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The New Avengers: Steed, Purdey, & Gambit

Joel_Kirk

Joel_Kirk

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Anyone fond of this show? Dislike it?

I'm going to be catching episodes when I have the time.

I actually saw the first episode yesterday; and some things were a bit cheesy...but typical of the universe, I guess.

SIDENOTE: The late Gareth Hunt always reminded me of Timothy Dalton, since they somewhat resemble one another...:lol:

I recall Hunt from Planet of the Spiders; and, of course, Joanna Lumley portrayed 'The Doctor' in the DW spoof.

I want to watch the Tara King Avengers episodes next...(Primarily because I think Tara King/Linda Thorson is hot during that period).

And yes, I know Linda Thorson portrayed a Cardassian on ST...
 
I love the New Avengers, I think actually it was the first Avengers I saw so it kinda stuck in my consiousness. I realise it isn't as cool as the Avengers, but it's a nice waypoint bettween the quirky eccentric sixties and the tough gritty seventies. It is quite exciting and action packed, but its also quirky and still features giant rats, robot assasins and the like. My two favourite episodes are probably Sleeper and Target.

Sad that Gareth Hunt is no longer with us, Mike Gambit was a great character (I loved his groovy seventies batchelor pad) and he and Purdey had great chemistry.
 
I enjoyed it very much. I have it on DVD along with all the Peel and King episodes.

It kind of petered out at the end, though. The last few episodes were shot in Canada to much balyhoo ("The New Avengers in Canada!!"), but those eps weren't very good, and then all of a sudden the show just... ended. No farewell ep, nothing, just... a couple of mediocre eps, and gone.
 
I found the New Avengers sort of hit and miss. There was great casting, and the idea of having a third Avenger was a good way to shuffle the deck, storywise. I did find the shows felt a bit too 1970s, and as such they've actually shown their age more than the 1960s episodes which somehow managed to capture a timeless quality - even the B&W ones.

But there were some great moments, such as the clever "cameo by stock footage" by Emma Peel in one episode. But neither the New Avengers nor the Tara King episodes managed to recapture the same air of subtle eroticism of the Cathy Gale and Emma Peel episodes, which were a remarkable achievement for a 1960s British production. The Avengers got away with some things back then they'd never get away with now (or at least not without the heroes going to bed every other episode and a TV-M rating tossed on the screen).

Back to New Avengers: sadly I've only been able to locate the second season on DVD; the first season has vanished. I'm hoping A&E or another company reissues them. If the announced Blu-Ray edition of Space:1999 comes to pass, and we already have the original Prisoner out in HD, I'm hoping A&E will continue on and get the Avengers and New Avengers out there in HD too (well, probably not the kinescoped Gale episodes, sadly, :( ).

Alex
 
I was too young to know about the Avengers so this was my first exposure too and I loved this show as a kid. I thought they only made one series though! The 70s are such a blur.

Still pipped to the post by Sapphire & Steel for my favourite Lumley series though! Wot no reboot?
 
^ The first Hulk film flopped, didn't stop them trying again...and again!

The trouble with The Avengers is that its major draw isnt so much the stories, its the casting. I didn't think Ralph Finnes was terrible as Steed, he just wasn't McNee, Uma wasn't a great Mrs Peel though.

The trouble with the film is it was too reverential to the tv series to hook new fans, but not reverential enough to appeal to old fans. I do kind like some bits of it though.
 
^ The Hulk wasn't quite the megaflop Avengers was, but I take your point (you could also cite The Punisher).

I've seen bits of the movie and it's just a mess - it seems like chunks have been edited out at random. I agree that it aims for the quirkiness of the original and just doesn't quite get it right. Fiennes lacks Macnee's twinkle in the eye and Thurman is all wrong.

I think it's just one of those shows whose one-off period appeal can't be replicated, much like The Prisoner.
 
It really needs something more like a comics resurrection than a movie or TV version - but if they could get the casting right, anything's possible. (Tony Head would make a good Steed, IMO, but I can't think of anyone who'd make a suitable Emma or Purdey)
 
Actually watched the New Avengers first as a kid and then watched the Tara King season of the Avengers. Loved both series especially the sci-fi aspects and Linda Thorson was fine. Never really loved Purdy that much although led to a priceless joke on Absolutely Fabulous.

My favourite eps would have to be The Game and Invasion of the Earth Men. In the New Avengers it would have to be the mad British Army Colonel hiring out his commando unit as mercenaries plus the one where future Professionals stars Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw are the villains plotting to blow up Parliament. They even say to one another 'We make a good team, we should work together again'.

Actually Gambit reminds me more of the character of Bodie from The Professionals, they have a similar background, merchant navy, paratroopers, mercenaries, SAS etc

The Avengers movie was a wasted chance, Ralph Fiennes and Uma looked perfect and the trailer was excellent but the script sucked. ASH would be great in the role:)
It's interesting to compare both Clemens' series, the New Avengers is sort of a bridging series between The Avengers and The Professionals, set much more in the real world than the more fantastical old Avengers with uniformed policeman, poor people, drugs and the Soviets instead of some unnamed 'foreign power'
 
saturn5 said:
Actually watched the New Avengers first as a kid and then watched the Tara King season of the Avengers. Loved both series especially the sci-fi aspects and Linda Thorson was fine. Never really loved Purdy that much although led to a priceless joke on Absolutely Fabulous.

