Steed wants to use to lure irascible crimebroker JP Spagge (a snapping Patrick Magee) back into business. But Spagge and his superior butler Fleming (a nicely unobsequious Norman Chappell) are a cautious pair and take "the necessary action" of shooting Steed and arresting Cathy for murder, "I think there must be some mistake." There is, it's a test to see if the scheme is genuine. Cathy leads them into the subterranean vaults, but is found out and faces being shot too. "Very smart work, Mr Steed!" as both appear very much alive to face up to the criminals
3.8 Second Sight 2* - Live corneal grafting in a Swiss clinic with avant garde sets and camera angles to match. It's run by a blind millionaire (John Carson). This is a curious tale for The Avengers, with a lethargic start, but after muddling through, motives are exposed, though never very satisfactorily. The corny climax is a gunfight with the blind man- in the dark of course
3.10 The Grandeur That Was Rome 5*- introducing perhaps the first great Avengers flawed megalomaniac, Bruno (Hugh Burden) who plans to rule the world as Caesar. Cathy is nearly used as "an offering to the gods," to test out Bruno's evil germ warfare. Octavia his wife (Colette Wilde) is feckless, and "this Roman gimmick" ends with predicatble betrayal, even though the script avoids the obvious Et Tu Brute. However Steed does offer us Anyone For Tennis?
3.11 The Golden Fleece 3* - Army men are scheming to protect their gold smuggling racket with their intermediary Mr Lo at Mrs Kwan's restaurant. Corporal Jones (not the Dad's Army veteran of course) has nicked a consignment, and is murdered. Cathy joins the army museum in a bitty story that offers a hint of a moral message
3.12 Don't Look Behind You 3* - In his "spanking new car," GK3295, Steed drives Mrs Gale to Hounds of the Baskerville Country, where she is left alone in Resagne Hall, an ultra impressive set in a plot so celebrated it was reused for an Emma Peel version. Yet it's too close to the atmosphere of the pretentious Armchair Theatre to be my favourite, it's intended to be scary, but I found it frustratingly tedious. Not Authentic Avengers
3.13 Death A La Carte 4*- Steed is chef Sebastian, who provides the food for a visiting emir in a hotel, in which all the action takes place. Despite neat touches of humour, this is unexceptional, The Protectors Cathy and Steed seemingly failing in their mission to protect the emir
3.14 Dressed to Kill 7*- The Third World War nearly breaks out as Steed joins a New Year's Party on board a train, destination? "It's a bit quiet for Wolverhampton," in fact guests are marooned on a deserted railway station, among them Leonard Rossiter who seems to be auditioning for Rigsby, and Pussy Cat Anneke Wills who charms Steed, and vice versa, to Cathy Gale's obvious indifference. After a slow beginning, which must have been produced after a party itself, tension builds, "one of us here is an imposter." High Noon at the station
3.15 The White Elephant 5*- Snowy escapes from Noah's Ark Zoo, where Mrs Gale uncoincidentally lands a job. Lots of animals populate the studio, mostly well behaved, though Godfrey Quigley as Noah has competition from a parrot on his shoulder, and one slithery snake. Not to forget that ubiquitous fly on the VCR screen. Ivory smuggling is behind Snowy the elephant's demise, and it's interesting to speculate how well the characters and theme might have been developed in the filmed series. Cathy is caged with a tiger, though Steeds rescues her tongue in cheek- she is never seen with the tiger, that would have been impossible eh?
3.16 The Little Wonders 8*- Cathy paying £20,000 to repair a doll, shows that all is not quite what it seems in this nice tongue in cheek story by Eric Paice. Steed, as The Vicar of Mbote, alias Johnny the Horse, attends primary school for an international convocation of disreputable 'vicars,' who are electing a new leader. With a collection plate containing guns, Lois Maxwell as Sister Johnson tops them with her machine gun, and some muffed lines
3.17 The Wringer 4* - six out of the last seven agents crossing from Hungary have been "lost." Hal Anderson (Peter Sallis) was investigating, but hasn't reported back. Steed finds him. Anderson alleges Steed is the traitor and "he's guilty until proved innocent." Steed is incarcerated and it's up to Cathy Gale to extricate him from being brainwashed by his own side's traitorous brainwashers. Don't miss the fly on the camera lens in Act 2. It makes a return appearance later too!
