Danger 5 is the most surreal television series I’ve spotlighted since Monty Python’s Flying Circus. It is set in a very unserious alternative universe during the second world war and it follows the adventures of five international spies trying to tumble the third reich. In the first episode after the pilot, the nazis are stealing national monuments from all over the world. 1 Naturally, the famous five spring into action.
But before that, when they still winter into action, we can see one member of the team, an American who faces life cheerfully despite being called Tucker.2 This felicity in a disastrous, potentially world-ending war would be nigh unaccountable, were it not for the fact that he’s playing chess. True, his opponent is one of those Japanese cat statuettes with the raised paw, but still.
They’re using a weird board that blends seamlessly into the surrounding table, which makes it a little unclear which pieces are on the board and which ones aren’t. However, we get a clear shot of everything but the a- and b-files.3
Tucker has white. He has just made a move and confidently reminds his opponent that it is now his turn. There immediately follows Qg1 checkmate.
Apparently, that earns the statue a good polishing. The agreement was clearly that they’d polish each other off.
Realism: 1/5 This position fits beautifully in the surreal theme of the show. Considered on its own, however, it is devoid of merit.
Probable winner: Black. Cats, real or sculpted, rule the world.
1. [Like the US women’s championship.] ↩
2. [And he doesn’t even tuck anything!] ↩
3. [A shot of whisky. Of vodka. Of a cannon. Anything.] ↩