YMMV / The Avengers (1960s)

• Best Known for the Fanservice:
  • The series is credited with popularising kinky boots as a sexy fashion statement. Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman even recorded a song called "Kinky Boots".
  • Diana Rigg's Spy Catsuit is quite famous, even if she switched to a less fanservicey outfit so she could actually do her stunts (the earlier version being a hand-me-down from Cathy Gale).
  • The episode "A Touch of Brimstone" is remembered for featuring Mrs Peel in a sexy leather bustier, even getting censored in America for this reason.
  • For those inclined to males, a now defunct fansite happily listed the episodes "Immortal Clay", "Mr Teddy Bear" and "Castle De'ath" as the ones where Steed goes shirtless.
• Die for Our Ship: Tara King gets more Ship Tease with Steed than her two predecessors, thoroughly angering those who shipped Steed with Cathy Gale or Emma Peel.
• Fight Scene Failure: Cathy Gale's fighting style is made of this trope. Back then, fight scenes would be recorded "as live" on studio video with no possibility for editing or retakes, rather than being pre-filmed and edited.
• Germans Love David Hasselhoff: The Tara King episodes were popular in France. So much that Linda Thorson's singles - "Here I Am" and "Wishful Thinking" - were massive hits there, whereas in the UK, they failed to chart. In fact, the series' popularity in France led to The New Avengers being commissioned.
• Growing the Beard: The series grew some stubble when John Steed was promoted to main character after a season of being the sidekick to Dr. David Keel and the amazonian Cathy Gale became Steed's partner, and a full beard when Emma Peel became his new sidekick. People tend to assume Steed and Peel were the only lineup the show ever had even though they weren't brought together until the fourth season and were dissolved after the fifth. Peel's arrival also coincided with the series moving to film production (allowing location shooting and higher budgets). Opinion varies widely among fans, but the arrival of Tara King after Peel's departure is often seen as the shaving of the beard.
• Harsher in Hindsight: Peter Wyngarde guest-stars in "Epic" as a washed-up actor. Sadly, he would undergo a career decline and personal struggles from the mid-seventies onward.
• Hilarious in Hindsight:
  • Doesn't Steed look rather like David Cameron in the page picture?
  • In "Two's a Crowd", a man who looks like Steed has it suggested to him that he wear a stick of celery in his lapel instead of a carnation.
  • In "From Venus, with Love", Jon Pertwee plays a brigadier who's later killed by a laser beam fired by (supposed) Venusians.
  • In "The Gilded Cage", Cathy Gale helps Steed organize a theft of gold bullion. When reviewing her plan, Cathy mentions how much bullion the United States has, and how it's kept in Fort Knox.
  • Speaking of Goldfinger, "Dressed to Kill" has Anneke Wills as a woman dressed as a cat. Naturally, Steed and Gale both refer to her as "Pussy".
  • Michael Gough plays a Mad Scientist who keeps super gadgets in his basement. His later role as Batman's butler Alfred Pennyworth needs no elaboration here.
  • Blackman expressed a desire to see the series shot on film as opposed to videotape. This happened right after she left the series.
  • In "Death at Bargain Prices", toy Daleks can be seen the department store. Diana Rigg would later make a guest appearance in "The Crimson Horror".
  • "The Curious Case of the Countless Clues" includes a character named Sir Arthur Doyle who dresses as Sherlock Holmes. Patrick Macnee would later play Holmes in the 1993 Made-for-TV Movie The Hound of London. He also played Doctor Watson in Sherlock Holmes in New York, Sherlock Holmes and the Leading Lady and Incident and Victoria Falls.
  • In "The See-Thru Man", Steed declares that he doesn't believe in invisible men. In The Avengers (1998), Macnee made a cameo as an invisible agent.
  • "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Station" ends with Steed and Peel awaiting a visit from the Prime Minister and pondering what honours they'll receive, such as Dame Emma. Diana Rigg received a CBE in 1988 and was made a Dame in 1994.
  • "Something Nasty in the Nursery" guest stars Paul Eddington as a government minister.And Penelope Keith guest stars, although her part was cut.
• More Popular Replacement: Emma Peel was the third of four people to costar with John Steed, but the chemistry between actors Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg made her by far the most popular choice.
• My Real Daddy: Sydney Newman may have comissioned the series, but the people most associated with the series are writer, producer and script editor Brian Clemens and producer Albert Fennell, both of whom took over during season four. Also, when it comes to the music of the show, Laurie Johnson's theme is much more recognisable than John Dankworth's original.
• Not So Crazy Anymore: "You'll Catch Your Death" features villains who assassinate people by sending them a virus in the post that literally makes them sneeze to death. In the wake of people getting anthrax through the mail, this no longer seems so silly.
