The Avengers “Death at Bargain Prices” #4.4 (1966) (TV)

“And Mr Massey, your carnation is crooked.  Kindly adjust it.”  15 December 2020

When a colleague is found murdered, the only clue is a sales receipt from a nearby department store.  Mrs Peel goes undercover and finds things aren’t as they should be.  It seems that none of the staff has the slightest clue on how to run a retail establishment.  What are they up to?

Death at Bargain Prices is another fun episode that gives Steed and Mrs Peel plenty of opportunity to do what they do best – investigate an unusual case and engage in (often innuendo-filled) banter.  As for the investigation, the case here is relatively interesting.  On the first time through the episode, I honestly had no idea what the baddies were up to with lots of mysterious goings on in the middle of the night.  The end is a bit contrived, but aren’t most episodes of The Avengers.  And the department store provides for a number of unusual situations and settings.  I loved the scene where the bad guys hold a secret rendezvous amongst the bamboo in the camping section. 

 As for the banter, Death at Bargain Prices includes one of my favorite bits of dialogue from any episode.  Steed:  “I asked the chief predator where to find you and he said, ‘Our Mrs Peel is in ladies underwear.’  I rattled up the stairs three at a time.”  Good stuff.

The episode also benefits from having a strong supporting cast, including: Andre Morell, Allen Cuthbertson, and John Carter. 

 

7/10