I missed the network run of British shows from the 60s; but, our local station used to have The Saint, in syndication (I think it was before Moore took over as Bond) and our PBS station ran the Avengers, by the time I was in high school (and CBS was running The New Avengers, on their pre-Late Show late night line-up). I was in the Navy, when I first saw the series; but, just before I stumbled across it, Starlog had run a nostalgia piece about it (probably because of the MCI videos) and there was some stuff that looked familiar, like maybe it had been on our local station when I was very young and didn't know what it was. Right after I looked through the magazine, I discovered it was on the local PBS station, and watched it, though the episode was "Fall Out," and it was the end of the station broadcasting it. That's when I found the videos I mentioned elsewhere. Camelot Music had "Arrival," the alternate "Chimes of Big Ben," and "Fall Out" in stock and I bought them, but none of the rest and seemed to have been selling them off. I also got a couple of Avengers episode from some cheap line of VHS they had. I only found about a half dozen videos for that, before A&E started releasing season sets.

I've actually been watching Danger Man recently, after finishing watching the Prisoner. I had copies but had only watched a couple and never got back to it. I'm watching the first series, from 1960, so you see a lot of notable actors early on, plus a ton who ended up doing the Prisoner. So far, I have seen Donald Pleasance (2 episodes), Lois Maxwell (Moneypenny), Zena Marshall (Miss Taro, in Dr No), Honor Blackman (who wasn't Cathy Gale, yet), Sam Wanamaker, Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who #2), Derren Nesbitt, Edward Hardwicke (future Watson to Jeremy Brett's Holmes), John Le Mesurier (Dad's Army, a ton of tv & film), Charles Gray (Hernderson in YOLT and Blofeld in DAF), Anthony Dawson (Prof Dent in Dr No, provided body for unseen Blofeld in early Bonds), William Sylvester (Heywood Floyd in Kubrick's 2001), Paul Stassino (Maj Derval, in Thunderball) and Nigel Green (IPCRES File, Face of Fu Manchu, Jason & the Argonauts). It's a bit studio-bound; but, imaginative. A lot of the production names turn up in The Prisoner (David Tomblin, some of the directors) and The Avengers (Brian Clemens, who wrote & produced the Emma Peel years). Amazingly, this is all a couple of years before the Bond films. Bit different than the American spy series, though Mission Impossible's early years shares some elements.

Once Upon A Time

Writer: Patrick McGoohan
Director: Patrick McGoohan

(episode preview)


(episode)


Episode Quotes: Number Two: Why did you resign?

The Prisoner: For peace.

Number Two: For peace?

The Prisoner: Now let me out.

Number Two: You resigned for peace?

The Prisoner: Yes. Let me out.

Number Two: You're a fool.

The Prisoner: For peace of mind.

Number Two: What?

The Prisoner: For peace of mind!

Number Two: Why?

The Prisoner: Because too many people know too much.

Number Two: Never!

The Prisoner: I know too much!

Number Two: Tell me.

The Prisoner: I know too much about you


Number Two: I'll kill you.

The Prisoner: I'll die.

Number Two: You're dead.


Synopsis: In No. 2's office, we see the Butler bring in a cart and set up breakfast on a table. Rover is seated in the Ball Chair. the Butler rings a bell and the No. 2 of "Chimes of Big Ben" appears, rising on a platform from under the floor. He tastes the food and tells the Butler to remove it, except the coffee. He angrily picks up a phone and tells the person on the other end to remove Rover, calling it "that thing." He is agitated and angry and argues with the voice on the other end, saying he is not a prisoner (in reference to Rover) and that he had told them they were using the wrong approach with No. 6. He says they must do things his way. he observes No. 6 eating breakfast in his quarters, then get up and pace the room (same footage seen in "Do not Forsake Me Oh My Darling," though this episode was filmed earlier and provided the clip for it). he repeatedly asks the screen, "Why do you care?" He calls up 6's quarters and asks him directly. 6 responds that he knows 2's voice and he replies that he has been here before. he repeats his question and 6 says he will never know. He storms out of his quarters. he has a bizarre encounter with a passerby, who is afraid of him and being seen with him. ^ badgers him for his number and counts upward. 2 observes and looks through a progress report, as images of previous encounters with 2's and 6, as well as other incidents are seen on screen. He picks up a phone and demands "Degree Absolute." He acknowledges the risk but says it is the only way, that theuy have to risk either one of them and promises that as good as he has been for the Village, 6 will be better. He is told he has one week and says it is not enough time, that they risk damaging 6, but, that is what is given. He resigns himself to it and begins.



No. 2 goes to the Observation Room and orders the supervisor to carry out Degree Absolute and to dismiss all non-essential personnel, for one week. The Supervisor questions the orders but follows through with 2's commands. the room is cleared of all but a few technicians (those monitoring on the see-saw viewers) and 2 takes a console. They focus on 6's quarter and begin a series of audial procedures, which seem to have a hypnotic effect on the sleeping 6. When the procedure is complete, 2 turns control of the Village over to the Supervisor and goes to 6's quarters. 6 is still asleep and is subjected to a pulsating effect from an overhead light, while 2 recites nursery rhymes and rests in a lounge chair. By morning, the light is pressed against 6's face and 2 looks out at the Village, stirring for the day. He removes the light nd says, "Want to go for walkies?" 6 rises with a delighted, child-like expression on his face. 2 speaks to him like a child, directing him to wash and dress. We then see 2, the Butler and 6 enter 2's office, with the Butler pushing 6, in a wheelchair. he is eating an ice cream cone. The Butler steps onto a platform and descends beneath the room. 2 motions to 6 to join him on another platform and they also descend to a tunnel below. They are conveyed to a metal door, which 2 opens. he turns on lights and we see the Butler, standing in a toddler's playpen, waving a rattle, while wearing new wave sunglasses (lenses blocked except for narrow slits). There is a blackboard on an easel, a hobby horse and a room, with bars. He leads 6 over to a wall, where he sets a timer for one week, telling 6 that this will be their world for one week, for better or for worse, only one will emerge, lamenting that he has brought this on himself. he closes a curtain after the door seals and begins.

