MovieChat Forums > The Avengers (1966) Discussion > watching the huge boxed set

watching the huge boxed set

posted 8 years ago by ib011f9545i
7 replies | jump to latest

watching the huge complete boxed set,I am interested to see all the early episodes I had not seen before,pre Emma Peel but I am not enjoying them much.

Great to play spot the actor but the plots are usually poor and the appeal of the Honor Blackman era stories is a mystery to me.

Honor is not a bad actress but she is not given much to do,I love leather but is that what made Kathy Gale a legend? I guess at the time it was made it was groundbreaking but so far I prefer the Peel years.

Of course the shining star in every episode is Patrick Mcnee.

[–] MrEdnablackadder 8 years ago

I guess you're still early on, when Honor alternates with Julie Stevens and Jon Rollason? Trust me, it gets better as you go on. You must have seen very few I guess, because Honor has plenty of S2 episodes that are basically focused on her with Macnee being a very supporting player, although some of them, like "The Big Thinker" or "The Golden Eggs" are in the second half of the season (didn't you get to Bullseye already?) If something, Macnee became much more dominant in the Peel and King years. By Season 3, Cathy Gale is the only partner and the show becomes flat-out brilliant. Such a pity it got so imbecilic one year after.

[–] ib011f9545i 8 years ago

very fair comment,I am watching THE BIG THINKER,I have seen BULLSEYE.

I am watching it from start to finish,not all at one go of course.
So I have to remember there is still a lot of the Gale era to go,and it sounds like I have the best to come.

I know the Peel era well,it was repeated a lot over the years, but the Gale era stuff has only had a few episodes repeated(and the dvds were not easy to buy) and the Tara era stuff is even less well known,although the episodes I have seen were amazing.

It is fun to watch these old shows,what were once current references (Anglo-French scientific cooperation,spies in Naval bases)are now things you have to look up,unless you are a history geek like me.

[–] ctaylor-65092 8 years ago

I urge you to give the Cathy Gale episodes a chance. Having watch Emma Peel and Tara King first and being used to seeing the series on film, it took quite an adjustment for me to get used to the live feel and quality of the videotape era.

Steed's character is much more darker in tone and quite different from the Steed of the film era. The shows are almost like live theatre. I keep thinking in my mind how much behind the scenes effort went into it. Literally actors had to rush out from one scene to get to another, get ready for their entrance, know all their lines and do all the action all while remains cool and calm! Once you get used to it there really are some gems in there. However I have never been able to get through a Venus Smith or Dr. King episode!

Viewing today, these episodes may seem creaky and dated, but back in the 60s an ass kicking strong woman wearing leather who was smart and witty was groundbreaking!

These episodes in the box set are made all the more enjoyable given their restoration. I initially saw theses episodes on horrible vhs! The relationship and snappiness of Steed and Cathys relationship is really fantastic and anytime they are on screen together they shine.

Once you get used to them, I'm sure you will enjoy most of them. Just sort of treat them as a different entity of the show. It is fun to see how the show developed as you watch them in order up until the Tara era.

[–] adamdurrance 8 years ago

Have the Gale episodes been cleaned up since the A&E releases, or is this just a repackaging?

This question goes out to those who have seen both.

Thanks in advance.

[–] ctaylor-65092 8 years ago

They are night and day the A&E versions compared to the Optimum DVD sets which are individually sold or part of the 50th anniversary set. It was like watching them for the first time. They made me love the Cathy Gale eps.

[–] adamdurrance 8 years ago

Ah, thanks for that answer. Is this available in region 1 for USA?

[–] ctaylor-65092 8 years ago

Unfortunately no. Only region 2. You can watch them on a region free player or set your laptop to region 2 and watch. You can even hook up your laptop to your tv via hdmi if you have it.