My youngest kids were introduced to The Prisoner in the 2010s while in their very early teens. It's themes, photography, scoring, the sly sarcasm ie The Cat & Mouse Pub, the cynical "In society one must learn to conform", the ethereal weirdness of the interchange on the beach between No 6 and No 2 in Dance of the Dead, and so many others, struck a chord with them. "This is so different from modern stuff, Dad". As my youngest son observed after an episode, "Mobile phones are the new Rover, social media is the new village. Complete with the necessity for compliance, or risk being declared unmutual (cancelled)". If Pat wrote it with longevity in mind, his message remains strong and prescient with the youth of today and, I suspect, of tomorrow.
I remember being 7 years old and watching it on late night on tv completely fascinated but without a clue of what was going on. Was overjoyed to visit Portmeiron in 2002, firstly to see the location and secondly buying the factory priced containers. Who needs government surveillance when corporations like UA-cam monitor your viewing patterns and use algorithms to make suggestions such as this. You have to switch off cookies so you only get random advertising but if you google a topic you will suddenly see a video on it in your UA-cam suggestions. I always like Pats comment that he chose number 6 as it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, meaning that the Prisoner could be anyone of us, he also thought it was more pertinent when it was resgown in 1984. It is so good to see PM in so many episodes of Columbo especially in the one where he plays a secret agent and walks off from Columbo saying "be seeing you". He also directed several episodes that he did not feature in.
I saw The Prisoner in 1979 (or was it '78?) on PBS (Public Broadcast TV not affiliated with the big three CBS, ABC or NBC) in New York. I was barely 12 and i had seen James Bond (The Spy who loved me), but i knew that this was different. I think that i also loved Patrick McGoohan as an actor. There was something i loved about the series. Don't forget at the time not all programmes were in colour so i saw this in black and white. i think that part of what made it stand out for me was that it was not really like all the usual stuff that was on tv. it was one of those programmes that i watched with my mother that we both enjoyed immensely. and it was so good of you to do a brief background of Mr. McGoohan. in fact i also saw the movie Dr. Syn. we saw that on the wonderful world of disney. Thank you for such a wonderful review!
The incidental music plays an important role in creating just the right atmosphere in each episode. The use of the harpsichord for instance, in Dance Of The Dead lends an air of menace to the whole proceedings.
Secret Agent had the same music. I remember one or two shown w only music: the music was another actor. Ps the JAHpanese camaraderie mifune/ kurosawa movies of the 1950s had such a harpsichord use. Sanjuro, Yojimbo...
This is must watch TV ..as it actually transcends the usual moving wallpaper of most television series ..it is more relevant today than ever....Be seeing you..
Very well done! Thank you! I watched the series when it first aired here in the USA. I was 12 or 13 at the time. Had a huge influence on my existing desire to rebel from my authoritarian father. Confirmed that I was doing the right thing by preserving my individuality!
Thank you Steve. You learned early and thank you for being an individual....we need everyone to realise we have the power, not the governments of the world....or the one government controlling all the others.
I remember watching this as a child, spellbound, but barely comprehending, yet the more time passes, the more "The Village" becomes tangible. McGoohan was a prophet of what became - an original "conspiracy theorist" looking 60 years ahead. You could take the analogy further, that present day heads of state are the "Number 2s" of our world- they come and go like ducks in a shooting gallery, only to be replaced by more of the same product. We are in the pot, and the water is just beginning to get uncomfortably hot. For some of us it has been unbearable for years.
@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth Thank you. It is about ready to start the engine, then iron out any issues, then fit the interior, wings, and nose cone. It has been a 5 year project so far.
Excellent presentation of this series that was ahead of its time.👍 I have a short video with Patrick: *Patrick McGoohan on the Ending of The Prisoner* for those curious.
