The Avengers was a Thrilling Spy TV Show

The 1960's didn't just leave us with the legacies of Donovan, hippies, Vietnam and protests. There were many fantastic television shows in that era. If you have never seen The Avengers, you've missed out on one of the most entertaining spy genre shows of all time. The Avengers was a British spy drama that had over 160 episodes running from 1961-1969. It aired in the U.S. in the spring of 1966 and became a cult classic. It combined suspense, comedy, drama, and mesmerizing chemistry between master spy John Steed (actor Patrick Macnee) and his female counterparts.

Although Steed had earlier partners, the shows I remember fondlyfeatured the characters Emma Peel (actress Dianna Rigg) and Tara King (actress Linda Thorson). Both Emma Peel and Tara King were femme fatales of the purest sense. The female spies always exhibited serious "girl power", along with superior intellect and grace. They were great role models! I was only a young girl when the series ended in 1969, but I remember being riveted to the television set during every episode.

I have not seen an episode on television since I was a teenager, but I remember two episodes most vividly. They are, "The House That Jack Built", and "Thingumajig".

In the episode, "The House That Jack Built", Emma Peel inherits a home in the country turned killer fun house. She is the target of a madman who seeks revenge against her for his father. He builds the house filled with booby traps and trickery and then convinces Emma she has inherited it from a long, lost relative. He lures in to the house and starts to unleash his deadly revenge. As she tries to find her way out, like a mouse in a maze, the house takes on a grotesque personality of its own. I remember holding my breath at Emma's every turn!

In "Thingumajig", a diabolical little black box is set loose on Tara King in her flat. It is kills anything in its path with a deadly surge of electricity. Just as it sets her in its sites, the nutty old professor calls to warn her to get away from the deadly little box.

With a series of heroic acrobatic stunts, she dodges its bolts all around her apartment, as it systematically shoots bolts of electricity, destroying numerous items in her flat. She makes her way back to the phone a few times, asking the professor for ways to stop it. He first informs her that she must cut the power in her flat. Then he tells her she must drain its existing supply. So she throws all of the electrical cords she can find on top of it. The fan, vacuum and record player all start simultaneously. It's an awesome scene! The box is not dead yet, though!

I actually found a video on You Tube titled, "The Avengers-Black Box Trouble" if you would like to see the original scene and find out how she gets away!

"The House that Jack Built" and "Thingumajig" are only two of many, many entertaining episodes. If you love the spy show genre, I highly recommend you explore the world of The Avengers TV show more. I highly recommend David Smith's website, "The Avengers Forever", at www.theavengers.tv/forever/.

Source: Internet Movie Database, "The Avengers" (1961), imdb.com