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A Touch of Brimstone

From Alfawiki
The Avengers
Company typeTelevision series
IndustryEntertainment, Television
Founded1961; 65 years ago (1961)
FounderSydney Newman (creator)
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Key people
Patrick Macnee (actor), Diana Rigg (actress), Brian Clemens (writer), James Hill (director), Julian Wintle (producer)
ProductsTelevision episodes

A Touch of Brimstone represents the twenty-first installment of the fourth season of the 1960s British espionage television series The Avengers, featuring Patrick Macnee as John Steed and Diana Rigg portraying Emma Peel. Filming took place in December 1965, with its initial broadcast on UK television occurring on 15 February 1966. The episode was helmed by director James Hill and scripted by Brian Clemens. It follows Steed and Peel as they penetrate the Hellfire Club—a clandestine society inspired by the historic Hellfire Club—while probing a series of malicious pranks targeting high-profile political and corporate figures.

Distinctively, the episode showcased daring visuals, including Rigg’s personally designed "Queen of Sin" costume, which drew on sado-masochistic motifs. Because of its provocative content, American television networks chose not to air it, and certain UK broadcasts censored a scene where Peter Wyngarde’s character attempts to whip Peel. Despite these controversies, "A Touch of Brimstone" achieved the highest viewership ratings for any episode of The Avengers during its original airing.

Plot

Steed and Peel delve into the activities of Cartney, who is suspected of masterminding pranks against prominent political and business leaders. Peel earns Cartney’s confidence and uncovers plans for an additional prank orchestrated by Darcy. Meanwhile, Steed finds a pair of rubber scissors connected to a lethal prank involving an electrified ribbon at the inauguration of the "International Friendship Club," which led to a fatality.

Darcy, troubled by the accidental death, confesses under Steed’s questioning that the Hellfire Club is behind these plots. Peel infiltrates Cartney’s inner circle and discovers that the Club conducts orgiastic ceremonies celebrating "ultimate sins," reflecting its historical counterpart.

During one such gathering, Darcy challenges the Club’s leaders about the murder but is killed when a trapdoor mechanism is triggered. Acting on Peel’s advice, Steed applies for membership and successfully completes two initiation challenges: consuming large amounts of alcohol and retrieving a pea guarded by an axe-wielding member—avoiding injury by blowing the pea away. Once admitted, Steed uncovers plans for a coup designed to incite national turmoil.

At a subsequent event, Steed and Peel detect explosives planted at Culverston House, where foreign dignitaries are lodged. Peel reappears dressed in her "Queen of Sin" attire accompanied by a snake, presented to Club members by Cartney. As attendees watch a staged fight, Horace identifies Steed as an infiltrator. Steed defeats the Club’s swordmaster in combat; Peel thwarts members attempting to detonate explosives before Cartney assaults her with a whip but ends up falling to his death through a trapdoor triggered by his own weapon.

Cast and crew

The episode's principal cast included:

Key production personnel comprised:

Production

The Avengers was a British espionage drama that debuted in 1961, gaining recognition as a defining symbol of 1960s pop culture and securing early popularity in the American television market. Following the initial series featuring Ian Hendry, the focus shifted to agents John Steed, portrayed by Patrick Macnee, and Cathy Gale, played by Honor Blackman. In 1965, Diana Rigg succeeded Blackman, taking on the role of Emma Peel, which marked a significant rebranding moment for the show. Production commenced in May 1965 with an episode budget of £30,000 and typically required 14 days of filming, surpassing original scheduling expectations. Both Macnee and Rigg endured demanding fourteen-hour workdays with extensive dialogue responsibilities.

The episode "A Touch of Brimstone," initially titled "The Hellfire Club" during production, was filmed in December 1965. Written by Brian Clemens and directed by James Hill, it premiered on Scottish Television on 15 February 1966. Subsequent broadcasts occurred on 18 February in London and the Tyne-Tees areas, followed by ABC Weekend Television airing on 19 February, designating it as the twenty-first episode of season four. During Rigg's period on the series, episodes featured two-line subtitles; this one was captioned "In which Steed Joins The Hellfire Club – And Emma Becomes the Queen of Sin." In France, it was broadcast under the title "Le Club de L'Enfer."

