Ep 17. The Girl From Auntie

Set in the swinging Sixties of London, England, The Avengers was a classic British television show which chronicled the daring escapades of two British secret agents, John Steed and Emma Peel, as they battled a never-ending parade of evil-doers and mad scientists intent on taking over the world -- or, at least, London.

In the seventeenth episode of the fourth season, titled "The Girl From Auntie" and first aired on March 30th, 1967, Steed is contacted by his old friend, Mark Caine (played by Michael Latimer) from the American organization known as "Auntie." Auntie is a secret American law enforcement agency closely modeled after the real-life American intelligence agency, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). Mark is seeking Steed's assistance in tracking down an American defector, Jeffrey Lee (played by Gary Bond), who has vanished into thin air after seeking refuge in the United Kingdom. The catch is that Lee was last seen in the company of a beautiful woman who might just be the one and only Emma Peel herself.

As Steed and Mark soon discover, Emma has been kidnapped by the evil Baron von Orlak (played by Peter Arne) as part of a fiendish plan to brainwash her into becoming his loyal and devoted assassin. With Emma captured and their lead on Lee gone, Steed and Mark face an uphill battle as they try to locate both Lee and Emma before it's too late and Orlak's assassination plans for Emma come to fruition.

As always, the episode is packed with plenty of action, suspense, and intrigue, as well as plenty of the customary wittiness and flair that fans of The Avengers have come to love. The episode lights up with some trademark spy gadgetry, too, such as a clever autoclave disguised as a telephone and a brightly lit laser gun fight to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

"The Girl From Auntie" is an episode that showcases the show's ability to blend action, humor, and espionage into a thoroughly engaging hour of television that left audiences craving more. For those who have never checked out The Avengers, it's a classic television series that has aged surprisingly well and still holds up to this day as an iconic piece of British pop culture. With its sharp writing, stylish visuals, and memorable characters, it's little wonder that it remains a favorite among spy thriller fans of all ages.