Season three of the series ends on a high note with a terrific script by Leonard Stern, some very funny stuff for Adams and great guest turns for both Julie Sommars and Cesar Romero. It begins with 86 breaking in to a mansion to take a picture of a painting. He is assisted by Bodecker (Noam Pitlick--and Bodecker isn't REALLY his name as the opening pre-credit sequence explains) and they exchange some witty wordplay and Smart demonstrates the latest in spy gear. CONTROL needs the picture to make sure the double they have to fool Kinsey Krispen (Caesar Romero) is a perfect lookalike for his wife. In exchange he will give them the top secret Krispen Papers. The woman chosen is Mimsi Sage ("Governor and JJ" and later "Matlock" star Julie Sommars) a mousy children's book author. Max immediately has the hots for her and brushes aside 99's offer to help train her. A very funny film showing Max's training techniques follows, before they send Mimsi to Krispen. Romero is good and quite subtle as Krispen, showing he doesn't have to do over the top characters like the Joker to be effective. When Krispen insists they celebrate their reunion with a glass of champagne, Mimsi gets wildly drunk and throws herself on 86. Their wild make-out scenes while Krispen's back is turned is a highlight and kind of shows the value of NOT having Max get too attached to 99. The story ends with a classic showdown in a outdoor statue garden, bringing the third season to a great close.
Interestingly, they also tried some new transitions to the show in this episode that were later adopted: the use of the "jigsaw puzzle piece" for scene endings, and scene freezes with zooms. But along with these new innovations, we also see Max's old Sunbeam Tiger again, despite the fact he's been seen driving the Kharman Ghia in the opening all season long!
Interestingly, they also tried some new transitions to the show in this episode that were later adopted: the use of the "jigsaw puzzle piece" for scene endings, and scene freezes with zooms. But along with these new innovations, we also see Max's old Sunbeam Tiger again, despite the fact he's been seen driving the Kharman Ghia in the opening all season long!
