This is an interesting, well-written episode ( by Boris Sobelman ), boasting a not dissimilar plot to Len Deighton's novel ( and film ) 'Funeral In Berlin'. In that, a Russian General ( Oscar Homolka ) pretended to defect to the West in order to smoke out an old enemy. Here we have THRUSH official Pharos Mandor ( Jack Lord ) pretending to defect to U.N.C.L.E. so as to rid himself of a rival called Valandros ( Nehemiah Persoff ). To prove his good faith, Mandor blows the lid on THRUSH's Turkey division, which U.N.C.L.E. then put out of action. Illya is captured by Valandros, necessitating a daring rescue from Solo.
The power struggle within THRUSH's ranks makes a nice change from the standard 'U.N.C.L.E. vs. THRUSH' format. Playing 'Mandor' is Jack Lord, just before his ten year stint as 'Steve McGarrett' in 'Hawaii Five-O'. Nememiah Persoff, who plays 'Valandros', seems to have guested in every show on American television at some time or other. He was in one of my favourite 'Mission: Impossible' episodes - 'Odds On Evil'. His character here is that of a bombastic, ranting oaf, and as such is a contrast to the placid 'Mandor'. Mandor's girlfriend is played by the lovely Leslie Parrish, an actress who, rather like Linda Gaye Scott, could be relied on to brighten up any show she was in.
For once, Lisa Rogers ( Barbara Moore ) gets to do something, namely demonstrating some of U.N.C.L.E.'s gadgets to Leslie. It is hinted that she once used one of these to put Solo in his place!
The power struggle within THRUSH's ranks makes a nice change from the standard 'U.N.C.L.E. vs. THRUSH' format. Playing 'Mandor' is Jack Lord, just before his ten year stint as 'Steve McGarrett' in 'Hawaii Five-O'. Nememiah Persoff, who plays 'Valandros', seems to have guested in every show on American television at some time or other. He was in one of my favourite 'Mission: Impossible' episodes - 'Odds On Evil'. His character here is that of a bombastic, ranting oaf, and as such is a contrast to the placid 'Mandor'. Mandor's girlfriend is played by the lovely Leslie Parrish, an actress who, rather like Linda Gaye Scott, could be relied on to brighten up any show she was in.
For once, Lisa Rogers ( Barbara Moore ) gets to do something, namely demonstrating some of U.N.C.L.E.'s gadgets to Leslie. It is hinted that she once used one of these to put Solo in his place!
