Episode 88: Emma Peel Era
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A.K.A.
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DVDs |
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Produced: ca. 12 May to ca. 28 May 1965
UK Premiere (London, Season 4): 17 December 1965
US Premiere (New York, Season 1): 9 May 1966
The
arrival of Psev, a mysterious, notorious Russian spy, has everyone up in arms. Steed plays
a double of himself in order to thwart the wrecking of a critical political conference, as
well as to flush out Psev. As it happens, he flushes out more than they bargained for—and
also winds up convincing Emma of the double's existence so well that she almost kills
him!
IMHO |
This is a really tough episode to rate: Steed's modeling
sequence is a real side-splitter (one of the shirts featured at the fashion
show
is "lipstick-proof") and worth the price of admission alone,
and anything featuring Julian Glover should not be missed. But Brodny (Warren Mitchell) is simply too annoying to
tolerate—and we get a second dose of the same character next season, no less, in "The See-Through Man." I also can't decide whether or not the
model airplane sequences were ultra-hokey by design.
Trivia |
Don't be fooled by Dave Rogers' version of this episode. His synopses suggest that there really was a double of Steed named Webster. But it is made quite clear in the filmed version that Steed was playing his own double—he explained it all to Emma, including how he used the radio phone to intercept calls.
By the way, the file on "PSEV" seen in the episode has it misspelled as "PZEV." The same file also appears briefly in "Small Game for Big Hunters," still misspelled.
Acronym Alert: PSEV stands for Pudeshkin, Shvedloff, Elena, Vogel.
Steed's Aunties: Emma
insists she saw a double of Steed. "If I had a twin," Steed remarks, "I'm
sure Mother would have mentioned it."
On Location |
The Edge Grove School in Aldenham doubled as the foreign
embassy. Lake scenes shot at Tyke's Water Lake, Elstree—On
Location provides a present-day view.
Best Scene |
The fashion show is worth the price of admission. Makes up for having to endure Brodny.
Best Line |
Emma admires Brodny's cigar. "That's nice."
Brodny: "You're not smoking it."
Tag |
Steed (is he real, or is he Webster?) and Emma leave on horseback.
