The Avengers - Return Of The Cybernauts (1967)
The Cybernauts are back! This time under another controller. Emma Peel & John Steed enjoy the company of a one Paul Beresford. Unaware that he's the brother of Clement Armstrong, the creator of the automaton robots, known as..Cybernauts! & he wants to avenge his brother! He abducts scientists of various professions in order to install his vengeance. His captured scientists come up with a way of controlling them using tech installed in watches & a beautiful bracelet for Emma. But, will he succeed? & will Humankind be taken over by machines?
Peter Cushing plays the role of the..."avenger", looking to avenge his brother, sue me! A caste he's had made of Steed does not show him in the most flattering light. He sends his Cybernaut to abduct the required scientists, though not all of them are "loyal" in spite of the grand amount of money displayed to them. In fact one of the genius scientists creates a mini bomb in order to escape so that he can warn the authorities, much good it does him. Peter Cushing of course, also played a certain, unofficial, Timelord, something for later..
I love that secretary, she's so cute & naiive. & yes, I'm glad she wasn't hurt, despite her exaggeration of the events that unfolded. When her scientist boss was required for kidnapping. Yes, of course, it's eyes were attracted to you. It's a freaking drone not some tall, handsome Romeo! Even though her boss was abducted by a nasty robot, she's more than willin' to pose in a bikini, for the tabloids, (yes, please!). I know I've seen her before, somewhere. Emma is almost condemned to a life of purgatory, as a drone, because of that bracelet & its hidden technology as is Steed with that watch. I know I've seen that secretary before...
Of course, my explanation of why this is so fab! The Avengers went down the Science-Fiction route, often. I've not seen the narration except in America, that I can remember that "special crimes need special agents to fight them!", Sometimes, these crimes fall under the tune of Sci-Fi or Tele-Fantasy if you wish. Prefer Tele-Fantasy, admittedly. Yes, fight those enemy agents of the enemy states, But, let us indulge in pure Sci-Fi, occasionally. The Man Eater Of Surrey Green springs royally to mind, that which will be used again in Doctor Who, later. The time travel episode, etc.. His Horror pal, Christopher Lee appears in not one, but two future episodes. One as an android in Human form. Yet, not Cybernaut related, though Emma enjoys a (VHS?) viewing of her first encounter with them?
The Cybernauts are a lasting, returning, legacy of The Avengers. Compare them to the Daleks if you will. They made a "cyborg" comeback in The New Avengers with the villain making himself one with them. Emma is almost condemned to a life of purgatory, as a drone, because of that bracelet & its hidden technology as is Steed with that watch. Mr Beresford has a fascination with Emma, yet, still wants to destroy her along with Steed.
On the other actor's front we've got Frederick Jaeger as Professor Benton. Fulton MacKay as Professor Chadwick (prison despot!), is ever so eager & greedy. Of course mention the actors that have appeared in Doctor Who? Silly me, be it Silurian's or Evil planet's, never mind K9's creator. But let us not forget those other names in the background. Philip Levine, tele-player, whatever that is. Terry Nation, creator of The Daleks, apart from Davros, a serious pattern here, in regards to these Cybernaut episodes?
But let us reflect on The Avengers. This is my first Avengers blog, so be merciful, please (?) I know I've seen/heard that narration in America, yet nothing in the UK?! Was this show adapted for US transmission with an English-accented narration of their unique task? As for our "rose", Diana Rigg, on returns to my Mothers house in America, she's presented British murder mysteries on PBS. No mention of Steed? Obviously, that Murder She Wrote episode, but, THE voice of the Cylon Emperor in Battlestar Galactica for crying out loud! Leader of a robotic Empire. Yes, he finally appears in Human form in that show.
The Avengers still transmit around the World to this day. Something eccentric is definitely right with this legend(?)
Borgduck,
Stewart.
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