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Secret Army

 Secret Army
type
TVTItem
 Secret Army
label
Secret Army
 Secret Army
page
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comment
Secret Army is a 1970s drama centred around a World War II Belgian resistance group called Lifeline, operating in and around Brussels, loosely based on the real-life "Comet line". It was produced by the same team that made Colditz and features a few actors in common with that series.Parodied by the sitcom 'Allo 'Allo! so successfully that the sitcom is more well-known than the original. Despite the serious tone and the fact it's played completely straight, if you've seen Allo Allo you'll probably find it impossible to take seriously. There was also Fairly Secret Army, a pseudo-spinoff of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, which inverted and played with various aspects of the concept.
 Secret Army
fetched
2023-05-10T02:14:28Z
 Secret Army
parsed
2023-05-10T02:14:28Z
 Secret Army
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Secret Army / int_11b90e87
type
SnarkKnight
 Secret Army / int_11b90e87
comment
Snark Knight: Reinhardt is this towards Kessler, making him one of the most interesting characters in the series.
 Secret Army / int_11b90e87
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1.0
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1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_11b90e87
 Secret Army / int_17674f28
type
Villainous Cheekbones
 Secret Army / int_17674f28
comment
Villainous Cheekbones: Everyone in this show has great cheekbones, villain or not. In particular, Yvette, Curtis, Natalie, and Brandt.
 Secret Army / int_17674f28
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_17674f28
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_17674f28
 Secret Army / int_18dd6739
type
Dressing as the Enemy
 Secret Army / int_18dd6739
comment
Dressing as the Enemy: Happens once in an attempt to destroy a V2 Rocket site. Also happens throughout the series as German officers pose as British airmen in attempts to expose lifeline.
 Secret Army / int_18dd6739
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_18dd6739
featureConfidence
1.0
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Secret Army / int_18dd6739
 Secret Army / int_1b70ccc6
type
The Cynic
 Secret Army / int_1b70ccc6
comment
The Cynic: Reinhardt is probably the most cynical character in the whole series. A trait that makes him the only character in the whole series whose openly defiant towards Kessler. Brandt becomes this as time goes on and the war and the loss of his family takes its toll on him.
 Secret Army / int_1b70ccc6
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_1b70ccc6
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1.0
 Secret Army
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Secret Army / int_1b70ccc6
 Secret Army / int_1e679bd0
type
The Quisling
 Secret Army / int_1e679bd0
comment
The Quisling: The Lifeline crew pretend to be quislings as a cover for their resistance activities.
 Secret Army / int_1e679bd0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_1e679bd0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
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Secret Army / int_1e679bd0
 Secret Army / int_21f7ff0f
type
Knight in Sour Armor
 Secret Army / int_21f7ff0f
comment
Knight in Sour Armor: Natalie.
 Secret Army / int_21f7ff0f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_21f7ff0f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
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Secret Army / int_21f7ff0f
 Secret Army / int_255cc9bd
type
Nephewism
 Secret Army / int_255cc9bd
comment
Nephewism: Sometime prior to the first episode of the show, Yvette's parents (and fiancé) died and Yvette moved in with her aunt and uncle.
 Secret Army / int_255cc9bd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_255cc9bd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_255cc9bd
 Secret Army / int_310f67d2
type
Unrequited Love Switcheroo
 Secret Army / int_310f67d2
comment
Unrequited Love Switcheroo: Monique starts off as Albert's mistress hoping he will abandon his wife and leave with her. However the war ends with Albert free to marry Monique, who had grown tired of waiting and leaves with Captain Durnford.
 Secret Army / int_310f67d2
featureApplicability
1.0
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1.0
 Secret Army
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Secret Army / int_310f67d2
 Secret Army / int_34dd5f3
type
La Résistance
 Secret Army / int_34dd5f3
comment
La Résistance: The Belgian resistance is shown accurately to be not one group, but a variety of them, with different motivations and methods.
 Secret Army / int_34dd5f3
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_34dd5f3
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1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_34dd5f3
 Secret Army / int_37a6a66a
type
Instrumental Theme Tune
 Secret Army / int_37a6a66a
comment
Instrumental Theme Tune
 Secret Army / int_37a6a66a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_37a6a66a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_37a6a66a
 Secret Army / int_37cb353b
type
Ate His Gun
 Secret Army / int_37cb353b
comment
Ate His Gun: Brandt does this upon learning that he has been implicated in a failed plot to assassinate Hitler and will almost certainly be shot, after being arrested and tortured like his friends. Coupled with the recent death of his wife and son and the discovery of what his comrades are doing to the Jews in Poland, it’s not surprising that he chooses this way out.
