One look at Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman and you knew this cannot work. Why? Because, this whole series, at least from the moment Ian Henry left the show, was one long tongue in cheek affair which lived by the way Patrick Macnee and his various leading ladies played the part. Not only is Macnee British to the core, he is also a guy you can hardly see in very serious roles or heavy drama. There is always a kind of sparkle in his eyes that made him the perfect cast for The Avengers. Fiennes is a great actor but completely without any natural comic appeal. Carrying a bowler hat and an umbrella is by far not enough to make a good Steed. The same applies to Thurman. Thurman had not enough sex appeal for Emma Peel and she is giving the part an edge that does not fit. It might have been a bad idea in the first place, to think someone can bring this perfect pair back to life. I'm trying to think who would have been a better cast. Colin Firth and Emma Thomson come to mind. So, without reflecting on the actual story, in my opinion this was bound to sink.
Review of The Avengers
