Iconic TV Duos

As stated in my previous blog, I've been greatly enjoying the return of The X Files.  The new scripts have kept the same interesting mix of suspense, sarcasm, horror and humor.  And its leads are as charismatic together as ever.  Their banter and individual reactions to a fantastic crisis are still spot on.  Gillian Anderson's Dana Scully seeks the rational explanation that science can support while David Duchovny's Fox Mulder wants truth no matter the cost.  In honor of the return of this alluring duo, I thought I might list some of my favorite personal favorites from television's iconic duos.

John Steed & Emma Peel of THE AVENGERS - Perhaps I am out of date, but when The Avengers are mentioned, I think of elegant British secret agents instead of Marvel super heroes.  Patrick Macnee played suave super spy John Steed throughout the long run of The Avengers TV show.  Its episodes evolved from black and white to color while its tone shifted from dramatic espionage capers to more bizarre exploits required in saving the world from madmen.  While John Steed remained on duty throughout the run, his line up of partners changed, originally starting with a male doctor before adding female heroes to the mix.  Airing in the 60's, the show was groundbreaking in allowing its women to stand toe to toe with Steed in the action scenes.  Each new comrade in action brought a special vibe to the series.  The most popular pairing was John Steed with Emma Peel (Diana Rigg), talented amateur adventurer with a penchant for high kicks.  The show can easily be seen as a forerunner of The X Files with its male and female leads as well as fantastic menaces. 

U.N.C.L.E.'s  Robert Vaughn & I.

Napoleon Solo & Illya Kuryakin of THE MAN FROM U.N.CL.E. - While John Steed & Emma Peel were busy in the service of safe guarding Her Majesty's realm, a number of similarly unique spy pairs were in action in the states.  Napoleon Solo and Illya Kuryakin worked for U.N.C.L.E. to safeguard the world from madmen of various specialties, often employed by the criminal organization called T.H.R.U.S.H..  Like The Avengers, The Man From U.N.C.L.E. began its run in black and white before switching to color.  Its adventures also grew more outlandish.  Interestingly, Robert Vaughn's confident character of Solo really wasn't into a partnership at the start of the series, but the appeal with viewers of the quiet and intense Illya Kuryakin (David McCallum) meant a slight change to the format's focus.  The two agents sparkled together in scenes of action or interplay, but quite often they did find themselves functioning separately on the same case.

Batman & Robin of BATMAN - It would be impossible not to mention the 'official' dynamic duo in such a list!  Batman and Robin were conceived by Bob Kane and had a multitude of adventures for decades in the pages of comic books before taking the leap to the television screen in the 60's without leaving much of its colorful trappings behind.  The television version in fact was a lighter version of Gotham City's grim detective.  The show heartily indulged in humor as Batman and Robin donned masked costumes to fight bizarre criminals.  Not much psychology went into the relationship of a millionaire seeking vengeance for his murdered family alongside his youthful ward, but Adam West and Burt Ward brought a straight laced heroism to their characters in or out of costume.

James T. Kirk & Spock of STAR TREK - Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock of The Enterprise were efficient explorers of space, the final frontier.  Kirk (William Shatner) was human and prone to lead with instinct.  Spock (Leonard Nimoy) was a pointy eared Vulcan, an emotionless adherent to logic.  Interestingly, this mix can sort of be seen in the clash between Scully's scientific rational and Mulder's urge to uncover the unknowable.  And so we come full circle with TV's iconic duos.