Avengers '66 - Set 2, Vols. 3 & 4

Prior to 1967, "The Avengers" was yielded in black-and-white. Going to color was a definite improvement; however in 1968 there were three additional significant changes:1. Mrs. Peel (Diana Rigg) was traded out for Steed's new partner, Tara King (Linda Thorson).2. The producers asserted that the 1968 episodes were more [paraphrasing] "believable" -- in fact, just the opposite is true. The '68 episodes are more bizarre than ever, but still very good.3. There is more involvement by Steed's boss, "Mother" (a wheelchair-bound chubby guy who shows up in very strange places to discuss Steed's progress on respective cases).This DVD package, (2 DVDs, individually cased and further packaged in an attractive cardboard box, this "Set No. 2" color-coded ORANGE), is the second of FIVE sets for the 1968 episodes. The marketing of "The Avengers" can be quite confusing so I wanted to get that information out up front. This is also the BEST way to buy the DVDs (by the "set" rather than by the "volume") for any season, from 1963 through 1968.Patrick Macnee shrewdly plays John Steed, England's gentleman undercover agent. Linda Thorson is one of several of a line of Steed's voluptuous sidekicks. In the U.S., most of us didn't even know about Honor Blackman and Macnee's other (earlier) partners until years later when these episodes finally emerged on VHS tape. Diana Rigg can probably claim about 60% of the credit for the vast number of U.S. audience members who were glued to their TVs when "The Avengers" finally hit here. The other 40% (not forgetting Macnee's fine performances) had to do with the presentation of this excellent series.Starting in 1965, with Rigg, the filmscore was notably updated and played more prominently throughout the story, enhancing the action and suspense. Also, the action itself was boosted. There was never a dull moment with Steed and Mrs. Peel. And these episodes were all FUN -- one embraced a sense that Macnee and Rigg were having a great time in making these films. Now that I've seen episodes from "The Avengers'" earlier years, ('63 and '64), I can see that they dragged quite a bit during that earlier era and were much more soap opera-ish. The fun continued throughout the final year, 1968, even though Linda Thorson was simply never quite as dynamic or as sexy as Diana Rigg. The '68 filmscore and title scenes at the beginning and the conclusion of each episode were spiffed up a bit too.Each of these 52-minute episodes is futuristic (at least for the period) and on the cutting edge of excellent television productions. I know of no series, "The Original Star Trek Series" excepted, which has remained as timeless as "The Avengers". You'll encounter, in the 1968 episodes, every nemesis ranging from Eastern spies posing as murderous British Army officers to equally murderous hotel desk clerks.In the 1968 Set No. 2 (which includes Vols. 3 and 4), we're talking about six very enjoyable, action-packed, color episodes:Volume 3:"All Done With Mirrors" - Steed is under house arrest (a theme we've seen before!) while Tara plugs the leaks at a classified facility that hasn't been keeping its secrets."Legacy of Death" - The inheritance of a dagger turns into a truly double-edged gift and bodies pile up in Steed's drawing room."Noon Doomsday" - Steed is trapped in a convalescent home by an old adversary who has a flair for drama and a thirst for vengeance.Volume 4:"Look (Stop Me If You've Heard this One)... But There Were These Two Fellers" - John Cleese guest stars as Steed and Tara face down a band of killer clowns determined to save their rest home from destruction."Have Guns... Will Haggle" - Tara's on the hot seat when Black Market rifle brokers choose her for a product demonstration!"They Keep Killing Steed" - A plot to infiltrate and subvert a peace conference hinges on the creation of an exact double of Steed (yet another familiar theme!)The storylines of the various "The Avengers" episodes seem absurd to varying degrees as we view them today - but 1968 continued to escalate the absurdity beyond the previous years' entries. This did not diminish my enthusiasm for the "The Avengers" because the overall series always manifested a "Batman" (TV series) tongue-and-cheekness about it. I mention this only to prepare viewers for this actuality.The casting in all episodes is spot-on, punctuated with the very best sets and scenic locations. And Linda Thorson's astounding beauty (tenoned with her great figure!) really accentuates the `60s look in her mod attire.I'll be reviewing all of the 1968 sets, (as I mentioned earlier, there are five in all, with 2 "volumes" per set), so be on the watch for my comments regarding the other sets at their appropriate sites on Amazon. In the meantime, while not exactly as marvelous as the 1967 episodes, this particular set still garners my highest recommendation!

