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Post by Deleted on Sept 27, 2018 5:56:51 GMT
In a word -- Wow. We never really got a grand finale for the original Avengers, but this could very well have been it. Nowadays, with the series running strong at BF, it makes an excellent jumping on point for those who have never experienced the series before. On television originally or with these wonderful audio reinventions. It felt good to have Steed and Mrs Peel back at work, her fate away from the Ministry feels very natural. The idea of pairing Keel with Gale is inspired and their thread matches the sleuthing of their tenure, just as much as Tara's own thread of double bluff does hers. I had to keep looking at the cover art to remind myself it was Beth Chalmers playing Cathy (I can't think of a better argument for original releases ) and everyone's interpretation of their respective characters really shine. Simply, irrefutably and with the doffing of a bowler hat -- Wow.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Sept 28, 2018 10:38:24 GMT
Is it just me, or was it Hugh Fraser doing double duty as the special guest villain as well as whatshisface Keel’s mate? The cadence of SGV’s voice matched Fraser’s.
And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey?
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Post by Deleted on Sept 28, 2018 10:43:03 GMT
[...] And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey? You were not. They had me going for a moment there too until one of them said "love".
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dorney
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Post by dorney on Sept 28, 2018 11:28:48 GMT
Is it just me, or was it Hugh Fraser doing double duty as the special guest villain as well as whatshisface Keel’s mate? The cadence of SGV’s voice matched Fraser’s. And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey? Spoiler warning... {Spoiler}
First point - you might need to listen again. They’re the same character. (Unless you mean the recurring villain, which is Robert Portal).
Second point - totally deliberate false path.
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Post by iainmclaughlin on Sept 28, 2018 18:47:04 GMT
The Avengers is one of my very, very favourite things - and I just LOVED this. It's just glorious. It *feels* so Avenger-y but it manages to fee like all of the eras at different times. That was a joyous two hours.
Nrs Peel... more is needed.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Sept 29, 2018 1:28:04 GMT
Is it just me, or was it Hugh Fraser doing double duty as the special guest villain as well as whatshisface Keel’s mate? The cadence of SGV’s voice matched Fraser’s. And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey? Spoiler warning... {Spoiler}
First point - you might need to listen again. They’re the same character. (Unless you mean the recurring villain, which is Robert Portal).
Second point - totally deliberate false path. {Spoiler} Doctor Armstrong - the original creator of the Cybernauts - wasn’t played by Fraser?
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Post by paulh on Sept 29, 2018 7:44:10 GMT
Is it just me, or was it Hugh Fraser doing double duty as the special guest villain as well as whatshisface Keel’s mate? The cadence of SGV’s voice matched Fraser’s. And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey? I thought the same! I preferred the ending we got, though. Not because I've anything against Gambit and Purdey - I'd love to hear them in some New Avengers audio plays. However, as this was a celebration of the 1960s series, it was nice to have all Steed's partners put in an appearance. 😊 I also have a vague hope that one day Big Finish might acquire the rights to the 1971 Avengers stage play which partnered Steed with a new assistant called Hannah Wild. (Not that the arrival of Gambit and Purdey would have necessary precluded this).
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Post by Deleted on Sept 29, 2018 8:15:30 GMT
Is it just me, or was it Hugh Fraser doing double duty as the special guest villain as well as whatshisface Keel’s mate? The cadence of SGV’s voice matched Fraser’s. And am I along in expected that the pair Steed sent Tara to recruit would be called Gambit and Purdey? I thought the same! I preferred the ending we got, though. Not because I've anything against Gambit and Purdey - I'd love to hear them in some New Avengers audio plays. However, as this was a celebration of the 1960s series, it was nice to have all Steed's partners put in an appearance. 😊 I also have a vague hope that one day Big Finish might acquire the rights to the 1971 Avengers stage play which partnered Steed with a new assistant called Hannah Wild. (Not that the arrival of Gambit and Purdey would have necessary precluded this). It's certainly an interesting period to speculate on. There's this great little bit of fanfic floating around that tries to bridge the gap between the original and its revived successor called Lost Boys. It's got some very nice worldbuilding in it, I'll see if I can find a link... According to it, Steed spent a couple years in the early 70s after Tara working with agents on a non-exclusive basis. Lady Diana Forbes-Blakely from "Killer" gets a mention. It's not official in any capacity, but I like the idea. As a fan, I think it's made my headcanon. Found it! Here it is. If you're curious, it's a nice little read.
