Customer Reviews

Avengers: Death's Door & Return of Cybernauts [VHS]

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"Return of the Cybernauts" is just what a sequel to a great success should be - exactly the same, but completely different. Emma is wooed by urbane sophisticate Paul Beresford, who, unbeknownst to anyone, is actually the brother of cybernaut creator Dr. Armstrong, who perished in an accident Beresford blames on Emma and Steed. Beresford utilizes one of Armstrong's cybernaut robots to abduct a small number of Britain's leading scientists, coercing them to create the most evil torture possible in order that Beresford might savor his revenge. One of them devises a wristwatch that commandeers its wearer's nervous system, in essence turning them into a remote-control robot, and Beresford - seething cad that he is - of course intends to use it on Emma.

This episode benefits tremendously from the casting of Hammer mainstay star Peter Cushing as Beresford, and some of the best wit in the series. Steed has his funniest-ever line, when the sadistic Beresford superiorly sneers about all the qualities of his soul-wresting watch, retorting with a smile, "But does it tell good time?" The story is quite clever, in the sense that the new cybernaut menace isn't the robots at all, but the threat of being able to take over the mind and body of people and make robots out of them - yet it retains the use of the actual mechanical man from the original story, for continuity. Gorgeous color photography, great performances (especially from Rigg and Cushing), and a brisk, witty script make this one of The Avengers' all-time best.

"Death's Door" may be considered merely a bonus, on this tape. It's a not-bad semi-rehash of the previous year's "Too Many Christmas Trees." A peace conference is being ruined by the primary delegates' seeming psychic foreknowledge of disasters to come - all of which are, of course, being stage-managed by nefarious outside parties. It's too contrived to be believable, but that doesn't mean it isn't fun.

(5 stars) Writer Philip Levene surpassed his original cybernauts story in this sequel. Peter Cushing is a charming businessman who has ingratiated himself with Steed and Emma while he secretly plots to destroy them. He is Armstrong's brother. Steed is jealous of Beresford's attentions to Emma. "We know nothing against Paul," Emma says mildly. "I'm sure I can think of something if I try," mutters a jealous Steed. Beresford kidnaps terrorized scientists. One would think that such brilliant men would quickly devise a way to foil a cyberanut or escape but only one tries. Cushing gives a memorable performance as a man who secretly hates Steed and Emma but finds her very attractive. "That," he tells his hostage scientists,"is the very delectable Emma Peel." The suspense builds as Beresford schemes to physically enslave them. Great final fight scene and Beresford succombs to the same fate as his ruthless brother. Death's door is a 3 star episode. British politicans are haunted by premonitions of death. Steed and Emma try to guard one nervous politician who later dies of fright. Far less suspenseful than Cybernauts because British diplomats are being menaced. Some of the 1967 scripts were flatter than the 1965-1966 episodes- they lacked mystery and complexity. One misses the variety of Tony Williamson (Too Many Christmas Trees), Roger Marshall (Dial a Deadly Number/girl from Auntie), Malcolm Hulke (The Gravediggers). This one had no humor. Viewing the Avengers it is understanable why Diana Rigg left in 1967. She wisely left while the series was still at the top.