On April 5, 1973, Vincent Price ushered us into the… “Theatre of Blood!” This coal-black comedy features priceless Vincent as a ham who likes his critics well-cooked! Featuring a cast of distinguished British actors, Price picks ‘em off with methods ripped straight from the plays of Shakespeare. Witty, wild, and wicked, “Theatre of Blood” is Bard brutality at its barbaric best! The SLAY’s the thing!
If a man holds a door open for me or pulls back a chair so that this old bag can sit down, I’m delighted. Women who moan and carp about that sort of thing are stupid.
- Dame Diana Rigg
What is it that makes Emma Peel so heart-stopping in the cult British tv show The Avengers? Granted, young Diana Rigg was absolutely gorgeous, and the costume department provided her with a striking, iconic wardrobe. But the real factors that contributed to the success of the Peel character – and of the Peel/Steed team – were probably two, strictly intertwined.
The Emma Peel character is wonderfully designed – she is a strong independent woman - unlike today’s woke feminism she doesn’t have to say it, she just is - and a perfect foil for Steed. Her dialogue is sparklingly written, and her smooth, elegant moves came together in creating an alluring, credible character.
The chemistry between Steed and Peel – and between Macnee and Rigg – was also essential. This is not meant as a way to downsize the work Diana Rigg and the writers did, but really the character Emma Peel works so well because she is part of a couple, she is half of a greater hero.
The result of placing Rigg and Macnee together on screen is a joy to behold: there’s the fun, the fast banter and the jokes, the perfect timing and the relaxed self-assuredness of two dancing partners, and also a subtle, inobstrusive sexual tension that the viewers can get – if they are old enough – and appreciate.
The exact nature of the relationship between Peel and Steed – apart from avenging crime and pursuing increasingly surreal bad guys – is never made explicit.
They hang out together, they drink tea and champagne, they chatter amiably and joke together.
It’s elegant, rarefied, classy, and - in retrospect - somewhat sexy.
But why does Emma wear that ridiculous outfit? Did legendary X-Men writer Chris Claremont have complex thoughtsonfeminism, sexuality and social dynamics? Was it a symbol of power in the era it was created? You can probably guess the answer is: No. Not even a little bit. The opposite of that.
The actual origin of the outfit is that in the 1960s, there was a super popular, super edgy (for it’s time) TV show called the Avengers and it had an episode A Touch of Brimstone in which super spy EmmaPeel infiltrates a club of debaucherous millionaires (trying to re-enact the legendary Hellfire Club) by posing an ultra elite, submissive sex worker, “The Queen of Sin”
(By the way, if the actress looks familiar and you can’t quite place her - that’s because the last time you saw her she was probably saying “Tell Cersei.. I want her to know it was me.”)
There’s more homages in there but yeah, after shamelessly copying content from a popular television show, Claremont then realized it was absurd even in that context and rather than reflect or revise, felt the need to put in this ridiculous warble about sexism in favour of women actually, if they just have the will to use it for their own advantage.
This is one of many reasons it is very difficult to have patience with people who insist that there’s actually good explanations and a lot of important symbolism in these things - because the symbolism is almost ways just misogyny and horniness with extra steps.
- wincenworks
P.S. That before someone rushes in to let me know Emma is evil at this point of her character development - the issue here is not whether she’s good or bad, it’s that the story is showing her beliefs as functions and has given her advantages over the other evil women. It’s not portrayed as a delusion of the evil, it’s portrayed as a truth that only the evil are willing to exploit.
Edit: I have received a couple of messages advising that Emma’s monologue was penned by Ann Nocenti, which creates a fun complicated dynamic given their history working together and Claremont’s history of sharing opinions. Further commentary to follow, but thank you to the people who reached out.
Very sad news that Dame Diana Rigg has passed away today (20th July 1938 - 10th September 2020). Her daughter Rachael Stirling said: “My Beloved Ma died peacefully in her sleep early this morning, at home, surrounded by family. She died of cancer diagnosed in March, and spent her last months joyfully reflecting on her extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and a deep pride in her profession. I will miss her beyond words”.
