Avengers 65 Set #1

The show was never better than in Rigg's first year, the '65-'66 season, the first six episodes of which comprise this set. "The Cybernauts" - first episode aired in the States (third, in England) - set the tone extremely well for what was to follow in episodes to come. Our hero and heroine, Steed and Mrs. Peel, foil a mad industrialist's plan to create a cybernetic police state, by deactivating his earliest experiment: a killer robot. The English debut episode - first on this set of tapes - is "The Town Of No Return," a fifth-column invasion story of typically (for this series) bizarre means. "Death At Bargain Prices" finds the British supersleuths investigating the disappearance of an atomic scientist in a lavish department store. "The Gravediggers" is about a radar-jamming outfit connected to a local cemetery (and an eccentric's life-size model train collection). "Castle De'ath" is where a foreign power utilizes a secret submarine base to disturb the local ecology, and thus its economy. "The Master Minds" are a MENSA-esque high-I.Q. club who recruit the best brains in Britain to devise top-secret sabotages and burglaries.

The Avengers is long overdue for a renaissance, and thanks to these tapes, its comeback time is here. Whether your tastes run to noir melodrama, spy stories, unusual crime, sci-fi, or even just light comedy, you'll find what you're looking for in The Avengers.


Emma Peel Volume One   January 28, 2002
Daniel Jolley (Shelby, North Carolina USA)
Although somewhat campy at times, The Avengers was an intellectual show, featuring puzzling mysteries, witty dialogue, bits of comedy, and an incredibly suave, cool agent in John Steed. With the introduction of Emma Peel, this great show became a phenomenon sure to remain a part of our culture for decades to come. Diana Rigg as Mrs. Peel is mesmerizing. Here we have a beautiful woman who is a brilliant scientist, a martial arts master, a great detective, and a special agent second to none. While most female television characters of the time tended to their families, Mrs. Peel busied herself in safeguarding her nation. Steed himself is no match for her in terms of intellect, but together they make an unbeatable team, with a magical chemistry that is readily apparent from the very start.

This set contains the first six Emma Peel episodes. Mrs. Peel quickly evolves from Steed's helper to Steed's equal. It took a little while to flesh out the new character, I believe; thus, these episodes seem to get progressively better as they go along. "The Town of No Return" is rather a weak story to my mind, but Mrs. Peel does show us her combat skills, which at this point seem rather contrived. "The Gravediggers" is much more interesting, witty, and satisfying. It is in fact one of my favorite episodes. Beginning with problems with the nation's defense system, the story features cemeteries, doctors of an uncommon sort, and a brilliantly funny eccentric old gentleman with an overpowering love of trains--the train ride he shares with the visiting John Steed is priceless; it ends with Mrs. Peel tied up to a railroad track and almost killed by a miniature locomotive. This is The Avengers at its best. "The Cybernauts," while good, is of great importance because it is the first episode ever shown in the USA and because it spawned two later "sequels." "Death at Bargain Prices" features some of the best dialogue between Steed and Mrs. Peel, full of the sexual tension many reviewers like to point to. Only The Avengers could take the idea of a department store in London housing a nuclear bomb and make it work for audiences. "Castle De'ath" is a dark tale of history, treachery, and dungeon torture. Although the true purpose of the bad guys did not make complete sense to me, the story is very strong , succeeding in disproving my own suspicions (as well as Mrs. Peels') as to the identify of the culprit. Finally, "The Master Minds" rounds out this set with the story of an intellectual society whose members are unwittingly prompted to commit crimes against the Crown.

Mrs. Peel really comes into her own in these last two tales. In the final episode, it is her intellect that allows Steed to penetrate the secretive society and learn its secrets (although Mrs. Peel finds herself participating--albeit without conscious knowledge--in the nefarious plans of the master mind); it is also her slyness that essentially saves Steed's life in the end. However, "Castle De'ath" speaks volumes in my mind in terms of Mrs. Peel's position in the society of the 1960s. All of the men in the episode, include John "McSteed" all wear traditional Scottish kilts. While this is nothing unusual for the locale in which the story takes place, nevertheless the fact remains that the only character who wears pants is Emma Peel. By this time, Mrs. Peel has shed any vestiges of being Steed's helper and has become his unchallengeable equal. The Avengers is intelligent, humorous, decidedly "cool" television that towers above just about everything on the air today.