Each of Steed's ladies made their own mark. Honor Blackman's Kathy Gale, set the pace. Sleek sassy women, who were as smart as they were sexy. They held their own in a man's world and didn't need someone to take care of them. Blackman and Rigg were two very positive role models in a time when most women were victims, wives or secretaries on telly at the time. Blackman made less of an impact in US, because they were generally shown as a Summer Replacement, to keep people from seeing reruns. Since they were run on ABC, tried to be recognized as a big-boy network the old Black and White Gales were not widely scene.Rigg came along and made Emma Peel a character that will go down in the hall of fame. She is as popular today, if not more so. So when she left--to do as Blackman did -- go on to be a Bond girl, Steed had to have another partner. Enter Tara King. She gorgeous full figure Canadian with eyes to do for. They tried to play on her more feminine side (and with horrid fashions). Seriously, the clothes designers for Tara needs shooting. For the most part, they couldn't design more dumpy look clothes. They stuffed her in a series of wigs - some very bad - so point one, she was fighting an uphill battle. Also, the scripts were not as sharp. Even so Tara is charming and a pleasure to watch.Episodes include:All Done with MirrorsLegacy of DeathNoon DoomsdayLook (stop me if you've heard this one)... but There Were These Two FellersHave Guns... Will HaggleThey Keep Killing Steed (with a very blond Ian Ogilvy doing a guest spot)

I give it top rating because of its importance to me in my young life. Now, watching these episodes, I wonder. The story lines are murky. What's at stake? Why are they doing this? Why are Steed and Emma involved? Why are the criminals killing people in the nutty way they do?. They are just fun. I don't worry too much about what makes sense. The dialog is usually good especially when Emma is involved. The episode The House that Jack Built is superb. It's actually chilling because Emma's predicament(and it is Diana Rigg's episode) is truly bizarre and frightening. Until she gets herself settled and starts uncoding and I know she'll come out okay. Steed doesn't have to rescue her.I love the clothes, the cars, the look of the sixties.

This was a great find. Hard to find Avengers series. If you like Spy, SciFi, Comedy, Action, Adventure all wrapped in one this series is for you. I had the Avengers series on VHS especially Diana Rigg (Emma Peel) years. Unfortunately over time VHS don't play as well. Although these series are not in HD they play pretty good on the big screen. This was a decent price as these are now out of print. They arrived in great condition and play excellent on my blu ray. I am very impressed. Dianna Rigg years are the best where she played Emma Peel.

Item delivered on time and well packaged, slip case a bit worn. Essential Diana Rigg episodes from 1965 in B&W. It's called '65 DVD Set 2 (in case you get as confused as I do with the chronology nomenclature). Volumes 3 & 4. Vol 3: The Murder Market, A Surfeit of H2O, The Hour That Never Was. Vol 4: Dial a Deadly Number, Man-eater of Surrey Green, Two's a Crowd, and bonus episode Too Many Christmas Trees.

This is just a complete nostalgia trip. I remember being entranced by the "derring do" of the Avengers as a kid, and being captivated by Diana Rigg in the re-runs as a teenager. The series has aged very well and Mrs. Peel still captivates. In my opinion, (without splurging on the Megaset), this is the best compromise set for "Emma-watching", and has most of the episodes you will want or that you need as a fan of the divine Ms. Rigg. Given the age of the source material, the video and sound quality are very good and the packaging is standard fare.

Tara King is very watchable and refreshingly different, with a whole load of new adventures to look forward to...The series has a fresh new look and an even better opening theme...Linda Thorson is stunningly beautiful as Tara, and there IS a chemistry with Steed. Ms King is more than able for those dastardly masterminds...enjoy!

As an admirer of all the Avenger incarnations i have to report a great sense of wallowing nostalgia watching these programs. I, personally, prefer the more surreal episodes and this is no disappointment. OK, so not as bizarre as the final Peel and the Thorsen episodes, but, still wonderful escapism.

I just wanted to add that the overall picture and sound quality is a huge improvement over what I ever saw on tv, much better color and clarity. All Done With Mirrors is worth the price of admission all by itself; it's my favorite of all the Tara episodes, and Tara is my favorite female lead of them all. Oh yeah, Mother is a great character too, with his bizarre hideouts. The Avengers is always very entertaining in a surrealistic kind of way. It's not the kind of show that you want to spend a lot of time analyzing the plots and stuff, just sit back and enjoy the fun.

Very good show from the 60s'. Good plot story and interesting stars!!Our family would watch this over and over again and one more precious collection in our file. I recommend this classic show to all my friends.

JUST WHAT I WANTED