A person told me once “But if Napoleon and Illya were a couple, the wisest decision would be to separate them, because otherwise they’re too vulnerable and they’d risk the whole mission to save each other.”

Well, first of all, did we watch the same show, because that’s exactly what’s going on most of the time. And when in Deep Six Brian Morton says he’s more vulnerable than Illya and Napoleon because of his bride, in the same episode Napoleon surrenders the moment the enemies threaten to kill Illya. Subtext is pretty plain.

Secondly, U.N.C.L.E. is different. We’re used to secret organisations that act in a Machiavellian way, “The ends justify the means” and stuff. But these rules don’t work with U.N.C.L.E. Because U.N.C.L.E.’s goals are not to achieve something for somebody’s profit (as it is for most of secret organisations that work for their countries or corporations), U.N.C.L.E. fights for world peace.

If an U.N.C.L.E. agent fails, they’re not to be punished, they did their best and did not succeed. Of course, they’ll need to try harder the next time or they might be transfered or fired, but nothing more. They are just like any other civil servants. U.N.C.L.E. operatives are expendable, but only in the way that their superiors acknowledge they might be killed or injured during their missions and might have to be replaced.

It’s not like with THRUSH. These guys work for material interests and they are treated like machines. If they don’t bring enough benefit, they’re disposed of.

U.N.C.L.E. agents are seen and treated as humans. It’s important for the whole organisation. To fight for peace you need to know you’re good and all the people around you are good as well. You fight for them and for yourself, not for someone who pays you or owns you.

So, yeah, everything’s based on trust and respect. That’s why it’s always shocking when an U.N.C.L.E. agent defects. And that’s why it happens so rarely. Also, you understand now why Illya would never suspect Harry Beldon.

U.N.C.L.E. agents are allowed to get married, to fall in love etc. Because they are in fact more important than their missions. That’s U.N.C.L.E.’s greatest strength and greatest weakness. They’re essentially good.

So, even though Illya and Napoleon constantly endanger their missions, they’re not to be separated, otherwise they’d lose their reason to fight. And what would U.N.C.L.E. stand for, anyway, if not for love and happiness.