Concerto

"Concerto" was only the second episode shot for the third season, yet had to wait almost a full year before broadcast. Honor Blackman's second year saw an upgrade in quality as well as budget, and this entry is proof of that (excluding the unnecessary presence of the now pregnant Julie Stevens, dropped after six episodes). Famed Russian pianist Stefan Veliko (Sandor Eles, "The Positive Negative Man") is in London, about to embark on a British tour on the eve of trade talks that could mean financial ruin for certain unscrupulous individuals, who send a professional extortionist into Veliko's suite to attempt blackmail, only to be strangled for her trouble by a killer (Geoffrey Colville, "Murdersville") posing as the hotel manager. Steed then becomes a member of the strip club where the dead girl worked, cheering on the next performance! The goal is to have Veliko assassinate one of his own delegates, which can be easily covered up through deportation, but Cathy, fluent in Russian, and Steed are working with Zalenko (Nigel Stock) to prevent any international crises. The Avengers are first seen in Cathy's apartment with Steed's dog Junia (Patrick Macnee's own Mastiff, back for the first time since "Death of a Great Dane"), playing on a chess board that doubles as a telephone, but when Steed answers he is thoroughly distracted by the luscious Cathy as she exits the room (Macnee's face a total delight when she reveals the location of the ringing telephone!). The two stars give the impression that their enjoyment is ad-libbed, and so does the excellent Nigel Stock (later seen in "A Sense of History"), a fine light-hearted Watson for the BBC's two SHERLOCK HOLMES, Douglas Wilmer and Peter Cushing, both memorable villains in later AVENGERS. In another sign of things to come, Cathy is captured and threatened with Russian Roulette, Emma Peel-style, but remains tight lipped until Steed's timely arrival, definitely more action this season.