2 quotes from Shakespeare and says he figured it out, the 7 Ages of Man. He says there is something, even as a child, that drives 6 and then lists a plan, on the blackboard. A. Find Missing Link," the key element of 6's childhood that drives his resistance. "B. Put the Pieces Together," assemble the bits of 6's past and reshape him into something the Village can use. 'C. Bang!" If No. 2 fails, that is it. he takes 6 through young childhood, to a park (all pretend), they climb on a see-saw and play, while 2 repeats a rhyme (See-Saw, Marjory Daw), with the line "Jackie shall have a new master." 2 focuses on "a new master" and 6 focuses on "Jackie," then jumps off the see-saw, dumping 2 on the ground. he then progresses to his school years and we see 6, holding a straw boater hat, brought to the headmaster's study, for discipline. he is accused of talking in class and denies it and 2 asks if he knows who was. 6 refuses to give him the names of those who were talking and says he isn't a rat. He is sentenced to 10 lashes and tells 2 to make it 12, so he will remember. We then see 6's graduation, as he is praised as the star pupil, looking at a promising career. then 2 asks why he resigned. 6 becomes agitated and refuses to answer. 2 pushes, aggressively and 6 screams, then strikes 2, knocking him to the floor and begins throttling him, until the Butler bashes him in the back of the head, with a truncheon. 2 recovers and gets up and he and the Butler carry the unconscious 6 to a table and place him on it. he then brings over a device (like a hair dryer, mounted on a stage light), which pulses light at 6. 2 remarks, "I'm beginning to like him."

We see 6 riding a hobby horse as 2 (wearing cap and gown) recites the alphabet, while 6 recites a numerical progression. 2 takes it up and utters "6" after No. 6 says "5", but No. 6 repeats 5, never progressing to 6. No. 6 then begins reciting Pop Goes The Weasel and 2 starts repeating "Protect" after "Pop." He then progresses to "Protect Other People," suggesting POP is an acronym. He then starts asking "Why?" repeatedly, and 6 continues reciting Pop Goes the Weasel in a more rapid and agitated fashion. 2 keeps repeating his question. next, we see 2 and 6 sparring, in boxing headgear and gloves. 2 acts as trainer and pushes 6. Eventually, he calms him down, saying he's the champ and that 2 made him. He rests in his corner (the playpen) and 2 calms him,, then asks why he resigned. 6 makes a fist and decks No. 2. They switch to fencing and after an exchange, 2 thrusts repeatedly at 6 and utters "Kill! Kill! Kill!", until 6 disarms him and holds his foil to stab. 2 pushes him to "kill" and tells him he won't step over the threshold because he is scared. 6 thrusts his foil against a door and pulls back the naked point, as the protective end became embedded in the door. 2 goads him and 6 stabs him in the shoulder, and 2 chides him for missing the target. 6 starts uttering "Sorry," and 2 says he is sorry for "everybody" and then asks if that was why he resigned.

We next see 6 shaving with an electric razor, in the barred room. 2 washes at the sink and his arm is in a sling. Next, he and 6 are seated at a table, having lunch and 2 conducts a job interview, for a banking position. he is sent to the "managing director," who is impressed and then confides in 6 that their work is a front for secret work. next, 6 is riding a lawn mower around and the Butler is a bobby, directing traffic. We hear traffic noises, a screech of brakes and a siren. The Butler blows his whistle and holds up handcuffs. 6 is then before a judge (No. 2) and charged with speeding. he remarks he was on a secret mission but refuses to divulge the nature to the judge. He keeps talking about his cover and being "good at figures." the judge asks him to repeat alternating even numbers, but No.6 won't say 6, hesitating at 4, until he will only answer 5, instead of 6. The judge holds him in contempt and he is dragged off to the barred room and locked in, for 6 days. As he does so, 6 says he was rebelling against the figures.

2 is lying on a table, exhausted, as the Butler rubs his temples. he slowly gets up and staggers over to the cage, where he continues to ask 6 why he resigned. 6 eventually utters "Peace," which 2 repeats, then says "Piece of mind." He follows up with "Too many secrets, too many people know too much. I know too much about you!" He says 2 is an enemy and he turns the tables on 2. 2 becomes agitated and says he will kill 6, who responds "I''l die," and 2 replies, "You're dead!" 6 says to kill him and goes over to a drawer in the kitchenette and pulls out a carving knife and hands the hilt to No. 2, yelling for him to kill him. He demands 2 open the bars. The Butler unlocks it and 2 advances with the knife and 6 falls to the floor and says to kill him. 2 hesitates. he says 6 killed in the war, and 6 replies "For peace," with 2 retorting "For fun," and they go back and forth. then, we see 2 and 6 straddling a board, suspended between two step ladders, as a tape makes aircraft and artillery noises. They simulate a bombing mission and 2 counts down to release, with 6 repeating, but holding on 5, instead of saying 6. After releasing their bombs, they bail out. 6 is then behind bars as 2 speaks aggressively, in German, as we hear "Seig Heil!" from the Nuremburg rallies. 6 is a POW and says he had to bail out. he refuses to answer questions. 2 suddenly changes to English, saying he is a friend and asks why 6 resigned. ^ counts down and says 6. 2 asks what he wants and 6 replies "Supper."

2 is lying on a table and 6 is interrogating him, as the tables have turned. He reiterates the reasoning behind the techniques applied, to gain 6's trust and 6 would confide in him. 6 remarks it is a technique in psychoanalysis and that sometimes doctor and patient switch places, but it is a problem when the doctor has his own issues, which 2 acknowledges and 6 suggests that No. 2 resign. 2 says he is very good and happily shows 6 around the Embryo Room, the chamber where they are being isolated. He goes to the kitchenette and pulls out a bottle of brandy (real alcohol) and pours two glasses. He remarks of Shakespeare's 7 Ages and then shows 6 the door, then sees their time is nearly up. He sets the pre-opening sequence then rushes into the cave and describes the room, stocked for 6 months with food, sleeping, cooking and toilet facilities and says it is detachable. 6 locks him in and 2 rages to be let out and we see that 6 has won and 2 has been broken. 6 says he will come in and 2 says to stay away. 6 opens the door and tells him to come out and 2 is afraid. 6 offers him freedom and he clings to his identity as No. 2. 6 says he is Number Nothing. The time counts down. 2 asks why he resigned and 6 says he rejected. they go back and forth and 6 collapses, apparently dead. 6 closes the cell door. The door to the Embryo Room opens and the Supervisor comes in and says they will need the body. 6 angrily smashes his glass on the floor. The Supervisor asks what he wants and he responds, "Number 1." The Supervisor says he will take him to him and the episode closes.

