The "Mrs Peel years": those odd cases...

[Peter Motte]

Emma was supposedly an "amateur" rather than working for or with the Ministry, though it's possible she came to know (of) Mother and the Department certainly needed a file on her, as Steed's unofficial partner.

It's the "profesionalisation" with Tara King that set me of a bit.
I more liked tha "amateur" side with Peel and Gale, and Steed who always had to try to lure them into working with him.
It also gave a more relaxed atmosphere, as they weren't doing "a job", but more or less doing what they liked.
Except for Steed, who had always been kind of a professional "baddies catcher".

[Dandy Forsdyke]

I think they made Tara King an agent because she seemed too young to have have a specialised expertise in a specific area. She wasn't a doctor for example like Dr. Keel or Cathy Gale. Seemed right she should be a young agent.

Hadn't they more or less given up the idea that Emma Peel was anything other than an agent by the latter half of the colour series anyway? I'm sure most people thought she was as much an agent as Steed.

[Peter Motte]

That's possible. But it certainly wasn't put forward as explicitely as with King.

[skintp]

Hi forum folks...

I've been re-watching the Emma era and come across a few episodes that intrigue me a little.

For example the cases/episodes that started because Mrs Peel was in danger, rather than there being a murder/strange diabolical things happening.

Like "The House that Jack Built"; "The Joker"; "Epic"; "The Girl from Auntie".

Or those cases that involved friends of Mrs Peel, or Steed being in trouble.

Like "The Man-Eater of Surrey Green"; "The Hour that never was"; "Too many Christmas trees"; "The Superlative Seven"; "Murdersville" etc.

I know some of the stories were created because one of the leads were on holiday.

But my point to this discussion is the fact that Steed and Mrs Peel don't only investigate strange cases or murders, they also investigate their friends disappearing or dying etc.

This therefore suggests that they helped their friends solve these mysteries rather than cases that the "Ministry" just thrust upon them.

They weren't just agents they were lone investigators too

Does anyone else have any theories on this or is it just me?

Lots of brolly

Anne xxx

Hope you (someone) sees this reply. It's been ages since I was on this site but I'd just like to say 'Yes' I'm sure the two leads needed time off occassionally to pursue other projects (more likely to be Diana's excuse than Patrick's ) Believe it or not I experienced a 'bored' moment while on holiday in Ibiza a few months ago and took out my HP Notebook and watched some Emma episodes. Delightful. Hadn't seen Epic in ages and it was a pleasant reminder how ahead of her time the Emma character was back then. Literally, fighting for herself instead of whinging in the corner while the male lead did it all for her. What a shame then to come accross the pitiful introduction of Linda Thorson's Tara, passing Emma on the stairs and entering Steed's appartment with her mouth wide open like some pathetic star struck bimbo (despite all her so called training as an agent!) I guess they tried to make up for it by giving her the 'They Do it with Mirrors' episode. Discuss..... By the way, looking forward to seeing Diana and her daughter Rachel's double act in a forthcoming Dr.Who story due later this year. Er, discuss that too!!!!