3.18 Mandrake 8*- a stunning set of St Alban's churchyard in Cornwall is where nine burials of Londoners have taken place in the past three months. Cathy chats with the vicar, Rev Whyper (George Benson) in the equally impressive church set. She consults Dr Macombie (John le Mesurier) who had signed the suspicious death certificates. He is in league with Roy Hopkins (Philip Locke) of Mandrake Investments who has fallen for their next client, the "loaded" Mrs. Turner, whose husband is next for the poison, "this is an evil business, Mrs Gale." (Note- the actual church is allegedly "near Bodmin" but later seems much further south west)
3.19 The Secrets Broker 4*- An engineer working on an underwater tracking device is murdered. Freddy the killer (John Stone) has been blackmailed into doing it- he works at a high class wine dealers. All the usual Avengers ingredients are here, but never is this scintillating. Pat English offers us another potential blackmail victim with her abandoned love making, while Jack May plays the single minded boss, a cross of cockney Laughton hunchback
3.20 Trojan Horse 4*- Steed has to look after Sebastian, actually a horse, a real one too in the studio, but this is a mere excuse to poke around the stables, hq of Heuston's gang that "kills to order," blackmailing people like ffordsham, (Geoffrey Whitehead) who have gambled themselves into debt. Cathy joins Heuston's legitimate betting business and is chatted up by him, while Steed is next on the gang's assassination list
3.21 Build a Better Mousetrap 8* - A nice juxtapposition between leather clad rockers with ton up Cathy one of their bunch, and two old dears (Athene Seyler and Nora Nicholson), whom legend has are witches. They are able to silence the motorbikes and all machinery near their old mill, no wonder lots of people including Steed are after their invention. Impressive sets, wild music and an iconic if insubstantial story
3.22 The Outside-In Man 4*- Steed is in charge of the security of visiting General Sharp of Aburania, who five years ago had been branded a traitor and agent Mark Charter (James Maxwell) had been ordered to kill him. He failed, but by "an extraordinary coincidence," has come out of jail just as Sharp is coming to Britain. Charter is insisting on completing his mission, Steed has to stop him, but others want the general dead too, in this straightforward story, even the twist is easily predicted. Interesting that Ronald Radd plays Steed's superior in this, echoes of Callan all too apparent
3.23 The Charmers 9* - Alas Poor Agent George, killed by the thrust of a rapier. But whodunnit? Not Steed, "I haven't killed anyone all week." Nor Keller (Warren Mitchell) on the other side, so the pair form an unholy alliance to expose a common enemy. Or rather Steeds persuades Cathy to work with Them, while Steed is given agent Kim (Fenella Fielding), "from us to you..." MacNee is in sparkling form as the two sides work together in mutual distrust. A stylish story with all the latent eccentricities that later flourished, as the enemy is unearthed at the Pimlico Charm School, principal (Brian Oulton), which turns "mere men into gentlemen"
3.24 Concerto - Stefan, the famous young Russian pianist is protected by Zelenko (Nigel Stock) on a cultural visit to Britain. That help is needed when a girl is found strangled in his hotel room. It's an attempt to frame him, a second try occurs at The Stud Club before the third and final effort by Peterson of the British Arts Council. With a photo of Stefan at the strip club, Peterson forces Stefan to agree to shoot the Trade Minister. Steed and Cathy play a game of one sided roulette, but the bullet is never fired, nor is this story ever really fired into life
3.25 Esprit de Corps 7*- One of those fantastic world-ranging plots that only The Avengers had. But for Steed it starts in a humble launderette, investigating the shooting of a soldier. He asks Cathy to "infiltrate" a Highland regiment led by "crashing bore" Captain Trench (John Thaw). A simulated defence exercise of London proves to be merely an outlandish scheme to reinstate the House of Stuart on to the British throne. The archetypal Avengers villainous boss, in this instance a Scottish crank (Duncan Macrae) is somehow convinced Cathy's "second in line of succession to the Scottish throne"! Steed, meantime, is courtmartialed and is up before a firing squad. Fortunately this is presided over by the corruptible Private Jessop, endearingly played by Roy Kinnear, who after entertaining Steed, and us, with a final champagne breakfast, proceeds to his execution. The plot fails of course, or who knows, Cathy would have become our 'Queen Anne II'!
