The Avengers Forever: Illuminations

	Illuminations Page 1 of 14

Mr Teddy Bear
by Jonathan Woods

"Why aren't you dead?" — Cathy Gale to John Steed

The material is all there, isn't it? No need to look further for the germination of all those revolutionary ideas we hold so dear in this remarkable series. Aside from the advent of Diana Rigg's supernova personality and Laurie Johnson's iconic theme music, this episode is a genuine blueprint for The Avengers. In two years, Honor Blackman would go on to do the definitive James Bond film, Goldfinger, which itself fully laid out every winning element in that series.

Right out of the starting gate, Blackman makes Cathy Gale a wonderful contrast to the flippant and somewhat untrustworthy John Steed. Of course, the defining moments are of Gale in her leather action suit, bumping elbows in the world of male espionage so effectively that the villain needs to point out the uniqueness of it; he has never had to kill a woman before. No, Cathy Gale doesn't use any of those advanced judo techniques that made her famous, but she certainly seems capable and Mr Teddy Bear sure feels the need to keep her at gunpoint. Maybe the gun helps him keep his focus since Blackman brings such inherent sexual presence to the role and this dastard does have plans to become a man of leisure. What Blackman conceals makes her an actress—what she cannot hide makes her a star.

Cathy Gale's relationship with John Steed begins for us with this episode and is wonderfully summed up by her direct and somewhat frustrated response to his still being alive midway through the action. She will continue to love/hate this man that takes advantage of her, lies to her and endangers her; but underneath her icy and cautious reserve, she must like something about this rogue to get involved. Of course, she also wants to make the world a better place.

Mr Teddy Bear himself is a wonderful creation—a villain that helps in the leap away from investigating rotten bananas. Before you see him, evidence of his existence intrigues with his witty and expensive methods and his playful choice of representation (giving us the unforgettably surreal image of the erudite Cathy Gale discussing serious matters with a stuffed toy). Elusive, brilliant and cruel, this character would test anyone's pacifistic tendencies. Once he appears, he bears a striking physical resemblance to James Bond's first nemesis—Le Chifre, as described in Casino Royale. Fitting is this in that he inaugurates the first appearance of another great British secret agent—Cathy Gale. It is Teddy Bear who confronts head on the issue of her place in such a hitherto masculine club, barring the exploits of Mata Hari. He also demonstrates how a criminal mastermind's ethical code can negotiate trying to kill her, which is perhaps why! he must die in the end. Sadly, instead of holding onto such an iconic archenemy, The Avengers must sacrifice him in an act of subconscious foresight, heralding the new direction for the series and its main attraction. How could such a show introduce this powerful force without at least one body for evidence? By killing Teddy Bear, Gale shows the degree of her meddle and the irony of her predicament; this anthropologist bagged a grizzly.

Having said all of this, I would never recommend this episode in introducing neophytes to the series. It is great fun to watch, but I say this as an experienced fan of the show. The series does develop considerably from this auspicious new beginning and one must consider that the ghostly production values certainly pale in comparison to the wonderful gloss of the Fourth Season onwards. Unfortunately, this is true for all the Cathy Gale episodes, but once The Avengers takes hold of new fans, they will want to see it in all its various forms. These videotaped episodes play as if fading memories recovered by arcane technology, allowing us the seemingly sinful privilege of witnessing a secret history.