Hello, hello,

Apart from Kelly Robinson in "I Spy", there was another great character who carried the Italian Persol sunglasses.
His name was Mannix and especially in the season 1 "The Cost of a Vacation".
See the picture below:

Hi Stefan,


Nice to hear from you again!!


That is quite an impressive list of your favorite episodes - and how nice to see them divided up by country!! "You have excellent taste, my man!!"


... and SO glad you finally had a chance to see ALL the episodes!!


As to Mannix and his Persols ....


Now Mannix is a very nice guy and all, but you have to admit KELLY does a " LOT" more for those sunglasses!!






All my best,

Tatia



~ ~

On the whole, I think the writing and the production are stronger and fresher during the first two seasons.
By contrast, season 3 looses its edge. The early season 3 are the best of the last season.
What do you think?

Stefan

Hello Stefan and everyone,

I probably would have agreed with you at one time about Season 3. There have been comments that there were budget cuts or the stars and production people were not getting on as well at the time, things of that nature affecting the third season.

But after having watched all the episodes many times (which I hope you will), you do get a different perspective and begin to notice hidden treasures in all the episodes that add enormously to your appreciation of them. Second (and on all subsequent) viewings, allow you to focus on "other aspects" besides the storyline and the actors. You notice the magnificent music more, the well-chosen scenery, the ad-libs, the secondary characters - all the wonderful things that enhance each story's appeal.

And truth be told, there is something to love and delight in - in each and every episode ....

I've included a list of all the episodes, so everyone can glance at them quickly. And looking over them, there are some great moments and stories included in Season 3. And there are plenty of poorer ones tucked into Seasons 1 and 2.


How about .... IF we list our FAVORITE and LEAST FAVORITE episodes from each season ... (and if you'd like, add a note or two as to why these were your choices.)

