Friday, March 09, 2012

Naive Avengersthon - 42. Second Sight

Peter Bowles is prominent here, looking extraordinarily like Rik Mayall as Richard Rich in a couple of shots. I couldn't believe the striking Judy Bruce, whose character he's having an affair with, wasn't in anything else after this, but the internet explains that she changed her name to Judith and settled for being a big name in musical theatre.

John 'Ambril' Carson, returning from Chorus of Frogs, is really good as blind millionaire Halvarssen, who we're led to assume is the intended graft recipient. His manner is as tightly controlled as his immaculate buttonhole and precision haircut. There's a good case of Chekhov's Gun here, with his custom audio-feedback firearm being introduced well before it's employed in the denouement.

A very chilling scene with Dr Spender, who Steed's persuaded to oversee the supposed corneal graft, surreptitiously examining the silent, immobile donor before meeting a sudden end.

I quite enjoyed this episode but it was the playing I appreciated, not the plot, which is basically 45 minutes of misdirection about corneal grafting, followed by a gunfight. Cathy assumes yet another cover as a doctor - and complains to Steed that she won't be able to carry it off. Even she's starting to find her multiplicity of roles implausible.

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