The very clever element for me was the question. Whose side are you on? You touch on this by noting the dangers of trusting or believing in any politician. Considering what Voltaire observed about the nature of power and how it influences those attracted to it. I must take issue with the condescension towards those who visit the village and wear costumes to enhsnce their experience. The apparent submerging of individuality in favour of conformity on display might be illusionary? Considering that they could be doing this to separate themselves from wider, more predictable and regimented society feel they Without asking them, I could not support the conclusion that you appeared to arrive at? At the end of the series, we notice that our protagonists flat now appears to have an electronic door and he has gained a servant. Suggesting that he has either lost his mind or his apparent freedom is only superficially realised. I often challenge those calling police public servants or officials of the state servants. As opposed to public employees. In my view, buying into the servant, master construct enslaves both parties equally. Tieing them together but removing true freedom and mutual respect and even a modicum of real self determination for both. It is fascinating how fervently and unrelentingly I get attacked for holding this opinion / perspective. So keen are most people to have someone to look down on. It even extends to judging others by what they chose to wear. Not by how they act or their core beliefs. Anyway a good review of a very thought provoking series. At this point I could say, be seeing you. But that might incur the penalty of designating me as a casual fan rather than a discerning elevated viewer. Stay free. At least as free as we are encouraged to believe that we are.
Thank you for having an opinion. I have to look at your choice of word being 'condescension' - meaning seeing one as more intelligent or more important. I did say I found it amusing and asked if they'd missed the whole point of the show? I can't see how dressing up for the most part, as prisoners in the village, makes people feel more individual....each to their own, but I did leave out a more pointed observation that I would wager many of the same people playing dress-up, were quick to stand on 2m apart floor signs, wear masks and have their medical procedures dictated to them by the state....and computer software creator, Bill Gates. I don't have proof of this, but a good bet to put on. Yes, servant / master makes both prisoners and the police becoming the state's personal policy enforcers is straight out of Orwell. Sir Robert Peel would be horrified. Your statement that 'you get attacked' for having your opinions, just shows us how they have been manipulated by conditioning, in the same way a hive of insects attack one that doesn't appear to be conforming to the 'accepted' actions of the mass. Your quote - "At this point I could say, be seeing you. But that might incur the penalty of designating me as a casual fan rather than a discerning elevated viewer" I'm not in the position to dish out penalties, people are quite free to be casual viewers (or not at all) and good for you as you describe yourself as a 'discerning elevated viewer'. Myself, I'm simply an admirer of Patrick McGoohan's message that needs to be kept in the public's psyche. Happily - be seeing you, I hope.
@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth I said that about discerning viewer to underscore my previous observation about self elevation. As a kind of, in comment joke. Obviously, it failed. Interestingly. I wasn't an expert in the efficacy of masks regarding cv19. Not at the time nor now. Neither am I an expert in vaccinations. But I am aware of this Chinese saying. The wisest of us know, when we do not know. So we take out insurance. Just in case. But we now live in hindsight era. Where those who survived claim that it was because they did or did not wear a mask. Or did not take one vaccine or another. Or did not socially distance themselves from others. Yet none of us know for e fact. Yet many of us claim to. Again, this need to feel vindicated and victorious is a very tempting position to take. We assume our leadership knew all along what they were doing and had a plan. Yet we have little other than belief to support this notion. Consider this? Is the real purpose of political leadership in this era to disconnect us from the democratic process and promote apathy and thoughtless compliance. If so? Next time, a bug is released / escapes. What if masks and vaccinations should prove essential? Yet all the "free thinking" "superior beings". Refuse to take part. KNOWING AS THEY CLAIM that it is all a con. The Prime Minister of the day or his number one might say. "Let the bodies pile high." This would neatly reset the system. Remove dissenting voices and free up space at high-end restaurants and golf courses. Because from my point of view. Coming to a hard and fast conclusion without irrefutable facts is guessing.
I would argue that The General should be ahead of A, B and C, if only to make sense of No 2's anxiety in A, B and C. Given the recycling of actors in different rolls in different episodes, and to make sense of their real relationship with No 6, I'd put A, B and C immediately ahead of Many Happy Returns, ahead of Hammer Into Anvil. Dance Of The Dead should be closer to the head of the viewing order as it establishes that to the outside world No 6 is declared dead, and also No 6 states that he's only '"very recently" been introduced to the village, whilst Roland Walter Dutton has been there for several months.
