Prisoner, The

You want information? By hook or by crook you are going to get it. Probably recognised as the most 'cult of all cult' TV programmes, The Prisoner exploded onto the UK TV screens in 1967 and immediately hit a nerve. Part allegory and part Boy's Own Adventure series, many people believed No. 6 to be John Drake from Dangerman: a TV series that predated it. (Indeed one episode of Dangerman had itself been filmed in Portmeirion North Wales - A beautiful village designed by Sir Clough Williams Ellis) Who is this man that wakes up in the Village? Where is the village? Why is everyone given a number? Who is number one? ...  Read the complete review

This to me is the best TV series ever bar none. With Expert use of camera angles and superb music and storyline, Patrick Mcgoohan IS Number Six - The Prisoner and finds himself in The Village with its bizarre mix of oddball characters,giant suffocating beachballs and totally bizarre activities, including human chess, cricket with exploding balls and weird trampoline fighting games. Each week he tries to find out who number one is, and escape, each time he has a different person (NUMBER TWO) to pit his wits against. He gets rid of most of them and finally gets out of it all in the last episode, meeting a gorilla disguised as himself along the way.................... (I ...  Read the complete review

The Prisoner was a fantastic TV show, and sad act that I am, I have all 18 episodes on video. The programme was actually conceived by Patrick McGoohan (No. 6) and his bizarre pitch was actually commissioned. McGoohan actually had a mission to produce a TV programme that worked on many levels and that made people actually have to think about things. Its about personal freedom and about how society will penalise those who don't conform. Everyone's a number. Throughout his stay in the village, No 6 contstantly tries to escape and to rebel, even though the odds are against him. In essence he retains his individuality and is not broken despite the ...  Read the complete review

.....I am a free man! As surreal as Monty Python, as bizarre as League of Gentleman - this "cult" series was truly ground-breaking. I first watched this series about 10 years ago, and now I'm a fully-fledged adult, I still don't understand the programme. However, this is in fact part of its appeal, the producers / writers keep putting even more twists and bizarre storylines as the episodes go by, to keep us watching. The theme tune and opening credits deserve awards in their own right - how much action and drama can be fit into 2 minutes?! The main character, played by Patrick McGoohan, is gassed in his flat, whilst dramatic music ...  Read the complete review

I still don't fully understand this series even after several viewings but that doesn;t matter or reduce the enjoyment. You can watch it on several levels. At one each episode is about the Prisoner's (Patrick McGoohan) latest attempt to escape from where-ever he is. Therefore it is an action adventure. At the other end of the dcale you can if you wish see it as a representation of how society is controlling the individual. Somewhere in the middle it is a cult with attendant catch phrases, gestures and even clothing style. "I am not a number - I am a free man !" is still reconised by many. An addeed attraction is the setting of "The ...  Read the complete review