The Avengers "The Town of No Return" #4.1 (1965) (TV)

A good start to the 1965 season, 9 September 2007

I've been a fan of The Avengers for as long as I can remember, but unfortunately, I've honestly never seen more than the odd episode here and there. Thanks to Netflix, I've decided to change that. I've also decided to not start at the beginning of the series, but with the 1965 season instead. As many fans will undoubtedly know, 1965 is the season that Diana Rigg joined the show as Mrs. Emma Peel. Mrs. Peel's introduction has to be one of the most "nothing" moments in television history. She's quite literally just there. No fanfare at all. But then again, this is The Avengers. The low-key approach to something like a new major character is in keeping with the show's overall tone. Like the character Steed, "unflappable" is a good work to use when describing the entire series.

The first episode of 1965, "The Town of No Return" encapsulates what I enjoy about the show. Quirky characters, bizarre situations, solid acting, and a sinister air of mystery are all present in this episode. Steed and Mrs. Peel arrive in a small town to investigate the disappearances of several agents who have gone in before them. The quaint little town is situated near a WWII air base. But something is wrong. There aren't enough people. And those who are there aren't who they seem to be. Steed and Mrs. Peel find themselves at the air base investigating an invasion from within (so to speak).

Even though this was their first episode together, Diana Rigg and Patrick Macnee are as good always. Their chemistry seems to have been instantaneous. They are joined by a good, but small supporting cast that includes Terence Alexander as the overly genial barkeep named 'Piggy" Warren and Robert Brown (who I immediately recognized as M from the James Bond films of the 1980s) as the very sinister Saul. I'm sure that having a director as skilled in horror as Roy Ward Baker contributed greatly to the episodes atmosphere. As is the case with many of The Avengers episodes I've seen, the writing is the real standout. "The Town of No Return" is no different. It's well written and interesting throughout. Though some of the details in the underground bunker near the end get a bit messy, this is a very minor quibble to what is otherwise an entertaining start to the 1965 season.

8/10