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highflyingbird
White Dwarf
Joined: 09 Dec 2013
Posts: 9
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 Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:21 am Post subject: Tara's Flat |
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| I've always found Tara's flat to be a curious design. There are two doors, both of which seem to lead out into some sort of passageway/landing area, despite being on opposite sides. Why have the high door, and the staircase/fireman's pole, at all, since their only function is as an entrance to the flat, when there's a perfectly serviceable entrance already at ground level? Has the designer of this set ever explained his/her choices? Or does anyone know any real rooms that are actually like this? |
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anti-clockwise
The Bird Who Wrote Too Much
Joined: 17 May 2013
Posts: 1683
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 9:44 am Post subject: |
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My first thought was-great for stunt work and Ray Austin!
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ischtar
Winged Avenger
Joined: 06 Jun 2010
Posts: 678
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 11:57 am Post subject: |
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Oo
Last edited by ischtar on Tue Apr 02, 2019 9:01 am; edited 2 times in total |
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Rodders
The Big Thinker
Joined: 03 Jan 2013
Posts: 1328
Location: Avengerland
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Tara's Flat |
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| highflyingbird wrote: | | I've always found Tara's flat to be a curious design. There are two doors, both of which seem to lead out into some sort of passageway/landing area, despite being on opposite sides. Why have the high door, and the staircase/fireman's pole, at all, since their only function is as an entrance to the flat, when there's a perfectly serviceable entrance already at ground level? Has the designer of this set ever explained his/her choices? Or does anyone know any real rooms that are actually like this? |
I don't think realism is really the point. This is what I wrote about the apartment last year:
Our first glimpse of Tara King’s apartment reveals a set designed for action, from its two separate entrances, its ‘frilly’ white twisting staircase with room to hide underneath, to a fireman’s pole one just knows will be employed on a regular basis. It resembles an indoor adventure playground.
In addition, there is an eclectic collection of aesthetic objects: a pair of spectacle-shaped mirrors, a penny farthing attached to the wall, a post box (drinks cabinet), some bizarre telephones, loud floral curtains with matching sofa, psychedelic stag heads mounted on a pink background, and a collection of daggers. We can already guess that some of these will become ‘active’ props in future episodes. (These accessories would be playfully altered as the season went on, as is the case in Have Guns – Will Haggle with the bizarre, ugly, porcelain heads bearing Tara’s wigs.) Its owner will be less cool and refined than Emma Peel, but younger and funkier, perhaps.
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dissolute
The Ministry
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 1737
Location: Sydney, Australia
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| Posted: Tue Feb 04, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject: |
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I used to live in a flat with back stairs for the milkman, laundry and the dustbins. The milk was left in a hatch which opened on the other side into the kitchen.
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Charlie Parker
Little Wonder
Joined: 08 Sep 2008
Posts: 181
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| Isn't it just good design to have more then one entrance to a flat in case of fire? I suspect one door, as has been noted, leads to the Garage/Laundry services and the other is a social entrance. |
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mousemeat
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 4285
Location: Elvis Central, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 11:26 am Post subject: Re: Tara's Flat |
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| Rodders wrote: | | highflyingbird wrote: | | I've always found Tara's flat to be a curious design. There are two doors, both of which seem to lead out into some sort of passageway/landing area, despite being on opposite sides. Why have the high door, and the staircase/fireman's pole, at all, since their only function is as an entrance to the flat, when there's a perfectly serviceable entrance already at ground level? Has the designer of this set ever explained his/her choices? Or does anyone know any real rooms that are actually like this? |
I don't think realism is really the point. This is what I wrote about the apartment last year:
Our first glimpse of Tara King’s apartment reveals a set designed for action, from its two separate entrances, its ‘frilly’ white twisting staircase with room to hide underneath, to a fireman’s pole one just knows will be employed on a regular basis. It resembles an indoor adventure playground.
In addition, there is an eclectic collection of aesthetic objects: a pair of spectacle-shaped mirrors, a penny farthing attached to the wall, a post box (drinks cabinet), some bizarre telephones, loud floral curtains with matching sofa, psychedelic stag heads mounted on a pink background, and a collection of daggers. We can already guess that some of these will become ‘active’ props in future episodes. (These accessories would be playfully altered as the season went on, as is the case in Have Guns – Will Haggle with the bizarre, ugly, porcelain heads bearing Tara’s wigs.) Its owner will be less cool and refined than Emma Peel, but younger and funkier, perhaps. |
good points...it was different than Emma's |
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Johnny O
Have Fingers... Will Type!
Joined: 09 Sep 2008
Posts: 334
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| Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 6:03 pm Post subject: |
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I've written before in other threads that Tara's flat defies close scrutiny and is best treated as a cool space that didn't really exist.
Some quirks are that there appears to be no kitchen as the only time we see Tara performing any sort of culinary feat, she does so in her living room. Best place to ice a wedding cake.
Doesn't matter which window she (or visitors) look out of on which side of the building, they always have the same street view.
The lower door sometimes leads to an area Tara uses for storage or even a bedroom, as it's where she heads to retrieve her suitcases. Other times, it leads to a public area where callers have direct access to the door.
The view from the miracle windows always shows Tara's flat to be at the top of the building. Except when Mother gets lost in the fog. Unless he has a truly incredible vehicle that drives upstairs. He just might.
Everything in Tara's apartment is also remarkably resilient. Every single piece of china can be smashed to pieces one week and remarkably be totally intact seven days later. Purdey shopped at the same miracle store when choosing her furnishings and knick knacks. |
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Frankymole
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 01 Sep 2008
Posts: 4050
Location: Carmadoc research establishment
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:24 am Post subject: |
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| Johnny O wrote: | I've written before in other threads that Tara's flat defies close scrutiny and is best treated as a cool space that didn't really exist.