3.26 Lobster Quadrille 4* - Agent Williams is burned to death. Steed and Cathy dabble in chess, and tackle smugglers in the lobster trade. Steed dates singer Kate (Jennie Linden), scent of romance in this final episode in which Cathy "disappears," nearly burned like Williams, but not, but then she does, "I'm taking a holiday... goodbye"

On Film With DIANA RIGG as Emma Peel:
4.1 The Town of No Return 7*- Perhaps as this had to be refilmed, the story doesn't quite come over, even though it's an archetypal Avengers plot about the isolated oppressive village of Little Bazeley, not visitor friendly. Patrick Newell is the latest arrival to be bumped off- pity he ever returned to the series
4.2 The Grave-Diggers 8*- Top radar expert Dr Hubert Marlow has died, but is alive and well in a benevolent nursing home, funds for which are provided by this week's splendid eccentric Sir Horace Winslip (Ronald Fraser). Coffins are being filled by undertakers, who are placing radio jamming devices to render our country's defences defenceless. Emma Peel takes up a nursing post here, ending up tied to Sir Horace's private railway track, about to be squashed in true silent movie style
4.3 The Cybernauts 8*- Emma shows her prowess at karate and purchases electronic toys, while Steed finds in United Automation, run by the demented Armstrong (Michael Gough) the age of the pushbutton. Of course "machines can go wrong," and Steed proves it in a classic conclusion as two automated assassins bash the hell out of each other
4.4 Death at Bargain Prices 8* -Business at Pinter's department store is poor, mainly because most of the staff know nothing about salesmanship. Emma joins the staff. The store has just been taken over by King Caine (Andre Morell) who, with the aid of a giant bomb, is planning to take over the country, and to prove his point he's first going to blow up London
4.5 Castle De'Ath 6*- Jock McSteed in a giant Scottish castle, Mrs Peel, her hair changes colour from scene to scene. Gordon Jackson plays a typically dour Scots role in a story set in the deepest darkest dungeon, but that's secondary to the scenery and the fun
4.6 The Master Minds 6* - "a touch of fantasy" when a cabinet minster breaks into a government strongroom. He is a member of Ransack, the organisation for superior minds. Emma passes their IQ test, as does Steed after some help from Emma, though he's not bright enough to prevent the MP's murder. At Ransack hq, members are brainwashed into stealing a guided missile. Emma even volunteers to kill Steed. An inventive fight sequence terminates the evil plot
4.7 The Murder Market 7*- An inventive Tony Williamson script in which Steed and Mrs Peel investigate eleven murders. Could Steed be the twelfth? He joins Togetherness Inc, an exclusive marriage bureau run by Lovejoy (Patrick Cargill), who finds Steed his perfect partner in Barbara (Suzanne Lloyd). To prove himself, Steed must murder another client, name of Peel, Mrs Peel
4.8 A Surfeit of H2O 8*- Jonah (shouldn't he have been called Noah? - alias Noel Purcell) is building an Ark because he knows the floods are coming. Sinister experiments in a wine factory by Albert Lieven and Geoffrey Palmer are causing abnormally high levels of rainfall. Steed guzzles wine while Emma is caught in the winepress
4.9 The Hour That Never Was 4* - The mystery of a deserted airbase takes for ever to unravel, well for the first half we are left guessing. Things perk up slightly with the arrival of Roy Kinnear, but mystery only deepens with Mrs Peel's disappearance. Some corn at the dentist amid the intrigue which does offer a satisfying denouement
4.10 Dial A Deadly Number 5*- This has all the appearance of being a reworked script from the previous series, but on film. Lots of close ups etc, but nicely done, dynamic company chairman are dying off alarmingly. "Mechanical genius" Fitch (John Carson) has invented a device that "bleeps" his victims to death. Steed attends the most unusual wine tasting ever
4.11 The Man-Eater of Surrey Green 7*- "Passive inanimate" plants are being secretly cultivated in this dark story, plants that can even think. The plot is a muddle and the special effects are unintentionally laughable, but Athene Seyler steals the show as an expert charged with destroying the giant tentacled plant. When Emma falls under its spell, Steed has to fight even her
4.12 Two's A Crowd 4* - Col Psev, king of spies, needs to be prevented from infiltrating a conference on Polaris. Introducing Brodny (Warren Mitchell) whose attempt to outwit Steed is of course doomed, despite the discovery of Steed's double. Psev has his own secret, but attacking Steed and Emma with a model plane is simply too ridiculous
4.13 Too Many Christmas Trees 8* - Steed's surreal nightmare of a grotesque Santa Claus becomes reality at a country house weekend with a Dickensian Christmas theme. It's all part of a plot to extract the secrets of his mind, ending with an inventive punchup in a Hall of Mirrors
