Product Description

She is the perfect balance of sexiness and sophistication, wit and whimsy. The object of many prepubescent lads’ desires, Mrs. Emma Peel dazzled television screens on both sides of the Atlantic from 1965-1967. Starring Dame Diana Rigg as Peel and Patrick Macnee as John Steed, the Emma Peel era of THE AVENGERS was the high-water-mark of the groundbreaking series, with adventures more fantastic than ever. A one-stop haven for DVD collectors, this special 17-disc Collector’s Edition features all 51 digitally remastered Emma Peel episodes plus a new bonus disc containing three "lost" episodes from the debut season of THE AVENGERS, a ‘making-of’ documentary film, a classic Emma Peel cameo episode from THE NEW AVENGERS ‘77, and more.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #33700 in DVD
• Brand: A&E
• Released on: 2006-02-28
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Black & White, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 17
• Dimensions: 3.65 pounds
• Running time: 2913 minutes

Amazon.com
Along with Monty Python's Flying Circus, The Avengers practically defined British cult television, and it was never better than during the three years that Diana Rigg's Emma Peel character tossed out her witty barbs and karate kicks. The supercool 2006 edition of The Complete Emma Peel Megaset encompasses all 51 episodes from 1965-66 (in black and white) and 1967 (in color) plus a new bonus disc, all in 17 space-saving Thinpaks. Paired with Patrick Macnee as the dapper, umbrella-wielding John Steed, Rigg's Mrs. Peel turned heads with her sexy outfits, then broke skulls of the various would-be world-dominating bad guys who crossed her path. Like the mixed crime-fighting teams who came after them in shows like Moonlighting and The X-Files, Steed and Mrs. Peel had a constant platonic playfulness. In one episode when Mrs. Peel is working undercover at a department store, Steed drops in for a visit, remarking, "They told me 'Mrs. Peel is in Ladies Underwear.' I rattled up the stairs three at a time." However, unlike their spiritual successors, Steed and Mrs. Peel never jumped the shark; instead she bid a fond farewell as she passed the torch to Steed's next partner, Tara King (Linda Thorson), just as she had been passed the torch from Honor Blackman. (Blackman left her Kathy Gale character to go on to fame as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger--in one episode, Steed receives a postcard from Gale sent from Fort Knox.) But although Macnee had some enjoyable moments with other partners throughout the series' run, it's the Emma Peel years that fans remember most fondly, not only for the great chemistry between the lead actors, but the superb writing and distinctly British, and distinctly '60s, quirky charm.

The 216-minute bonus disc is the new addition to the 2006 set. Completists will appreciate the "lost" episodes from the first season. Of the very first episode, "Hot Snow," however, only the first 15 minutes were recovered. "Girl on the Trapeze" features a vanilla-esque Ian Hendry as Dr. David Keel investigating the death of a circus performer, while "The Frighteners" perks things up considerably with the addition of Macnee's Steed character, who displays a bit of the comedic twinkle that would be the cornerstone of the series through its entire run. All in all, the episodes aren't nearly as watchable as the peak years of the series. Of greater interest to fans is "Avenging the Avengers," a 1992 documentary recapping the series through clips and interviews with Macnee, crew members, and actresses Honor Blackman (Cathy Gale, 1962-64) and Linda Thorson (Tara King, 1968-69). Diana Rigg appears briefly in older interview footage. The documentary lasts 25 minutes, and an additional nine minutes of interviews are added to the end. There's also a three-minute promotional film that Macnee and Rigg made to promote the series' switch from black and white to color, an alternate opening sequence, and a 1977 episode in which Mrs. Peel makes a cameo appearance. The bonus disc is also available separately for those who already have the 2001 Megaset and don't want to upgrade just for the sake of saving shelf space. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

The essential seasons of the series (sorry Cathy Gale and Tara King) with extras
Previously released by A&E on DVD, "The Avengers Emma Peel Megaset" brings the episodes featuring Diana Rigg and Patrick MacNee as John Steed altogether in one complete smaller set with extras. You get all the episodes that Diana Rigg appeared in packed into 16 discs with 3 or 4 episodes per DVD. The DVDs are packaged in slimline cases making it a bit easier for storage purposes particularly if you have a lot of DVDs.

The big attraction for fans is the disc of "Lost Episodes" featuring 2 and 1/2 of the earliest episodes when the show first aired. Featuring Dr. Keel (Ian Hendry "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun") and John Steed fighting the bad guys. Hendry becomes involved with Steed and becomes an "Avenger" when his fiance is murdered. Unfortunately the rest of the first season episodes have vanished and these 2 1/2 episodes are all that remain of the first season. The first season tone is more serious than later ones. It would take another season before the show would finally hit its stride with the introduction of Dr Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman-Pussy Galore from "Goldfinger"). As mentioned elsewhere this 17th disc is available separately so don't feel compelled to purchase the whole set again if you bought it in 2001.

Image quality is extremely good throughout. There is quite a bit of analog speckles and spots on some episodes but the blacks are rock solid and the colors despite a bit of fading looks extremely good as well on the later episodes. The image quality is a bit softer in the color episodes when compared to the earlier black and white episodes. Sound is solid throughout the set.