• Parody Displacement: The Hellfire Club from the X-Men comics was a parody of the organization of the same name Steed and Peel battled in "A Touch of Brimstone" - while the Hellfire Club was a real thing in the 18th century,^note though it was a series of gentlemen's clubs that took an ironic view of society and religion as opposed to a villainous organization, the arc introducing the X-Men villains parodied the episode they're fought in this series.^note For starters, Jason Wyngarde/Mastermind is largely based on the characterization of that episode's villain John Cartney, has the physical appearance and last name of his actor, Peter Wyngarde, and the first name of Peter Wyngarde's later, better known role as the title character in Jason King. Due to a combination of the organization only appearing once in The Avengers, the X-Men villains being a key part of that team's mythos (not to mention being introduced during one of the most beloved arcs of that series), and syndication in the US omitting A Touch of Brimstone, most younger fans won't get the reference. Then again, this isn't the only time The Avengers has gotten overshadowed by a Marvel Comics property as a result of sharing a name.
• Replacement Scrappy:
  • Tara King for many, though she has her fans.
  • Neither Dr. Martin King (who was intended to be a replacement for Dr. Keel when Ian Hendry left the series) and Venus Smith (an innocent jazz singer who was supposed to be Steed's unwilling partner) were well thought of, and only lasted three and six episodes respectively, when Cathy Gale settled in as Steed's permanent partner.
• Retroactive Recognition:
  • Young audiences will recognise Emma Peel as Olenna Tyrell in Game of Thrones.
  • Speaking of Game of Thrones (along with The Empire Strikes Back and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Julian Glover showed up in several roles.
  • The Season 5 episode "The Superlative Seven" guest-stars a youthful, pre-fame Donald Sutherland, Charlotte Rampling, and BRIAN BLESSED all in a single episode!
  • John Thaw appears in "Espirit de Corps".
  • Barry Letts appears in "The Wringer". Nowadays, he is remembered not as an actor but for being the producer of Doctor Who from 1970-75.
  • Philip Madoc, remembered today for playing a U-Boat captain in the Dad's Army episode "The Deadly Attachment", makes guest appearances in five separate episodes.^note "The Decapod" and "Six Hands Across a Table" in Season 2, "Death of a Batman" in Season 3, "The Correct Way to Kill" in Season 5 and "My Wildest Dream" in Season 6.
  • The fifth season premier, "From Venus With Love," had Jon Pertwee playing, amusingly, a brigadier general.^note This meant he was in the first colour episodes of both this show and Doctor Who.
  • John Cleese in "Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers".
  • Paul Eddington appears in two episodes ^note "Immortal Clay" in Season 2 and "Something Nasty in the Nursery" in Season 5 , a decade before he found fame as Jerry Leadbetter and Jim Hacker.
  • Nicholas Courtney appears in two episodes: "Propellant 23" in Season 2 and "Mission... Highly Improbable" in Season 5. The latter episode was broadcast just a few months before his first appearance as Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart in Doctor Who.
  • Jacqueline Pearce (Servalan from Blake's 7) appeared as Marianne in the Season 4 episode "A Sense of History".
  • Arthur Lowe appears in the Season 5 episode "Dead Man's Treasure". One year later, he would debut as Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army.
  • Anthony Ainley appeared in the Season 6 episode "Noon-Doomsday" as Edward Sunley. Over a decade later, he would become known for playing the Master on Doctor Who.
  • Beth Wilkinson in "Dance with Death" is played by Angela Douglas, who would later be best known for her roles in the Carry On... Series.
  • Dr. Kearns in "The Big Thinker" is played by Anthony Booth, who would later be best known for playing Mike Rawlins in Till Death Us Do Part and Sid Noggett in the Confessions of a... Series.
  • An elderly gent from "Never, Never Say Die" is played by Arnold Ridley, who would later be best known for playing Private Godfrey in Dad's Army.
  • A masseuse from "The Medicine Men" is played by Brenda Cowling, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Lipton in You Rang, M'Lord?.
  • Haslam from "The Springers" is played by Brian Murphy, who would later be best known for playing George Roper in Man About the House and George & Mildred.
  • Raven from "The Fear Merchants" is played by Brian Wilde, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Barrowclough in Porridge and Foggy Dewhirst in Last of the Summer Wine.
  • Martin from "Something Nasty in the Nursery" is played by Clive Dunn, who would later be best known for playing Lance Corporal Jones in Dad's Army.
  • Waversham from "The Thirteenth Hole" is played by Donald Hewlett, who would later be best known for playing Colonel Reynolds in It Ain't Half Hot, Mum and Lord Meldrum in You Rang, M'Lord?.
