Ep 8. Death of a Great Dane

John Steed and Emma Peel are back in action for Season 2, episode 8 of The Avengers titled "Death of a Great Dane". The episode begins with a wealthy businessman, Mr. Rigg, who is also a dog lover, having his Great Dane poisoned. This prompts Mr. Rigg to seek the help of Steed and Peel to find the culprit.

As Steed and Peel begin their investigation, they find themselves facing a group of ruthless criminals who are using the business of dog shows as a cover for their illegal activities. The duo attends a dog show where they see Mr. Rigg’s prized Great Dane being shown by a young girl, Linda.

Suspecting foul play, Steed and Peel start to grill some of the other dog show contestants. They soon discover that there is more to the dog show than meets the eye. The dog show judges appear to be hidden behind the scenes and are not to be seen at any stage of the show.

Steed, with his quick-witted charm, uses his skills to infiltrate the dog show and find out who is really behind the scenes. Peel, on the other hand, investigates the judges and finds that they are all fake, with no qualifications in dog shows. This raises her suspicions that they may well be the masterminds behind the dog show’s cover.

As the investigation gets deeper, Steed and Peel start to get closer to the truth. They discover that the fake judges are part of a larger organization that is involved in a series of criminal activities; they are using the dog show as a front to smuggle valuable and illegal goods into the country.

To uncover the full extent of their criminal enterprise, Steed and Peel have to work fast and strategically as the criminals will stop at nothing to teach them a lesson and stop their investigation.

In their efforts to discover the truth, Steed and Peel enlist the help of Linda’s father, a veterinary doctor, and they move forward with their plan to get to the root of the problem. Steed uses his superb acting skills to pose as one of the shady judges, while Peel takes up the role of a spy, attempting to infiltrate the criminal organization.

As they get closer to the truth, the criminals become more ruthless in their approach, making Steed and Peel doubt if they can survive their mission. However, they manage to outsmart the criminals in time, and a thrilling finale ensues, with a show-down between the villains and heroes.

"Death of a Great Dane" is a classic episode of The Avengers, showcasing the series' trademark humor, thrilling action, and intricate mysteries. It is a must-watch for fans of the series who enjoy witty, well-crafted mysteries with engaging characters. This episode is a perfect example of how The Avengers relies on the charisma of its main characters, great dialogue, and intriguing storylines to keep viewers hooked from beginning to end.