Episode 108: Emma Peel Era
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We're Needed
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Tag
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Stats ?
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A.K.A.
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On the Radio |
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Other Viewpoints
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Bons baisers de Vénus
Einmal Venus, hin und zurück
Da Venere con amore" or
"De Venus, Con Amore
Met de groeten van Venus
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Produced: October/November 1966
UK Premiere (London, Season 5): 13 January 1967
US Premiere (New York, Season 2): 20 January 1967
Amateur astronomers are falling
prey to an odd affliction: They apparently die of sudden advanced age. All of them have
been observing Venus, and according to a member of the British Venusian Society, Earth is
being invaded by Venusians! But the clues point to something a little more down-to-earth.
IMHO |
Considering the era and genre of the program, this episode features some surprisingly good special effects, such as the laser burning its way through eye charts toward Emma's head—although there are some pretty lame effects as well, such as spray-on snow used to suggest "bleaching." Favorite guest Philip Locke as Dr. Primble, the nearly-blind eye doctor, makes a memorable oddball, and his threat on Emma near the end is spine-tingling. The lasers also make a wild sound, part of which is actually a bullet ricochet played in reverse.
Trivia |
The color series marks the beginning of a new-style tag, usually comprised of some witty exchange in Emma's apartment. Personally, I preferred the "riding off into the sunset" tags. It also marks the start of the "Mrs. Peel, We're Needed" teasers.
Don't tell anyone, but lasers don't do anything shown in the episode—least of all make a loud sound. But then, it is just a silly TV show. If we can accept telepathic man-eating plants from outer space, I suppose we can live with noisy lasers.
Recognize the abstract painting in the time-lock vault? The sharp eye (in this case, Alix Sensale's) will notice it also appears in "Epic." And Tony McKay spotted it in "Wish You Were Here." Tony also reports that the abstract painting, both pre- and post-laser blast, has appeared in several ITC productions, including The Saint, "The Power Artist."
By the way, does some of the music in this episode sound vaguely familiar? Use your imagination, and you might recognize a mutated form of "Venus" from Holst's The Planets. Contributed by Benjamin Adams.
Jeremy Lloyd (Bertram Smith) played Carruthers, an MI5 agent, in the short-lived stage play of The Avengers. According to Scott Stansbury, he made his way to this side of the Atlantic where he was a regular on Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (traitor!). In one sketch a woman asks him, "Jeremy, does England have a blood bank?", to which he responds, "No, but we do have a Liverpool." (da-bump-bump)
Note that the "o" in "Love" in the title is rendered as a heart. (If your computer does not have the standard Windows Symbol font, then the title at the top of the page may look a little funky.)
Acronym Alert: BVS is the British Venusian Society.
Steed's Aunties: An unofficial entry. When Venus asks about Steed's occupation, he remarks, "Following (in) father's footsteps. He spent his life depositing money. I spend mine withdrawing it." (A contender for Best Line.)
On Location |
Stanmore City Hall was the exterior for Brigadier Whitehead's stately home. (It was also used in "The Winged Avenger.") On Location provides a better and more recent view.
Best Scene |
Steed's eye exam is one of the best little scenes of the season.
Best Line |
Faced with death by laser beam, Emma quips, "It's quicker than a peroxide rinse."
Essential Reading |
- The Avengers Declassified by Alan Hayes
- Mrs. Peel... We're Needed by Piers Johnson