  • Mrs. Briggs from "The Frighteners" is played by Doris Hare, who would later be best known for playing Mrs. Butler in On the Buses.
  • Sergeant Moran from "What the Butler Saw" is played by Ewan Hooper, who would later be best known for playing Alec Foster in Hi-de-Hi!.
  • Kim Lawrence from "The Charmers" is played by Fenella Fielding, who would later be best known for playing Valeria Watt in Carry On Screaming!.
  • Sir William Bonner from "Death on the Slipway" is played by Frank Thornton, who would later be best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?.
  • Ivenko from "Two's a Crowd" is played by John Bluthal, who would later be best known for playing Frank Pickle in The Vicar of Dibley.
  • Dr. Macombie from "Mandrake" and Benson from "What the Butler Saw" are played by John Le Mesurier, who would later be best known for playing Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army.
  • A crowdmember in "Tunnel of Fear" is played by Julian Holloway, who would later be best known for his roles in the Carry On films.
  • Tom Savage from "The Bird Who Knew Too Much" and Gardiner from "The Curious Case of the Countless Clues" are played by Kenneth Cope, who would later be best known for playing Marty Hopkirk in Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased).
  • Three guest roles from between 1961 and 1962 are played by Michael Robbins, who would later be best known for playing Arthur Rudge in On the Buses.
  • Parker from "Escape in Time" and Lather from "Super Secret Cypher Snatch" is played by Nicholas Smith, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Rumbold in Are You Being Served?.
  • Duboys from "A Sense of History" is played by Patrick Mower, who would later be best known for playing Rodney Blackstock in Emmerdale.
  • Thelma from "Love All" is played by Patsy Rowlands who would later be best known for her roles in the Carry On films.
  • Audrey Long from "Take Me to Your Leader" is played by Penelope Keith, who would later be best known for playing Margo Ledbetter in The Good Life and Audrey fforbes-Hamilton in To the Manor Born.
  • A man on a TV screen from "The Thirteenth Hole" is played by Richard Marner, who would later be best known for playing Colonel von Strohm in 'Allo 'Allo!.
  • Eli Barker from "A Surfeit of H₂O" and Fiery Frederick from "Look - (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers..." are played by Talfryn Thomas, who would later be best known for playing Private Cheeseman in Dad's Army.
  • Gordon and Miss Lister from "Something Nasty in the Nursery" are played by Trevor Bannister and Yootha Joyce, who would later be best known for playing Mr. Lucas in Are You Being Served?, and Mildred Roper in Man About the House and George & Mildred respectively.
  • Captain Jason from "The Golden Fleece" and Keller from "The Charmers" are played by Warren Mitchell, who would later be best known for playing Alf Garnett in Till Death Us Do Part.
• Seasonal Rot: The series experienced this in its sixth and final season when Diana Rigg chose to leave the show, forcing Emma Peel to be replaced with Tara King. The season was a huge Troubled Production and failed in America with ratings. An attempt at reviving the show (without Rigg again) failed too.
• Spiritual Successor: The first season was a follow-up to the crime series Police Surgeon, which starred Ian Hendry as a physician who helped the police solve crimes. In fact, the series was created to give Hendry a star vehicle following Police Surgeon's cancellation.
• Tough Act to Follow: Linda Thorson had the unenviable task of filling in following Diana Rigg.
• Unintentional Period Piece: This is the sort of TV show that could only exist in the 60s - where James Bond had just taken off and spies were cool. Second wave feminism was in, resulting in sexy Action Girls like Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King. The hairstyles and fashions of the female characters scream 1960s, particularly Emma's Spy Catsuit. The show's tongue-in-cheek, Narm Charm tone was so heavily a product of the 60s that the attempt to revive the series in the 70s failed - as did a film adaptation in 1998.
• Values Dissonance:
  • One of the guidelines set up to maintain the pure fantasy element of the show was "no coloured people".
  • "Castle of De'ath" features some rather stereotypical portrayal of Scottish people - namely that they use bagpipes to cover up their evil deeds and all walk around wearing tartan and kilts the whole time. Not to mention, to pass as a Scot Steed says his name is 'Jock McSteed'^note 'jock' is a slur for Scottish people.
  • "Honey for the Prince" requires Emma to go undercover as part of an Arabian Sheik's harem, even doing a dance. When she doesn't respond to questioning, Steed covers by saying that she's "Retarded, your majesty. Definitely what you’d call retarded".
  • In "The £50,000 Breakfast", Steed quips "Why the jungle music?" in regards to the calypso band playing in a club.
• Values Resonance: Both Cathy Gale and Emma Peel were treated as equals to Steed - presumably because Cathy's early episodes were originally written for Dr King and Gender Flipped when he left. In later episodes, both Steed and his female partner would alternately save each other.

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