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Date Posted: 15:05:55 11/11/09 Wed
Author: BDM
Subject: The Prisoner

Anyone going to watch the remake on AMC on Sunday? It's a 6 episode mini-series although each with be about 2 hours long. Set in a desert rather than a sea side resort in Wales. I loved the original series from the 60s and hope this does it justice and ends on a less confusing note.

For those not in the know: The Prisoner show from 1967-68 was made by actor Patrick McGoohan just as he ended his spy series Danger Man (called Secret Agent in the US). An unnamed agent suddenly resigns for reasons unknown. As he's about to pack up and leave his apartment, he is knocked out and wakes up in a place called the Village.

People are pleasant but no one can tell him where they are or how to leave. If you try to leave, a device catches you & brings you back. He is told he is Number 6 as everyone there has a number instead of a name. Number 2 is in charge as Number 1 is unseen. #2 plays a cat and mouse game with #6 to find out why he resigned. #6 refuses to tell them anything & tries to find new ways to escape or to be disruptive of the Village's orderly existence. Several #2s were seen in different episodes.

The show was designed to run only one season as McGoohan didn't think he could think up stories for more than that. 17 episodes were made. The final one does not give the audience easy answers to our many questions.

The show is great because it's a metaphor for the individual vs. society/the state/collectivism. #6 is not going to give his captors an inch. The show included ideas about brainwashing, observing people's dreams, switching personalities, etc. Lots of psychological ideas in use. Sort of a combo of sci-fi and spy show ideas. And plenty of paranoia as so many Village residents try to get #6 to trust them but are they for real or in on the plot? Even #2 seems to be in charge one minute and then seems a fellow prisoner the next.

The remake stars Jim Caviezel as #6 and Ian McKellen as #2. Sounds like good choices. I've heard that those in Village now don't even remember who they were as opposed to everyone being closed lipped about it. I'm looking forward to it but must realize it might fall short.

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