Reception and influence

This episode garnered the highest UK audience figures for The Avengers, attracting approximately 8.4 million viewers and ranking fifth among all programs that week. Michael Billington of The Stage lauded its combination of lavishness and menace, praising Macnee’s flawless portrayal of Steed, Wyngarde’s impeccable performance, and Rigg’s definitive interpretation of Emma Peel despite some critical divergence.

Peel’s "Queen of Sin" costume—designed by Rigg herself—included a spiked dog collar measuring three inches, a whalebone corset, tall leather boots, and featured a large snake accessory. The Hellfire Club members engaged in overtly decadent behavior, including a whip duel between Cartney and Peel involving multiple lashes; certain ITV regions censored this scene due to its provocative content. The complete whipping sequence was preserved in a 1993 Lumiere Pictures video release. Owing to its explicit material, American network television did not air this episode.

Media scholar James Chapman emphasized that the sado-masochistic imagery contributed to censorship issues and highlighted Peel’s dual role as dominatrix and victim, simultaneously embodying both assertive and submissive femininity. Women's Studies expert Sherrie A. Inness noted that while the episode accentuated Peel’s sexuality, thereby undermining her tough persona despite her combat prowess, it reinforced conventional female stereotypes. In contrast, film critic Anne Billson maintained that Peel remained a powerful heroine capable of exuding sensuality without objectification. Journalist Maria Alvarez characterized Peel as a modern action heroine combining elements of danger and erotic appeal.

Authors Tom Lisanti and Louis Paul regarded this installment as one of Diana Rigg's standout performances. It was ranked among the top five episodes in season four by Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping in The Avengers Dossier, who described it as campy with extravagant flair epitomized by Wyngarde.

This episode also inspired Chris Claremont to create Marvel Comics’ Hellfire Club in Uncanny X-Men issues #132–134; the character Jason Wyngarde was named after Peter Wyngarde, while Jean Grey’s Black Queen costume closely mirrored Rigg’s Queen of Sin attire.

Decades later, fans continued to send Diana Rigg postcards featuring her Queen of Sin costume for autographs, underscoring the enduring cultural significance of this episode.

References

Books

  • Billson, Anne. Buffy the Vampire Slayer. British Film Institute, 2005. ISBN 1-84457-089-4
  • Carruthers, Jo; Tate, Andrew. Spiritual Identities: Literature and the Post-Secular Imagination. Peter Lang, 2010. ISBN 978-3-03911-925-7
  • Chapman, James, editor. Aldgate, Anthony; Chapman, James; Marwick, Arthur. Windows on the Sixties: Exploring Key Texts of Media and Culture. IB Tauris, 2000. ISBN 978-1-86064-383-5
  • Chapman, James. Saints and Avengers: British Adventure Series of the 1960s. I.B.Tauris, 2002. ISBN 978-1-86064-753-6
  • Cornell, Paul; Day, Martin; Topping, Keith. The Avengers Dossier. Virgin Books, 1998. ISBN 978-0-86369-754-8
  • Inness, Sherrie A. Tough Girls: Women Warriors and Wonder Women in Popular Culture. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1998. ISBN 978-0-8122-3466-4
  • Knight, Gladys L. Female Action Heroes: A Guide to Women in Comics, Video Games, Film, and Television. ABC-CLIO, 2010. ISBN 978-0-313-37612-2
  • Lisanti, Tom; Paul, Louis. Film Fatales: Women in Espionage Films and Television, 1962–1973. McFarland, 2002. ISBN 978-0-7864-1194-8
  • Pratt, Douglas. Doug Pratt's DVD: Movies, Television, Music, Art, Adult, and More!. UNET 2 Corporation, 2004. ISBN 978-1-932916-00-3
  • Richardson, Michael. Bowler Hats and Kinky Boots: The Unofficial and Unauthorised Guide to The Avengers. Telos (Kindle edition), 2014. ISBN 1845838874
  • Rogers, Dave. The Avengers. ITV Books/Michael Joseph, 1983. ISBN 978-0-907965-09-1
  • Rogers, Dave. Avengers Anew. Michael Joseph, 1985. ISBN 978-0-7181-2604-9
  • Rogers, Dave. The Complete Avengers. Boxtree, 1989. ISBN 978-1-85283-244-5
  • White, Ellen Emerson. Long May She Reign. Macmillan, 2007. ISBN 978-0-312-36767-1

External links

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