Rating: 
Summary: Most Fans Haven't Seen These Before
Review: Most Avengers fans in this country know of the Avengers as John Steed and Emma Peel. But before that there was Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale, who paved the way for Emma Peel. Cathy is a no nonsense character, very smart, very cool, very efficient. These episodes have been shown on American TV only once - in early 1991 on the A&E netwoork (A&E has sunce lost the broadcast rights), and at that time they were almost 30 years old. These were done like live TV, and are in black and white. The theme song is altogether different from the Laurie Johnson theme, but it does grow on you. Because they are like live TV there are some timing mistakes and there is sometimes a little difficulty hearing the dialogue. Contrary to published reports, there are no subtitles on the DVDs, and the only reason I don't give the collection a full five stars is that there was some sloppiness in the transfer - in two episodes on Set 1, a fly obviously got in the machine, and can be seen crawling around. Here we are trying to pay attention to the plot, and are distracted by what looks to be a fly crawling on the actors' faces in close-up. The fly is absent from these same episodes when I taped them from A&E nine years ago.Why they started with the last episodes on the Blackman series is beyond me. There are many great episodes from both her first and second seasons with the show, as well as quite a few episodes where Steed (a bit of a cad in these shows) "uses" other civilians to help him with his missions. I look forward to their release as well.
Rating:
Summary: Most Fans Haven't Seen These Before
Review: Most Avengers fans in this country know of the Avengers as John Steed and Emma Peel. But before that there was Honor Blackman as Cathy Gale, who paved the way for Emma Peel. Cathy is a no nonsense character, very smart, very cool, very efficient. These episodes have been shown on American TV only once - in early 1991 on the A&E netwoork (A&E has sunce lost the broadcast rights), and at that time they were almost 30 years old. These were done like live TV, and are in black and white. The theme song is altogether different from the Laurie Johnson theme, but it does grow on you. Because they are like live TV there are some timing mistakes and there is sometimes a little difficulty hearing the dialogue. Contrary to published reports, there are no subtitles on the DVDs, and the only reason I don't give the collection a full five stars is that there was some sloppiness in the transfer - in two episodes on Set 1, a fly obviously got in the machine, and can be seen crawling around. Here we are trying to pay attention to the plot, and are distracted by what looks to be a fly crawling on the actors' faces in close-up. The fly is absent from these same episodes when I taped them from A&E nine years ago. Why they started with the last episodes on the Blackman series is beyond me. There are many great episodes from both her first and second seasons with the show, as well as quite a few episodes where Steed (a bit of a cad in these shows) "uses" other civilians to help him with his missions. I look forward to their release as well.
Rating:
Summary: Mrs. Gale Started It All
Review: Those who haven't seen the Mrs. Gale episodes of "The Avengers" are in for a treat. Played with strength and charm by Honor Blackman, Mrs. Gale was the first of Steed's female partners. But don't expect the flash and flamboyance of the Mrs. Peel or the Tara King series. The Mrs. Gale episodes were filmed live on television, and the technical crudeness is apparent. Though the stories are solid and interesting, the most entertaining part of the episodes are the rapport between Steed and Mrs. Gale. Unlike his other partners, Steed maintained a moral tension with Mrs. Gale. She considers him as selfish and ruthless, while he seems to consider her as a means to an end. Nonetheless, the two get along well as a team, and their verbal fencing is witty and acerbic. It's important to note that Honor Blackman is the only woman in the history of television to perform her own stunts, including the fight scenes. Honor Blackman even wrote a book on judo, and her onscreen combat skills are realistic and credible. Typical of all Avengers women, Mrs. Gale is tough, independent and highly intelligent. When not working undercover, she is an anthropologist and historian. In these episodes, when working undercover, she plays a big game hunter, a politician, a CEO, a mob accountant ... roles unusual for women in 1964. Her business accumen, socio-scientific skills, along with her fighting prowess, makes her more of a 2000's woman than a 1960's woman. Mrs. Gale was the first of the Avengers women, and her characterization still holds up well. Mrs. Peel, Tara King and Purdey all play homage to this remarkable character.
Rating:
Summary: Mrs. Gale Started It All
Review: Those who haven't seen the Mrs. Gale episodes of "The Avengers" are in for a treat. Played with strength and charm by Honor Blackman, Mrs. Gale was the first of Steed's female partners. But don't expect the flash and flamboyance of the Mrs. Peel or the Tara King series. The Mrs. Gale episodes were filmed live on television, and the technical crudeness is apparent. Though the stories are solid and interesting, the most entertaining part of the episodes are the rapport between Steed and Mrs. Gale. Unlike his other partners, Steed maintained a moral tension with Mrs. Gale. She considers him as selfish and ruthless, while he seems to consider her as a means to an end. Nonetheless, the two get along well as a team, and their verbal fencing is witty and acerbic. It's important to note that Honor Blackman is the only woman in the history of television to perform her own stunts, including the fight scenes. Honor Blackman even wrote a book on judo, and her onscreen combat skills are realistic and credible. Typical of all Avengers women, Mrs. Gale is tough, independent and highly intelligent. When not working undercover, she is an anthropologist and historian. In these episodes, when working undercover, she plays a big game hunter, a politician, a CEO, a mob accountant ... roles unusual for women in 1964. Her business accumen, socio-scientific skills, along with her fighting prowess, makes her more of a 2000's woman than a 1960's woman. Mrs. Gale was the first of the Avengers women, and her characterization still holds up well. Mrs. Peel, Tara King and Purdey all play homage to this remarkable character.
Rating: 
Summary: John Steed and Kathy Gale
Review: `The Avengers" was a popular 1960's British fantasy-adventure series that focused on the exploits of a male-female duo in the service of the British government. The series underwent several changes of its female lead but its one constant male lead was John Steed always portrayed by the debonair Patrick Macnee (Originally the John Steed had two male partners but that format eventually changed). Kathy Gale portrayed by Honor Blackman became Steed's first female partner. However, when Honor Blackman (of "Goldfinger" fame) departed the series and Diana Rigg entered as Mrs. Emma Peel, the show became an international sensation. Rigg brought sophistication, wit, charm and beauty, which hid her lethal and highly visual judo and karate abilities. Macnee and Rigg complemented each other beautifully with their carefree witty and charming exchange of dialogue. The show distinguished itself with bizarre and futuristic villains and fantastic plots. Popular at the height of the James Bond craze, the show was able to distinguish itself with its simply over-the-top visual style. Laurie Johnson's catchy and sophisticated main title theme matched the visuals of the show and still conjures up an image of the series when listened to today. When Diana Rigg left the series, Linda Thorson entered as John Steed's new partner Tara King. The series soon went off the air in the United States. It was a shame because the episodes with Tara King were quite good. The King episodes seemed to be a little more down to earth and contained some very good writing and intricate plotting. In any event series definitely left its mark amongst the finest. These DVD copies are gorgeous.
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