The Avengers International Fan Forum

peabody · Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: 6.22 - The Morning After

Discuss, review and rate The Morning After.

Written by Brian Clemens
Directed by John Hough

Frankymole · Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 7:50 pm Post subject:

A brief review for this rather sketchy episode. But sketches can often harbour hints of greatness. So what do we have?

Plus points:

+ Peter Barkworth gives an enchanting performance as the cowardly conjuror-turned-traitor Merlin. Great fun.
+ Brian Blessed in an early "shouty" role.
+ Joss Ackland — wasted, but still convincingly evil.
+ Great location filming (NB at no time is the town referred to as London despite what "The Avengers Dossier" claims — in fact, it is called a town rather than a city. The provincial buildings, and the fact the entire population is shown to have fled by minor roads, imply it is a small town not a city of 6 million people).

Minus points:

- The plot makes no sense. Surely the diabolical masterminds could devise a less blatant of installing a nuclear device for blackmail purposes than having fake troops stomping around rounding up journalists and shooting looters? And why install it in an old embassy?
- Very little Tara (must be a Linda-vacation week). Okay so she is not everyone's cup of tea, but the way she gets knocked out every time Steed finds her is a little obvious, and Steed needs someone to be witty to.

I was always curious to see this episode in full, having missed most of it on re-screenings and only vaguely remembering it (perhaps the true test of longevity). Since Peter Barkworth made it all worthwhile with his cheeky super-criminal arch-foe of Steed, and I enjoyed the build-up of the "where is everyone?" suspense (this episode's central "hook"), I will give it 3 out of 4 bowlers. Not classic Avengers, but classy television. 8/10.
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cyberrich · Posted: Wed Sep 25, 2013 10:19 am Post subject:

8/10 from me. A great plot idea and the deserted streets look great on screen. I feel slightly disappointed that Tara is knocked unconscious so early on and spends virtually the entire episode unconscious. Obviously an episode to accommodate Linda's need of a week off, but Morning after would have been so much better if Tara had woken up halfway through the episode and wandered out into the streets unaware of the danger ahead. This idea was made into the much better TNA episode, Sleeper. Rich.

Rodders · Posted: Mon Nov 11, 2013 11:59 am Post subject:

I agree that Sleeper was far better, but the Macnee/Barkworth rapport is a delight; it wouldn't have been possible with Tara awake.
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Lhbizness · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:40 am Post subject:

I feel like I should enjoy this episode more than I actually do. The idea is an intriguing one and some GREAT character actors are on hand, but it feels a bit flat. I like the rapport between Merlin and Steed, and am perfectly pleased with Tara not being present, but there's something missing in not having a woman for Steed to at least interact with (until the appearance of the girl reporter, which does very little). It seems slightly like a sub-par version of a Season 4 plot - it has a bit too much in common with The Hour that Never Was, but without all the ... fun.
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Avengers Episode Reviews: The Undertakers

Rhonda · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2014 12:25 pm Post subject:

3 from me. Like the reporters.
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Ian Wegg · Have Fingers... Will Type! Joined: 15 Sep 2011 Posts: 286

An excellent episode, really enjoyed this one.

9 from me.