The wedding between Maxwell Smart (Don Adams) and 99 (Barbara Feldon) must be getting closer, because this episode sees a plan involving a potential engagement ring. Written by Arne Sultan, Allan Burns, Chris Hayward, and Leonard Stern, Diamonds are A Spy’s Best Friend first aired on 19 October, 1968.

KAOS is up to it’s usual fiendish tricks, and are hoping to get their evil hands on a priceless diamond! And it’s just been sold to Smart as an engagement ring for 99! He’s cottoned to the KAOS plan, and thought this was the best way to keep the diamond safe. Or rather the jeweler (Dick Wilson) sells it to him to keep it safe, because as usual, Smart is initially oblivious.

And the ring seems to be stuck on his finger.

When 99 is finally able to get the ring off, she shows the Chief (Edward Platt) and he reveals the diamond’s true cost – and he isn’t sure whether he stole it, or switched sides to KAOS. Will they finally figure out what is going on?

Or will they just give the ring and diamond right back to the jewelers, or in this case KAOS agents, specifically, the League of Bald-Headed Men.

This one is light and silly, and features a very goofy way to smuggle diamonds…. out of a bowling alley, with wigs…

But maybe the couple will find a suitable ring before the wedding gets much closer.

The Worst Best Man first aired on 26 October, 1968. It was written by Hayward, Burns, Sultan and Stern.

Max is looking to lock down someone as his best man. Unfortunately, everyone he asks at CONTORL seems to come under attack from KAOS shortly after he’s selected. Hymie (Dick Gautier) may get the position by default.

There may be a double agent amongst the candidates for Smart’s best man. So he, Hymie and 99 need to figure a way to flush them out.

But KAOS has a plan of their own, short circuit the robotic Hymie, and plant a bomb inside him so it will blow at Max’s bachelor party, which the Chief and Hymie have organized.

It’s always fun when Hymie shows up, and there’s a lot of laughs tot be had in this episode as events seem to get out of Smart’s contol, right up until the last minute.

I’m starting to think that unless something horrible happens, we’re going to see a wedding soon. And in a related note, I love Feldon’s look this season.

A Tale of Two Tails was once again written by Hayward, Burns, Sultan and Stern, and first debuted on 2 November, 1968.

Max is spending some time at CONTROL’s spy school as a substitute teacher and as a fun assignment sends two agents to tail 99, whom he believes is just running errands for the day. In truth, she’s on an assignment on her own, and soon believes that thee students tailing her are KAOS agents.

Oh, and one of the student agents… Fred Willard! The other is played by Vic Greco. The pair have a great sequence where they demonstrate disarming one another.

When 99 contacts the Chief to let her know she’s being followed by what she believes are KAOS agents, he looks for two unknown and new CONTROL agents to keep an eye on her. He chooses Lundy (Willard) and Caruso (Greco).

Willard is hilarious, and it’s fun to see 99 put her spycraft into action.

Greco and Willard were a comedy team at the time. Part of this episode was designed to introduce their characters as a backdoor pilot for a possible spinoff which didn’t happen.

We also get to see the cone of silence in use for the first time in a while.

Finally, Smart says that he and 99 are due to get married next week. Maybe we will see it!