#best thing about this episode‚ as quite frankly the most pathetic (affectionate) head of security ever seen on 60s tv. he's sensitive and

[thisbluespirit]

#the saint#the inescapable word#itc#1965#leslie charteris#terry nation#roy ward baker#roger moore#ann bell#james maxwell#maurice hedley#robert dean#robert macleod#ronald ibbs#donald bisset#james copeland#russell waters#anthony baird#alf mangan#something of a watershed moment for The Saint; the series has touched on secret government stuff and sciency wiency things before in some#small ways‚ but this is the first step the show has taken into what could more comfortably be called science fiction. death rays were very#in vogue in 1965‚ as were spies‚ and the show seems to be leaning towards those genres and away from the character origins as a gentleman#rogue. Nation and director Baker both had prior experience in sci fi work (Nation was presumably fully invested in exploiting his daleks by#this point) and there's more than a touch of horror to the misty forest scenes or underground lair. Nation would borrow liberally from his#own work here for a later episode of The Avengers (1969's Thingumajig) and the final scenes play out very similarly. what else? oh yes...#i may not be quite as biased as an unnamed mutual‚ but i can happily support m'learned friend in saying that James Maxwell is the absolute#best thing about this episode‚ as quite frankly the most pathetic (affectionate) head of security ever seen on 60s tv. he's sensitive and#nervous and does very little to aid in the investigation of a murder on his base except to get knocked out‚ worried‚ accused of the crime#and shot (oops spoiler sorry). i think he survives? it looks to be a shoulder wound and regardless of a lack of closure I'm choosing to#believe he did survive and immediately resigned his position‚ perhaps married Ann Bell‚ and started a group for people wrongly knocked out

XD I am pretty sure he must have been asked to leave the force.  He can’t even happen on a crime scene without half-convicting himself and not even realising till Simon spells it out for him.  From a purely biased fave pov this one is priceless as a cheer up rewatch because Jock makes less sense each time.  Like clearly they meant him to be scottish!  And older!  And less... *gestures at my 1960s guy*

(I;m glad you share my concern over whether or not he survives.  I came to much the same conclusion, because, yes, shoulder wound and people seem to be tending to him while Simon’s running away, but ???  Also I may totally have ficced that very post-ep scenario in my head!  I feel validated!!  Their 18th C marriage is clearly haunting their 1960s otherwise non-shippy selves...)

I am also quite fond of wee Ann Bell, who barely even looks like Ann Bell yet in it and the very cheap death ray.  And the parts where all actors have to look shifty for no other reason than to try and make it look like any one of them could have dunnit.

I’m sure there would be lots of people will to join a club for those who’ve been unfairly hit/knocked out or spanked by the Saint!  Tho I’m not sure what they would do about it, especially if it was founded by Jock...

The Saint: The Inescapable Word (3.17, ITC, 1965)

"I can understand that you consider killing animals fairly unimportant, since you spend your working day devising more efficient means for killing people."

"That's the kind of remark one would expect from a cop. You know our weapons will never be used!"

"Then don't you feel a certain futility having spent your life making them?"