39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet - Best TV Spy Show Ever, September 9, 2007
This review is from: Secret Agent (aka Danger Man) - The Complete Collection Megaset 2007 (DVD)
Danger Man is a compelling, interesting and complex spy show that consciously strives for realism at every possible level. Varied locals, dangerous opposition and a dynamic lead all combine to create a show where, as one of the episode titles claims, "Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet."
This comprehensive set contains all four seasons of the show Danger Man; the first season of half-hour shows and the second, third and fourth seasons of the hour-long shows. (The fourth season consists of only two episodes, both filmed in color)
The main character in the show is a man named Drake, John Drake. In the first season (half-hour episodes) he is an Irish American agent employed by NATO to tackle their `messy jobs.' In the later seasons (hour-long episodes) he has lost his slightly American accent and now works for the British Government in Special Branch, M9 specifically. Though John Drake's character remains intact through changes between the first and later seasons, there is obvious character development that takes place over the first to second season hiatus.
John Drake, as he appears in the first season of half-hour episodes, is a young, cool, efficient agent. He is bold, quick thinking and moves fast--he has to. The time constraints of the show limit any excess time or trouble. The shows are fairly uncomplicated, but for the most part quite interesting. Drake is very involved in the repercussions of his work and regularly confronts his superiors with the possible consequences of his orders. Drake has a much more personal voice in these episodes, as occasional voice-overs allow us to get inside his head and understand what he is seeing. In this first series, Drake is perhaps a little heartless in his dealings and is always very, very impatient with others' incompetence or mistakes. There is no margin for error in his own work, he allows for no margin in the work of those he meets.
In the later series, the expanded hour-long episodes grant us more intricate episodes. Where the first season had speed and intensity on their side, these next seasons have depth, complexity and suspense. In these later seasons, Drake is more sympathetic and more fallible. He also seems to have reached a little more maturity when it comes to failings in his fellow agents. It has not, however, given him any more respect for his superiors--he still harasses them regularly, particularly in the later episodes.
One of Drakes most appealing and enigmatical traits is his strict moral code. He has what might be called a "knight in shining armor" complex, as Drake seems incapable of ignoring a plea for help. Another peculiar habit is his aversion to violence. When it comes to tight situations, Drake will first try to talk his way out, then try to sneak out and finally, if there is no other way, he will use (usually weaponless) force. Even though it is frequently demonstrated that he is an excellent shot, Drake actually carries a gun in only a few episodes and fires a weapon at someone in even fewer. He would rather disarm and hold his opponent at bay or use his sizable fists to render his opponent harmless.
His relationships with women also fall under the category of his unusual morality. Though he is obviously very attractive to most of the women who appear in the show, he either coldly rebuffs or dryly discourages their attempts in all but a few instances. His most intimate sign of favor is a courteous kiss on the cheek for a few greatly admired ladies. His respect for women as thinking, feeling people rather than objects of desire makes his interactions with them far more interesting than that of a "love `em and leave `em" style hero so common in the spy genre.
Interesting and dynamic, Danger Man is as real as TV spy shows get. The gadgets are believable, the action is complex and the stories are compelling. The show has aged well, with very few of the `campy' moments that typically plague other television shows of the period. Its moral, relentless hero and its realistic plotlines make Danger Man a must-see TV show for anyone interested in spies, politics or human nature.
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29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
PATRICK McGOOHAN IS SECRET AGENT/DANGER MAN, March 31, 2007
This review is from: Secret Agent (aka Danger Man) - The Complete Collection Megaset 2007 (DVD)
The audio and video quality of the Secret Agent/Danger Man megaset is outstanding and A&E home video should be commended for their efforts. The Black & White video transfer contains some minor blemishes here and there, but overall the picture quality is excellent. The 2.0 sound is clear and consistent throughout the episodes. The set consists of 18 single sided discs in individual slim cases with great artwork and detail. You get every episode of the Secret Agent / Danger Man series in broadcast order, including the two final episodes of the show in color. If you like characters like James Bond and the "Saint" than John Drake as Secret Agent / Danger Man may be for you. DVD Features and Episodes of the set are listed below:
DVD Features:
* Available Audio Tracks: English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
* All 86 episodes in original broadcast order on 18 discs in Thinpaks, including: the original season that aired only in the U.K. as Danger Man, the 47 episodes of Secret Agent that aired internationally, and the two color series-finale episodes
* Patrick McGoohan biography/filmography
* Complete full-length original U.S. opening featuring "Secret Agent Man" sung by Johnny Rivers
* Photo gallery
DVD Episodes:
View From the Villa / Time to Kill / Josetta / The Blue Veil / The Lovers / The Girl in the Pink Pyjamas / Position of Trust / The Lonely Chair / The Sanctuary / An Affair of State / The Key / The Sisters / The Prisoner / The Traitor / Colonel Rodriguez / The Island / Find and Return / The Girl Who Liked G.I.s / Name, Date and Place / Vacation / The Conspirators / The Honeymooners / The Gallows Tree / The Relaxed Informer / The Brothers / The Journey Ends Halfway / Bury the Dead / Sabotage / The Contessa / The Leak / The Trap / The Actor / Hired Assassin / The Deputy Coyannis Story / Find and Destroy / Under the Lake / The Nurse / Dead Man Walks / Deadline / The Battle of the Cameras / A Room in the Basement / Fair Exchange / Fish on the Hook / No Marks for Servility / Yesterday's Enemies / The Professionals / A Date With Doris / The Mirror's New / Colony Three / It's up to the Lady / Whatever Happened to George Foster? / The Galloping Major / The Colonel's Daughter / That's Two of Us Sorry / Such Men Are Dangerous / A Man to Be Trusted / The Affair at Castelevara / Don't Nail Him Yet / The Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove / Have a Glass of Wine / You're Not in Any Trouble, Are You? / Sting in the Tail / The Black Book / English Lady Takes Lodgers / Loyalty Always Pays / Are You Going to Be More Permanent? / Parallel Lines Sometimes Meet / A Very Dangerous Game / The Mercenaries / The Outcast / Judgement Day / To Our Best Friend / Say It With Flowers / The Man on the Beach / The Man Who Wouldn't Talk / Someone Is Liable to Get Hurt / Dangerous Secret / I Can Only Offer You Sherry / The Hunting Party / Two Birds With One Bullet / I'm Afraid You Have the Wrong Number / The Man With the Foot / The Paper Chase / Not So Jolly Roger / Koroshi / Shinda Shima /
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