The Prisoner (original)...

[Warped9]

Well, when I got home this afternoon I found The Prisoner box set from Amazon waiting for me. So I guess I'll be getting into this first since the Kolchak: The Night Stalker set hasn't arrived yet.

This will be interesting because although I've heard of The Prisoner I've never seen anything of the series other than the opening intro.

Please stand by...

 

[Sindatur]

Well, when I got home this afternoon I found The Prisoner box set from Amazon waiting for me. So I guess I'll be getting into this first since the Kolchak: The Night Stalker set hasn't arrived yet.

This will be interesting because although I've heard of The Prisoner I've never seen anything of the series other than the opening intro.

Please stand by...

Oooh, looking forward to this. Don't be afraid to let your mind wander to the bizarre and seeing everything as allegory. You're not likely to get more Bizarre than the show.

At some point, although it's very different, and takes alot of liberties, you should also check out the recent MiniSeries from the 2000s.

 

[Kirkman1987]

I love the prisoner, and am always interested to hear new opinions on it.

 

[auntiehill]

I LOVE The Prisoner---the original. I don't think the new miniseries really captured the powerful allegory/message that the original had.

I will be interested to see if the OP can watch the final episode, "Fall Out" without screaming, "What the FUCK??!?!"

 

[Temis the Vorta]

I don't think the new miniseries really captured the powerful allegory/message that the original had.

They didn't intend to do that, since they inverted the allegory to its opposite. Certainly a more original approach than just doing a straight remake.

 

[Kirkman1987]

I LOVE The Prisoner---the original. I don't think the new miniseries really captured the powerful allegory/message that the original had.

I will be interested to see if the OP can watch the final episode, "Fall Out" without screaming, "What the FUCK??!?!"

I still haven't seen the remake. Without the 60's pop surrealism and Mcgoohan's manic performance, I'm just a lot less interested. I wouldn't mind seeing it someday though...
Fall Out is pretty shocking for me even when I watch it today. I had cheated and read some spoilers ahead of time, but seeing it unfold I was still pretty much in awe of the weirdness. Nothing else on TV really compares to that episode. The closest I can think of is the final episode of Twin Peaks, but even that doesn't really come close.

 

[auntiehill]

^No, it doesn't. I can't think of anything that can really capture that mood, that feeling---and that INSANITY.

I don't think the new miniseries really captured the powerful allegory/message that the original had.

They didn't intend to do that, since they inverted the allegory to its opposite. Certainly a more original approach than just doing a straight remake.

Yeah, but that's my point. The message of the original felt brave, courageous, telling people to not to be a number, but to fight, to be free and not be swayed by the crowd or the media. The "remake" said, "Ah, go ahead and give in. Be part of it. It's better for everyone that way."

That really isn't as inspiring.


That was how I felt about it, anyway. Your mileage may vary.

 

[Warped9]

First surprise: for some reason I always thought this show was in B&W, and yet---POW!---there it is in vibrant colour.

 

[Sindatur]

First surprise: for some reason I always thought this show was in B&W, and yet---POW!---there it is in vibrant colour.

Yes, very vibrant color. It wouldn't nearly be the same in B&W IMHO

 

[Holdfast]

First surprise: for some reason I always thought this show was in B&W, and yet---POW!---there it is in vibrant colour.

The word you're looking for is psychedelic colour. Trust me on this.

You'll enjoy The Prisoner I think. It's a great show, and despite the insanity, actually hangs together very well as a story on its own terms.

 

[Warped9]

"Arrival" ****

A secret agent resigns and awakes to find himself in a nameless village.

You know I'm not sure how to grade this. I'll have to think about it.

I wonder if we'll ever know why Number 6 resigned? Hmm...

The Village is so obviously an allegory, for what could be up to interpretation: government, society, employer, family, social circle... No question we all fit into a role often largely defined by someone else, someone rather nebulous whom we don't know and likely will never know. In government and society and even employment we can feel ourselves at the mercy of and even manipulated by faceless unknown individuals beyond the few familiar faces we catch glimpses of on television. We like to think we have free will, but in a broader sense is it really true. We can sometimes feel we'd like to opt out of the roles and expectations put upon us and yet we can be challenged to imagine what else we could be doing and we could support that choice. We can also often feel that we're only told certain things and to learn more beyond the norm indeed takes added effort.

People often ask us for information yet just as often we can have little to know understanding of who really wants that information and for what purpose.

Number 6 is quickly catching on to the feeling (that many of us can sometimes share) that everyone around us is really just playing a role and someone else is overseeing everything. We also like to think we are able to keep many things privately to ourselves, but as Number 6 discovers: is this really true? We could be surprised to discover just how much about each of us can be known to those who really want to know.

These are my initial impressions. I might watch this episode again to see if I pick up anything else. There were certainly a number of WTF moments in the episodes. The overriding feeling, though, is just what the hell is going on?

 

[auntiehill]

"Arrival" ****

The overriding feeling, though, is just what the hell is going on?

Get used to that feeling.

 

[Kelso]

Man, The Prisoner is (mostly) fantastic. I hope you enjoy it!

 

[Lonemagpie]

Fantastic show.

As for Fall Out... The thing you absolutely have to remember (no, I'm not going to give spoilers) is that it was shot on no budget, and was literally McGoohan's "fuck you" to the studio who had screwed him over...

 

[Warped9]

The white balloons are a huge WTF. Really, just how are these ridiculous looking things supposed to work? Are they remotely controlled? Are they programmed to operate somewhat automatically?

Of course as allegory they're something seemingly innocent looking until you try to do something you really want to do but some unknown has chosen to prohibit without explanation.


On another note my Kolchak set is scheduled to be delivered within the next week, but I'll make a point of waiting until I finish with The Prisoner. Unfortunately the two made-for-TV films preceding the series aren't expected until after the season set arrives. I might make an effort to wait until I can watch the movies before the series.

 

[Peacemaker]

Sits back with popcorn. Loved this show! I'll be interested in your interpretation of the last episode.

 

[Christopher]

I wonder if we'll ever know why Number 6 resigned? Hmm...

That would be telling.

The Village is so obviously an allegory, for what could be up to interpretation: government, society, employer, family, social circle...

"Open to interpretation" is pretty much the mission statement here.

The overriding feeling, though, is just what the hell is going on?

Then it's doing what it was supposed to do.

The white balloons are a huge WTF. Really, just how are these ridiculous looking things supposed to work? Are they remotely controlled? Are they programmed to operate somewhat automatically?

Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself.

The balloon is called Rover. And the scariest monsters are the ones we understand the least.

The original plan for Rover was to build some sort of robotic dune buggy or something, but they couldn't make it work on their budget, so they went with something more minimalist and far more effectively creepy and strange.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

Fantastic show.

As for Fall Out... The thing you absolutely have to remember (no, I'm not going to give spoilers) is that it was shot on no budget, and was literally McGoohan's "fuck you" to the studio who had screwed him over...

Thank you. I've never been quite sure if the show documented a character's descent into madness or a creative person's journey from trying to create an adult drama to giving the finger to a producer, a studio, or a network.

Or maybe it was my descent into madness watching "Fall Out."

 

[Captain Dago]

That would be telling.

Christopher Bennett, you rock!

 

[Kirkman1987]

Here is a picture of the original Rover design which promptly sank into the sea on the first day.