This one is a strange combination, it's 45 minutes of runaround, followed by the revelation of a very clever central conceit, certainly one that I didn't manage to guess.
The runaround concerns the search for an 'emperor among parrots', and amongst other places takes us to the familiar 60s location of a photographer's studio. Kenneth 'Vic Spanner/Packard' Cope is perfect in this role. I didn't recognise him at all.
Two rather sillier characters are bird fanatic Edgar Twitter (played by John Wood in a sort of not-quite-Kenneth Williams way) and avian elocution teacher Prof Jordan (Ron Moody, returning from Honey for the Prince).
The twee street sets I complained about in the last episode are in evidence again. They paint a picture that's almost but not quite entirely unlike London, presumably for the benefit of American audiences. (I'm not having a go because they're American. If anything I'm ashamed that they're being misled.)
To make up for this there's a rather stylish fight on a diving platform above a swimming pool between Mrs Peel and a sniper (Michael 'Ganatus' Coles).
Previously and also seen: Ilona Rodgers returning from Six Hands Across A Table. Not only was she Carol in The Sensorites, but she was also the incredible Zara Moonbeam in Pris.
Also seen: Anthony Valentine, who was the perfect Baron Gruner in Granada's Illustrious Client.