Thoughts: Whew! Where to begin? This one gets deep into psychotherapy, though it seems to convey some contempt for the practices depicted. There are elements of regression therapies, which have been highly criticized as planting false memories into patients, rather than revealing repressed truths. There were controversial techniques practiced soon after this, with autism patients, that based the issue on repressed anger and resentment. Robert Zaslow developed his rage-reduction therapy, which included holding patients while forcing them to make eye contact, controlling their basic needs and other confrontational approaches. these theories and practices were criticized and attacked as abusive and eventually banned. Other regression therapies can involve hypnosis, role reversal and techniques similar to what we see No. 2 apply. His goal is to take 6 back to childhood, find the source of his rebellion and then rebuild him into something more in tune with the Village's goals. The problem is his own character flaws are deeper than 6's. In fact, 6's rebellion is a character strength, as he refuses to sell out his principles, regardless of the consequences. What we see is that 6's moral code is steel and cannot be altered, while 2 sold out and is therefore flawed. 6 turns the tables on 2 and applies his own code to No. 2, forcing him to face freedom from his masters, which frightens 2, as he accepted his fate, while 6 rejects it at every turn. 6 will not change and he is the winner.

The filming of the episode was intense , with both actors giving it their entire energy and emotion and Leo McKern, according to some behind the scenes, was fighting for his life, in some scenes. He is obviously in poor physical shape (I can sympathize) and the intensity must have brought a physical and mental strain. According to interviews, McKern actually suffered either a mild heart attack or a nervous breakdown, depending on who tells it (sounds like an anxiety attack, induced by the stress of performing the confrontations). Filming was stopped and McKern received medical aid, before eventually returning to finish the filming. Both actors are noted for their forceful performances and orations, which is why Mckern was so memorable as Number 2. He and McGoohan played off each other so well and you see a different relationship between the two than 6 and other No. 2s. They seem to have a mutual respect and McKern was the one who came closest to getting at the source of 6's resignation, in "Chimes of Big Ben," when 6 is tricked into believing he has escaped back to London and nearly answers the question, before recognizing that the chimes from Big Ben are wrong. There is no question that this is the same No. 2 from that episode, as McKern remarks that he has been there before, when 6 recognizes his voice and he also mentions being brought back when speaking to his superior (No. 1?)

Here we learn more about 6 than in any other episode, presuming that what you see is truth and not a scenario designed for his reprogramming. He is a bright student, willing to work any hours to complete a task, intuitive, observant and resistant to interrogation. We see that he served in the military (presumably the RAF) during the war (WW2, again, presumably) and was recruited into intelligence work, via a banking firm cover. This is not entirely fantasy as British intelligence services were known to have used tutors and lecturers at Oxford and Cambridge to identify people suited to intelligence work, such as David Cornwell, better known as author John Le Carre. He built such things into the Smiley books. William Donovan built the OSS around promising men from Ivy League schools, noted for intelligence and resourcefulness, while also fitting their ideological viewpoint. At the same time, Kim Philby and the other Cambridge 5 were also scouted, either at Cambridge or soon after, for their ideological leanings towards Marxism and other secrets (such as Burgess & Blunt's homosexuality). We also get as close as we ever will to the truth, when 6 says he resigned for "piece of mind" (or is it "peace of mind?") and that there are too many secrets and certain people know too much, suggesting he resigned because of internal spying or just the entire concept of espionage, moving beyond gathering intelligence of an enemy to attempting to subvert other societies and even control one's own. This reflects a major issue of the period, as the post-War world order put two ideologies against one another, through political pawns in other regions, rather than open warfare. Intelligence agencies on both sides were accused of going beyond intelligence gathering and into subversion and suppression, becoming powers unto themselves, rather than extensions of their government. The CIA was operating The Phoenix Program in Vietnam, where it identified, captured and assassinated supposed Viet Cong members, in an attempt to destroy their organization. At the time, there were accusations that it went well beyond identifying the enemy and that it was targeting opponents of the corrupt South Vietnamese regime, rather than North Vietnamese agents and sympathizers. congressional hearings eventually shut it down. Further activities by the CIA, including the failed invasion of Cuba, attempts to kill Castro and similar operations became political embarrassments and led to censorship of the CIA by the Carter Administration and greater Congressional oversight of their activities, until many of the constraints were relaxed under the Reagan Administration. So, 6 might be rebelling against intelligence work and government secrets on an ideological level or he might be rebelling against a focus on controlling people through intelligence work, fighting against the society of Big Brother.

Leaving aside the reasoning behind 6's resignation, this episode serves to reaffirm the themes of individuality vs conformity, rebellion against unjust authority, freedom of mind, and the retention of identity. The series is mostly allegorical, dramatizing philosophical conflicts, through the mechanism of a spy show (for want of a better term). Why 6 resigned really has no bearing in things; it's just a reason to place him in the sights of the Village masters and play out the battle of the individual and collective society. Even No.2, as headmaster, remarks that 6 "mustn't be a lone wolf," that lone wolves have no place in society. 6 refuses to accept that a person can't be solitary in a society, if he causes society no harm and society lets him alone to live as he pleases. He marches to Thoreau's "different drummer."

The episode was originally scheduled to be the end of the first season; but, when the number of episodes was re-negotiated, it was removed to lead into the final episode. As Patrick McGoohan conceived things, it was always to be the penultimate episode, leading into "Fall Out." If you look at the original 7 episodes conceived to make up the series, as McGoohan envisioned you get a progression: "Arrival" brings No. 6 to the Village and sets up the conflict. "Dance of the Dead," shows that 6 is being forced to integrate into society and his death has been faked to hide his disappearance. "Free For All begins his obsession to determine who runs the Village and destroy them. "Chimes of Big Ben" teaches him not to trust people easily, as they may be warders, even old comrades. "Checkmate" gives him insight into who are the prisoners and who are the warders. "Once Upon a Time" tests his moral strength in a final attempt to break him and remold him as a warder. "Fall Out," sees him escape through violence, but the cycle begins anew, revealing that the real battle is internal, not external. That is where we will go next time. Settle in because it gets even weirder than this!

