The Avengers Forever: Detail Point

	Trivia Overload

When developing the Steed/Emma incarnation of the show, the producers created a list of directives, one of which was to exploit Patrick Macnee's horsemanship, although Macnee recalls asking the producers for an opportunity to ride. Of note, the horse Macnee rode was the same one mounted by Laurence Olivier in Henry V, twenty years earlier.

By contrast, it is said that Diana Rigg had never ridden a horse before in her life—she had one lesson the day before shooting. Also, Ray Austin doubled for Diana during the stunt when she falls from the horse, and he was knocked unconscious for five minutes.

Of minor note, Steed calls his partner "Lady Emma" in this episode. I only learned of this when the A&E tapes were released, as my off-air copy was missing the entire pub scene where they gather lunch supplies.

By the way, recall all the hubbub about the whipping scene being shortened in "A Touch of Brimstone"? Well, there was just as much whipping going on of Emma by Juggins at the end of this episode, yet no one has said so much as boo about it. As Margaret Warren puts it, "seems you can whip Emma all you like, so long as she is properly dressed."

And another thing... Many folks have made note of the fact that Steed handles the titular chemical with his bare hand, then eats an apple immediately afterward using the same hand. As the chemical is described in the episode, it is a fertilizer that turned out to be deadly to earthworms, and not something toxic to humans.