The Avengers International Fan Forum

darren · Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2013 8:32 am Post subject: 2.15 - The Big Thinker

Written by Martin Woodhouse
Directed by Kim Mills
Production completed: 13 December 1962

Starring Patrick Macnee and Honor Blackman

Frankymole · Posted: Tue Sep 24, 2013 6:17 pm Post subject:

My review:

http://www.theavengers.tv/forever/gale1-12vr.htm

The Avenged?: Missile tracking is the subject, specifically sabotage of its development program, for the second week in a row (following "Traitor in Zebra"). But this is much more sophisticated stuff — instead of merely detecting missiles, "Plato" the computer can calculate their interception. It's the Star Wars SDI program, decades early. Oh, and superconductors — the first victim is frozen (and gassed) by Plato's coolant; rather a good effect is shown later, the body covered in frost. Quite chilling (groan).

Diabolical Masterminds?: Tony Booth plays a rather obnoxious, irritating, arrogant and chauvinistic "boy wonder" scientist. He gives the "goodies" a bad name. In fact, the villains could be argued to have won in this story (uniquely?). Their aim was sabotage and to put Plato out of action for months, which they succeed in doing.

The Avengers?: Steed takes a back seat, intending to go on vacation to Tel Aviv (he has hotel brochures) but making up excuses to stay and see how Cathy fares on her own. Although she does almost everything right, Steed cheekily tells her that she's making a mess of it (see earlier regarding the success of the sabotage!). When Steed shows up at the end to rescue Cathy, he is asked by the director of the top secret project, "who are you?" Which says it all. It's a pity Cathy's first real solo adventure isn't an unqualified success and Steed has to rescue her. What happened to all that equality?

Umbrella, Charm and a Bowler Hat?: Steed and Cathy have a humorous domestic scene in her kitchen, she taking over cooking his failed omelet, and asking if he can cope with drinking the wine instead. He doesn't appear very grateful, as usual; oh, when will he learn how to treat a woman like Cathy? (Answer: by about the time Emma shows up!) Steed has a new dog, which he leaves with Cathy when he goes off on vacation; as Cathy warms up from her cryogenic incarceration, she no longer demands that Steed keeps his dog off her furniture — is their relationship perhaps thawing a little? (groan again).

Bizarre?: Quite a lot of special effects in this one, but they're not noticeably effects (the best kind). There's no mention of what happened to Steed's Dalmatian, he only leaves the new dog with Cathy.

On Target? (Score): A thinker, not a stinker. Reasonable. Three bowlers out of four (8/10).
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Last watched: "The Medicine Men"

Rhonda · Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2018 10:53 am Post subject:

5 from me and a bit different in there's a more claustrophobic setting to it all (and Anthony Booth always reminds me of his well-known relatives!)
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Ron
Last Watched : Trap

Frankymole · Posted: Sun Sep 05, 2021 1:00 pm Post subject:

Two weeks in a row for missile interception technology, but also two weeks in a row for Welsh accents. Nice to hear a genuine one from Tenniel Evans, not like Richard Leech's last week, it took me quite a while to work out that he wasn't from India!
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Last watched: "The Medicine Men"