Emma Peel

[rthstewart]

Now, amongst all of you, I suspect I am the only one old enough to have recalled the sly, campy show The Avengers with bowler-hat wearing John Steed and his co-hort Mrs. Emma Peel.  I am not referring to the dreadful film, but to the TV series of the 1960s.  It was part Mission Impossible, part Dr. Who, part X Files, part Man From Uncle, and it was lovely.   None of this Tara King stuff.  Mrs. Emma Peel, played by the incomparable Diana Rigg was beyond awesome.  Smart, funny, sexy, deadly, with these amazing 1960s clothes and car and this whole "can do" bring it on boys sensibility.  And it occurred to me as I was thinking about Mrs. Jane Ellis under the desk with Mr. Robert Brown that I have unconsciously been channeling Mrs. Emma Peel in the characterization of Susan in TQSiT.  And with that as an inspiration... 

So that you too might share in the glory of Emma Peel,

Here's the show's intro -- the Avengers In Color!! 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0YOlU3SMgs&feature=related

Peel the Reel:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKKeVtWDEPw

And I found this hilarious remix of Mrs. Peel meets The Kinks, right down to her catsuits, nifty convertible, champagne, and boots.  It doesn't give her delightful snarky dialogue, but the look is there. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ve9N9oaXU18

There's oodles more, but I was so excited, I had to share.  Emma Peel behind the couch doing goodness knows what with John Steed is just ever so much awesome.

Comments

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

You are hardly the only one to appreciate the wonderful Mrs Peel! andi_horton and I spent quite a while curled up in my room, watching The Avengers back in May when she was down here. I need to watch some more eps of that, Emma and Steed are just so much fun.

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

Ohhh!! Kindreds even more! I had no idea anyone paid any attention to this sort of thing anymore. It had not occurred to me how much XFiles owed to that series, although Scully was always sort of the straight man, whereas Mrs. Peel could do anything.

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

*hugs this topic with giddy delight*

I have been steadfastly obsessed with Mrs Peel since I was thirteen and flicked over to a rerun of The Gravediggers on scifi. I made it my mission in life to acquire all the 60s eps on VHS, and then eventually got digital copies to carry with me wherever I go. My first custom LJ header featured a patched-together montage of Steed and Mrs Peel . . . oh, they make me so happy.

I carted both series down to Georgia and set them up on Katie's computer in order to infect her with my obsession. A Sense of History is probably one of my favourite eps, they are just so THEM in it . . . of course no Christmas in our home is complete without their cracky Christmas tree ep . . . heeee . . . *bounces*

I am planning, btw, to sit down and gobble up all your chaps that I have missed, both this evening and tomorrow. Now you have made me about ten times as eager to do so!

[rthstewart.livejournal.com]

I've not seen the show at all in decades and now I feel that I simply must remedy that. I remember specific episodes only vaguely, like the one with attacking cats and the giant carnivorous plant. I do remember the dynamic and being a devoted Steed/Peel shipper (or whatever it was) when I must have been perhaps 10? You were never certain what was going on behind the couch, which is what made it so delightful. At any rate, I realize you have no idea of what I posted that made me think of Steed and Mrs. Peel, so you'll have to wait until Chapter 8.

[andi-horton.livejournal.com]

Hee, yes, The Hidden Tiger! "Shall I put the cat out?" . . . oh, very fun.

As to shipping them, I give you my most childish, embarrassing av -- where SEDDI stands for the belief that Steed and Emma Definitely Did It.

(and the way he says "for services rendered" really leaves no room for doubt-- I will try to remember which ep that was, it was particularly enjoyable)