Be seeing you!

Fall Out

Writer: Patrick McGoohan
Director: Patrick McGoohan

(episode preview)


(episode)


Episode Quotes: Number Six: Young man!

Number Forty Eight: Give it to me again.

Number Six: Don't knock yourself out.

Number Forty Eight: Give me the rest.

Number Six: Young man.

Number Forty Eight: I'm born all over.


Former Number Two: My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen! A most extrodinary thing happened on my way... here

[Delegates Laugh and Clap]

Former Number Two: It has been my lot, In the past, to wield a not inconsiderable power. Nay I've had the ear of Statesmen, Kings and Princes of many lands. Govenment swayed, policies definded and revolutions... nipped in the bud at a word from me in the right place and at a propitious time

[pauses]

Former Number Two: Not surprising therefore... that this Community should find a use for me. Not altogether by accident that one day I should be abducted! and wake up here amongst you

[pauses]

Former Number Two: What is deplorable... is that I resisted for so short a time. A Fine Tribute to your methods

[Delegates Applaud]

Former Number Two: I wish to thank you for recognition of my talent, which placed me in a position of power, Second only... to One

Synopsis: First a recap of "Once Upon A time," as we see No. 2 and No. 6 face off in the ultimate test....Degree Absolute. 6 is the victor, as 2 falls down, dead. The Supervisor enters the room, says they will need the body and 6 smashes his glass to the floor. The Supervisor asks what he desires and 6 replies "Number 1." The Supervisor replies, "I'll take you. 6 is brought to a dressing room, where a mannequin with his face wears his original clothes. The Supervisor says they thought 6 would be happier, as himself. We see him reclothed and walking through an underground passage, with the Supervisor and the Butler, the sides lined with jukeboxes. The sounds of the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," plays as they progress down the passage. They come to a barred door and the Butler inserts a key and unlocks it. It opens automatically, with the words "Well....Come" displayed in lights, one on top of the other. There is the sound of marching, as we see uniformed guards, in white helmets, web belts, blue jumpsuits, white boots and gloves, carrying truncheons and submachine guns. A squad marches across the chamber and we see a see-saw, like in the Observation Room, but with machine guns mounted, rather than viewscopes. Technicians stand on platforms, working at computers and other electronic machinery. A man in a British judge's robe and wig stands on a platform, in front of a lecturn. The audience consists of robed and masked figures, with their numbers displayed and name plates listing functions (Administration, Security, etc...). The Supervisor takes a robe and dons it and puts on a mask, half black and half white, with a frozen theatrical expression. He takes his place at Security after presenting No. 6. The judge, hereafter known as The President, addresses the audience and says they have gathered in a moment of democratic crisis, to resolve the question of revolt. The President says that No. 6 must longer be referred to by that number or any other, as he has "vindicated the right of the Individual to be Individual." He calls for a standing ovation, in tribute to 6. He directs 6 to a throne, on top of a dais, saying there must be some ceremony in the transfer of ultimate power. ^ ascends the steps and sits on the throne.

We see the armored box that was the cage, inside the Embryo Room, descend from above, into a place in the chamber. The metal walls move aside to reveal the cage and a gurney is wheeled over to retrieve No. 2's body. A signal comes from a metal pillar, with an eye-like opening I light flashes and the President receives an unheard message. The President gives orders to resuscitate No. 2 and we see the footage from last episode, when he collapsed, move in reverse and he rises back to his feet, on screen. The President calls for the key and the Butler unlocks the cage, then takes his place at 6's side. Two medics remove 2's body and take it to a chair and hook up various apparatuses and revive him, while also covering his face with shave cream. An ominous black receptacle, at the end of a long pole (looking like something attached to a Dalek) moves foraward and we hear a whirring noise and see footage of the projector, from "The General," spinning with it's spiked appendages.

Next, The President presents demonstrations of rebellion, beginning with No. 48, a young man in a fashionable suit and frilly shirt, top hat with flower in the band, a gold chain and bell around his neck, and white boxing boots. He is brought up on a sort of piston elevator, which he is clamped onto. he is released and ignores the President, singing the spiritual "Dem Bones." He walks through the chamber to the dais and hears the President belittle his revolt, that of youth rebelling against adult society, which must be brought to bear. 48 continues singing and starts running amok through the chamber, with guards chasing after him. He falls to the ground below the dais and No. 6 calls out, Young man..." and when he responds, says, "Don't knock yourself out." the President starts to rebuke his familiarity, then receives a message from the cylinder (which has a 1 on it, suggesting the message comes from No. 1) and he says they will temporarily adopt the new form of address, dispensing with numbers. The President and 48 verbally spar and 48 continues with "Dem Bones, and The President asks 6 if he approves of the proceedings, to which he replies he notes them. 48 is taken away to be held over, until after 6's installation.

Next, we see No. 2 revive and stand up, then address the chamber. He is quite cordial to 6 and congratulates him on the seat of ultimate power. he says hello to the Butler and motions for him to follow, but he remains at No. 6's side. 2 remarks that it is the price of failure. He speaks to the assembly and reveals some of his past. he held a position of power and influence in government and/or diplomacy and governments rose and fell at a word from his lips. He was abducted and brought to the Village, but gave in and took a place within their organization. He held the position of No. 2 and instigated Degree Absolute, where 6 was the victor and 2 died. he attacks them for not even letting him rest in peace. 6 asks if he ever met No.1, which causes 2 to laugh. He receives a message from No. 1 and stares into the eye, then spits into it, after removing his badge and throwing it to the floor. 6 had won, as 2 now rebels against his masters. he is dragged away by the guards and clamped onto the piston elevator and taken below, with a parting "Be seeing you!"