My favourite eps would have to be The Game and Invasion of the Earth Men. In the New Avengers it would have to be the mad British Army Colonel hiring out his commando unit as mercenaries plus the one where future Professionals stars Lewis Collins and Martin Shaw are the villains plotting to blow up Parliament. They even say to one another 'We make a good team, we should work together again'.

Actually Gambit reminds me more of the character of Bodie from The Professionals, they have a similar background, merchant navy, paratroopers, mercenaries, SAS etc

The Avengers movie was a wasted chance, Ralph Fiennes and Uma looked perfect and the trailer was excellent but the script sucked. ASH would be great in the role:)
It's interesting to compare both Clemens' series, the New Avengers is sort of a bridging series between The Avengers and The Professionals, set much more in the real world than the more fantastical old Avengers with uniformed policeman, poor people, drugs and the Soviets instead of some unnamed 'foreign power'
Click to expand...

I think, really, Clemens wanted to do The Professionals (or similar) all along, but the network wanted more Avengers, so the show's direction wanders between the two.

Oh, and since he's appeared on TV lately, and has a good glint in his eye in Hot Fuzz, Timothy Dalton would be another possible Steed - but Tony Head would definitely be my pick.
 
I really loved these episodes ... and it is amazing how well Steed carried the "flavor" of the original series over into this follow-up. I wish they had made more of them.
 
Ahh, we have some posters mentioning The Avengers film...:lol:

I personally thought (like many) that it could have been soooo much better. The cinematography was beautiful...but Uma Thurman was a definite bad choice for Emma; she wasn't sexy. (However, Carmen Ejogo WAS the hottie in that movie). The script, obviously, could have been more involving and interesting.

Connery was awesome; but even he had the tendency to pick stuff that wasn't up to par.

I'm pretty sure if there was the opportunity to revive it in some way on the big screen, it would be done. (SIDENOTE: I believe Jerry Weintraub was the producer on the Fiennes/Thurman version)...

*

I definitely agree with the poster who mentioned that some aspects of the show are dated. (Many things that take place in the 70s are: Gambit's outfits shoes, the male hairstyles, Purdey's outfits, the cars).


​
 
Lonemagpie said:
Oh, and since he's appeared on TV lately, and has a good glint in his eye in Hot Fuzz, Timothy Dalton would be another possible Steed - but Tony Head would definitely be my pick.
Click to expand...

I remember hearing a rumour in the mid-90s that Dalton was on the wishlist for the movie, the part that Fiennes ultimately played. Might have been interesting to have had two James Bonds facing off!
 
Didn't mind the The New Avengers though prefer the McNee/Rigg era of the old (haven't seen any with Linda Thorson and a few Honor Blackman).

Was interesting that in the New Avengers Steed went back to being the ladies man he was in series with Cathy Gale ( he would never of behaved that was with Mrs Peel).

I gather one of the reasons for the introduction of Gambit was McNee had back problems that impacted his ability to do some of the action stuff.

Though he and Diana Rigg have never had to much flattering to say about the producers of the Avengers - both loved the show and working together but the pay and conditions as the stars of the show were supposedly pretty poor.

Finally talk about Bond, Rigg, Blackman and Lumley all appeared in 007 films though Lumley's was just a bit part in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
 
Lonemagpie said:
It really needs something more like a comics resurrection than a movie or TV version - but if they could get the casting right, anything's possible. (Tony Head would make a good Steed, IMO, but I can't think of anyone who'd make a suitable Emma or Purdey)
Click to expand...

Really off the wall, but I remember a book once suggesting that the best casting you could have for Steed and Emma would be to get Andy Robinson and Nana Visitor without the makeup ;)

I love Dalton to bits, but not sure if he really has the twinkle in his eye that McNee has, to be honest if 99.9% of men tried to act like Steed they'd come off as creepy, but McNee pulls it off.
 
Marc said:
Didn't mind the The New Avengers though prefer the McNee/Rigg era of the old (haven't seen any with Linda Thorson and a few Honor Blackman).

Was interesting that in the New Avengers Steed went back to being the ladies man he was in series with Cathy Gale ( he would never of behaved that was with Mrs Peel).

I gather one of the reasons for the introduction of Gambit was McNee had back problems that impacted his ability to do some of the action stuff.

Though he and Diana Rigg have never had to much flattering to say about the producers of the Avengers - both loved the show and working together but the pay and conditions as the stars of the show were supposedly pretty poor.

Finally talk about Bond, Rigg, Blackman and Lumley all appeared in 007 films though Lumley's was just a bit part in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Click to expand...

McNee also appeared in a Bond (albeit, IMO, poor one) film...
 
Joel_Kirk said:
Marc said:
Didn't mind the The New Avengers though prefer the McNee/Rigg era of the old (haven't seen any with Linda Thorson and a few Honor Blackman).

Was interesting that in the New Avengers Steed went back to being the ladies man he was in series with Cathy Gale ( he would never of behaved that was with Mrs Peel).

I gather one of the reasons for the introduction of Gambit was McNee had back problems that impacted his ability to do some of the action stuff.

Though he and Diana Rigg have never had to much flattering to say about the producers of the Avengers - both loved the show and working together but the pay and conditions as the stars of the show were supposedly pretty poor.

Finally talk about Bond, Rigg, Blackman and Lumley all appeared in 007 films though Lumley's was just a bit part in On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
Click to expand...

McNee also appeared in a Bond (albeit, IMO, poor one) film...
Click to expand...

Now that was a waste of talent.
 
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