"Man-Eater of Surrey Green" is the one and only episode not to feature any central villains, because the story involves a massive takeover by a carnivorous species of vegetation life not of this world. A lone astronaut died alone in orbit, and his tiny craft continued for 11 months to circle the Earth, until four weeks ago, when a collision with an intelligent, telepathic alien plant sends it crashing onto a deserted British farm. Eminent botanist Sir Lyle Petersen (Derek Farr) falls under its hypnotic control, using his estate in Surrey Green to cultivate the spores left from the crash, which results in the sudden disappearances of several other plant specialists. When Alan Carter (William Job, later seen in "False Witness") learns where to find his missing fiancée, Laura Burford (Gillian Lewis), he calls out to her, only to be cruelly electrocuted as she dispassionately observes close by. Athene Seyler, previously seen in "Build a Better Mousetrap," plays the scientist who diagnoses how to destroy the man-eating creature, but Steed must first contend with a possessed Mrs. Peel in order to finish the job. Described by some as silly and over-the-top, the script from Philip Levene (author of "The Cybernauts") never loses sight of its human characters, making the horror of their eventual fate all the more effective (nearly everyone becomes plant food). Easily the least typical, but one of the most famous series entries, which didn't require expensive special effects to succeed (in fact, there are virtually none). Among the unbilled actors are Harry Shacklock, previously seen in "A Change of Bait" and "The Mauritius Penny" (and went on to do "Thingumajig"), John G. Heller, effective as a homicidal chauffeur (later seen in "The Correct Way to Kill" and "Split!"), and Ross Hutchinson, later seen in "They Keep Killing Steed."
Review of Man-Eater of Surrey Green