The President sums up the two rebellions: youth rebelling for no reason it can define and a valued servant biting the hand that feeds it, saying they contribute nothing to society. He receives a message from No. 1 and talks of the purity of 6's rebellion and we see his London house, where a for sale sign is removed and the Lotus 7 returned outside, parked and polished. her remarks that 6 has triumphed at every turn, earning the right to be an individual, as he has held fast to his principles. The President makes a stunning offer: lead the Village....or leave it. They give 6 the key to his house, a million (pounds, presumably) in traveler's checks, a passport with visa for anywhere and a bag of petty cash. He tells 6 he is free to go and 6 asks why. The President speaks of his example and 6 continues to ask why. Eventually, the President says they need him. he again offers complete power to lead the Village...or go. 6 says he doesn't know, though he seems to be humoring the President. He asks him to address the assembly and 6 descends from his throne, pockets the items, then takes the lectern. When he speaks and says "I....." the assembly repeats "I..I..I..." shouting down what he says, only fixating on I. 6 bangs the gavel for order and tries again, with the same result. No one actually listens. The President puts an end to it and thanks him and then asks if he is prepared to meet No. 1. He climbs onto a platform and is lowered below, where he finds a tunnels lined by armed guards. He goes down it and enters a circular room, where 48 and 2 are held in glass tubes that say "Orbit 48" and "Orbit 2" Another tube, with just "Orbit" on it, opens. A chime rings out and the Butler enters the room and bows, directing No. 6 to a spiral staircase, leading to a room above. 6 carefully ascends and sees, through glass, a table with various globes on it. he reaches for the door, which opens automatically. he enters and sees a robed and hooded figure seated at a console. On screen is the robed figure and 6 approaching. The figure on screen starts turning before the man in front. Scenes of 6 refuting the offer of a deal upon his arrival are displayed and the robe figure rotates in his chair and holds up a glass globe, with images of the Village and 6's face, as bars slam close (the ending sequence) and then spreads out his arms to reveal his number, 1. We hear 6 repeating "I" as it speeds up. He removes the frozen expression mask and we see an ape mask underneath, the mouth chattering. He then pulls it away to reveal his own face. No. 1 laughs maniacally and runs around the room, 6 chasing him. He climbs up a ladder and exits through a hatch and slams it closed. 6 bolts it and climbs down, grabbing a fire extinguisher. he creeps back down the stairs and sees the butler, who motions with his eyes towards the robed men. 6 vaults over the railing and gives them a face full of CO2. He passes it to the Butler, who continues to blind the men, as 6 violently knocks them out. We then see the door from outside, in the tunnel, and it opens, to reveal two robed figures, one of whom motions to the guards. They enter the room, drawing their weapons and get a face full of CO2 from the Butler, as the robed men attack them and take their Thompson submachine guns. 6 removes his hood and goes back to the control chamber and looks out at the outside chamber, via a viewscreen. he starts pressing buttons, marked "fuel injection" and starts a countdown. The President realizes something is wrong and calls for control to contact and then sounds an alarm, as we see a countdown. 6 pulls back on the mask and climbs up to the floor, followed by 2, 48 and the Butler. ^ emerges from the elevator, in his robe and sneaks over to the see-saw, then opens fire on the guards. A machine gunner on the see-saw tries to open fire and is gunned down by 48. 2 and the Butler emerge and add their firepower, as "All You Need is Love," plays again. Chaos reigns, as the President orders an evacuation. Figures are seen running and riding bikes through the underground corridors, towards the outside, including men in wetsuits (as if it wasn't bizarre enough).

The order goes out through the Village to evacuate and we see crowds of people running in terror. Helicopters start rising into the air. 6 and his group finish off the remaining guards and run into the cage. The Butler climbs into a truck cab and we see the cage is mounted on a trailer and the Butler drives out a tunnel, and through a gate. The countdown proceeds and we see smoke billow out of the metal cylinder and then a rocket start to rise (old NASA footage) and then a Titan II missile rises above the Village. Carmen Miranda's "I Yi Yi Yi Yi (I Like You Very Much)" plays as the rocket rise and we see Rover launching, then melting down into a molten put. After an aerial view of the Village, we see the truck with 6 and his group, throwing their robes and other things onto the road. Eventually, we see them driving on the A20 highway to London, as a Bentley passes them and a man notices the men dancing around inside the cage. The truck pulls over at a siding and 48 gets off and then starts thumbing a ride, as the truck departs. It drives into London, where it is pulled over by a police motorcycle, near Westminster and 6 and the Butler get out and speak to the constable. 2 steps out and walks on towards Parliament. 6 and the Butler soon follow and 6 watches from a corner as 2 steps across to the seat of government. They wave to each other and 2 goes inside. The constable comes up to 6 and starts questioning him. The Butler watches from a distance and no words are heard, but 6 makes exaggerated motions and then walks away, grabs the Butler's hand and they run and catch a bus. We see 48 still thumbing a ride, as the credit for Alexis Kanner comes up. 6 and the Butler walk in front of his house and 6 climbs into the Lotus. The Butler goes up to the house and the door opens automatically, as the credit for Angelo Muscat appears. 6 drives off and the Butler goes inside as the door closes automatically. The title Prisoner appears, as 6 drives through traffic. Leo McKern's credit appears as he walks along the sidewalk, dressed in traditional civil servant uniform of suit, bowler hat and umbrella, with attache case and newspaper. he enters a building as a constable salutes in recognition and 2 genially waves to him. We hear a clap of thunder and then see the Lotus racing towards the camera, as in the opening titles, with the cycle beginning anew, as the end title sequence comes up.