Regarding Dance of The Dead, I was going to change that to earlier. It was a lot to remember as I was doing the video....one can get in a pickle. Thank you for your thoughts too.
When we look at the world, its leaders, politics and endless war....I'd rather be classed as 'round the twist', rather than being part of this real madness.
Join us for more rambling at our UA-cam channel www.youtube.com/@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth/videos
This was a labour of love and took quite a few re-makes to get through UA-cam's gates. If it does well, I'll go through the whole series.
It was the perfect show for the times & still stands up. Those 17 episodes are gold.
Great work as always. Enjoyed this immensely. Thank you.
Glad you enjoyed it
best tv series in the history of television, even better than twin peaks
Questions are a burden to others; answers a prison for oneself.
My youngest kids were introduced to The Prisoner in the 2010s while in their very early teens. It's themes, photography, scoring, the sly sarcasm ie The Cat & Mouse Pub, the cynical "In society one must learn to conform", the ethereal weirdness of the interchange on the beach between No 6 and No 2 in Dance of the Dead, and so many others, struck a chord with them. "This is so different from modern stuff, Dad". As my youngest son observed after an episode, "Mobile phones are the new Rover, social media is the new village. Complete with the necessity for compliance, or risk being declared unmutual (cancelled)". If Pat wrote it with longevity in mind, his message remains strong and prescient with the youth of today and, I suspect, of tomorrow.
Your's is my choice comment of the year so far. Bravo!
"Dei izzit soon" 😑👌
@@dubchile zaborte
I remember being 7 years old and watching it on late night on tv completely fascinated but without a clue of what was going on. Was overjoyed to visit Portmeiron in 2002, firstly to see the location and secondly buying the factory priced containers. Who needs government surveillance when corporations like UA-cam monitor your viewing patterns and use algorithms to make suggestions such as this. You have to switch off cookies so you only get random advertising but if you google a topic you will suddenly see a video on it in your UA-cam suggestions. I always like Pats comment that he chose number 6 as it was six of one and half a dozen of the other, meaning that the Prisoner could be anyone of us, he also thought it was more pertinent when it was resgown in 1984. It is so good to see PM in so many episodes of Columbo especially in the one where he plays a secret agent and walks off from Columbo saying "be seeing you". He also directed several episodes that he did not feature in.
I saw The Prisoner in 1979 (or was it '78?) on PBS (Public Broadcast TV not affiliated with
the big three CBS, ABC or NBC) in New York. I was barely 12 and i had seen James Bond
(The Spy who loved me), but i knew that this was different. I think that i also loved Patrick McGoohan as an actor. There was something i loved about the series. Don't forget at the time not all programmes were in colour so i saw this in black and white. i think that part of what made it stand out for me was that it was not really like all the usual stuff that was on tv. it was one of those programmes that i watched with my mother that we both enjoyed immensely. and it was so good of you to do a brief background of Mr. McGoohan. in fact i also saw the movie Dr. Syn. we saw that on the wonderful world of disney.
Thank you for such a wonderful review!
Thank you for your comment and memories.
The incidental music plays an important role in creating just the right atmosphere in each episode. The use of the harpsichord for instance, in Dance Of The Dead lends an air of menace to the whole proceedings.
Secret Agent had the same music. I remember one or two shown w only music: the music was another actor.
Ps the JAHpanese camaraderie mifune/ kurosawa movies of the 1950s had such a harpsichord use. Sanjuro, Yojimbo...
This is must watch TV ..as it actually transcends the usual moving wallpaper of most television series ..it is more relevant today than ever....Be seeing you..
"Moving wallpaper" 🤣🤣🤣
A really excellent presentation, but the purist in me balks at the colourisation of the "Danger Man" episodes!
