The Avengers
3.1: Concerto
Terrance
Dicks and Malcolm Hulke deliver a run-of-the-mill spy romp, distinguished
mainly by how ludicrous the villain’s final gambit is. However, Concerto is somewhat salvaged by a
surprisingly fun turn from Nigel Stock as Zalenko, a Russian opposite number to
Steed.
It’s a good
thing Stock is having a good time, as his accent is pretty pokey. At first, it appears
as if Zalenko will merely be a buffoonish incompetent (which wouldn’t be a
surprise given Stock’s form, playing Watson to Peter Cushing’s Holmes, a
particularly ineffectual Number Six in The
Prisoner, and, of course, Mr Pickwick) as Steed mocks his undercover surveillance
skills (“Of course, that cycling trip in
Germany. The one that took you past all the American bases”), and more so
when it appears that, during a drinking session, Steed is getting him sozzled
on his own voddie rather than partaking himself (“No, you don’t have to leave yet. I want to tell you a funny story about
a funeral”, Zalenko entreats).
Steed: And where
did you learn that particular piece of nastiness?
Zalenko: Saturday
afternoons, British television. Last time I was here. You should watch.
But when it
comes to ensuring the safety of Stefan Veliko (Sandor Eles), “the finest young
concert pianist in the world”, he proves surprisingly effective, such that
Steed is given to compliment him on his fighting skills (it’s a combined effort
on their part), albeit requiring clarification that his manoeuvre was an attempt
to disjoint the heavy’s left arm from its socket (the quote above). The episode
concludes with the two of them drinking again, and Zalenko reminiscing about
old Russia (‘You’re a naughty boy”
suggests Steed; “No, no, I was miserable”
he quickly protests).
Unfortunately,
this is by far the highlight of an otherwise so-so outing. The unlikely scheme
involves a series of attempts by the villains to manipulate Veliko into killing
the trade minister during highly important talks, and so lousing-up Anglo-Soviet
relations. First a woman is found dead in his apartment, and then he’s lured to
the Stud Club; he’s photographed exiting the strip joint with a British secret
agent (guess who), which is used as rather unlikely leverage by British
Cultural Council traitor Peterson (Bernard Brown). This strategy doesn’t bare
much scrutiny, hence we concur when Veliko turns the gun on Peterson with “You didn’t really expect me to do it, did
you?”
Cathy does
some snooping at the BCC, ending up on the receiving end of a game of Russian
Roulette from rotten lackey Burns (Geoffrey Colville). Who gets a face full of
telephone when Steed comes to her rescue. Mrs Gale is generally rather side-lined,
and Steed takes all the best moments, be it being described by Zalenko as a man
about town (“his other activities are
rather obscure”) or casually reprimanding a secretary who has given his mail
to Peterson (“Now, if there are any more
letters for me, perhaps you could keep them for me”).
Agree? Disagree? Mildly or vehemently? Let me know in the comments below.
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