At one time or another, haven't we all hated someone so much we've felt like killing them? It could be your boss, your G.P., your bank manager, your spouse, anyone. The villain in this Philip Levene-penned ( one of the last he was to write ) 'Avengers' story is 'Dr.A.Jaeger' ( Peter Vaughan' ), an 'aggresso-therapist' who encourages clients to live out their dreams of committing murder, usually involving repeatedly stabbing a dummy made up to look like their intended victims.
Frank Tobias ( Derek Godfrey ) is one such client, who longs to savage to death his boss, Aloysius Peregrine ( Hugh Moxey ) of the 'Acme Precision Combine'. Steed receives a call from 'Nurse Janet Owen' ( Susan Travers, later to play 'Arlette' in the first two seasons of I.T.V.'s 'Van Der Valk'; ) tipping him off about Peregrine's impending demise. When he and Tara show up at the wealthy man's flat, they find Tobias in the act of killing him. Jaeger's treatment has programmed the hapless Tobias into becoming an instrument of destruction. Panicking, Tobias runs - and falls out of the window. Steed is lined up for future treatment - he has a rival for Tara in the shape of 'Lord Teddy Chilcott' ( Edward Fox )...
Robert Fuest's stylish direction is matched perfectly by Robert Jones' sets, which must rank among the very best he did for the series. There is a room which has the word 'Observation' written in big letters across one wall, and Jaeger's surgery is awesome. The fight scene with Tara early on is eye popping. Also in the cast are Philip Madoc ( 'Slater' ) and John Savident ( 'Henry Winthrop ).
Due to the number of on screen stabbings, this was given a later time slot. It really is a tour de force, and makes one all the sadder that Levene died before he could contribute to 'The New Avengers'.
Frank Tobias ( Derek Godfrey ) is one such client, who longs to savage to death his boss, Aloysius Peregrine ( Hugh Moxey ) of the 'Acme Precision Combine'. Steed receives a call from 'Nurse Janet Owen' ( Susan Travers, later to play 'Arlette' in the first two seasons of I.T.V.'s 'Van Der Valk'; ) tipping him off about Peregrine's impending demise. When he and Tara show up at the wealthy man's flat, they find Tobias in the act of killing him. Jaeger's treatment has programmed the hapless Tobias into becoming an instrument of destruction. Panicking, Tobias runs - and falls out of the window. Steed is lined up for future treatment - he has a rival for Tara in the shape of 'Lord Teddy Chilcott' ( Edward Fox )...
Robert Fuest's stylish direction is matched perfectly by Robert Jones' sets, which must rank among the very best he did for the series. There is a room which has the word 'Observation' written in big letters across one wall, and Jaeger's surgery is awesome. The fight scene with Tara early on is eye popping. Also in the cast are Philip Madoc ( 'Slater' ) and John Savident ( 'Henry Winthrop ).
Due to the number of on screen stabbings, this was given a later time slot. It really is a tour de force, and makes one all the sadder that Levene died before he could contribute to 'The New Avengers'.