 Secret Army / int_37cb353b
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_37cb353b
 Secret Army / int_3ed23024
type
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome
 Secret Army / int_3ed23024
comment
Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: For all his fanaticism, Standartenführer Kessler knows that putting a last stand in the face of the Allied advance would be futile. He and Reinhardt decide to simply plan an orderly evacuation before the British reach Brussels.
 Secret Army / int_3ed23024
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_3ed23024
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_3ed23024
 Secret Army / int_4023b8c8
type
First-Name Basis
 Secret Army / int_4023b8c8
comment
First-Name Basis: When John Curtis is first introduced, Yvette refers to him as 'Mr. Curtis', later moving onto 'Curtis', and finally just 'John'. Later, Bradley asks to be addressed by his first name, Nick.
 Secret Army / int_4023b8c8
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_4023b8c8
 Secret Army / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 Secret Army / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: Lifeline successfully remained hidden throughout the occupation of Belgium. But Monique has fallen out of love with Albert and moves to Britain, Natalie has lost both her parents and her two love interests, and the honourable Reinhardt is executed by a revenge seeking Kessler on trumped up charges. Kessler then escapes with his mistress.
 Secret Army / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_40cc0c7e
 Secret Army / int_47463de7
type
Nazi Hunter
 Secret Army / int_47463de7
comment
Nazi Hunter: Kessler was a sequel set in the (then) present day in which journalists, a German police officer and a Jewish girl hunt down Kessler.
 Secret Army / int_47463de7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_47463de7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_47463de7
 Secret Army / int_4856ac40
type
Stock Footage
 Secret Army / int_4856ac40
comment
Stock Footage: The same footage of a Mosquito fighter plane is reused over the course of the final series.
 Secret Army / int_4856ac40
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_4856ac40
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_4856ac40
 Secret Army / int_489f14dd
type
Glamorous Wartime Singer
 Secret Army / int_489f14dd
comment
Glamorous Wartime Singer: Monique becomes this from series two onwards as the Candide moves from a cafe to a new upmarket venue. Aided by the fact that actress Angela Richards wrote and sang many of the songs.
 Secret Army / int_489f14dd
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_489f14dd
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_489f14dd
 Secret Army / int_4c455537
type
Plot-Driven Breakdown
 Secret Army / int_4c455537
comment
Plot-Driven Breakdown: In the Days of Judgement. Kessler's car runs out of petrol and he becomes separated from his command. As the series is set in Belgium. Kessler can't really disappear into Germany until the end of the war. So it is a contrived situation to keep him there.
 Secret Army / int_4c455537
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_4c455537
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_4c455537
 Secret Army / int_50ca4422
type
Unresolved Sexual Tension
 Secret Army / int_50ca4422
comment
Unresolved Sexual Tension: Yvette/Curtis in the first series, and Natalie/Bradley in the third.
 Secret Army / int_50ca4422
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_50ca4422
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_50ca4422
 Secret Army / int_567e7c4d
type
Wounded Gazelle Gambit
 Secret Army / int_567e7c4d
comment
Wounded Gazelle Gambit: A tactic played by undercover Germans pretending to be Allied Aircrew. Kessler takes this to the extreme and breaks the arm of one such agent so his cover will look more convincing.
 Secret Army / int_567e7c4d
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_567e7c4d
 Secret Army / int_588d766f
type
BlackAndGreyMorality
 Secret Army / int_588d766f
comment
Black-and-Grey Morality: Many of the Germans in this series are variously Punch Clock Villains or those who believe My Country, Right or Wrong. Even the nastiest character, Kessler the Gestapo chief has depth to his character. He is flawlessly sweet to his girlfriend, unlike Resistance leader Albert, who is quite ghastly to his. The various resistance groups argue among themselves and contain some rather nasty individuals. The Communists in particular are shown as backstabbers and Lifeline send British pilots home so they can continue bombing German cities. Lifeline also think nothing of killing a single mother in a hit and run before she could alert the German authorities to a hidden airman in series one.
