The Emma Peel Episodes du Jour:
Season 4 (1965-66)
Ok, I'd just like to say a few things about this page. First, I'm trying to get a really DETAILED, click-to-get-to-it episode guide. That's not working with my life right now. Over the course of the next year, it's going to happen -- just be patient. Second, I'd just like to share this quote I read on David K. Smith's webpage today. It pretty much sums up my tolerance for complete PWP (plot? what plot?) "Plot is secondary in the AVENGERS. Steed and Emma could be discussing the weather and I'd listen with rapt attention." OK, on with the *show*.
The scenario is this. You walk into a room labelled "Episode Guides." It's set up like a restaurant. The menues are the episodes. A server walks towards you and says:
"Hi, I'm Alanna and I'll be your server today. Our specials are "What the Butler Saw" and "The Charmers". Here's your menu. Enjoy your stay here at the Episode Guide."
Today, our menu:
The Town of No Return: Emma's debut episode, and a delightful one! The first of many "underground people try to take over England" plots, and it's still fresh and new. Worth a watch just for the precious opening scenes: a man emerges from the sea in a trash bag, Emma and Steed have an unforgettable fencing match, and Steed's bottomless "picnic" on the train.
The Gravediggers: Another charming episode. A diabolical hospital for ailing railway men? Why not? Classic Avengers eccentrics abound, and a goofy and suspenseful scene with Emma tied to a set of miniature train tracks with melodramtic music playing in the background.
The Cybernauts: The first of three "Cybernauts" episodes might take first place. Deadly pens, a futuristic office, and Tusamo's prophetic speech: "...Computers no bigger than a cigarette box. Pocket television. And radios smaller than a wristwatch." A great fight at the end tops off a fine episode.
Castle De'ath: The great sets and costumes of this episode cover a somewhat half-hearted plot splendidly. Mrs. Peel gets hurt (!) and plays the bagpipes while Steed performs a Scottish crossed-swords dance. Great villains top off an episode that would normally only be mediocre. Thank heavens for Scotland!
The Master Minds:"Look, do you mind, it's like watching a game of perpendicular tennis!" Steed summed up the episode more than he thought with that classic line -- in other words, you have to pay attention ALL THE TIME so this classic will make sense. It's just wonderful. I love the opening scene for no particular reason -- seeing Mrs. Peel grouch at Steed about the time of morning somehow makes her more human. Um... other than that. The psychiatrist is hilarious -- I crack up every time I hear "I've thought and thought..." Had he been sitting there for four days? Emma's orders always make me bite my nails, and the microphone is just too silly.
Death at Bargain Prices: A department store that's really a bomb? Well, this is the Avengers, isn't it? More to watch for in this episode are some great scenes: Emma's department-store lunch ("Ooh. 7 and a half minutes") and the Department of Discontinued Line, plus Emma working in the lingerie department... ("I raced up the stairs three at a time.")
The Murder Market: The first episode filmed with Diana Rigg, Emma is not quite herself in the first scenes, but that doesn't take this one off my top ten list. Steed's "killing" Emma ::cough::, a sickeningly sweet marriage buearu, and a femme fatale are only a few of the things that make this episode a hit. Sadly, though, the funeral music gets stuck in my head every time I watch it.
A Surfeit of H20: "You diabolical mastermind, you!" That pretty much sums up this episode, but the mastermind isn't the only key to the plot. Great eccentrics abound, Steed's soliliqy on drinking wine is hilarious (as is the ruination of the Bowler Hat.) And there are some horribly suspenseful scenes where Emma is trapped in the wine press.
The Hour that Never Was: Strange. Very strange. Very, very strange. (Bonus points if you can tell me where I got that! Triple if you tell me the situation, the character, and the exact lines). This is a great episode, with some nicely eerie scenes. Plus, Mrs. Peel gets to snap at Steed, the repetitive scenes are nice, and the ending fight is hilarious. Best if you watch it several times!
Dial a Deadly Number: This one hits many Top Ten lists and I see why. The best part, in my opinion, is the wine-tasting duel: creates more tension than any of Mrs. Peel's karate fights. Still, I mustn't overlook a great script, evil villains, and an ingenious method of killing. I've only seen this once (much to my dismay) and can't wait to watch it again.
Man-Eater of Surrey Green: The original title was "Man-Eater of Ferry Green," but "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." So is true with this episode. Pure SF, but pure fun nonetheless. A wonderful botanist, an intricate plot, and the Steed vs. Emma fight at the end make this one a winner. Philip Levene at his most bizzare... his best? That's up to you.
Two's a Crowd: Wow. Confused! Very confused! This episode is another great that you have to watch many times... so do, because you'll really enjoy it once you get the plot... which takes awhile. The first appearance of Brodny, who's a doppelganger -- thanks, David, for that word -- and I find him a bit annoying. Steed -- or is he Gordon Webster? -- is very funny at the fashion show, and in general. But WHO is Fido?
