Die, Spy is the penultimate episode of season three of Get Smart. It was written by Phil Hahn and Jack Hanrahan from a story by Dee Caruso and Gerald Gardner. It is meant to riff on the classic spy series I, Spy. As such, Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) finds himself paired with a new partner. The hip Samuels (Stu Gilliam).

The episode even goes so far as to have Robert Culp, one of I, Spy’s stars make an uncredited scene-stealing appearance.

Max and Samuels go undercover on the Ping-Pong circuit, to deal with a third agency that is pitting KAOS and CONTROL against one another. The agencies will have to work together, Samuels and Smart make a solid team, and there is lots of enjoyable wordplay.

99 (Barbara Feldon) gets to go along on the mission, and lots of hilarity and gadgets ensue. This one is a very enjoyable episode.

And what happens when they learn who a defecting spy really is, and will it all be decided with one final game of ping-pong?

It’s funny, and very enjoyable, and makes the most of its situation, but the highlight of the episode, hands down, is Robert Culp. Loved it!

The Reluctant Redhead closed out season three on 6 April, 1968. It was written by Leonard Stern.

It seems KAOS is stirring the pot yet again as they work to get files out of CONTROL.

Caesar Romero is Kinsey Krispen, an informer for KAOS, he’s being blackmailed as they are holding his wife. Max has a plan involving a double, Mimsi (Julie Sommar), and works to train her as a spy and help to save thee day and Kinsey!

And there’s a pretty open innuendo made with the title of a children’s book.

Max is eager to interact with Mimsi, who is an author and a ringer for Kinsey’s wife, 99 is less than keen. The Chief (Edward Platt) is able to review Smart’s work with a training film that was made from the work. But will Max be able to keep her safe?

Additionally, for those who only really know Romero as the Joker, this is an essential episode. He’s not just the Clown Prince of Crime, he’s a skilled and entertaining performer.

There’s also a wonderful twist ending to the story. It’s fun, filled with some delightful moments, that pay off incredibly well by story’s end.

With a name like The Impossible Mission, I wonder what the season four opener is riffing on. First airing on 21 September, 1968, this episode was written by Arne Sultan, Allan Burns, Chris Hayward, and Leonard Stern.

The homage starts right away with a recorded message from the Chief, complete with faulty self-destruct.

Max and 99 find themselves trapped in a seemingly inescapable KAOS trap. When Smart admits that he would marry her if they weren’t about to die. 99 promptly finds a way out of the jam.

And I was absolutely delighted to see Jamie Farr make an appearance! And there’s a running gag featuring a plane taking off, landing and taking off again as top secret information is traded.

The episode has everything that is expected of the series, gags, silly spycraft, snappy dialogue. It also does a nice homage to the comedians of yesteryear with a Keystone Copes inspired bit with 99 and Smart in Charlie Chaplin costumes.

So will the pair get married? Will they forget about this next episode? I’ll be curious to see what happens through the course of season four and five. Sure, it’s episodic, but they can’t leave the idea of their marriage dangling… can they?