Pandora

Soon after she walks into an antique ship, Tara is kidnapped and drugged, when she comes around, she's in a very different place.

It's such a shame that the show is nearing its end, this is another excellent episode, it really felt as though the team were hitting their stride once again.

Full marks for originality, this is truly like no other episode, it's a plot that would work in this present day and age, it's so outlandish, but it's perfectly conceived, it could easily be changed to fit in with current themes and ideas. I think this one plays out like a horror film from the 60's, even down to the music.

I'm not sure about you, but I got Rebecca vibes, it felt like an homage to the great film, we even have a sinister housekeeper, in the form of Miss Faversham.

When Tara has played the role of The Damsel in Distress in the past, I have found it somewhat frustrating, in this episode however, it feels natural, it's fitting.

Thorson is excellent, Tara's drug induced mania and frustrations are perfectly realised, James Cossins and the returning Julian Glover are excellent also.

Production values are terrific, the sets and costumes look wonderful, The House in particular looks very accurate.

8/10.

I am surprised that no one has commented it yet. I don't think that's the best episode of the whole but it remains interesting. The plot line reminds me something from Hollywood, but I can't put the finger on it. This episode is one of the Brian Clemens favourite. This comment is the reflection of my own opinion, nothing more. Tara also shows no skills in fighting in this episode, she is entirely under control by the evil ones. For once. And the espionage matter is also a wrong path, the genuine bad guys' purpose remains elsewhere. One more thing, this scheme reminds me a film: 36 HOURS, made in the early sixties by George Seaton and taking place durig WW2, just before D day. A scheme also used in several episodes of MISSION IMPOSSIBLE series.

Some people count PANDORA among their least favorites, but I give it high marks for trying a different approach, and for a good Brian Clemens story with a wonderful ending. This is not a story about a criminal mastermind, or a Russian spy, or a sinister plot by or against rich British businessmen. "The Ministry" only plays a tangential part, because it was a chance meeting in the office that drew Tara into a plot to dupe a rich old man. I won't give away any other plot points, so that you can savor them yourself in the proper order. There's a wonderful supporting cast, including Avengers favorite Julian Glover, the prissy James Cossins, and the half-mad John Laurie. As icing on the cake, composer Laurie Johnson created two new themes for this episode: a melancholy harmonica theme to represent the Great War, and a wistful "love theme" for the mysterious PANDORA.

Tara King is quite vulnerable in this episode with nary of judo throws or any kind of resistance against a bunch of wierdoes who have kidnapped her, keeping her in a house, telling her it's 1915 and that her name is Pandora. They keep drugging her and insisting she's Pandora- obviously they have a big motive for keeping her, and the reason is behind a door.

Lacking the humour normally prevalent, Pandora is heavy on the bizarre with a tinge of gothic horror atmosphere thrown in. It's an intriguing, well written and suspenseful- not much action though. A little different than usual. Nice little twist to their motive behind kidnapping Tara.