THE INNOCENT: Barbara Shelley as Bryn Watson who, as an intrepid British courier running with the French underground during the War, isn't THAT innocent, but she does get recruited in much the same way others do, willing to dance one more time with an old friend from the OSS who now works for UNCLE. She's smart, knows all the players and their mannerisms, and is convinced to leave her children and her job in accounting for one last exciting fling. Shelley was known as the First Leading Lady of British Horror due to her association with Hammer Films, starring in such titles as The Gorgon, Village of the Damned, and opposite Christopher Lee in Dracula: Prince of Darkness. The 60s were her prime in terms of movies, after which she turned to British television, which gave her work into the early 90s.
REVIEW: You know what they say about the Odd Man... In this case, he's determined not to be Out. Our main guest star, Martin Balsam (12 Angry Men, Psycho), was drummed out of active UNCLE service after a disastrous mission and relegated to the inactive files section. But he WAS active in France during the War, so when a French master of disguise is apparently killed and could be impersonated within his own terrorist syndicate (in order to ensure his assassins don't take their organization to greater heights), they go to him for information. Balsam's Sully immediately insists on doing the job himself, since no one knows "Raymond" better and there's no time to spare. And from there, he keeps trying to shake his escort (Solo and Illya, of course), seems at first to run to an old girlfriend, but it's because SHE knows Raymond and he's never met the man. It was all a ruse to get back in the field, although I kept wondering if he was actually one of Raymond's aliases, having survived the plane explosion (as per his reputation). And you know what? As this ends with him staying in Raymond's spot to spy on it for UNCLE, I'm STILL not sure he's nor Raymond.
While he and Raymond expert Bryn Watson make a great pair, it's at the cost of our lead agents' participation. Solo gets taken out fairly early after he takes a stray bullet in the shoulder, but Illya stays in the game longer. Indeed, he started the ball rolling in the opener, shadowing Raymond and almost flying out the airplane after the villain puts a hole in its washroom wall. Very cool sequence. Illya nevertheless pickpocketed Raymond's wallet and "pass button", so here we are. He spends the rest of his time as "Raymond"'s bodyguard. And Sully does make mistakes even with a guide, but ultimately, his actions get rid of at least two of Raymond's opponents in the syndicate (why isn't this THRUSH?) - the Baroness at the go-go bar (if he's really Raymond, this is a beautiful con job), and the Blofeld-like Mr. Zed, leader of the group and Raymond's rival (Zed's dead, baby, Zed's dead). You see why I don't trust him.
Otherwise, awesome spy fare throughout. The dialogue is witty. There are loads of gadgets. The way secret messages are passed through a park preacher and a go-go dancer's movements (60s media is FULL of these exotic dance moments and they don't usually have plot relevance like this). An amusing joke about everyone in the bar wearing dark glasses to hide their identities. The Innocent acting as the "gal in the chair", but right there in the field (she even fights off an assassination attempt on a bus with a mean karate chop). All that's missing is, well, a more prominent role for our agents and/or a last-minute reveal of Raymond's true identity.
HEARD ON CHANNEL D: "I took the precaution of removing his wallet." "In other words, you picked his pocket." "If you prefer such a bourgeois description of an act of pure presence of mind." (Illya and Solo)
"Reading or writing in French isn't too difficult... It's the thinking in French that's... That's when it really gets hard." (Sully)
"I'm like a weapon. I get rusty and pitted it I'm not used." (Sully)
"I just can't resist a wedding or a funeral." (Bryn)
BONDED: Takes place in London. There are a lot more gadgets than usual in this one, as if Raymond (at least) had raided Q Division. The explosive opener recalls Bond film cold opens.
REWATCHABILITY - Medium-High: Though Solo's sideline is unfortunate, this is a very exciting episode to end the black and white era on.
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