The Avengers Forever: Visitor Review

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Bizarre
by Iain Clarke

It's just a shame that it all had to end this way. The main saving grace is some fantastic performances from Fulton Mackay and the ever-reliable Roy Kinnear, along with some well-shot scenes in the train and the atmospheric opening sequence. I have to agree that Pat, Linda and Patrick seem to be going through the motions here. Tara seems to have nothing to do but whine, although she does get to fight a little during the hospital scenes. Captain Cordell could almost be a prototype for Gambit, even if he does have more smarm than testosterone!

As I said, it's Fulton Mackay that really shines here as the Master: a great comic performance in gravy brown which could almost have been written for Kenneth Williams. Think of his role as the Khazi in Carry On Up The Khyber and you'll see what I'm getting at, especially with the sudden change of voice with the "Well, why didn't you say so?" line. Not that Mackay doesn't do a good job. Far from it; he lights up the screen, and it's a shame that he doesn't get more time! Roy Kinnear is equally as good as that "squeaky little bundle" Bagpipes Happychap. The best scene in the whole programme has to be his "What? All of them?" line, where Pat seems to come alive for a moment (Baggers...). A nod must also go to the cockney henchman who puts in an over-the-top performance—which he manages to do better in the Italian job—that works quite nicely (naughty naughty Mr. Steed!).

What do we have left? Some nice direction from Leslie "father of Barry" Norman, an almost Benny Hill style fight at the end (wonderfully comic—that sax music would have worked as well as the Westernised version of the theme at the end), and a tag scene which shows just how "far out" the series got in places. You just know that Steed might break the rules here with his "There's no hurry... is there?" line.

That's about it. Dull plotting, a lame score (particularly that horrid Acid Jazz music in Paradise, which speeds up every time we return), some dodgy sets (Mrs. Jupp's kitchen in particular), some overuse of internment, a lack of anything for Tara to do, and Mother just a window dressing. Really a sad way for a legend to go out. As with The New Avengers, which showed promise at the start, I guess everything has to fizzle out to nothing. But the show deserved better.

4/10.

Bizarre
by Eli Mansour

"Bizarre" is (of course) the last episode of The Avengers. Although the plot is dumb, the episode's cast is great. Roy Kinnear gives "Bizarre" its final touch. The tag scene is very funny and very far-fetched (if you can't make your own rocket today like Steed did, you couldn't in 1969). And Steed is the last person to drive in The Avengers.

At least the plot and hideout were new to The Avengers. I think if I could rename this episode, I would call it "Bizarre Grave Robbery" ("Bizarre" is the worst possible title for an Avengers episode, surpassing "Invasion of the Earthmen"). I would give "Bizarre" three and three-quarters bowlers out of five.