Episode 131: Tara King Era
Page 132 of 192

 

  Tag

Emma departs Steed's flat for the last time and advises Tara, who has just arrived, "He likes his tea stirred anti-clockwise."

  A.K.A.

 Ne m'oubliez pas

 Auf Wiedersehen, Emma.

 Il non ti scordar di me

 No Me Olvides

  Other Viewpoints

• Visitor Reviews
• The GLG Report

THE FORGET-ME-KNOT

Steed becomes a traitor
Emma passes the torch to Tara*

Production completed: 19 January 1968
UK Premiere (London, Season 7): 25 September 1968
US Premiere (New York, Season 3): 20 March 1968

Agent Sean Mortimer learns of a traitor in The Organization, but by the time he reaches Steed and Emma, the amnesia-inducing drugs used on him take effect, and he can no longer remember his own name, let alone his urgent message. Just as Emma is making some headway coaxing information out of Mortimer, she, too, is hit with the drug. Meanwhile, Steed encounters trainee, ahem, number 69, A.K.A. Tara "Rah-boom-dee-ay" King, and thanks to her phone number tucked in his shoe, he has a tenuous link to reality when he at last is drugged as well, and Mother is forced to put him on the "suspect" list.

 IMHO

Sorry, but Tara King is just too dopey to be believable as a super-spy, and I find it difficult to accept that she makes the transition from ham-handed trainee to fully-fledged agent during the course of an hour. Plus I have less trouble with telepathic man-eating plants from outer space than with amnesia drugs that are conveniently selective in which memories they block and when. It's sad enough that Emma has to leave, but sadder that she does so in such a lackluster episode. Despite all of this, I always get choked up seeing her touching and tender farewell to a tearful Steed. "Always keep your bowler on in times of stress," she whispers, "and watch out for diabolical masterminds." Oh, it rips my heart out!

As bad as it is, "Knot" is probably a good deal better than the 90-minute "Invitation To A Killing" John Bryce had originally created to introduce Tara King, judging from the surviving bits recycled in "Have Guns - Will Haggle."

 Trivia

*This unofficial subtitle is by Yours Truly.

MORE TRIVIA

 On Location

The village and pond that Burton and Steed drive past is Letchmore Heath.

 Best Scene

Without a doubt, Emma's farewell is the most touching scene in the entire series, one that can choke up even the most hard-hearted fan. Indeed, it has been noted that Patrick Macnee, after filming the scene, returned to his dressing room and cried.

 Essential Reading

THE FORGET-ME-KNOT

Teleplay by
Directed by

Brian Clemens
James Hill

Full production credits

CAST

John Steed
Emma Peel
Tara King
Sean
Mother
Simon Filson
George Burton
Karl
Brad
Dr. Soames
Sally
Taxi Driver
Jenkins
The Gardener

Patrick Macnee 007
Diana Rigg 007
Linda Thorson
Patrick Kavanaugh
Patrick Newell #
Jeremy Burnham #
Jeremy Young #
Alan Lake #
Douglas Sheldon
John Lee #
Beth Owen
Leon Lissek
Tony Thawnton
Edward Higgins #

UNBILLED/STUNTS

Peter Peel

Paul Weston # 007

# DOPPELGANGERS

Jeremy Burnham

The Town of No Return
The Fear Merchants

Edward Higgins

The Mauritius Penny

Alan Lake

The House That Jack Built

John Lee

The Bird Who Knew Too Much

Patrick Newell

The Town of No Return
Something Nasty in the Nursery

Paul Weston

Murdersville

Jeremy Young

Gnaws
A Touch of Brimstone
Never, Never Say Die
 

All materials copyrighted per their respective copyright holders.
This website Copyright © 1996-2017 David K. Smith. All Rights Reserved.
Page last modified: 5 May 2017.

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