Rodney's Reviews
Page 5 of 42

Death at Bargain Prices
By Rodney Marshall

The opening lift scene is The Avengers at its disturbing best, the Yogi Bear toy helping not only to hide the hit man but also to add a creepy touch, as it sways to and fro. The menacing undercurrent is maintained throughout, yet none of the baddies is particularly memorable, although I love the idea of Horatio Kane’s apartment being located in the "Department of Discontinued Lines." The in-house detective is one of those annoyingly ridiculous characters who one is almost relieved to see bumped off!

Despite the brooding atmosphere which Clemens skillfully creates—and some witty dialogue between Steed and Mrs. Peel—this episode has the feel of the Gale era IMHO. Indeed, if Mandrake should have been a Rigg episode, this should probably have been a Blackman one. The exterior shots of London buses, the faded glamour and stuffiness of a department store and Steed's flirting with both Emma and the delicatessen assistant all add up to a 1963 (rather than '65) vintage. We expect Steed to vainly pursue Mrs. Gale but his relationship with Mrs. Peel works so much better because he has given up the role of sexual predator; in "Death at Bargain Prices" one gets the feeling that he is still struggling to get used to his new partner and adjusted role.

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