Thoughts: Well, isn't that nice? Now, picture that being your very first episode of the series viewed and you can see where I was, in 1988! Following the events of "Once Upon A Time," No. 6 is presented with the final temptation, to meet No. 1 and lead the Village, or leave and return home or to anywhere else in the world. We are then presented a dramatization of rebellion. No. 48's rebellion represents the counter culture and the youth rebellions that were raging across the globe, in 1968. No 2 shows that 6 has won him over and he is now free of the Village's influence. It all culminates in the offer, which 6 seems skeptical about. not surprising, given the number of times he seemed to escape, only to find he is either still in the village or is returned to it. When he goes to meet No. 1 and we see the empty tube with no number on it, the implication is that it is for him, suggesting that he will also be held in stasis, as he is too dangerous, or if he rejects their offer to lead. Regardless, it seems that freedom is a illusionary choice. 6 turns the tables on them and finally succeeds in his vow to destroy the Village, but only through acts of violence. before, 6 matched wits, used psychology to turn No. 2's flaws against themselves, gummed up the works of the Village's schemes, or discovered their plans. Here, however, he kills to get free. He previously spoke of leaving for peace of mind, and too many secrets, yet he still has to resort to violence and death to be free. It could be argued that he fails to be free because he regresses to a violent stage. That leads to a bigger question, which I will get to, in a bit.

The first question is whether this is all real or a fantasy? That can be said about every episode. This, again, is an allegory, laying out the philosophical premise of the show, without giving a definitive answer, because there is no definite answer to the balance of individual rights and the needs of a society. Either extreme is destructive, but where the balance lies is unfathomable. Perhaps no one is truly free because they can't exist in society wholly as their own person. They give up something to be part of society. People make compromises in life; does that mean they give up part of their freedom of mind? No. 6 makes no compromise, but he is still a prisoner, so being resolute is not necessarily freedom, either. Total refusal for compromise can lead to a Randian viewpoint, where compromise is impossible and society comes to impasse, as we can see in some of the mechanisms of our own society. History shows that compromise can be mutually beneficial and lead to greater harmony and peace. The problem lies when one side or select elite group gives up nothing and exploits those with less power and influence. The Village does not seem to be a mutually beneficial society, but one that is run by an elite with their own agenda, with everyone else bent to their will.

So, back to the question, is this just a fantasy or does 6 actually escape and is the Village destroyed by the rocket? Some have suggested that 6 dies in the Embryo Room, as well, and Fall Out is a dying fantasy or some form of afterlife. That would explain the bizarre nature of things and the symbolism, if you want to take things literally, rather then allegorically. You can also theorize that events are real, that 6 does escape the Village, but comes to discover that it is only a microcosm of an even bigger Village. This would explain why he can now drive to London, when we have previously seen that the Village is on an island (or have been told, by unreliable figures). Perhaps the Village is an entire State, playing a much larger game than 6 comprehended (or, indeed, even the various Numbers 2). Some have suggested that the Village actually exists in another dimension or an alien world (or even within a spacecraft). These ideas seem a bit too sci-fi for the show, as they ignore the allegorical nature of the show and try to provide a literal explanation for the surreal nature of things. Forest for the trees, as it were. Following that line of reasoning, to what purpose? The study of mankind? Obviously, the test subjects are being manipulated, then. That doesn't really address many of the details of the series, just why things seem so dreamlike and illogical.

Another explanation is that it is all a dream of No. 6's, he escapes, but the cycle begins again. Dreams of inability to leave a building are quite common, with interpretations suggesting it means feeling trapped within something, though a great many psychologist dismissing dream interpretation as suggesting more about the interpreter than the dream. The average person has multiple dreams, of mundane activities, which play out in the mind, but are never recalled, as they occur without waking. Still, a dream of 6 would explains the bizarre progression, seeing himself as No. 1, seeing London again, then finding himself repeating things. It would also explain 2's death and resurrection.

So, does No. 6 escape? Well, even McGoohan says no, as the cycle begins again, suggesting it is a never-ending battle. The automatic doors are the same as in the Village, people move through their lives oblivious to bizarre happenings around them. 2 returns to a position of authority, but for whose benefit? The Butler continues his role an 48 wanders around, in search of a destination. 6 goes off to confront his masters, again. Thomas Disch's authorized novel is a sequel to the tv series, that takes up the premise that 6 did escape, but ends up in a different Village, devoid of his past memory, then pieces things together. The comic book sequel, Shattered Visage, has a new prisoner resign and end up at the Village, which is derelict, yet No. 6 still lives there. No. 2 (the McKern one) shows up, with the Butler and renews his battle with 6. Outside forces manipulate things and there are suggestions that the Village was something beyond the British government, NATO, the Warsaw Pact or other political blocs and was a power unto itself. It however, takes a more literal track to a conclusion, which I will discuss, in a future post.

Does 6 meet No. 1? Well, yes, though you have to decide if it is a No. 1 or THE No. 1. Is it a trick or is this really No. 1. Does the matching face mean No. 6 is actually in charge of the Village? Is it a counterpart? An "evil twin/" Or is it just a manifestation in the darker side of oneself? Does there have to be a No. 1, just because there is a Number 2? Numbers seem assigned at random, wit even sub-letter designations seen (in "Free For All," with the reporter and photographer). If they are random, why does the Village boss need to be No. 1? Could it all be a smokescreen for 6, to make him think there is a single person in charge; maybe there actually is a council, which runs things in secret. Why do certain people not have numbers? The Butler doesn't, The Supervisor is never addressed by number, the Professor and his wife had no numbers. Maybe it is all a mindf@#$ to draw out 6's secrets.

Kenneth Griffith returns to play The President of the assembly. The theatricality of the episode plays to his strengths, allowing him to orate and play to an audience within the scene and beyond. he actually wrote his own speech about rebellion, at McGoohan's direction, as he didn't have time to do it. NcGoohan only learned at the end of filming "The Girl Who Was Death," that Lew Grade was pulling the plug and had a week to put together the script to wrap it up. He does not seem to be the No.2 of "The Girl Who Was Death," as there is no recognition of him and no number badge. Also, he plays the character differently.

Alexis Kanner is No. 48, who is not supposed to be The Kid or the photographer in "The Girl Who Was Death." The Kid definitely dies (though we see death can be "short lived," in the Village) and the photographer is just a character in a story that 6 tells to the children. He is nothing like the other two.

