The Avengers (TV Series) The Master Minds (1965) User Reviews

It takes a genius to work it out!

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 10 April 2015]

In the opening scene we see three men, dressed in the uniform of the Household Cavalry, committing a burglary; when one of them is trapped he is shot and left for dead. He isn't dead but when Steed and Mrs Peel question him he has no memory of the event. This could be down to his injuries but when he is killed by his psychiatrist, who also can't recall doing it, that man has no such excuse. The only link between the men is 'Ransack'; an organisation for the brightest in the land. Steed and Mrs Peel apply to join and are accepted. Ransack is holding an event at a boarding school, during the holidays, and here Steed learns the truth; somebody is hypnotising the members then using them to plan and execute break-ins at military facilities… Steed was unaffected because he unplugged his radio; unfortunately Mrs Peel didn't and goes out on a mission… later she is ordered to kill Steed!

This early Mrs Peel story is typical Avengers; a delightful combination of mystery, action and wit. The chemistry between her and Steed is developing nicely leading to some funny moments where we learn that Steed can only pass the tests with her help. The villain's plot was interesting and their identity was nicely hidden until the final scene where are heroes fight the bad guys while a film is projected onto a screen… first normally then, after the projector is knocked, backwards. As a bonus the film includes some nice footage of Valiant bombers. As expected Patrick Macnee and Diana Rigg do a great job in the leading roles and they are ably supported by a cast that includes Patricia Haines as the attractive archery teacher Holly Trent and Ian MacNaughton who played the suspicious psychiatrist Dr Fergus Campbell. Overall a really good episode with a nice twist at the end.

Classic Avengers.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 9/10 · 3 July 2022]

Government Minister Sir Clive Todd is injured whilst trying to steal important papers, when he comes round, he had no recollection.

I'll be honest, I absolutely loved this episode, series four has been a rather thrilling ride so far, and this is yet another gem.

I loved the plot, genuinely a masterclass of writing, plenty of twists and bold ideas. The whole concept was genius, and I loved the idea of the face behind the screen, brilliant cloak and dagger.

I mentioned previously that I thought the fight scenes were getting better with each episode, and true enough, there is an absolute classic here.

Wonderful faces again to enjoy, Patricia Haines is fantastic, as is Bernard Archard, an actor with so much presence, he played the bad guy part so well, fondly remembered for his role in Doctor Who's Pyramids of Mars.

Macnee and Rigg once again are an absolute joy to behold.

Classic, 9/10.

The Master Minds

[guswhovian · 7/10 · 10 July 2020]

After a government minister is shot stealing secret documents, Steed investigates an elite club for people with high IQs called Ransack.

The Master Minds is a good enough episode. The plot doesn't really get going until Steed begins investigating Ransack, and the beginning bit with Emma Peel disguised as a nurse is a bit dull. Georgina Ward is excellent in a bit role as Davinia Todd.

The plot is quite ingenious, and there's a good fight scene. Macnee and Rigg are, as always, wonderful.

Diabolical!

[graylittlewood · 10/10 · 14 October 2010]

I didn't much enjoy this the first few times I watched it years ago, but now re-watching my new digitally re-mastered box set I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's classic Avengers; the plot is sound and intelligent and there are eccentrics and a diabolical mastermind, plus a memorable and original fight scene at the climax played over a projected scene in reverse – totally bizarre, but it makes what is already a well-orchestrated fight sequence into something even more memorable; I think this is where the Avengers excels – they take the ordinary and always try to approach from a different angle or turn it on its head or play with your perceptions somehow.

Here Mrs Peel seems to be more the Mrs Peel we know and love, less caustic and arrogant towards Steed – she retains all those qualities, but in moderation, and there is an underlying warmth. I was surprised to read that others found this episode lacking in certain areas, for me this is absolutely first rate entertainment. Sorry, I'm trying to be critical, but there wasn't a moment I didn't thoroughly enjoy – maybe my shiny new box set has gone to my head after years of suffering with a sub-standard French import with loads of faults. A classic instalment in the classic Avengers series - easily worth a 10/10 of anyone's money.

