Thursday Television Review: The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.
- The Daily Sentiment
- Oct 1, 2020
- 2 min read
The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (1966-1967)
Starring: Stefanie Powers, Noel Harrison, Leo G. Carroll, and Randy Kirby
Summary
April Dancer (Stefanie Powers) is the girl from U.N.C.L.E. and she means business. Capable and fashionable too, April is always on the look-out for THRUSH opperatives and how to take them down. She is not alone, however, with trusty partner Mark Slate (Noel Harrison) always watching out for her. He may wear a funny hat, but don’t judge a book by its cover.
Mr. Waverly is there to run U.N.C.L.E. as efficiently as ever and takes no nonsense, except from himself. His trusty assistant, Randy Kovacs (Randy Kirby) is always ready to help out where he can, trying his best to be the perfect spy!
April and Mark are best friends and would do anything for each other, even give their lives. They face some of the most dangerous odds and get challenged all along the way.
Look for them all over the world, because where THRUSH is, there they will be too.
Review
Made in a similar fashion to its predecessor, “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.”, this series brought fans the same fight against THRUSH that Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo fought (if you’d like to read about this series, click here). The same gadgets, antics, and dangers that face any U.N.C.L.E. agent – the life of a spy is never easy. This, however, gave us a new view into U.NC.L.E. life, with an entirely new duo!
Stefanie Powers and Noel Harrison are a good team. The inside jokes and the deep sense of care that they have for each other makes the show all the more enjoyable. This series was supposed to carry the air of spy-like drama that “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” had, but, just as that had changed, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” was more comedy than drama. No, not the fun tongue and cheek comments or quick-witted remarks, I’m talking silliness beyond “real life”. This seemed to be in competition with other spy comedies like “Get Smart”, which was a master at the topic. They would have been better to stay with what they were good at. The series didn’t last long.
Nevertheless, “The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.” is an enjoyable show, if only to see April and Mark work together! The writers did do well in building their relationship, just as they had done with Illya and Napoleon, only adding the element of guy/girl.
Noel Harrison plays the part well of the guy who can get in and out of trouble constantly and Stefanie Powers does well as the team lead, smart and able. Noel Harrison did make an appearance on “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” in the “Galatea Affair”, playing Mark Slate, Illya’s sidekick. Stefanie Powers’ character, April Dancer, made an appearance twice in the series. Introducing both of these characters helped to promote the new series.
Parental Warning: this is a series from the 1960s, be aware of moments of ill-dressed women, torture, and topics hot in the 1960s.
Ellen Nolan
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