Leo McKern returns for a final time, as No. 2. "once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out" were filmed months apart and during that time, McKern was appearing in a play and had shaved off his beard and trimmed his hair shorter.. When he is removed from the cage, you can see an obvious fake goatee and his hair looks like a wig, when he is being revived. the shave cream was to help hide the beard and the auto shaving and trim explain the new appearance, while still appearing to be part of the bizarre ritual. McKern's first words are a humorous, "I feel a new man!" as he appears to be a "new man." He also looks much healthier than he did in OUAT. We learn that his No.2 was someone of great power and influence, probably the head of a secret service or someone high up in the Foreign Office (assuming he is British, as McKern, himself, was Australian). Generally speaking, intelligence services operate as an extension of foreign affairs, collecting information that is used for negotiation and building alliances. Diplomatic cover is a regular feature of intelligence officers and former spies in the UK were often reported as "late of the Foreign Office." Counter-intelligence usually falls under the authority of internal security, with MI-5 in the UK and the FBI, in the US. There job is to root out spies and saboteurs within their borders. Given his statements about governments rising and falling at his word, it is likely that 2 was part of the Foreign Office, either as a diplomatic figure or an intelligence "mandarin." Intelligence officers are civil servants, with pay and pensions being part of the budgeting for their department, within the civil service and they carry civil service ranks.

Angelo Muscat finishes out the series, with his allegiance shifted to No. 2. Muscat did not have a wide variety of credits; as, obviously, his roles were based as much on his size and appearance as his acting skill. He was born in Malta and died in 1977, at the age of 47. One of the issues with dwarfism is an often painful and short lifespan. IMDB carries the following quote from him: "I always feel lonely. I feel that people don't want to know me. Girls don't fancy me, I'm tiny and nearly bald but I'm only in my thirties. That's why I'm so grateful to Patrick McGoohan. He has given me responsibility for the first time in my life. I am playing an important part in a big series. I AM something, for the first time ever." McGoohan refers to him as a delightful man, in his interview for The Prisoner Puzzle, with an obvious warmth for the man. He came to England after the deaths of his parents (who were of average size) and worked in a factory, before joining a stage production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. He appeared in a Doctor Who serial (Galaxy 4, as a robot) and Alice in Wonderland, but roles were hard to come by. He was living alone, in a basement flat, virtually penniless, when he died. His last role was as an Oompa Loompa, in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

There is some conjecture that the Butler might actually be No. 1, which is an intriguing idea. He appears in 14 of the 17 episodes, more than anyone but McGoohan. He is always around, observing, never speaking, but always in a position to know. He is the only other person in the Embryo Room, with No. 2 and 6. There is a definite logic to it. However, McGoohan has said he represented "the little man," who blindly follows authority. As we see in the series, he obeys whoever is in charge, with each new Number 2 and then follows 6, after he has won the battle with No. 2. He is not a rebel, but a follower, which makes it hard for him to be the boss. However, it is an intriguing idea, which adds a different layer to things, including a certain level of revenge for his life apart from others, because of his size. It also brings to mind the mad genius of Dr Miguelito Loveless, in the western spy series The Wild Wild West (which I think bears some influence on the theory of the Butler as No. 1). Loveless even controlled his own little prisons, with a walled in town, with electrified fencing, that Jim West must escape, or when he shrinks west down and places him inside a box. Michael Dunn, who played Loveless, would have made a spectacular No. 2. He also was able to have the life that Muscat did not, as he had a nightclub act, demonstrating an amazing singing voice and flair for light comedy. Dunn had an even shorter life (38 years), but he was able to map out a career of his own, as producers created parts for him, because of his talent.

So, imagine a mind like Dr Loveless, working inside the Butler and a lot of things make sense.

The episode opens with the recap of OUAT, then the title music starts, with an aerial view of the Village and an identification as Portmeirion and a thank you to Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Part of the agreement to film there was to avoid mention, until the series conclusion. The usual sequence is unseen and the credits appear over the shots of Portmeirion. Alexis Kanner's has the usual box around his name.

The use of "All You Need is Love," is unusual, as The Beatles rarely let their music be used outside their own films and projects. According to George Harrison's son, the Beatles were going to do a film like The Prisoner, to be directed by McGoohan, but the project fell through. This would seem to suggest at least Harrison, if not John, Paul and Ringo, was a fan and matches his similar involvement with Monty Python and his interest in Handmade Films, which produced Life of Brian, as well as Terry Gilliam's Time Bandits.

One of the things that fans use to point to No. 6 being No. 1, aside from the meeting scene, is when 6 addresses the assembly and they repeat "I" at him. I, of course, is the Roman numeral for one. The question is, is that a clue or just proponents of the theory looking for anything that fits the theory, while ignoring anything that contradicts that? Of course, you see No. 1 and he is revealed to be 6, or a twin. Figuratively, 1 and 6 are just opposite sides of the same person, which is further reinforced by The Schizoid Man, with the suggestion of schizophrenia and multiple personality or facets to personality. That suggests the entire series may be a figment of 6's mental illness. That matches up with things like John Nash, of A Beautiful Mind, who suffered from paranoid delusions that he was an agent for a secret agency, uncovering enemy conspiracies. It also matches the German expressionist film, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari, which shows the doctor as an evil genius controlling people, but is revealed to be a doctor treating mental patients in a sanitarium. This same premise has turned up in the German tv series Babylon Berlin, which references the expressionist films of the era.

Aside from the gun runners in "Many Happy Returns", the Western fantasy of "Living in Harmony" and the weapons of Dr Schnipps absurd "army" in "The Girl Who Was Death," this is the only time we see weapons in the Village. Every other time, the Village either uses Rover or non-lethal force, either physical restraint by warders, truncheons, or fists. Gas weapons have been used, but no gunplay. Of course, people are gassed and drugged and conditioned constantly, so guns are not needed, openly. Given the events of 1968, I suspect McGoohan is making a statement about gun violence, as he was adamant about 6 not using a gun in the series, yet he does, in the end.


McGoohan has said he hadn't conceived of 6 being No. 1, until he sat down to write this episode, and it only came to him late in writing it, though there are clues to it, though there are so many ambiguous and contradictory elements that you can find evidence to support your own theory and as much to refute it.

So, that's it; or is it?

That would be telling!

