frank wrote:Personally I loved this episode the very first time I saw it. I understand why people are put off by the extremeness. But it was the absurditiy and extreme-ness that I enjoyed. I loved everytime the crocodile said a line. Plus the use of the practical jokes to kill the victims nicely underscores the unpleasantness of such pranks.
BUt for me what's most striking is that this episode is most like an Emma Peel structurally than any other Tara story. The interactions Steed has with her during their investigation. The humorous interplay and discussions of the case. The fact Tara's given more of an equal footing in intellectually. When Steed comes to rescue her they are very matter of fact and bordering on flippant. We don't get the emotional fawning and worrying that would come in later episodes. And they fight the bad guys together in a big stand-off.
Agreed. This wouldn't be out of place in the Peel Era at all. A bit goofy, yes, but the Avengers works on that line of insane cartoon humor and dead earnest seriousness. We are talking about a show that, just beforehand, dealt with shrinking people and a glorified toybuzzer that would zap people Wile E. Coyote style.
Plus the Steed/Tara relationship is one even footing, which should have been done from the start. I never cared for the fawning that much, and Tara was good when she was doing her own thing instead of being too much the amateur.
She embodies the Sixties !