4.14 Silent Dust 7* - Where have all the martlets gone? A pesticide could destroy the whole of Dorset unless £40 million is paid up. And that's only for starters. One mislaid Western fantasy deflects the menace and if you don't like fox hunting, be warned: Emma is the quarry
4.16 Small Game for Big Hunters 6* - "the natives are restless" is one of the expected lines in this story set in deepest Hertfordshire, where this week's eccentric, "old stager" Bill Fraser, hams it up as an ex-colonialist, still living in his recreated jungle. His evil associates are using him to release a new stream of tsetse fly to take over a former colony. Steed emulates Tarzan, while it's Me Emma to the rescue
4.17 The Girl from Auntie 7*- Who is impersonating Emma Peel? Georgy (Liz Fraser), who proves a fine stand-in, as she follows Steed in his quest for kidnapper Auntie (Alfred Burke). He employs elderly top class knitters who bump off all opposition, and guard Emma's hiding place, a giant birdcage. There's plenty more in this entertaining piece of nonsense, Auntie auctioning off the real Mona Lisa, before putting Emma up for auction. Steed puts in the highest bid of £200,000
4.18 The Thirteenth Hole 5* - The entire story is set in Graigleigh Golf Club, where Frank Reed (Patrick Allen) and his partner Peter Adams (Peter Jones) are up to no good. In the big tournament it is Reed v Steed, and with help from the latter's "fairy godmother" Emma, it's no contest. Then Steed plays Adams and with a bomb in the twelfth hole, and dirty work in the 13th bunker, Steed and Emma have their work cut out to prevent a spy rendezvous via satellite
4.19 The Quick-Quick Slow Death 8* - Emma has her "impressive" feet "cherished," and trips the light fantastic. Steed dances elegantly with Eunice Gayson in a zany Dancing Knockout. But my favourite cameo, among a host of zany parts, is that of Larry Cross as the inebriated dance band leader, closely followed by the tattooist and the zealous shoe salesman. The mystery surrounds a Mr Arthur Peever, dead but still dancing. The plot is something to do with illegal spy immigrants
4.20 The Danger Makers 7* - Top military men are dicing with death like "irresponsible beatniks." Their Black Rose Society puts "the spine" back into living, an antidote to too much Health and Safety, which even in those days was apparently overbearing. One member, Major Robertson (Nigel Davenport) is "a defunct obselete dodo," who however persuades Emma to be initiated via an explosive test, all so Apollo their leader can be exposed
4.21 A Touch of Brimstone 7* - "Childish" but diplomatically embarrassing practical jokes are planned by Hon John Cartney and his evil lordly layabouts of The Hellfire Club. Peter Wyngarde plays him at his most wild eyed and though it's "a lot of nonsense," Steed is initiated in time to thwart a fireworks display that will topple the government, though this is entirely incidental to the infamous whipping scene with Mrs Peel at her most m-appealing
4.22 What the Butler Saw 7* - Butlers are taking over posts at top servicemen's houses, so Steed joins a School for Butlers ("Brighter More Beautiful Butling") so he can become the perfect gentleman's gentleman. Emma plans seduction of the Group Captain while Steed watches on. Nice roles for Thorley Walters, John le Mesurier and Kynaston Reeves who is this week's eccentric, as a retired brigadier
4.23 The House that Jack Built 4* - Emma has inherited a mansion, which is more a labyrinth, "automation to the ultimate degree," built by Prof Keller in a plot just slightly akin to The Prisoner. Is his devillish machine superior to man, as the late professor claims? Or can Emma prove its master? The house is designed to drive Emma mad, or is it the viewer? Steed is on hand, very dithery, but Emma solves how to beat the machine all on her ownsome
4.24 A Sense of History 6*- This doesn't quite come off, as Steed and Emma try to "recapture their college days," mixing with some overgrown students led by the "factious" and "exceptionally nasty" Duboys (Patrick Mower at his best, or worst!). At a Rag Ball, the yobs plan, wait for it, "to change the course of history," but there to spoil their plan are Emma dressed as Robin Hood and Steed as The Sheriff of Nottingham. Hamming it up as "live bait," Nigel Stock steals the show
4.25 How to Succeed...at Murder 6* - An "epidemic" of deaths of prominent businessmen, this week's eccentric JJ Hooter being the twelfth. Steed's £4m business attracts another "thoroughly efficient secretary" (Angela Browne), while Emma infiltrates a feminine organisation whose motto is "Ruination to All Men"
4.26 Honey for the Prince 4*- For me, this too over-the-top story marks the series' decline to stories of merely near-excellence. "A happy bee makes bumper honey," declares Mr B Bumble (Ken Parry) before he's bumped off. The same fate awaits Ponsonby Hopkirk (Ron Moody) whose business is QQF: Quite Quite Fantastic. He has inadvertently devised a means to assassinate the Prince of Barabia. Steed plays cricket with the prince after meeting a genie, while Emma which is attached to his harem
Colour series:
PROMO - The Strange Case of the Missing Corpse -three minute, very-mini pilot, shot in about 3 minutes!