Very well done! Thank you! I watched the series when it first aired here in the USA. I was 12 or 13 at the time. Had a huge influence on my existing desire to rebel from my authoritarian father. Confirmed that I was doing the right thing by preserving my individuality!
Thank you Steve. You learned early and thank you for being an individual....we need everyone to realise we have the power, not the governments of the world....or the one government controlling all the others.
Thanks for your detailed examination of this remarkable TV series.
Thank you for viewing. Part II soon.
I first saw it as a child, I'll revisit it soon. Excellent video, be seeing you..
Even more relevant in 2025.
I remember watching this as a child, spellbound, but barely comprehending, yet the more time passes, the more "The Village" becomes tangible. McGoohan was a prophet of what became - an original "conspiracy theorist" looking 60 years ahead.
You could take the analogy further, that present day heads of state are the "Number 2s" of our world- they come and go like ducks in a shooting gallery, only to be replaced by more of the same product. We are in the pot, and the water is just beginning to get uncomfortably hot. For some of us it has been unbearable for years.
This series is more relevant today than it was 57 years ago
Guy Doleman No 2 and Peter Swanwick , supervisor very well suited to their role's
'A still tongue makes a happy life' !
Today's government ideas
One of my favourite series.
Put simply, I think it's the best TV show I've ever seen. Nothing else comes close. Breaking bad was excellent, but it's a low second to The Prisoner.
'Londons once British streets', perfect comment 👌.
Like the avengers I remember being young confused but very entertained
Be seeing you
Thanks a lot for the videos.
Thank you for viewing.
@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth thanks for the viewing list. I'm about due another journey through and will try your order. Cheers
The Prisoner is a legendary show.
Beyond just a great series
Best tv show ever, no contest.
Thank you again for the reminder of such a great actor and series, look forward to more , Merry Christmas and a Happy 2025 🍻🍺🍷
Best wishes pal and Happy Christmas to you too. We'll have another Prisoner video out during the holidays, hopefully before NYE. Best wishes.
I am currently restoring a Lotus Super 7 1500 Series 2 ((1968) to copy KAR120C (Arrival to Do Not Forsake version).
Fantastic. We hope all goes well with the work. Best wishes for this year!
@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth Thank you. It is about ready to start the engine, then iron out any issues, then fit the interior, wings, and nose cone.
It has been a 5 year project so far.
@@MarkHarvey-uh8oc Cool
Excellent presentation of this series that was ahead of its time.👍
I have a short video with Patrick: *Patrick McGoohan on the Ending of The Prisoner* for those curious.
I'm curious
@@dennis85573
It's on my channel 👍
@@dennis85573
My reply was removed somehow, but the video is on my channel.
A very controlled society, a fifteen minute city, the prisoner predicted what we may well be on the road towards .😬
McGoohan would have been awesome as Bond ❤but thank goodness he got to be Number 6
Patrick Mcgoohan was great in this as he was in Danger man
I am number 6 on the waiting list,😂 i am not a number!lol!
Better than number 2! Haha.
I had the tremendous two novels. It may be interesting to go over scripts, stories that were not used.
A show so good, Iron Maiden wrote two songs about it ❤
I'll be mentioning this in the next part and thank you.
I always thought the quality of some episodes were not as good when Patrick McGoohan was committed to filming Ice Station Zebra.
The Simpsons did a parody of The Prisoner ("The Computer Wore Menace Shoes") in 2000, and McGoohan was a special guest voice as Number Six.
An intelligent actor, few around these days
Twenty years ago, in Edinburgh, i saw a guy wearing a penny farthing Prisoner badge. I thought that was rather cool!
I'm beginning to wonder if existentialist introspection, defiance of authority, and an affinity for the absurd is encoded in Irish DNA 🤔
The very clever element for me was the question. Whose side are you on?
You touch on this by noting the dangers of trusting or believing in any politician.
Considering what Voltaire observed about the nature of power and how it influences those attracted to it.
I must take issue with the condescension towards those who visit the village and wear costumes to enhsnce their experience.
