Visitor Reviews
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Visitor Reviews |
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The Murder Market This is one of my favorite episodes and a must-see for Steedophiles. The episode begins with a likely blooper: Robert Stone fumbles his red carnation and has to pick it up off the floor. Steed has some good lines as an idle aristocrat — when he's being interviewed for the marriage agency, Mr. Lovejoy asks him, "public school?" and Steed responds "expelled form three! Too many extracurricular activities — left no time to study." He follows this with a big wink and thumbs-up right to the camera, clearly a reference to Patrick Macnee's troubles at Eton. Later, Steed explains his objections to being hanged: "the idea of getting up at eight o'clock in the morning!" There's a gloriously kinky episode involving Steed and Barbara Wakefield preparing to go horseback riding. Steed helps Barbara put her boots on by kneeling in front of her so she can plant her foot squarely on his chest. When Barbara stands up, Steed scrutinizes her backside, then takes down a riding crop, whacks it into a saddle, and hands it to Barbara, saying "try this for size." Yikes! All the while they keep up a patter about Steed's rich cousin, but who's listening? On a more exalted plane, the funeral scene is beautifully eerie, in my opinion one of the best-designed scenes in the series. The mourner's procession is exactly synchronized with the background music. Steed's expression is suitably enigmatic—at that point in the plot, it's possible that he's watching Mrs. Peel being buried alive. The Murder Market A fun episode, although I generally have a problem with Mrs. Peel being relegated to fighting the women. Yes, at the end of this episode, there are two women she needs to fight, but we're all aware that she can dispatch men as well as Steed. I assume that this has more to do with Steed not being able to hit a woman rather than Mrs. Peel not being able to handle herself against a man, but still I like to see her throw men across the room. Other than that, this is a fine episode filled with humor, twists and a funny scene of Mrs. Peel getting drunk while waiting to be viewed in her coffin. Patrick Cargill as Mr. Lovejoy is a decidedly sinister opponent to our heroes, as is Suzanne Lord as Barbara Wakefield (love that Canadian drawl you have, Barbara). Naomi Chance as Mrs. Stone as the dastardly head of Togetherness leaves a lot to be desired, however. 2-1/2 out of 5 bowlers. The Murder Market When eleven people are murdered without a connection, leaving the authorities clueless, Steed and Emma are on the case. They investigate a marriage bureau, and Steed is offered a murder deal. Great! Absolutely loved it. Emma looks great, and when Steed asks her when she is going to get married again, I nearly fell out of my seat (she almost did too). Episode Rating: #8. The Murder Market Plot: Good. It was a nice twist having the wife end up being the Managing Director. I do find it strange though that they would approach Steed so quickly about murdering someone. Humour: Very good. I love that line "Tried working once, it didn't work out, too much like work." Also how can you not like the exchange about them needing a photo of Steed and he mentions one of him playing polo in the nude, at eighteen months. Direction: Good. Well directed, I especially liked the shot looking up at Lovejoy when they were moving Emma's coffin. Acting: Excellent. Everyone did a good job, but I love the photographer's and Dinsford's performances. The photographer's energy and swinging 60s feel it excellently done. Dinsford's nervousness and cowering attitude is in great contrast to Lovejoy's personality. Tag: Good. If only we knew what Steed was saying! Ah! another Avenger's mystery. Music: Excellent. I love that funeral music, it was very strange, and who doesn't have a place in their heart for "Togetherness", although I am glad I only had to hear it once. Miscellaneous: Mrs. Peel isn't quite "Mrs. Peel" yet. I found her slamming her hand down on the army figurines in protest to Steed's knowing Henshaw was going to be murdered more like Cathy than Mrs. Peel. Overall Rating: 7/10 The Murder Market Ok, my first review for an Avengers episode on this site. Firstly, I'm a 24 year old who has been a huge fan of the series for years (since BRAVO cable channel were showing it way back) and have all the DVDs, etc. Please note, I am not a geek, but really appreciate the series and have always maintained that it is one of the best TV series ever produced, anywhere! I think the quality of the series is, for me, summed up in a several episodes and "The Murder Market" is one of them. The one which I keep finding myself watching and it's hard to explain why, but here goes... Firstly, the chemistry between the two Patricks is fantastic. They seem to feed off each other and the scene where Steed meets Lovejoy is genius. The line "what are your requirements," "broadly speaking, female," etc., and the way in which the two actors almost play with their lines and "bounce off" each other's energy, Steed's fiddling of the office furniture and Lovejoy's keenness for his new client, while trying to maintain a professionalism is fantastic. The scenes with the two Patricks are the ones which stick in my mind and that has to be down to the quality acting and directing of this episode. This is Diana's first episode and although you can tell she is new to the part (comparing to her later episodes), you can also tell instantly there is a rapport between Steed and she. The tuber playing and their casual banter is so natural, it's almost not like acting at all, more real life characters and this is continued through out the series. I do like the part where she slams her hand down on Steed's toy soldier table in protest. I think this shows a strength to Emma's character as does the fact that she is playing the tuba—she can do something Steed can't (he only keeps flowers in it!). This scene also adds to the humour of not only the episode (her tune changes depending on what Steed says), but also the character of Emma. What I am trying to say is that this is the sign of an excellent script and even better acting talents. Little details like Emma's face when Steed suggests that she marry again is sheer class and Lovejoy's face when she mentions stamina in her list of requirements for a man I love. All this is somehow blended into a simple yet intriguing spy plot, one that keeps the viewer guessing and wondering who and what people are up to, the end having an interesting twist (a woman as the mastermind, in terms of the marriage bureau cover, that is!). There is a lot of dialogue in TMM and fewer action scenes than in some episodes, and this is what the Avengers did best. They could have easily put in more fight scenes (Emma could have apprehended Barbara in Henshaw's place, for example), but didn't, and this opens up more scenes of superb script. The best scene to watch I feel is the coffin scene and the "We can't have you hiccoughin' in the coffin" line form Steed. However I still want to know at which point Emma escapes from the coffin...? To end, I feel TMM is a "classic" Avengers episode, on that is a good all rounder, but excels in the two most important areas, script and acting talent. Slice of wedding cake, anyone? |
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