5.1 From Venus With Love 4* - BVS, the British Venusian Society are losing many of their members, prematurely aged. Steed joins after Bert Smith, aristocractic chimney sweep gets the treatment. Then it's the turn of The Brigadier (Jon Pertwee). Emma nearly becomes the next guinea pig for advanced laser treatment
5.3 Escape in Time 6* - Here's an incredible escape route for notorious criminals to "complete liberty". It is run by the weird Waldo Thyssen (Peter Bowles) who blinks nervously at his victims before transposing them, allegedly, into a bygone era- for a hefty fee. In Steed's case, the date is 1790, as for Emma, she'd like to be Mme Pompadour, except she's rumbled and sent off to 1570 to be tortured by the redoutable Matthew Thyssen. A lot of nonsense of course, but fun nonsense
5:4 The See-Through Man 7*- Nobody spotted the intruder at the MOD. This week's eccentric is Roy Kinnear, playing a mad inventor of an invisible formula, now sold to the Commies. Steed tangles with old enemy Brodny (from 4.12, Warren Mitchell who just overdoes it), "you are talking too much." You wait for Steed to become invisible, but the story is always just a little, shall we say, too transparent
5.6 The Winged Avenger 5* - The one in which the series really did turn into a cartoon. A "huge obscene bird" is scratching to extinction ruthless businessmen. Is loony Prof Poole (Jack Macgowran), inventor of special climbing boots, the villain? And just who is masquerading as The Winged Avenger who has "a lone fight against evil"?
5.7 The Living Dead 6* - FOG, Friends of Ghosts, versus SMOG, Scientific Measurement of Ghosts. Purpose- find the fifteenth duke, deceased in a mining disaster, now appearing in spirit form. But it is Emma who is spirited away, to where? An underground town from where an army will soon emerge to "decimate" Britain. Steed faces a firing squad, but thankfully Emma shoots the squad
5.8 The Hidden Tiger 6*- On an experimental farm, men are being mauled to death- "impossible!" Steed joins PURRR, the luxury home for pampered cats, run by Cheshire (Ronnie Barker). The sets are fantastic, as is the plot, though the unseen monster relies entirely on the imagination, in a fantastic plot to plunder the country's wealth
5.9 The Correct Way to Kill 8*- Several of Them are being bumped off, but who by? Emma joins forces with Them (Philip Madoc and Michael Gough, both splendidly sinister), while the by-the-book Comrade Olga (Anna Quayle) fraternises with Steed. They encounter the usual run of eccentrics- Peter Hawkins as The Umbrella Man the best of them, though running him close is Terence Alexander of SNOB, a training centre for young gents.
5.10 Never Never Say Die 5*- Someone looking like Christopher Lee is roving the countryside smashing transistors, and people. It's the alter ego of Prof Stone, no Jekyll and Hyde but the lifelike product of a research station. It demolishes this week's nice eccentric, a radio ham, the aim being to preserve for ever brilliant minds, and duplicate politicians- as though we haven't enough of them as it is
5.11 Epic 2* - Peter Wygarde hams it up though Kenneth Warren as director ZZ von Schnerk isn't far behind him, as Emma is lured to the film studios to participate in a film about her own demise. Quite why, probably who cares, but this is real director James Hill at his over indulgent worst. Of course The Avengers is in itself on-the-edge fantasy, but for me, this story tilts too over the top, without any connection with reality or indeed sense
5.12 The Superlative Seven 4*- Steed is invited to a fancy dress party on a plane. Seven guests but no pilot. All are experts. They are taken to an island where survival is the order of the day, "only one will win through." And then there were... Steed of course, plus the Hangman (the blessed Blessed) and Hana Wild cowgirl (Charlotte Rampling). I found this story a little too far even from fantasy, perhaps it was a failed pilot for one of those reality shows in the jungle. But in true Avengers style, Emma comes to Steed's rescue- "I don't believe it," declares Steed, ah so this was actually the pilot for the character of Victor Meldrew?