 Secret Army / int_588d766f
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_588d766f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_588d766f
 Secret Army / int_5e8332c
type
Underground Railroad
 Secret Army / int_5e8332c
comment
Underground Railroad: Helping Allied airmen escape capture and return to friendly territory.
 Secret Army / int_5e8332c
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_5e8332c
 Secret Army / int_659235a4
type
Train Escape
 Secret Army / int_659235a4
comment
Train Escape: Of a sort. In an episode in series two, a British airman steals a locomotive from a railway yard to escape German search parties.
 Secret Army / int_659235a4
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_659235a4
 Secret Army / int_664bc28f
type
British Brevity
 Secret Army / int_664bc28f
comment
British Brevity: Something of an aversion. While the show only ran for three seasons, those seasons were sixteen, thirteen, and fourteen (counting the unaired "What Did You Do in the War, Daddy") episodes, respectively.
 Secret Army / int_664bc28f
featureApplicability
-1.0
 Secret Army / int_664bc28f
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_664bc28f
 Secret Army / int_697b5232
type
Those Wacky Nazis
 Secret Army / int_697b5232
comment
Those Wacky Nazis: Subverted considering that most of the Nazi characters are well-rounded, even Kessler.
 Secret Army / int_697b5232
featureApplicability
-0.3
 Secret Army / int_697b5232
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_697b5232
 Secret Army / int_6d332aea
type
Driven to Suicide
 Secret Army / int_6d332aea
comment
Driven to Suicide: Brandt after implication in an attempt to kill Hitler.
 Secret Army / int_6d332aea
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_6d332aea
 Secret Army / int_6ef9d3fe
type
Christmas Episode
 Secret Army / int_6ef9d3fe
comment
Christmas Episode: The Episode "Guests at God's Table" in series two. It is also the episode in which Monique recognises and acknowledges the dissonant morality of their activities.
 Secret Army / int_6ef9d3fe
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_6ef9d3fe
 Secret Army / int_754df088
type
Put on a Bus
 Secret Army / int_754df088
comment
Put on a Bus: In the finale of season one, to escape to Switzerland, Curtis poses as the driver of a bus full of Hitler Youth on a day trip. He never returns, despite mentioning that he probably will, and is only ever mentioned again a few times.
 Secret Army / int_754df088
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_754df088
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_754df088
 Secret Army / int_78848a7b
type
Harmless Lady Disguise
 Secret Army / int_78848a7b
comment
Harmless Lady Disguise: An airman is disguised like this so makeup can be used to cover up his heavily scarred face.
 Secret Army / int_78848a7b
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_78848a7b
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_78848a7b
 Secret Army / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 Secret Army / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: During the evacuation of Brussels, Kessler's military assistant Wullner is seen leaving with him. In the next episode he has disappeared.
 Secret Army / int_863fa679
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_863fa679
featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_863fa679
 Secret Army / int_89102272
type
Artistic Title
 Secret Army / int_89102272
comment
Artistic Title
 Secret Army / int_89102272
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_89102272
 Secret Army / int_8bb316cf
type
Video Inside, Film Outside
 Secret Army / int_8bb316cf
comment
Video Inside, Film Outside
 Secret Army / int_8bb316cf
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_8bb316cf
 Secret Army / int_97d97c28
type
Revenge Before Reason
 Secret Army / int_97d97c28
comment
Revenge Before Reason: Reinhardt has no real reason to keep his investigation into lifeline going. Not with the allies knocking at the door. But he carries out the search regardless.
 Secret Army / int_97d97c28
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_97d97c28
 Secret Army / int_9b1e50bd
type
During the War
 Secret Army / int_9b1e50bd
comment
During the War
 Secret Army / int_9b1e50bd
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_9b1e50bd
 Secret Army / int_9b66f7f5
type
Suspiciously Small Army
 Secret Army / int_9b66f7f5
comment
Suspiciously Small Army: The Occupation forces of Belgium never really amount to more than about fifteen members of a bizarre SS/Wehrmacht unit. Major Brandt is supposed to be in charge of a Luftwaffe police unit, yet never seems to have any Luftwaffe personnel.
 Secret Army / int_9b66f7f5
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_9b66f7f5
 Secret Army / int_9c47b23b
type
Dirty Communists
 Secret Army / int_9c47b23b
comment
Dirty Communists: The Communist resistance are shown in an extremely negative light. Particularly when they tip off the Gestapo so that they shoot Francois when he discovers Max Brocard is working closely with them.