Oh, alright! Next, I will explore various theories about the series, ideas in support and against. Some are minor points, some grand themes. Also, a bit of additional trivia about the series. That will be followed by pop culture tributes and the influence of the series on other entertainment works, from homages, thematic successors, to outright theft. Then, a look at official sequels, via the novels (as best I can, having not read David McDaniel's book or any of the 6 of 1 distributed books) and the comic book mini-series Shattered Visage, from DC Comics. Then, I will discuss the sucktitude that is the AMC/SKY Prisoner remake mini-series and just why is sucks so badly, though feel free to argue that it doesn't suck. You won't convince me, but go ahead and argue. That's not to say it doesn't have some good points, which I will higlight, and a bit of irony about the presentation of it.

Be seeing you!

I still have the DC miniseries but I haven't read it since it came out. I remember liking it and thinking it was faithful to the spirit, though.

I've never seen the "remake" series. My bluray set of the original has a slip advertising it.

The Prisoner Tributes and Parodies

So, an iconic series like the Prisoner is going to spawn its share of parodies and influence others, who will pay tribute to their inspirations. Let's look at a few. Of course, youy haven't made it in pop culture if the Simpson's haven't referenced you...

(The Joy of Sect, with Rover...)




(The Computer Wore Menace Shoes)


Babylon 5 paid tribute through the character of Bester, the Psi Cop, who would give the Village salute and "Be seeing you!"



The Prisoner had a lot of influence on the Psi Corps, as did their original inspiration, Alfred Bester's The Demolished man, his novel of a telepathic detective investigating a murder, in a world where such things should not happen. Walter Koenig's Psi Cop was named bester, as an homage. We see in the series that the Psi Corps conducts ominous experiments on telepaths and Bester later captures Garibaldi and programs him to be a sleeper agent, to infiltrate William Edgars inner circle, to investigate and destroy a genetically engineered virus that is designed to wipe out telepaths. In the episode, "Intersections in Real Time," Capt. Sheridan, who was betrayed by the brainwashed Garibaldi, is in the hands of the fascist Earth Government (the Vice President conspired with the alien Shadows to murder the President, Luis Santiago, and becomes president, then slowly creates a fascist state, leading to colonies and outposts, like Babylon 5, seceding from the Earth Alliance and leading a rebellion, aimed at toppling President Clark). He is subjected to interrogation, where they use techniques like manipulating his perception of time, attacking his perceptions of reality, presenting false allies and revealing them as traitors, etc... which show similarity to those used by the Village (and actual interrogation and torture by repressive governments). Joe Straczynski was a big fan of the series and gave Bester the tributes to the series and had planned an entire episode that was to be an homage to the series and to guest star Patrick McGoohan. McGoohan had agreed to do it, but the plans fell through, for whatever reason (I've never come across an explanation). McGoohan was also offered the role of Knight Two, from the first season of the series ("And a Sky Full of Stars"), which was originally intended for Walter Koenig. Koenig suffered a heart attack and was not fully recovered by the time they were to film. McGoohan was offered the part and wanted to do it, but had a scheduling conflict (he did Braveheart, around that time). It is possible that the episode mentioned in conversation, meant for McGoohan, was the first season one, though what I had read sounded like an entirely different story.

The tv show The Avengers spoofed it during the period, with the Tara King era episode, "Wish You Were Here.) Tara visits an uncle at a hotel, where he is recovering from an accident. Accidents keep occuring to keep the guests in the hotel, Tara included, until Steed helps her defeat the people in charge.

The Pinky & the Brain 3-parter, "Brainwashed," finds the pair in a Village of hats, where Brain gets mind treatment...



Jules Holland, the British tv presenter and musician did an homage on his series, The Tube, with Stephen Fry as No. 2, and featuring performances by Siouxsie & the Banshees and XTC, shot at Portmeirion, called "The Laughing Prisoner."



Stephen Fry as No. 2 is the best part and he would have been great in the real series (had he not been 10 years old)



Siouxsie and the Banshees have the best of the two performances, though XTC are more in the spirit and their song was an homage. Her earrings are a nice homage to the penny-farthing...



The series Nowhere Man was gratly inspired by The Prisoner, as it was the favorite show of creator Lawrence Hertzog. In the series, a photojournaliost is pursued for a series of negatives. In episode 105, "Paradise at Your Doorstep," he finds himself in a community of people who have had their identities erased...



JJ Abrams took elements for Alias and Lost, as well as Fringe.

The final episode of the Bionic Woman, "On the Run," sees Jamie resign and end up in a community to keep her secrets hidden...



The GI Joe Episode, "There's No Place Like Springfield, finds Shipwreck in a community where he is being brainwashed to believe JOE was destroyed and he is home.



The short-lived series VR5 was thematically inspired by The Prisoner and featured a line of dialogue, where the lead was told to "ask for The Prisoner."

Person of Interest features many inspirations and homages..



The Matrix drew great inspiration, especially in the sequel, with The Architect (who spouts total nonsense, which sounds far more highbrow than it actually is) and features a scene where you glimpse a woman in an apartment watching the series.


Fans are a good source of parody videos...





The music world took a lot of interest in the series, with the aforementioned XTC and "The Man Who Sailed the World," and "The Meeting Place."

Iron Maiden had two songs homaging the series, "The Prisoner," from Number of the Beast; and, "Back in the Village," from Powerslave.



The prisoner includes audio clips from the series.



George Harrison's son Dhani is part of a band called The New No. 2.

80s pop band Altered Images paid tribute in the video for "See Those Eyes,"




Michael Penn's album Resigned references it with the cover art....



His previous album was titled Free-For-All.

The British Radio series, Dead Ringers, which features impressionists doing comedy sketches, did an homage of the Prisoner, set in the world of the Archers, the long running British radio series.

Jack Kirby, long before drawing an adaptation of "Arrival," did an homage in the Fantastic Four, in issues 84-87, as the FF are trapped in Latveria



John Byrne also referenced it, in the FF anniversary issue, #236...



Barry Windsor Smith referenced it in the Weapon X storyline, as Logan is captured at the wheel of a Lotus 7...



Next time, a look at the official sequels, The Prisoner, by Thomas Disch and Shattered Visage, from Dean Motter and Mark Askwith. Plus, a look at the other Prisoner books and reference books and previous attempts at comic book adaptations.