Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Naive Avengersthon - 107. Invasion of the Earthmen

Agent Grant (George 'some character' Roubicek returning from The White Dwarf) gets killed by a snake in a quarry as a group of unearthly-looking people watch and laugh... the only possible way this scene can finish is with the caption 'TELEPLAY BY TERRY NATION'.

Familiar Nation dabs all over this one. There's the linear plot - Steed and Tara search for Grant and are led to a sinister militaristic school run by Brigadier Brett (William 'Mr Range' Lucas from Death's Door), which they infiltrate and then have to escape from.

And there's the tried and trusted Nation trope of the dark and deadly tunnel. Note the spider ordeal ripped off from Dr. No.

Some good bits nevertheless: Steed's grim 'I think he's dead' when Tara casually asks what he thinks has happened to Grant. And the bubble-headed astronaut figure seen floating behind a window is an extremely eerie image.

There are different transmission orders for this series apparently, I'm continuing to follow the order that the discs come in in the boxed set. Which is playing havoc with the continuity, Tara has a wig on for reasons which I hope are connected to this, because it looks dreadful.

Also seen: Warren 'Ay thangyew' Clarke as principal student.