NB. As I don't work for a tabloid newspaper like The Sun (in Britain) coming up with a pun for the title is the most difficult part for me, Diabolical! Refers to the mastermind, not my opinion of this episode. "Diabolical mastermind" becomes something of a catchphrase between Steed and Emma and is used in their final heartbreaking scene in "The Forget-me-not."

Great story, great villains, great cast

[kevinolzak · 10/10 · 17 February 2011]

"The Master Minds" was just the second episode that Diana Rigg shot once she replaced Elizabeth Shepherd as Mrs. Peel, but already a fully formed character is etched in place. When she arrives with Steed at the country home of the injured Sir Clive Todd (Laurence Hardy), she removes her elegant coat, and the camera's eye simply ogles her shapely form from head to toe, in delightful slow motion! Even the stunning bikini-clad appearance of gorgeous Georgina Ward, as the flirtatious daughter of Sir Clive, cannot dim the luster of Emma Peel (be still my heart). Sir Clive was shot in the head during a successful robbery attempt, one of several that The Avengers are investigating, and the trail leads to an organization called Ransack (Steed refers to it as a "scrambling of eggheads"). Steed only manages to achieve genius level because Mrs. Peel supplies him with all the science answers beforehand (she calls him a genius at "cribbing!") Lovely Patricia Haines ("The Nutshell" and "Who's Who???") plays the archery expert Holly Trent, who would fully display her shapely form in the cult feature "Virgin Witch" (1971), directed by AVENGERS stunt double Ray Austin. While John Wentworth previously did "Six Hands Across a Table," other cast members would make return appearances, including Bernard Archard ("Split!"), the unbilled Harry Hutchinson ("The Rotters"), the unbilled Nigel Lambert ("The 50,000 Breakfast"), and the unbilled Harvey Hall ("The See-Through Man"), who gets to fight Steed in the gymnasium climax. There is also an acting turn from future MONTY PYTHON producer/director Ian MacNaughton (this episode was completed January 8 1965).

The Master minds

[coltras35 · 9/10 · 11 December 2023]

Prominent members of society are caught committing elaborate crimes and the Avengers investigate why, discovering a link to a society for people with high IQs, RANSACK. Mrs Peel is immediately accepted into their ranks and Steed cheats in the exam to join.

Waking in the night, Steed finds all the other members trooping like zombies down to the gymnasium to watch a film then disappearing into the night, returning in possession of military hardware.

Is hypnotism at work?

Another super episode with the usual offbeat charm, sharp dialogue and an intriguing plot line - fight scene at the climax played over a projected scene is a highlight. Steed looks suitably perplexed and concerned when Mrs Peel goes under the hypnotism. The main mastermind villain came as a surprise. Plus Georgina Ward, as the flirtatious daughter of Sir Clive got my ticker bumping a few rpms.

"He's just a pawn in the game. The man we're after is the king."

[bensonmum2 · 6/10 · 14 July 2021]

A government minister is shot during a robbery of top secret documents. However, he has no recollection of committing the crime. Steed and Mrs Peel become suspicious of a Mensa-like organization called Ransack. Is someone using the brilliant minds of the Ransack members to commit crimes?

As I said the last time I wrote about The Avengers, I'm not sure there's a bad Mrs Peel episode. It's just that I don't find The Master Minds as good as most of others who've taken the time to rate it. My biggest complaint is that it's all too predictable. It's as easy to guess how the crimes are being committed as it is to guess the chief mastermind behind it all (hint: it's the only person with a significant speaking role that we never see involved in anything nefarious). More mystery would have gone a long way toward making a good episode a great episode.

Still, this is The Avengers so it's not all bad. There are plenty of scenes with Steed being witty - whether it's with Mrs Peel or the game's mistress - that I particularly enjoyed. And there's a longer than usual fight scene near the end that's a lot of fun. Finally, the episode opens with a leering look at Mrs Peel from head-to-toe - what's not to like about that?

6/10.

INTERESTING STORY BUT MISSING SOMETHING

[asalerno10 · 7/10 · 22 June 2022]

The story is extremely interesting, an organization that subjects its students through hypnosis and makes them do night jobs that they will never register in their minds, the episode has mystery and suspense but even when I watch it I feel that something is missing, perhaps the final fight made with shadows and lacking a powerful music that accompanies it is one of the defects of this chapter.