I found the opening scene of this incredibly sinister - the agent pursued by the unseen figure in the wheelchair, the regression to childhood and brutal killing. It actually made my skin crawl. But the more times a similar scenario was repeated, the less sinister and the more humourous it began to seem. By the time Mrs Peel is suffering the ultimate 60s indignity of someone trying to run her over in a Mini van, my fear was entirely gone. Even the scene where Steed comes under wheelchair machinegun attack felt like something out of One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing. So my final reaction was one of disappointment.
I liked the 'helpless bachelor' bit where Steed has to mind the babies, because it's so very much of its time.
Interestingly postmodern closing gag, which would have been better if it had reflected the actual events of The Joker better.
Previously and also seen: Paul Eddington returning from Immortal Clay. Patrick 'Col. Faraday' Newell, who's the second actor to make a return from Town Of No Return.
Also seen: Clive Dunn as the toyshop proprietor. Yootha 'Mildred' Joyce. Trevor 'Mr Lucas' Bannister. Dennis 'Gharman' Chinnery (also Gunther in Many Happy Returns). Dudley 'Caven' Foster from The Hour That Never Was. George Merritt, who delivers the invitation in Dance of the Dead.
