Round Table - Neptune Affair

[glennagirl.livejournal.com]

The Neptune  Affair is one of those pivotal episodes in which we firmly establish that Illya Kuryakin is, indeed, a Soviet agent whose affiliation with his country is still intact.  He hasn't defected and he is not at all adrift from his homeland.  In fact, he is seen in uniform as a member of the Soviet Navy, something that comes across as a true vocation for him when he goes toe to toe with Napoleon over the origins of the plague that is affecting crops in the Soviet Union.
So, with all of that in motion, should the series have delved more deeply into the Soviet nature of our blond?  I think there are maybe only two other instances where it is referenced that Illya is Russian; Napoleon's 'smart Russian' comment (The Never, Never Affair), and another one I can't exactly quote or place.  Maybe one of you remembers where to find it.
Did we need more Cold War interaction between our heroes?
Do you have a favorite story that does go into this element of the series?

Comments

[mrua7.livejournal.com]

This was one of the few episodes that Illya's Russian accent was obvious. Given the time period it was extraordinary to have a Soviet and and American paired as partners, but more and more it was downplayed in the show that Illya was Russian...even his accent disappeared.

It would have been nice if they'd delved more into his background.

And I agree, he's not a defector here, he's a Soviet officer on loan.

As Vysila said, his Russian-ness does come through in a few other episodes but only fleeting.

I don't even think he uttered a word of Russian in the show at all. Though Illya spoke one or two in Russian in the Reunion movie...at the end I believe when he asks the bartender for a glass.