Some quirks are that there appears to be no kitchen as the only time we see Tara performing any sort of culinary feat, she does so in her living room. Best place to ice a wedding cake.
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Many modern London "yuppie" flats don't have a kitchen, as they assume the Bright Young Things either Eat Out or Order In. And I can't see Tara being tied to the kitchen stove whatever her deluded critics claim.
I liked the model train that ran outside Tara's window.
The corridor next to the door by the swords was meant o be on the ground floor as far as I can tell. The back door up the "pole" led out on to a roof area as seen in "Legacy of Death" - it all makes more sense than Steed's flat with its "nursery door" onto the street and impossible back staircase.
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Rodders
The Big Thinker
Joined: 03 Jan 2013
Posts: 1328
Location: Avengerland
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 11:45 am Post subject: |
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I think that of the five apartments seen in The Avengers on film - six if you count Emma's remodelled one mid-Season 5 - Tara's is the most interesting. It is an adventure waiting to happen.
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cyberrich
Site Admin
Joined: 05 Sep 2008
Posts: 1115
Location: Midlands, U.K.
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| Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 3:25 pm Post subject: |
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Tara's is simply the best apartment of all The Avengers apartments. In fact the best apartment seen in ANY TV series. Period. I especially love the fireman's pole enabling her to answer the phone quickly if she enters at the upper door. Visually stunning, and a set that sums up the colourful 1960's perfectly.  The set also created some wonderful suspenseful moments, in particular the exciting finale in Countless clues. Rich. |
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mousemeat
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 4285
Location: Elvis Central, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| cyberrich wrote: | | Tara's is simply the best apartment of all The Avengers apartments. In fact the best apartment seen in ANY TV series. Period. I especially love the fireman's pole enabling her to answer the phone quickly if she enters at the upper door. Visually stunning, and a set that sums up the colourful 1960's perfectly. The set also created some wonderful suspenseful moments, in particular the exciting finale in Countless clues. Rich. |
well stated... |
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shaunodan
Have Fingers... Will Type!
Joined: 04 Jan 2014
Posts: 401
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| Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Quite like Purdey's apartment too..basement and of course her ballet barre to keep Purdey in terrific shape ! Tara's Firemans Pole... what better tool to keep her in shape if used for some Pole Dancing...Avengers way ahead of their time |
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TrueIndigo
Thingumajig
Joined: 28 Aug 2015
Posts: 69
Location: UK
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| Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 4:33 am Post subject: |
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| I was always fascinated by Tara's cluttered flat, there's so much going on! As a seven-year-old in 1968 I was quite fond of the impressive copper/brass vintage car on the (sewing machine?) table next to the stairs - what a great toy! The confusing number of period telephones was fun if you didn't know which one was ringing, and the penny farthing is surely one of the best wall decorations ever. |
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Rodders
The Big Thinker
Joined: 03 Jan 2013
Posts: 1328
Location: Avengerland
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| Posted: Sun Oct 11, 2015 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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It's a wonderful set, in a season of remarkable, surreal sets.
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TrueIndigo
Thingumajig
Joined: 28 Aug 2015
Posts: 69
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 3:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Is there any known significance to the large letters "O" and "P" on the wall by the stairs? Or for the number "21" next to it? I wondered if that number might be Linda Thorson's age, but she would have been 20 when filming for the series first started. Perhaps it's all just random... |
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Rodders
The Big Thinker
Joined: 03 Jan 2013
Posts: 1328
Location: Avengerland
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| Posted: Wed Dec 02, 2015 1:08 pm Post subject: |
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She was 21 when the season was broadcast, so why not? Sounds likely to me.
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mousemeat
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 04 Sep 2008
Posts: 4285
Location: Elvis Central, U.S.A.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2015 8:23 am Post subject: |
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| dissolute wrote: | | I used to live in a flat with back stairs for the milkman, laundry and the dustbins. The milk was left in a hatch which opened on the other side into the kitchen. |
in the states, delivering milk, or being a milkman, is a blast from the past. I remember them from my past....mid 1950's... |
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Frankymole
A Touch of Brimstone
Joined: 01 Sep 2008
Posts: 4050
Location: Carmadoc research establishment
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| Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:34 am Post subject: |
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| TrueIndigo wrote: | | Is there any known significance to the large letters "O" and "P" on the wall by the stairs? Or for the number "21" next to it? I wondered if that number might be Linda Thorson's age, but she would have been 20 when filming for the series first started. Perhaps it's all just random... |
"21 means "key of the door" in Bingo, as it was the age of majority when kids became adults and were allowed to own their own house key. Maybe it represents Tara owning her own flat 
No idea about "O" and "P". Perhaps the "P" is for Patrick...
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TrueIndigo
Thingumajig
Joined: 28 Aug 2015
Posts: 69
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2015 4:17 pm Post subject: |
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| We must also include the fireplace wall (with the penny-farthing above it) which also has gilt letters and numbers: to the left of the exterior (hall way) lilac-coloured door is "TK" (Tara King) and to the right of it is "NO" (I don't know what that might be for, if anything), followed by "22" in exactly the same style as the "21" by the stairs (pink with numbers in gold within a circle). It's always interesting to wonder if these things might contain hidden meanings (it's a secret agent show, after all) or possibly in-jokes by the film makers. Using your idea Franky, I see that 22 in Bingo nicknames is "Two little ducks" -- Tara and Steed? |
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