MFU 30-Day Meme: Day 17

[carabele]

Day 17 – Episode you’ve rewatched the most: THE ADRIATIC EXPRESS AFFAIR (Season 2)

I am unequivocally smitten with this episode; thus it's one I will watch several times during the Christmas/New Year holiday season (as well as at other times of the year).



There is the whole romanticism of travel on a luxury train that evokes a certain feeling of intimacy and old-world charm that just woos me every time. And then there is our guys, both looking so good and kept together from beginning to end on this particular mission.

From a writing standpoint, I appreciate the homage the story pays to MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (the Christie book, since the movie had not yet been made at that point in time). I also like the innocent. Eva is sweet and silly, but not in an overbearing way. Her initial overt hero-worship of Madame Nemirovitch is endearing. And then there is the Madame herself, a villain with an edge and yet a certain amount of charm.

The MacGuffin is believable. And I have to admit seeing Napoleon's interest perk right up when Waverly mentions that the virus in question could stop human reproductive processes always makes me smirk. (Was he perhaps more personally concerned that stoppage might include a... ummm... reduction in sexual function? [wink])

There are many individual gem moments in this one for me:

* Napoleon and Eva at dinner with Madame Nemirovitch. (I so love the Madame's comment about Napoleon having "the complexion of a baby" [grin])

* Eva and Napoleon in his compartment when she tries so unsuccessfully to seduce him to order to implement the Madame's plot. (The dialogue is so sharp and witty!)

* Napoleon and Illya in that cell in the baggage car and the whole conversation that goes on between them. (And what a comparison it provides of the guys' personalities: optimistic Napoleon and pragmatic -- and at that moment rather sulky -- Illya.)

* That poor woman who keeps coming across the bodies in the restroom!

In short, I just absolutely adore this episode. It really is a feel-good, well-written, wonderfully acted and cleverly directed romp in every sense of the word!

And, unlike others, I don't get annoyed or incensed at Napoleon's overt flirting with Eva in the tag.

Firstly, the girl is 19, not 10. She may be innocent, but she isn't a babe-in-the-woods and she seems pretty damn interested in taking a "romantic" gondola ride with Napoleon. (She is the one who makes the request; he doesn't suggest it.)

Secondly, my reaction to that scene is more that Napoleon is humoring/teasing Eva. I think she somehow did account herself as "more worldly" after her unexpected adventure. And Napoleon was going along with her altered self-perception. Though I doubt very much there would have been in reality any speed-boat (or gondola) ride actually set up by him with Eva. More likely our intrepid (and very people-attuned) Mr. Solo would regrettfully note how some immediate U.N.C.L.E. business had come up, thus necessitating he forego the pleasure of her private company. All of such discourse delivered in a tone of disappointment sufficient to make little Eva glow with thoughts of romantic might-have-beens. [wink]

Comments

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

It is a good episode, and full of everything that makes MFU drool worthy. I think we forget that, during that period of time, 19 years old might have been naive, but probably the average age at which girls were marrying. It's the absolute irony that Napoleon has the ingenue while Illya takes on the aggressive model. It's quirky and odd and completely not what would be expected. It works brilliantly and keeps us wondering what actually happened.

[elmey.livejournal.com]

I like this episode too, the enclosed quarters of the train really help to keep the focus on the main characters, and Madame Nemirovitch is an unusually interesting Thrushie. Love the idea that Thrush has a real history.