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Ah, Steed and Mrs. Peel, the coolest couple on TV. From their elegant and stylish clothes, to their charm and wit; the skilled professional and the talented amateur thrilled us every week. The series combined imagination, thrills, action, sophistication, and wit into an unbeatable package.
Patrick MacNee was the linchpin of the series. He was there from the beginning and made the show what it was. He exuded charm and sophistication, with a devilish twinkle in his eye. MacNee played it straight, but always kept a smile on his face to let you know he didn't take it too seriously. He developed new relationships with each partner, creating a new chemistry each time. He also set a style that was counter to the counter-culture, without seeming outdated.
Diana Rigg was the marvelous Mrs. Emma Peel, a stunning combination of beauty and brains, who could also knock the bejesus out of the bad guys. She spawned more than a few kinky fantasies with her leather wardrobe and fisticuffs, not to mention her penchant for ending up in a bind. Ms. Rigg was an actress of the first level and brought strong performance to the role. She was adept at both the comedy and the drama, and a deft hand at the stuntwork; well, for the amount not done by Cyd Child and the other team members. Her presence was sorely missed in the later series.
Linda Thorson came on board as Mrs. Peel's replacement. She had a tough job from the beginning; no one could easily follow Diana Rigg. Although she was a bit stiff at first, she improved as time went on and developed a strong chemistry with Steed. Where there was a hint of a deeper relationship between Steed and Peel, it was obvious that Tara King worshiped Steed. The hints were closer to statements here. Tara was more inexperienced, matching Ms. Thorson's own skills, but she got there in the end. Her tenure was diluted by weaker scripts and less dazzling costumes. She didn't have Ms. Rigg's figure, but her clothes could have been improved.
Patrick Newell made a great addition in the Tara King series, moving up from bit player to become Mother, Steed and King's boss. He was pompous and grumpy and completely eccentric; perfect for the series. His office seemed to move around more than M and Q, in the Bond series. My favorite was the top deck of a bus, in "False Witness." He was accompanied by his amazonian aide, Rhonda, who combined looks with a strong physical presence.
I never got to see more than a handful of Cathy Gale episodes, so I can't really comment on the series, except that those few left me cold. The studio staging and video recording detracted from the excitement. Perhaps I just haven't seen enough episodes to fully appreciate these series. I know that Honor Blackman set the standard for the women who followed.
The Avengers was great fun, with action and thrills working alongside comedy and the surreal. Some episodes were a bit slow and some had absurd plots, but even they had an element of fun. The best episodes featured wonderful characters and bizarre plans, combined with deft wit and charm. Those episodes never grow tiresome with repeated viewing. Some of my personal favorites are: The Gravediggers, The Cybernauts and Return of the Cybernauts, Girl from A.U.N.T.I.E., Quick-Quick Slow Death, A Touch of Brimstone, The Living Dead, Epic, The Forget-Me-Knot, Game, False Witness, and Have Guns..Will Haggle.
When it came time for a long-discussed movie, the audience was kicked in the teeth. Instead of our favorite John Steed and Mrs Peel, we were given the Bizarro World versions, bereft of charm and style, and nary an ounce of wit.
Watching it, I was sure the screenwriter and director had been watching The Prisoner instead of The Avengers. It was cold and bizarre, not warm and charming. Had they meant to do The Prisoner, the still missed the boat, as it's intelligence was not to be found either. It was an abysmal failure. Patrick MacNee was a genius for keeping his face off the screen, so that he emerged from this mess with his dignity intact. You just can't remake a classic.
Bravo to A&E for bringing the entire series (except the Ian Hendry years) to DVD. The only quibble is the lack of extra features. A documentary would have been nice, commentaries would have been fantastic. At least I am able to revisit my favorite duo with a pristine picture.
score /10
grendelkhan 23 October 2004
Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw0951527/ |
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20-4-2021 01:06:09