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

[threecee.livejournal.com]

Just to add a question about Illya's uniform. I realize they were using a fictional one, but the insignia or whatever the military term for the doohickey on the left side of his collar - is that an airplane? That could indicate that he'd been a Navy pilot. (The USSR had naval pilots although they didn't have aircraft carriers in the eary days because they considered them "capitalist".) That would explain his ability to fly the plane in Five Daughters. I know there is a fan tradition that he served on a sub, but is there evidence for that in the show?

[carabele.livejournal.com]

Illya mentions being in the Russian navy and stationed on a submarine in the movie-extended version of THE DOUBLE AFFAIR, e.g., THE SPY WITH MY FACE.

[st-crispins.livejournal.com]

Yes, he was on a sub at some point. Which makes many of us argue that he was probably GRU rather than KGB.

But the new movie folks seem to have gone with the obvious.

[threecee.livejournal.com]

Ah, okay. All I remembered was the part about blowing up an igloo. Thanks.
Maybe the insignia on his collar is crossed missles.