Not so Classic TV: The New Avengers

It is really hard to reprise a classic. The New Avengers made an honorable stab, falls short, but is still worthy of being in the collection.

As you might have noticed, I have been adding copious quantities of classic TV from the golden era to my Plex server.

One program that I recall watching as a wee lad was when PBS broadcast the British TV show, “The Avengers” in reruns. To the pre-tween me watching on our B&W television this was the height of entertainment. Of course all I ever saw was the Diana Rigg era Avengers. And it was glorious.

30+ years later, I grabbed copies on DVD of the Rigg era Avengers and a few of the pre-Rigg era episodes that featured Honor Blackman (who was also a Bond girl, playing “Pussy Galore¹”).

While adding the last series, when Linda Thorsen picked up the reins from Diana Rigg, and the remaining episodes of the first and second series where the female counterbalance to Patrick McNee was being switched around. All good stuff, and things I enjoy just tossing on to watch when I have a few moments.

That is a long introduction to the topic for this post, and I apologize for that.

The New Avengers

After the series wound down in 1968, I am not sure Patrick McNee found regular work, so in 1976, The New Avengers was released. Loosely in the same genre, it cast McNee with Gareth Hunt and Joanna Lumley as the female counterbalance.

Of course, think British TV in the mid 70’s, wide collars, mediocre British cars, cheesy jazz backing music, and really mediocre stunts.

I am just getting into the series, and I am enjoying it, but it isn’t as iconic as the original and I can completely understand why it only lasted two seasons.

But the main reason I took the plunge to acquire a Region 2 DVD knowing I would have to do some gymnastics to rip it for my plex server, is that the female lead, Joanna Lumley is one of my faves. I know of her mostly as her portrayal of Patsy Stone in Absolutely Fabulous. When I saw her as part of the regular cast of The New Avengers, I mashed that buy button so damn fast your head would spin.

And she is so far living up to my expectations. Very different than Diana Rigg, but also very on point. The Pageboy hairdo and her wardrobe are on point, and part of the fun of the era.

Is it great? No, not really. Do I feel ripped off? Again, no.

1. No, really, her character was named Pussy Galore, and she led a team of women acrobatic fliers in Goldfinger. You can’t make that shit up!