Too Many Christmas Trees: "I've decided to spoil you." The producers obviously did with this fantastic episode, which definitely floats towards the top of my Top Ten! Mrs. Peel's touching concern for Steed, a villainess, Oliver Twist, and of course "Green Grow the Rushes, O."(Click here to hear them singing it online!) This, BTW, wins "The Creepiest and Most Freaky Looking Dead Guy Award". A Christmas (holiday) present of no small size.
Silent Dust: Where, indeed, have all the martlets gone? My idea for a two-liner: Steed gets injured, Emma wears a head-scarf. I was hoping that Prendergast would be the one who would rise to fame in The Joker, but alas, no. When Diana Rigg filmed this, she'd never been on a horse in her life! This wins "The Second Creepiest And Most Freaky Looking Dead Guy Award." The producers were on a roll!
Room Without a View: Emma -- refusing an assignment? Well, there has to be a first time for everything. Chemists all over London are disappearing -- where have all the chemists gone? Emma wears an odd hairstyle, the prison is a nice set, and this episode was so memorable that a friend remembers it years later! (See here for details.)
Small Game for Big Hunters: IMHO, one of the truely only "mediocre" episodes of the season, especially in comparison to the fabulous "Quick-Quick-Slow-Death." The "Kalaya" trick just doesn't do it for me, the plot is uneven, and the flies make me sick -- but it's actually pretty good on the first watch. Colonel Rawlings is a great character, and the fight scene is good also.
The Girl from Auntie: "Well, it seems rather clue-like, don't you think?" A laugh riot! This episode is fantastic despite its lack of Emma. Where was Georgie when Peter Peel returned? We see Steed smash the Mona Lisa, Emma in a feather bikini, and much more.
The Thirteenth Hole: Satellites just confuse me, but I still love this episode. "Ere, before this day is done, you shall have a hole in one!" Not wonderful, but the next week makes up for it with
Quick-Quick-Slow-Death: "How'd you do it?" "I neufed his soixante!" How DID the producers "do it" with this episode? Just the right Avengers touch of wit, silliness, plot, and Avengerishness. "Neufed his soixante" is particularly silly, since that means, "I nined his sixty!" Strange, huh? Number two on my top ten list -- a great episode all the time.
The Danger Makers: A real nail-biter! A charming (while rather hard-to-follow) episode with plenty of little gems if you know where to look. It faces one of my favorite scenes of all time: Emma is sent a box of chocolates, and Steed inspects it. "Aha -- as I thought. Don't touch the wrapped ones." "Why?" "'Cause I like 'em." True, it's silly, but it just adds to the effect. Steed's code name in the secret society is Bacchus (naturally).
A Touch of Brimstone: Let's not even go there. Secret societies seem to be the trend of the month... and this one takes the cake (or should I say medieval turkey leg?) This episode's not-so-subtle sexiness caused it to be banned in the United States. Still, there's more than Emma-watching: the deadly practical jokes are a new twist, some great lines have been slid inside, and guess who designed the Queen of Sin costume? Diana Rigg! Worth watching for many reasons.
What the Butler Saw: I know this episode by heart, frontwards and backwards. I must say it's certainly gained high altitude on my Top Ten list (although it ties with The Hidden Tiger right now). No secret societies for once =) -- but this great hardly needs them! From Group Captain Georgie Miles to the fantastic fight at the end (with Poncenby-Goddard's father doing commentary), I can hardly bear to budge from my seat. Not to be overlooked are the military variations on the Avengers theme -- Laurie Johnson is a genius! Anyone know where I can track down some .WAVs of that score? A few lines have great potential that is left alone... see here for details.
The House that Jack Built: Predecessor to Epic, THTJB has all of the atmospheric bits that it shares with The Joker. Eerie and fascinating, it's a "Patrick-Macnee-Goes-On-Holiday" episode. There is no diolouge for 20+ minutes (a clear indicator of The Avengers's success). Notable especially for the info about Emma's childhood and/or past life... most of that is on my soon-to-be bio page.
A Sense of History: Nothing special... VERY 60's college students, but not much else. The 2-liner -- "Steed dons a gown... Emma becomes a Don" -- is cute, and the multiple Friar Tucks are funny... and who would guess who's behind it all?
How to Succeed... At Murder: Everthing that was done wrong in "A Sense of History" was done right here. Seldom does one find a plot this intriguingly fast-paced, with such effective and surprising diabolical masterminds. There's some confusion as to who voiced Henrietta. Rumors say that it could have been Honor Blackman, but as Macnee doesn't mention it in The Avengers and Me, I quite frankly doubt it. Emma shields Steed (or clings briefly to him) in a fantastic fight scene at the end... although we knew who was THE master mind all along, didn't we?
Honey For the Prince: Steed's real danger in this one was not from a diabolical mastermind, but from a vindictive Emma! He rarely batters her as insultingly as he does in this episode. Still wonderful, especially when Steed's listening to his proposed fantasy: "You're a secret agent... make a change from your ordinary, humdrum existence...?" "It certainly would be a change." Emma shows her prowess at doing everything from sneaking to being a harem girl. A great close to a great season.
