This episode opens with Venus Smith singing at a university rag week event, shortly afterwards she discovers the body of one of the lecturers
a man Steed was having her keep an eye on. The police believe the man killed himself but Steed isn't so sure so goes to the university in the guise of doing some research. It soon becomes apparent that something is going on; we see that both staff and undergraduates are being tricked into a position where they are open to blackmail
not immediately but later when they may have ascended to positions of power. In order to smoke out the culprits Steed puts it around that the dead man wrote a letter to Venus shortly before his death
something that puts her in quite a bit of danger.
I rather enjoyed this episode; the villains are suitably villainous and there is a good sense of danger. Julie Stevens makes a welcome return as Venus; a fun character who is a good counterpart to Steed's professional attitude. Reginald Marsh does a fine job as blackmailer Higby and Melissa Stribling is equally good as the even more unpleasant Claire Summers a woman who goes as way as sending Venus a jar of face-cream that contains acid. The story unfolds well with various villains being gradually unveiled and a good ending where the latest blackmail victim is instructed to kill Steed. Of course it isn't perfect; as is often the case with TV shows made on a limited budget there is a small cast given that it is meant to be set at a university, we are also expected to believe that everybody, students and staff alike, drink at the same pub. That is a small quibble about an enjoyable episode.
I rather enjoyed this episode; the villains are suitably villainous and there is a good sense of danger. Julie Stevens makes a welcome return as Venus; a fun character who is a good counterpart to Steed's professional attitude. Reginald Marsh does a fine job as blackmailer Higby and Melissa Stribling is equally good as the even more unpleasant Claire Summers a woman who goes as way as sending Venus a jar of face-cream that contains acid. The story unfolds well with various villains being gradually unveiled and a good ending where the latest blackmail victim is instructed to kill Steed. Of course it isn't perfect; as is often the case with TV shows made on a limited budget there is a small cast given that it is meant to be set at a university, we are also expected to believe that everybody, students and staff alike, drink at the same pub. That is a small quibble about an enjoyable episode.