The 5 Best Episodes of ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E’

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., David McCallum, Robert Vaughn, Leo G. Carroll, 1964 -1968.
Everett Collection

The Man From U.N.C.L.E. was a television show in the 1960s, starring Robert Vaughn and David McCallum, and premiered on Sept. 22, 1964. The show followed secret agents Napoleon Solo (Vaughn) and Illya Kuryakin (McCallum), who work for U.N.C.L.E (United Network Command for Law and Enforcement) against their foe Thrush, who represented “the bad guy” in many episodes. It was extremely popular due to the craze Americans had around spy fiction at the time and featured a lot of high-profile guest stars including Joan Collins, Boris Karloff and Joan Crawford.

In 1966, the series even won the Golden Globe for Best TV Show. Now, let’s go over some of the very best episodes of the series, which contained 105 episodes. The first season was in black and white, while the remaining seasons appeared in color and aired on NBC. Let us know your favorites in the comments!

“The Candidate’s Wife Affair”

Season 3, Episode 8

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., David McCallum, Robert Vaughn, 1964-1968, 1966 episode

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Airing on Nov. 3, 1966, this particular episode saw Solo and Illya protect the wife of a presidential candidate, Miranda Bryant (Diana Hyland), from a kidnapping plot. The twist is that she has already been kidnapped and replaced by a double. Turns out that Sen. Bryant’s aide Fairbanks is behind the whole scene all along. It was one of the best because of all of the twists!

“The Foxes and Hounds Affair”

Season 2, Episode 4

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., Vincent Price, Patricia Medina, Robert Vaughn, 'The Foxes And Hounds Affair', (Season 2, Episode 4, aired October 8, 1965), 1964-68

Everett Collection

After a magician creates a mind-reading device, it is a race between U.N.C.L.E. and Thrush agents to get the device after Thrush murders the magician. Horror icon Vincent Price guest-starred in this classic episode, which first aired on Oct. 7, 1965.

“The Project Strigas Affair”

Season 1, Episode 9

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., Peggy Ann Garner, William Shatner, 'The Project Strigas Affair', (Season 1, Episode 9, aired November 24, 1964), 1964-68

Everett Collection

Star Trek stars William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy guest-starred in this episode that premiered on Nov. 23, 1964. In the episode, Solo and Illya devise a plan to discredit a Balkan intelligence chief with the help of Shatner, who plays a bankrupt exterminator.

“The Galatea Affair”

Season 3, Episode 3

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., 1964-68, David McCallum, Robert Vaughn, released theatrically in 1968 as THE HELICOPTER SPIES, TM

20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection

This episode, which first premiered on Sept. 29, 1966, is actually a spoof of My Fair Lady. It follows Illya as he teams with Mark Slate to uncover Baroness Bibi de Chasseur, a Thrush money courier. A double named Rosy Shlagenheimer impersonates her to make a switch, but Baroness makes another switch. Joan Collins, McCallum’s former girlfriend, plays both roles.

“The Deadly Games Affair”

Season 1, Episode 5

THE MAN FROM U.N.C.L.E., Leo G. Carroll, Robert Vaughn, David McCallum, 1964-68

Everett Collection

U.N.C.L.E. agents and Thrush race once again to find a Nazi scientist who worked for Adolf Hitler in this 1964 episode. Turns out the scientist, named Professor Amadeus, has Hitler in suspended animation and needs someone who has the same blood type as Hitler to return him to life. When he discovers that Solo has the same blood type, it is a race to save humanity and Solo.

You can watch The Man From U.N.C.L.E. on Prime Video, Apple TV or Vudu.