Episode 87: Emma Peel Era
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Produced: 30 April to ca. 11 May 1965
UK Premiere (London, Season 4): 19 November 1965
US Premiere: Not included in original lineup
A very scientific wine merchant with a thick German accent plans
to retire on the millions he will make selling a device that can conquer a country—any country—by drowning it with
man-made rain. But his plot is brought to the attention of the outside world by Jonah Bernard's letters to the
newspapers about what he fears is the coming flood. When Steed and Emma investigate, they discover a stubborn cloud
that is always hanging over the winery, among other meteorological anomalies. As Steed observes, "Wonderful weather
we're not having!"
IMHO |
It's a surfeit of fabulous crackpot characters, most notably Eli Barker (Talfryn Thomas) and Jonah Barnard (Noel Purcel). Plus, there's one of the best fight sequences of the series, as Jonah enthusiastically joins the Avengers in a soggy battle with the baddies. "Hallelujah!"
This episode is also representative of an interesting
dichotomy with respect to performance versus genre reminiscent of M*A*S*H in its
later years. While The Avengers is clearly lightweight fantasy with comic
overtones (witness Macnee's hysterical soliloquy on drinking wine), there are also
occasional undercurrents of serious dramatic tension. Take, for instance, Diana Rigg's
performance while trapped in the wine press: Her flinches of pain are mighty
convincing—in fact, I wince every time I see them. And then she turns right around and
utters the show's best line...
Trivia |
Rob Sinden of Brighton, UK, wonders why no one seems to have noticed that "sturm" is German for "storm," so the diabolical mastermind is called "Dr. Storm."
Sue Lloyd (not be mistaken for Suzanne Lloyd) played Hannah Wild, Steed's partner, in the short-lived stage play of The Avengers.
Geoffrey Palmer appeared in the Police Surgeon episode, "Smash But No Grab."
According to Television's Greatest Hits, this was the top-rated episode for 1965, and ranked fourth of all Avengers episodes according to viewer ratings at the time it aired. It may come as a surprise what the other top-rated episodes were.
Steed's Aunties: Whilst Steed is poking the impression of Sir Arnold Kelly
left in the field, he remarks to Jonah, "I had an auntie who used to make biscuits
like this." (Could this be Auntie Penelope, who sent Steed "rock cakes" in
"Dead Man's Treasure"?)
Best Scene |
Playing the part of a wine merchant, Steed declares the
brochures to be useless and carries on at length to the receptionist about the emotional
satisfaction of drinking wine (a subject near and dear to Steed's heart, to be sure).
Best Line |
Trapped in the hydraulic press, Emma growls to Dr. Sturm,
"You diabolical mastermind, you!"
Tag |
Steed and Emma, the latter suffering from a cold, drive off in a little puddle-jumper Minimoke.
