The Avengers
The British television show The Avengers is one of most influential series to come out of Britain in the 1960s, making international stars of its first two leading ladies Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg, and providing a template for sexual and gender equality in television.
The show follows the adventures of gentleman spy John Steed and his series of female partners (Honor Blackman, Diana Rigg, and Linda Thorson) in the not-quite-realistic world of 1960s Britain. Most of us know The Avengers as John Steed and Mrs. Peel (Rigg), him with his iconic (and lead-lined) bowler and umbrella and her in her leather catsuits and kung fu fighting. They battle diabolical masterminds bent on world domination, nefarious international criminals, and even a man-eating plant or two. The fun of the show lies in the outlandish plots, peppered with spy motifs and parody, and the interplay between the two main characters.
The Avengers is very influential, as I stated before. Films like Kingsman borrow heavily from it, and Emma Peel is the template for Black Widow in that other Avengers franchise. While this may make it difficult to remake on TV without it becoming a parody of itself, it is possible. Simply set the show in the contemporary period and give our heroes new gadgets, weird new masterminds, and a healthy dose of British humor. We may even be able to bring back the brolly and leather boots.
Published: Mar 23, 2015 01:31 pm