The late John Lucarotti was another writer left over from the video-taped shows; like Malcolm Hulke, he only made a single contribution to the Peel Era. 'Castle De'ath' marks a rare excursion for Steed and Mrs.Peel to Scotland. It is set in a creepy castle. As bagpipes wail a ghostly lament ( the place is reputedly haunted by the spectre of 'Black Jamie' ), we see a man in a dungeon tortured on the rack. Some time later, his elongated corpse is found in a loch. Suspicion falls on 'Ian' ( Gordon Jackson ) and 'Angus' ( Robert Urquart ) of the clan De'ath. Emma goes there posing as a historian. Also present is Steed - posing as 'Jock McSteed' - ostensibly collating the brothers' library. He notices a tendency for objects to shake from time to time. Prowling around the dungeon, Emma is examining an 'Iron Maiden' when she is attacked. So what is going on here?
This marvellously atmospheric episode was directed by James Hill, fresh from 'Born Free'. He achieves a convincing Scottish atmosphere even though the whole thing was filmed on location in Kent. It is given a boost by the casting of Jackson and Urquart as brothers out to wreck the British fishing industry by using submarines - hidden in a pen under the castle - to scare the fish into deeper waters with the means of ultrasonics. In true 'Scooby Doo' fashion, the legend of 'Black Jamie' is just there to scare nosey parkers away.
Every cliché you might expect in a story like this is present. Steed at one point even attempts a Highland fling! Some might complain about the stereotyping of the Scottish people but that was all part of the Avengers' charm. If they had done a story set in Wales, they doubtless would have had women in national costume playing harps and singing, blackened coal miners.
It all ends with a rousing climax in which Steed, brandishing a claymore, leaps onto a dining table to do battle with Ian. Great stuff.
This marvellously atmospheric episode was directed by James Hill, fresh from 'Born Free'. He achieves a convincing Scottish atmosphere even though the whole thing was filmed on location in Kent. It is given a boost by the casting of Jackson and Urquart as brothers out to wreck the British fishing industry by using submarines - hidden in a pen under the castle - to scare the fish into deeper waters with the means of ultrasonics. In true 'Scooby Doo' fashion, the legend of 'Black Jamie' is just there to scare nosey parkers away.
Every cliché you might expect in a story like this is present. Steed at one point even attempts a Highland fling! Some might complain about the stereotyping of the Scottish people but that was all part of the Avengers' charm. If they had done a story set in Wales, they doubtless would have had women in national costume playing harps and singing, blackened coal miners.
It all ends with a rousing climax in which Steed, brandishing a claymore, leaps onto a dining table to do battle with Ian. Great stuff.