I SPY

Episodes by Season

1ST SEASON

1. So Long, Patrick Henry

2. A Cup of Kindness

3. Carry Me Back to Old Tsing-Tao

4. Chrysanthemum

5. Dragon's Teeth

6. The Loser

7. Danny Was a Million Laughs

8. The Time of the Knife

9. No Exchange on Damaged Merchandise

10. Tatia

11. Weight of the World

12. Three Hours on a Sunday

13. Tigers of Heaven

14. Affair in T'Sien Cha

15. The Tiger

16. The Barter

17. Always Say Goodbye

18. Court of the Lion

19. Turkish Delight

20. Bet Me a Dollar

21. Return to Glory

22. The Conquest of Maude Murdock

23. A Day Called 4 Jaguar

24. Crusade to Limbo

25. My Mother, the Spy

26. There Was a Little Girl"

27. It's All Done With Mirrors

28. One Thousand Fine



2ND SEASON

29. So Coldly Sweet

30. Lori

31. Sophia

32. Vendetta

33. A Gift from Alexander

34. Trial by Treehouse

35. Sparrowhawk

36. Will the Real Good Guys Please Stand Up?

37. Bridge of Spies

38. One of Our Bombs is Missing

39. To Florence With Love (1)

40. To Florence With Love (2)

41. Lisa

42. Little Boy Lost

43. Father Abraham

44. Rome... Take Away Three

45. Tonia

46. Child Out of Time

47. The Trouble with Temple

48. The War Lord

49. A Room with a Rack

50. Mainly on the Plains

51. Get Thee to a Nunnery

52. Blackout

53. Magic Mirror

54. Night Train to Madrid

55. Casanova from Canarsie

56. Cops and Robbers



3RD SEASON

57. Let's Kill Karlovassi

58. The Beautiful Children

59. Laya

60. The Medarra Block

61. Philotimo

62. The Honorable Assassins

63. Now You See Her, Now You Don't

64. Red Sash of Courage

65. The Seventh Captain

66. Apollo

67. Oedipus at Colonus

68. The Lotus Eater

69. An American Empress

70. Home to Judgment

71. Anyplace I Hang Myself is Home

72. Tag, You're It

73. A Few Miles West of Nowhere

74. This Guy Smith

75. Turnabout for Traitors

76. Happy Birthday... Everybody

77. Shana

78. The Name of the Game

79. Suitable for Framing

80. The Spy Business

81. Carmelita is One of Us

82. Pinwheel

~~~~~~~





O.K. I'll go first (let's try to keep these to two or three each - which I know can be difficult!)

.... hey, even my "Least Favorites" have some great moments in them ...


SEASON 1

Favorites:

So Long Patrick Henry
(Beautifully done story by Mr. Culp - with depth and emotion and intelligence .... wonderful performances by Ivan Dixon and Cicely Tyson.)

Tatia
(Charming and intriguing story, sumptuous scenery, the interactions between all the characters were wonderful, especially between Scotty and Kelly and Kelly and Tatia. It was most difficult for us to believe that "love and leave 'em" Kelly had truly fallen in love and was ready for a real relationship, but they handled it beautifully in this story - very well done.)


Least Favorites:

Chrysanthemum
(This one and Pinwheel in Season 3 are my two least favorites episodes ... they tried for an "Inspector Clouseau" character, but it didn't translate well. Kelly & Scotty were far too professional to have gone along with any of Max's instructions.)

Turkish Delight
(Eehh! - went nowhere. Victor Buono came off much better as over-the-top outrageous villains in "Wild, Wild West," "Batman," etc.)


~~~~


SEASON 2

Favorites:

The War Lord
(My all-time favorite - "The War Lord" has always been magic for me - the story, the characters, the setting, the doomed lovers, the amazingly beautiful and haunting music has always entranced me - and still does. "The War Lord" is what captured and captivated me and brought me to I SPY!)

Room With A Rack
(Visually haunting, Culp's performance was totally amazing! This episode brought a humanity to Kelly and Scotty that was NEVER seen in any of the "spy" shows of that period!! It enhanced our appreciation and understanding of the depth of our two main characters.)


Least Favorites:

Night Train to Madrid
(The whole cardboard box stage-set train detracted a lot from the story ... it came off looking claustrophobic and flat, instead of as an homage to those great "Murder on the Orient Express" genre of train movies. And I didn't care for Don Rickles character all that much. They could have eased up on his unceasing unpleasantness, and added a little more humor for him.)