5.13 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station 8* - Narborough Junction is where Agent Lucas alights from his train to meet Steed, but it is a trick, actually disused Chase Halt, where he is bumped off. Emma races to prevent spies detonating a bomb on a train that will wipe out the Prime Minister. This week's eccentric is James Hayter as the megalomaniac, while John Laurie plays a railway fanatic who really should have spotted that the electric train we see could not have departed from King's Cross. How a mere railway halt could be confused for a junction is another mystery, but that is picking holes in a wonderfully madcap story
5.14 Something Nasty in the Nursery 8*- "Once upon a time, there was a big bad nanny," who was able to make her former charges return to their childhood, "bad business this." At the Guild of Noble Nannies, Emma reverts herself, in this 60's psychedelic fantasy
5.15 The Joker 5*- Emma goes to lonely Exmoor to play bridge, but the only person here is the weird Ola, seemingly a refugee from Armchair Theatre. It's the familiar Clemens motif of the empty mansion storyline, with an old enemy Max, with a warped sense of humour, out for revenge on Emma
5.16 Who's Who??? 7* - Ze mad scientist experiment sees Basil and Honey Love change psyches with Steed and Emma so they can bump off members of The Network. Daffodil is first to go, then Poppy. Tulip (Peter Reynolds) is sent to save the remainder of his brothers while Steed and Mrs Peel face an identity crisis, in a story which is nicely tongue in cheek but perhaps a little too clever, as they race to restore the status quo
5.17 Return of the Cybernauts 8*- Paul Beresford has inherited the blueprints for his brother's cybernauts. Now he's kidnapped three scientists in order to devise a fiendish torture suitable for his brother's killers, namely Steed and Emma. And what a torture they make reality, Human Cybernauts! Peter Cushing is very understated as the man out for revenge, wooing Emma, but never sinister enough
5.18 Death's Door 6*- Sir Andrew (Clifford Evans) scuttles away "like a frightened rabbit" from an important conference. Lord Melford (Allan Cuthbertson), his replacement, becomes similarly "panic ridden," with presentiments of impending disaster. Steed and Emma are very slow in believing him, until they discover a warehouse of props used to create his fantastic nightmare. Thus they ensure the conference for a United Europe can go ahead
5.19 The 50,000 Breakfast 6*- By Avengers' standards, a mundane Roger Marshall story about an ultra elusive phlanthropist, who, it's easy to surmise, has died. His memory and his good deeds however linger on. His butler (the marvellous Cecil Parker) is one due to inherit eleven million, his best line comes when he tells Steed his dream of (mis)spending his new fortune
5.20 Dead Man's Treasure 5*- Arthur Lowe is this week's eccentric, a racing driver, "metaphorically speaking." Steed and Emma join a car rally in quest of a treasure, Steed's partner merely talkative, Emma's decidedly dangerous
5.21 You Have Just Been Murdered 6* - Less quirky, even though Jarvis has been murdered three times. He had recently withdrawn a million from his bank. Next million is from a scared Rathbone, then it's George Unwin's turn. They are all being frightened out of their wits into handing over the cash by the horrid Needle (George Murcell)
5.22 The Positive Negative Man 7* - Top secret Project 90 plans are burnt to bits. Scientists involved in the project are being nastily electrocuted with "broadcast power," ultra high frequency waves devised by James Mankin, who however is next in line for electrocution. Evil genius Prof Cresswell ties up Emma in silver foil in order to lure Steed to his own high voltage demise, only of course Steed neatly turns the tables
5.23 Murdersville 7* - Little Storping is "a friendly little place," apart from all the gunshots and murders. Emma faces a conspiracy of silence among the surly villagers, who kill victims for a flat fee. Next target has to be Emma, until Steed comes to her rescue.
5.24 Mission .. Highly Improbable - Diana Rigg's last complete story is a brilliantly inventive plot of how Frances Matthews is using his eccentric professor boss' Reduction Machine to reduce anything at will to pocket size. Including the latest top secret tank which he's happy to smuggle to the Other Side (in the shape of the too smart Ronald Radd). It was bound to happen: Steed gets reduced to mini-size but it's Emma to his rescue... if she can spot him!