Ep 11. The Golden Fleece

The Avengers Season 3 Episode 11 "The Golden Fleece" follows the adventures of John Steed (Patrick Macnee) and Emma Peel (Diana Rigg) as they attempt to track down a group of thieves who have stolen a golden fleece, an item of great historical value. The episode begins with Steed and Peel attending a fancy dress party hosted by a wealthy businessman, Sir George Collins (Ray McAnally).

At the party, Peel is dressed as a Greek goddess and Steed is dressed as a sailor. They both notice a group of men dressed as Greek soldiers, who seem to be up to no good. Later that night, Sir George's prized golden fleece is stolen, and the Greek soldiers are the prime suspects.

Steed and Peel are called in to investigate the theft and begin by interviewing Sir George's employees. They soon discover that the golden fleece was insured for a large sum of money and that Sir George has a history of making false insurance claims. Steed and Peel start to suspect that the theft was staged as part of an insurance scam.

After further investigation, Steed and Peel discover that the Greek soldiers were actually part of a group of actors hired by Sir George to stage the theft. The actors are led by a charismatic actor named Tyndall (John Ronane), who is convinced that the role-playing will be their big break in the entertainment industry.

To get to the bottom of the insurance scam, Steed and Peel decide to go undercover as members of Tyndall's acting troupe. They participate in a series of acting exercises with the group and soon uncover a hidden agenda. Tyndall and his cohorts are planning to use the stolen golden fleece to fund a revolution in a small South American country.

Steed and Peel manage to stop the group from carrying out their plan and recover the golden fleece. In the end, Sir George is arrested for his involvement in the insurance scam, and the actors are left to pursue their dreams of stardom.

The episode is notable for its witty dialogue, well-crafted plot, and the chemistry between Macnee and Rigg. The show was a groundbreaking mix of spy-fi, humor, and action, and "The Golden Fleece" is a prime example of the show's strengths. Fans of classic television will enjoy this episode, as well as the entire series.