The Avengers (1961)

A quirky spy show of the adventures of eccentrically suave British Agent John Steed and his predominantly female partners. Jonathan Steed - an urbane, proper gentleman spy - teams with various assistants throughout the series' run, including Dr. David Keel, Cathy Gale, Emma Peel and Tara King, to repeatedly save the world from diabolical schemes plotted by equally diabolical evil-doers (among them robots and man-eating monsters).

Genres: Action & Adventure, Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

What to watch after The Avengers

• Doctor Who (1963) — Sydney Newman created both
• Get Smart (1965) — Same subject: spy, secret mission
• Inspector Morse (1987) — Peter Hammond directed both
• The Persuaders! (1971) — James Hill and Roy Ward Baker directed both
• MI-5 (2002) — Same subject: spy, mi5
• Red Dwarf (1988) — Same feel: fun, whimsical