The script of The Tiger was originally titled Danny Doyle and was written by Robert Culp. This was before the idea of I Spy had been fully formed as duo of spies and it shows in the rewrite of The Tiger. The mission in this episode is almost solely undertaken by Kelly Robinson, Culp and Cosby are only together at the beginning and end. Alexander Scott is hardly featured at all.
The result of having the pair separated for the majority of the episode is a mostly serious story with none of the comedic banter the agents are known for. This episode is darker and more dramatic than most. The agents often find themselves in peril but we always know they'll find a way out of their predicament, that's less apparent in this episode, especially since it's explained as a 'suicide mission'. Kelly finds himself in several situations during the story where his end seems almost certain.
During the setup of the story we're told that both agents were injured during a previous mission that ended in disaster. Scott has fully recovered from his injuries, but Kelly has not yet is trying to convince others that he's back to his normal self. This earlier mission was never depicted in any earlier I Spy episodes which could make the viewer think they have missed what sounds like very exciting episode. This is likely because the script was written before all the others but wasn't aired until the middle of season one.
What is familiar about The Tiger is the love story between Kelly and a beautiful woman. This time it's a rekindled and reunited love and their dialog offers some clues to the audience about how they drifted apart.
This episode lacks the exotic on-location sites most episodes are known for, but it's not shot on a typical Desilu stage either. Most of the episode is set in the jungle, but it's a very believable jungle especially for 1960's standards. There's much more gunplay and action than usual episodes but some of it is done poorly. However, every minute of Kelly's mission serves a purpose to the story, there is no filler or unnecessary scenes.
Although not a typical I Spy episode it is thoroughly enjoyable, it offered more suspense and danger than I was expecting.
The result of having the pair separated for the majority of the episode is a mostly serious story with none of the comedic banter the agents are known for. This episode is darker and more dramatic than most. The agents often find themselves in peril but we always know they'll find a way out of their predicament, that's less apparent in this episode, especially since it's explained as a 'suicide mission'. Kelly finds himself in several situations during the story where his end seems almost certain.
During the setup of the story we're told that both agents were injured during a previous mission that ended in disaster. Scott has fully recovered from his injuries, but Kelly has not yet is trying to convince others that he's back to his normal self. This earlier mission was never depicted in any earlier I Spy episodes which could make the viewer think they have missed what sounds like very exciting episode. This is likely because the script was written before all the others but wasn't aired until the middle of season one.
What is familiar about The Tiger is the love story between Kelly and a beautiful woman. This time it's a rekindled and reunited love and their dialog offers some clues to the audience about how they drifted apart.
This episode lacks the exotic on-location sites most episodes are known for, but it's not shot on a typical Desilu stage either. Most of the episode is set in the jungle, but it's a very believable jungle especially for 1960's standards. There's much more gunplay and action than usual episodes but some of it is done poorly. However, every minute of Kelly's mission serves a purpose to the story, there is no filler or unnecessary scenes.
Although not a typical I Spy episode it is thoroughly enjoyable, it offered more suspense and danger than I was expecting.
