The Town of No Return
| Company type | Television episode |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television |
| Founded | September 28, 1965 |
| Products | Spy-fi television episode |
The Town of No Return marks the debut episode of the fourth season of the 1960s British spy-fi series The Avengers, featuring Patrick Macnee and introducing Diana Rigg in the role of Mrs. Peel. The episode includes guest appearances by Alan MacNaughtan, Patrick Newell, and Terence Alexander. It originally premiered on 28 September 1965. The script was penned by Philip Levene, with Sidney Hayers directing and Brian Clemens producing.
Plot
Steed and Mrs. Peel take a train journey to Little Bazeley by the Sea, a coastal village in Norfolk where secret agents have vanished under mysterious circumstances. During the trip, they encounter Jimmy Smallwood (played by Patrick Newell), who is visiting his brother, the village blacksmith. Upon reaching their destination, they notice a suspicious local man following them, who had been previously spotted on the beach.
At the village pub, named the Inebriated Gremlin, they meet several residents including landlord Piggy Warren, school inspector Mark Brandon, and teacher Jill Manson. Mrs. Peel adopts the guise of a newly appointed educator at the local school. When Smallwood attempts to locate his brother, he falls into peril; he is chased by armed men accompanied by bloodhounds and later discovered dead, buried beneath sand.
Mrs. Peel examines the unused school building and finds adult-sized Wellington boots stored inside, while Steed investigates an abandoned wartime airfield connected to Piggy Warren’s identity. They realize that many villagers are impostors engaged in a covert operation. The authentic school inspector briefly appears but soon dies under suspicious circumstances.
A confrontation with the vicar at the church exposes another impostor wielding a firearm. Mrs. Peel is taken captive but Steed rescues her after a struggle with the deceitful local man impersonating Smallwood’s brother.
Inside the school, Steed and Mrs. Peel uncover supplies alongside a map pointing to a submarine located in the North Sea. They conclude that an ongoing foreign infiltration is underway: invaders are gradually replacing villagers after arriving via this submarine.
Following leads to underground bunkers beneath the airfield, they discover enemy operatives equipped with explosives and sophisticated devices. After a confrontation, Steed and Mrs. Peel subdue the impostors, trap them underground, and depart on Mrs. Peel’s motor scooter.
Cast
- Patrick Macnee as John Steed
- Diana Rigg as Emma Peel
- Alan MacNaughtan as Mark Brandon
- Patrick Newell as Jimmy Smallwood
- Terence Alexander as 'Piggy' Warren
- Jeremy Burnham as Vicar, Jonathan Ainsbury
- Robert Brown as Saul
- Juliet Harmer as Jill Manson
- Walter Horsbrugh as School Inspector
Production
Initially filmed from 29 October to 13 November 1964 featuring Elizabeth Shepherd, this episode was later reshot between 21 and 30 July 1965 following Shepherd’s replacement by Diana Rigg. Exterior village scenes were shot in Wighton, coastal shots at Holkham Gap, and airfield sequences at the disused RAF Sculthorpe, near Fakenham, Norfolk. The episode’s sets were crafted by Harry Pottle. It debuted on ABC on 28 September 1965.
Reception
Critics lauded the episode for its oppressive mood conveyed through the depiction of a derelict school and deserted airfield, emphasizing the decline evident within the portrayed village. In Reading Between Designs, Piers D. Britton and Simon J. Barker highlighted the emotionally charged environment of the Inebriated Gremlin pub, describing it as hostile and dilapidated with unsettling design features that intensify unease. They interpreted the narrative as an incisive critique of parochialism and xenophobia prevalent in rural Norfolk, noting Clemens’ employment of black humour alongside rustic stereotypes—such as an unwelcoming tavern and stark gothic church—to reinforce this message.
In popular culture
An excerpt from this installment, showing Steed's arrival at Mrs. Peel's apartment followed by their fencing session as they converse about a mission, is featured in the introduction of the thirteenth episode of Outlander season two, titled "Dragonfly in Amber."