Father Abraham
(Always seemed a little flat and slow to me - especially the scenes where Gary is held captive. And the characters were all very one-dimensional. On the other hand, the beginning was terrific - seeing Kelly and Scotty as hard-edged as they were - as tough, determined agents trying to break this guy.)


~~~~


SEASON 3

Favorites:

Home to Judgment
(Everyone's favorite - Mr. Culp did a magnificent job with this story, plus Earle Hagen's magnificent music, puts this one on the top of everyone's list, including Messrs. Culp & Cosby (- or - a very close second for us "War Lord" devotees. )

Anyplace I Hang Myself is Home
(SO very well done - their "ode" to the "Manchurian Candidate.")


Least Favorites:

The Beautiful Children
(Dumb premise - period)
.... but I liked seeing Kelly & Scotty in their cute little Greek outfits anyway!

Pinwheel
(Arlene Golanka's "Melanie" came off as waayyy too annoying - especially during her "charming" chatty dinners with Andy (the bad guy). He showed great restraint in not strangling her before they got to the dessert course. And the premise that she's a newlywed on her honeymoon going off with some other man ... c'mon now???)

The Seventh Captain
(They should be shot for what they did to wonderful Zarkas' character - and the ancient Greek dance spectacular was lovely to watch, but way out in left field in connection to reality and this story. Not one of my favorites! But I did enjoy all the underwater "Thunderball" scenes. Those were very well done, but didn't save this episode for me ...)


Honing down my FAVORITES list took "great" restraint, it could have gone on and on ...


O.K. ... what do you think, what are YOUR choices??



As always,

Tatia




~ ~

I am going to comment your choices.

For season 1, first: the favourite ones are very good, nothing to add.
Now, the least favourite ones: I agree with you about your assement on "Chrysanthemum" that I find unbearable due to the guest character.
But I have a soft spot for "Turkish Delight" which is pure fun: Victor Buono, Scotty in jeopardy because of the rigid lady scientist and many things.
My least favourite remain the pilot: "Affair in T'Sien Cha" which play clumsy all the way.
A notorious one that I don't like is director Robert Culp's "Court of the Lion".

For season 2, your favourite ones are excellent.
Now the least favourite ones: I disagree. "Night Train to Madrid" is very engrossing because of the "Lady Vanishes" meets "Some Like It Hot" intrigue
and above all, the guest actor Michael Strong who undergoes an unexpected death: please watch this particular scene.
Strong is a recurring guest on "Mission: Impossible" hence my delight.
I have a mixed feeling about "Father Abraham" which has some unexpected moments and I agree with you and Marc Cushman about some sides that are contrived.
To me, it's "Lori" which is a failure.

For season 3, your favourite ones are perfect ("true, true"). It's what I think too.
To conclude with the least favourite ones: I concur on the laborious "The Beautiful Children" and the subzero "Pinwheel"-- total disappointment.
I can't stand the joke "The one above" done by Harold J. Stone.
I adore "The Seventh Captain" which is filled with elegant Greek mythology and the whole mood is extremely pleasant.

Lastly, picking only two per season is too difficult for me, "Oliver".

Stefan

PS: My favourite season is now season 2. The quality of that season is very high, even the minor entries are ok.

I am enjoying reading everyone's favorites and not-so-favorites! I Spy has something for everyone - beautiful scenery, action/adventure, romance, humor.

So hard to narrow the list:

Season 1: Introduces two very cool spies - Kelly and Scotty - Japan, Hong Kong, Mexico!
Favorites:
So Long Patrick Henry - Great introduction to Kelly and Scotty, great plot, superb acting.
Oh, that chase on the roof tops- too much!
The Loser: Scotty shines in this one, although Kelly gets some good lines: "...my punching arm is falling asleep!" Loved guest star Eartha Kitt.
Tatia: Love, betrayal, friendship unbroken - and we know you really didn't murder those men, Tatia!
Runners up: Bet Me a Dollar: Good fun!, It's All Done With Mirrors: Disturbing, Scotty's support of Kelly is lovely.
Least Favorites:
Chrysanthemum: Silly plot and dopey French detective.
A Day Called 4 Jaguar: Poor execution, kind of dull.

Season 2: More exotic locales: Italy, Spain! Meeting Scotty's mom!
Favorites:
A Room With a Rack: Excellent acting, Scotty again showing support of his partner during a difficult time. I liked the Lindy character - I wish she had shown up in some more episodes.
Mainly on the Plains: Not a deep episode, but our guys on a road trip in Spain with Boris Karloff - great scenery, comaraderie, and humor!
The Warlord: I have to admit this one grew on me the more times I viewed it. Bob really puts his all into this.
Runner up: Cops and Robbers: Kelly helping Scotty and his family. Loved the dinner scene!
Least Favorites:
To Florence With Love Part 1: The locale is fabulous, the guest star Katie irritating - no chemistry with Kelly at all! How does an amateur end up with some key tasks when they steal back the painting?
To Florence With Love Part 2: ditto.
Night Train to Madrid: I agree Don Rickles' character was abrasive - too bad he wasn't murdered - hee, hee - and the entire episode filmed in a "train" - if we can't have a more interesting plot, at least give us the beautiful locale we expect from I Spy!

Season 3: Greece! Mexico! San Francisco! Where Kelly and Scotty met and trained!
Favorites:
Home to Judgement: Great plot, acting, characters, music! Good Kelly background.
That creepy guy in the cowboy hat with the light - scary!
Philotimo: Thoughtful, interesting episode.
The Lotus Eater: Beautiful Santorini, Scotty's long hike up to Kelly, who appears to have "come in from the cold", Kelly's "bad trip", crawling on the "terrain map" rug - priceless!
Least Favorites:
Red Sash of Courage: I enjoyed Roger C. Carmel's characters in the other I Spy episodes. Here he just blusters in a so-so plot.
Pinwheel: The "Melanie" character is very irritating - no chemistry between Kelly and Melanie.

Looking forward to seeing some more lists submitted!

Sue