Steed calls for help - Emma delivers   October 1, 2001
Andrew W. Elash
These first six episodes of the Diana Rigg era rank as some of the best of the series. The highlights of this set are the fan favorites "The Cybernauts" and "Death at Bargain Prices", both in volume two. Featuring Diana Rigg as the quintessential Avenger girl Emma Peel. So hold on to your hat, and get your boots on, your in for some jolly good fun. This set is a must-have!

Volume one contains the first Emma Peel episode "The Town of No Return", and the delightful "The Gravediggers". Both are highly reccomended. In "The Town of No Return", Steed and Emma are sent to Little Bazely (by the sea) to investigate odd goings on, where the question arises: Where have all the people gone? This haunting episode has a wonderful atmosphere, with plenty of avante garde imagery, such as the introduction in which an agent pops up out of the sea in a giant bag. Also features plenty of cute little touches, such as Steed's bottomless bag on the train. The highlight is Emma's introduction scene, where she and Steed have a sword fight in her apartment while discussing the mission. In "The Gravediggers", Britian's radar systems are being jammed, so Steed and Emma investigate at a hosptal for ailing railway men. This episode is classic Avengers, featuring Steed fighting aboard a miniature steam engine, while Emma has been tied to the track. Many winning moments such as the eccentric Sir Horace Winslip with his train simulator, and the hospital staff conducting a seemingly normal operation, until the surgeon calls for a blow-torch.

Volume two contains two classic episodes, the sci-fi caper "The Cybernauts", and the wonderful "Death at Bargain Prices". In "The Cybernauts", cybernetic assassins are popping off businessmes bidding for shares in a new cercuit element to replace the transistor. Probably the most memorable Avengers episode ever, "The Cybernauts" features a sharp script, great performances, and masterful direction. One might call it the definitive Avengers episode, and you wouldn't be far wrong. In "Death at Bargain Prices", a department store receipt is the only link to an agents murder, so the Avengers shop for clues, and discover an atomic plot to wipe London off the map. A truly great episode, with Brian Clemens' best script of the series, and outstanding direction from Charles Chrichton. Featuring some of the most memorable dialogue of the series, one of the best end battles of the series, and a whallop of a climax. I can't reccomend it enough!

Volume three features the creepy "Castle De'ath", and the somewhat less astounding "The Master Minds". In "Castle De'ath", Steed and Emma investigate at a Scotish castle, to discover the means by which an unknown faction are creating a fishing crisis. An episode with a haunting score, sumptously errie visuals, and some delightful Steed/Emma interplay. Also, watching Emma wander around in her nightgown is a sight not to be forgotten. "The Master Minds" is a pretty average episode, in which eggheads are being hypnotized into taking part in the most dubious of schemes. While the premise seems interesting, this episode suffers from an average script, average direction, and a dull introduction and tag scene, but it does have those lovely set pieces. Still worth it though, for some pretty snappy Steed/Emma interplay.

As I said before, this is a must-have set, for any Avenger fan. Every episode is reccomended, each being unique and quite entertaining. If your just getting into the series, and are looking to buy a set, buy this. You won't regret it!


Mrs. Emma Peel could put the hurt on you.   April 29, 2001
Peter Beamer (Grover Beach, CA USA)
The Avengers (John Steed and Mrs. Emma Peel) were always at the right place at the right time and Mrs. Emma Peel could put an unwanted karate chop on your noggin. This series of videos has a lot of action and caper comedy.


A Good Example of a Great Show   July 4, 2000
Nat Hwylc (Western Massachusetts)
I thouroughly enjoyed this set of videos. I am relatively new to the Avengers, meaning that I have not [yet] seen any other episodes, but nonetheless I found this fascinating. After viewing all three videos several times, I have concluded that The Avengers is a show definitely worth anyone's time and attention. The [sexual] tension between Steed and Peel is captivating, and quite interesting, even to a newcomer. I cannot compare Mrs. Peel to Cathy Gale, or um...that other woman (see?), but as soon as I purchase several more of these videos (and believe me, I will), I will get back to you, the public.