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Post by paulh on Sept 29, 2018 10:00:42 GMT
It's certainly an interesting period to speculate on. There's this great little bit of fanfic floating around that tries to bridge the gap between the original and its revived successor called Lost Boys. It's got some very nice worldbuilding in it, I'll see if I can find a link... According to it, Steed spent a couple years in the early 70s after Tara working with agents on a non-exclusive basis. Lady Diana Forbes-Blakely from "Killer" gets a mention. It's not official in any capacity, but I like the idea. As a fan, I think it's made my headcanon. Found it! Here it is. If you're curious, it's a nice little read. Thanks for the link. It's a good read and does fit quite nicely in with canon. The year of Tara's departure - 1972 - coincides with the end of Steed and Tara's run in TV Comics. Steed not having a permanent partner after that also allows for stories with the likes of Hannah Wild and Lady Diana while explaining why Steed only had photographs of Cathy, Emma and Tara in his house in The New Avengers.
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dorney
Big Finish Creative Team
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Post by dorney on Sept 29, 2018 14:39:20 GMT
Spoiler warning... {Spoiler}
First point - you might need to listen again. They’re the same character. (Unless you mean the recurring villain, which is Robert Portal).
Second point - totally deliberate false path. {Spoiler} Doctor Armstrong - the original creator of the Cybernauts - wasn’t played by Fraser? Correct, he wasn’t. As I say, Robert Portal.
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Post by Sir Wearer of Hats on Sept 30, 2018 11:14:45 GMT
{Spoiler} Doctor Armstrong - the original creator of the Cybernauts - wasn’t played by Fraser? Correct, he wasn’t. As I say, Robert Portal. Sorry, I was being dim. head cold plus pain meds for my knee.
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dorney
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Post by dorney on Sept 30, 2018 15:42:39 GMT
Correct, he wasn’t. As I say, Robert Portal. Sorry, I was being dim. head cold plus pain meds for my knee. Nah, we’ve all done it!
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Post by nottenst on Oct 1, 2018 17:16:26 GMT
Listened to the story this weekend. Just a pure delight. I haven't seen much outside of Emma Peel, and it has been ages since I've seen those. I've heard all the Big Finish audios. I remember my mother enjoying the show a lot and watching episodes with her.
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Post by paulh on Nov 18, 2018 21:27:37 GMT
Re-listened to this today and enjoyed it even more than the first time! One question occurred to me at the end though, does anyone know which actors are playing Martin King and Venus Smith?
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 9:46:52 GMT
Still playing catch up I did relistens to the Comic Strips 1 and 2 which enjoyable and as suitably camp as the TV show (of which I am no expert) I kind of judge stuff just on the basis of the audios alone. the original lost Episodes were definitely the serious tone of the series whereas these flow as much as the tv episodes I had see definitely in the same vein.Would a new listener enjoy this who knows nothing of the series well I think a most definite yes. I think that Beth Chalmers definitely stands out vocally as Cathy Gale very very similar in vein to Honor a good tribute to her too.
I think this series benefits in that the audio actors have not been over done in other ranges (yes Jago is in it and Hugh Fraser and Beth but all suitably different in character as to not disturb the action or intrude as I find a lot of WHO crossover actors to do...I was commenting on people like Sian Philips and even David Warner I tend to get them firmly imprinted in my brain as a certain character my fault I know and not really fair on the actor-I even remember `Louise Jameson and first watching her in her Omega Factor portrayal but easily I shook of her Leela and warmed to this new character but he’ll tell benefits of a costume change hahah-which in audio you have to imagine)
Olivia Poulett seems to have lost her breeziness and lightness as befits her entry in the story of running her Fathers business
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 10:06:31 GMT
I think what is good about this release on listening is that it flows excellently and it manages to carefully balance the original tone of the lost stories and the Comic strip adaptations/Gale/Peel/King stories.It fairly rips along with great direction from Ken Bentley.I haven’t read the original novel but I would not be adverse in my retiral... I think perhaps when they are done with Peel/King a series of Steed and Gale would definitely be a great thing
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 11:04:56 GMT
Ahhhhhhhh..... {Spoiler} The cyber nauts....I should have known lol
onwards to part 2...was grocery shopping
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 11:25:36 GMT
Is it just me but don’t Anthony Howell and Beth Chalmers make an totally excellent duo on audio?I feel more engrossed in their time together in this wee off shoot for the two of them in some original stories
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Post by Deleted on Dec 2, 2020 12:43:57 GMT
In fact if Sapphire and Steel get resurrected ever and Susannah and David don’t pursue it....I would put my nomination for Beth And Anthony
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Post by paulh on Dec 3, 2020 7:51:52 GMT
Is it just me but don’t Anthony Howell and Beth Chalmers make an totally excellent duo on audio?I feel more engrossed in their time together in this wee off shoot for the two of them in some original stories I agree Anthony Howell and Beth Chalmers made a fantastic duo. It would have been great to hear them team up as Dr Keel and Mrs Gale in some more adventures, but unfortunately I read somewhere Big Finish doesn't have the rights to create new Avengers stories, only adapt existing ones. It would still be good to hear them teamed up in some other series though. I'd definitely buy that!
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