 Secret Army / int_9c47b23b
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_9c47b23b
 Secret Army / int_a7defafd
type
Code Name
 Secret Army / int_a7defafd
comment
Code Name: Lisa's - and, later, Albert's - is Yvette.
 Secret Army / int_a7defafd
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_a7defafd
 Secret Army / int_a969c74a
type
Final Solution
 Secret Army / int_a969c74a
comment
Final Solution: An early episode of the first series touches on The Holocaust where Curtis attempts to help a Jewish family escape from Brussels. Brandt also talks about it with Kessler; he is horrified by it. But Kessler tells him to shut up.
 Secret Army / int_a969c74a
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_a969c74a
 Secret Army / int_ae3d6438
type
Deadpan Snarker
 Secret Army / int_ae3d6438
comment
Deadpan Snarker: Bradley.
 Secret Army / int_ae3d6438
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_ae3d6438
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_ae3d6438
 Secret Army / int_ba7acbed
type
DramaticDownstageTurn
 Secret Army / int_ba7acbed
comment
Dramatic Downstage Turn: Quite a few of these.
 Secret Army / int_ba7acbed
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_ba7acbed
 Secret Army / int_ca895242
type
Officer and a Gentleman
 Secret Army / int_ca895242
comment
Officer and a Gentleman: Captain Durnford is this in the third and final series as well as being a Reasonable Authority Figure considering that he prevents Monique from having her head shaved by a lynch mob. Kessler is also this but only towards his girlfriend. Luftwaffe officers; Reinhardt and Brandt.
 Secret Army / int_ca895242
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_ca895242
 Secret Army / int_d001c42c
type
Anti-Villain
 Secret Army / int_d001c42c
comment
Anti-Villain: Brandt definitely qualifies as a Luftwaffe officer who prefers subtler methods over brutality. Reinhardt is also this but is also the Cynic.
 Secret Army / int_d001c42c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_d001c42c
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_d001c42c
 Secret Army / int_dca70c44
type
Reasonable Authority Figure
 Secret Army / int_dca70c44
comment
Captain Durnford is this in the third and final series as well as being a Reasonable Authority Figure considering that he prevents Monique from having her head shaved by a lynch mob. Kessler is also this but only towards his girlfriend.
 Secret Army / int_dca70c44
featureApplicability
1.0
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featureConfidence
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 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_dca70c44
 Secret Army / int_e28f88b8
type
Last-Name Basis
 Secret Army / int_e28f88b8
comment
Last-Name Basis: Kessler, Brandt, Reinhardt, Curtis, Bradley.
 Secret Army / int_e28f88b8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_e28f88b8
featureConfidence
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 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_e28f88b8
 Secret Army / int_f1d6144a
type
War Is Hell
 Secret Army / int_f1d6144a
comment
War Is Hell: Many reminders of this throughout the series, The protagonists often fail.
 Secret Army / int_f1d6144a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_f1d6144a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Secret Army / int_f1d6144a
 Secret Army / int_ff7f34c5
type
Pet the Dog
 Secret Army / int_ff7f34c5
comment
Pet the Dog: Kessler has his moments with Madeleine.
 Secret Army / int_ff7f34c5
featureApplicability
1.0
 Secret Army / int_ff7f34c5
featureConfidence
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hasFeature
Secret Army / int_ff7f34c5
 Secret Army / int_ffad4e9f
type
Shown Their Work
 Secret Army / int_ffad4e9f
comment
Shown Their Work: Many of the more fantastic escape plots were based on real attempts used by Allied airmen.
 Secret Army / int_ffad4e9f
featureApplicability
1.0
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Secret Army / int_ffad4e9f
 Secret Army / int_name
type
ItemName
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comment
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featureApplicability
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featureConfidence
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 Secret Army / int_name
itemName
Secret Army

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Secret Army
hasFeature
Argentina Is Nazi-Land / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Borrowed Biometric Bypass / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Cartwright Curse / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Fake-Out Make-Out / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Generic Graffiti / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Instrumental Theme Tune / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Les Collaborateurs / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Lost in Medias Res / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Nom de Guerre / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Quarantine with Extreme Prejudice / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
That Was the Last Entry / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
The Black Death / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Two First Names / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Underground Railroad / int_ce5758d4
 Secret Army
hasFeature
Video Inside, Film Outside / int_ce5758d4