We also get "Avenging The Avengers" a short doucmentary on the series featuring Macnee, Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. "The Strange Case of the Missing Corpse" is a promotional short made to promote the show's move from black and white to color. We also get the alternate version of the opening of the show shot for America where the characters are on a chessboard. Finally we get The New Avengers "episode K is for the Kill: The Tiger Awakes". The reason we get it is a cameo by Diana Rigg. It's actually a scene from the 1967 season intercut with footage of Patrick Macnee speaking with Mrs. Peel on the phone. It's a bizarre and contrived cameo that came about when Diana Rigg turned down a request to appear on an episode of the show.

I was never a fan of "The New Avengers" the show just didn't have the wit of the previous one and was far more predictable. We only get the first half of this two part episode which is kind of a problem if you're interested in how it ends and don't want to go out and buy the set it's a part of.

While the earlier episodes are fine they can't match the later ones with Rigg for me simply because I grew up watching them and the writing on the show hit its stride. Mrs. Peel passes the mantel to Tara King in the last episode of the 16th disc. Linda Thorson did an admirable job in her role as Tara. Brian Clemens notes that he feels the writing was best in the last season of the show featuring Tara and Steed. While I would disagree the last season held it's own with the Rigg and Blackman years.

The image quality is to notch with occasional bits of flecking but is free of dirt. The episodes look terrific overall (although there is the occasional bit of damage to the original prints, etc. that crop up). The blacks look rock solid. The color episodes also look quite good although not quite as sharp. The colors pop (and have the dayglo look of pop art).

By the way other retailers are selling this set for significantly less than amazon.com so shop around. Costco has the set for $99.99 a big savings in the US!

Fantastic Set! Great Job A&E!
I was a big fan of The Avengers as a kid and excited to see it available on DVD. Watching the show again brings back great memories. I don't often buy tv shows on DVD, but I consider the Complete Emma Peel Megaset (Collector's Edition) a good purchase--worth the money. Here are a few reasons why...

Sophisticated, witty writing makes this show a classic. As an adult, I've often been disappointed when I watch a show I loved as a kid. A lot of the time what was once fun and entertaining becomes stale and dated, or cheap special effects and poor execution become a distraction. Not true with The Avengers. Yes, special effects have come a long way, and the fight scenes are pretty silly, but the writing and acting is timeless and classic.

Digitally remastered. It's like watching the show for the first time. Again, great job A&E.

This is a great set! I must commend A&E for the way it produced the series for DVD distribution. Smart move. Like many, I was so happy to see a set that included, but was also limited to, all the episodes with Diana Rigg as Patrick Macnee's co-star. I was only interested in the shows with Diana Rigg. And, the set is organized by each show's original release date. (Whoever was responsible for producing the Space 1999 series for DVD release should have taken notes. Check out the product information and you'll see what I mean.)The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (Collector's Edition) also includes lots of extras.

Great price! At Amazon's 50% off the regular price (at least as of 5/08/06) the $89 seems like a bargain.

They don't make TV like this anymore
I only recently got into The Avengers. I realize I am 40 years too late, but anyway, call it a sheltered life. After countless emails from my buddy Keith Snowdon in England extolling the virtues of Emma Peel and Tara King, I decided to give it a try. All I can say is what took me so long. The Avengers has since become my second favorite television show. In case you are wondering, nothing can top Doctor Who. The Avengers features Patrick Macnee as John Steed, the quintessential English gentleman who portrays a British security agent. Emma Peel is played by the lovely Diana Rigg, a 60s hottie indeed.

The concepts in The Avengers range from the bizarre to the fantastic. From the very first episode in this set, The Town Of No Return (arguably the best story), the viewer will be on the edge of his seat, as a mystery will unfold, a threat to the nation's security, hostile take-overs by enemy agents with Russian and East German surnames, using fantastic devices such as dream-inducers, lying serums in milk, hypnotic trances, boots which allow the wearer to scale buildings, death rays that seem to originate from the planet Venus, and even a device planted inside cat tags to unleash the ferocious beast inside all cats! Cat lovers take heart. No cat was harmed fictionally or otherwise in the making of that story. What I love about The Avengers is the silly (in a good way) comic relief sprinkled throughout each story to keep things from getting too intense. Steed and Miss Peel interact very well, their timing impeccable. Plus check out some of the outfits Emma wears. Very revealing for the 60s.

This is an Emma Peel DVD set, but let's not forget the Tara King era, featuring the curvy Linda Thorson. The King era is not well-liked by fans, but it's only a slight drop-off from the Emma Peel era. This era represents a change in The Avengers in that finally a boss figure is seen, a fat man named Mother who is confined to a wheelchair and is aided by a blond amazon who never speaks. Only The Avengers can dream up concepts like this.

And being a fan of Doctor Who I love recognizing guest actors that have appeared in Who, and believe me there are plenty. Even third Doctor John Pertwee had a limited guest role in From Venus With Love. The only bad thing I can say about The Avengers is that the stories are limited in number. There are 51 Emma Peels in this set, and another 32 in the Tara King era, available on separate DVDs. However, as with any show from the past, it eventually ended. Fortunately, these stories are worth many repeated viewings. And who knows? Keith tells me the Cathy Gale era was pretty good too. So maybe I will try those next.