Emma Peel engaged in a number of catfights on "The Avengers." But by far her toughest opponent was the wicked Miss Pegram in "
The 50,000 Pound Breakfast
."
Mrs. Peel and Steed are called on to investigate a dodgy financial firm that keeps producing dead bodies. She quickly sizes up their foes.
"Miss Pegram," Emma says of the only woman in the gang, "is the tough one."
Steed is surprised, but Mrs. Peel (played by the great Diana Rigg) is proven correct. It's the very toughness of Miss Pegram (played by British actress Yolande Turner) that gives the scene its spark.
"Miss Pegram's fight with Emma at the end is exciting because she is able to go toe-to-toe with our heroine," one critic
writes
.
Another attributes the viciousness of the battle to Miss Pegram's role as the "anti-Mrs. Peel." Instead of inheriting her fortune, as Emma did, Miss Pegram had to work her way up in a man's world, sometimes ruthlessly. At some point, she crossed a line that places her on a collusion course with Mrs. Peel.
They say opposites attract, and they do here -- violently. Their meeting is the explosive climax of the episode.
"Avengers" fans know Mrs. Peel won the fight (click on the photos above for more). But they may not know Miss Pegram demanded -- and received -- a rematch.
We have the rematch for you, in all its hair-pulling, body-slamming, woman-crushing glory. Enjoy!