The apparent submerging of individuality in favour of conformity on display might be illusionary? Considering that they could be doing this to separate themselves from wider, more predictable and regimented society feel they
Without asking them, I could not support the conclusion that you appeared to arrive at?
At the end of the series, we notice that our protagonists flat now appears to have an electronic door and he has gained a servant.
Suggesting that he has either lost his mind or his apparent freedom is only superficially realised.
I often challenge those calling police public servants or officials of the state servants. As opposed to public employees.
In my view, buying into the servant, master construct enslaves both parties equally. Tieing them together but removing true freedom and mutual respect and even a modicum of real self determination for both.
It is fascinating how fervently and unrelentingly I get attacked for holding this opinion / perspective.
So keen are most people to have someone to look down on. It even extends to judging others by what they chose to wear. Not by how they act or their core beliefs.
Anyway a good review of a very thought provoking series.
At this point I could say, be seeing you. But that might incur the penalty of designating me as a casual fan rather than a discerning elevated viewer.
Stay free. At least as free as we are encouraged to believe that we are.
Thank you for having an opinion. I have to look at your choice of word being 'condescension' - meaning seeing one as more intelligent or more important. I did say I found it amusing and asked if they'd missed the whole point of the show? I can't see how dressing up for the most part, as prisoners in the village, makes people feel more individual....each to their own, but I did leave out a more pointed observation that I would wager many of the same people playing dress-up, were quick to stand on 2m apart floor signs, wear masks and have their medical procedures dictated to them by the state....and computer software creator, Bill Gates. I don't have proof of this, but a good bet to put on.
Yes, servant / master makes both prisoners and the police becoming the state's personal policy enforcers is straight out of Orwell. Sir Robert Peel would be horrified.
Your statement that 'you get attacked' for having your opinions, just shows us how they have been manipulated by conditioning, in the same way a hive of insects attack one that doesn't appear to be conforming to the 'accepted' actions of the mass.
Your quote - "At this point I could say, be seeing you. But that might incur the penalty of designating me as a casual fan rather than a discerning elevated viewer"
I'm not in the position to dish out penalties, people are quite free to be casual viewers (or not at all) and good for you as you describe yourself as a 'discerning elevated viewer'. Myself, I'm simply an admirer of Patrick McGoohan's message that needs to be kept in the public's psyche.
Happily - be seeing you, I hope.
@TheOfficialMinistryOfTruth I said that about discerning viewer to underscore my previous observation about self elevation. As a kind of, in comment joke. Obviously, it failed.
Interestingly.
I wasn't an expert in the efficacy of masks regarding cv19. Not at the time nor now. Neither am I an expert in vaccinations.
But I am aware of this Chinese saying.
The wisest of us know, when we do not know.
So we take out insurance. Just in case.
But we now live in hindsight era. Where those who survived claim that it was because they did or did not wear a mask. Or did not take one vaccine or another. Or did not socially distance themselves from others.
Yet none of us know for e fact.
Yet many of us claim to. Again, this need to feel vindicated and victorious is a very tempting position to take.
We assume our leadership knew all along what they were doing and had a plan. Yet we have little other than belief to support this notion.
Consider this? Is the real purpose of political leadership in this era to disconnect us from the democratic process and promote apathy and thoughtless compliance.
If so? Next time, a bug is released / escapes.
What if masks and vaccinations should prove essential?
Yet all the "free thinking" "superior beings". Refuse to take part. KNOWING AS THEY CLAIM that it is all a con.
The Prime Minister of the day or his number one might say. "Let the bodies pile high."
This would neatly reset the system. Remove dissenting voices and free up space at high-end restaurants and golf courses.
Because from my point of view. Coming to a hard and fast conclusion without irrefutable facts is guessing.
The sad thing about typing is one loses the nuances of conversation. Great conversing with you.
You Sir, are awake!
We are now a global village. Be seeing you.
I would argue that The General should be ahead of A, B and C, if only to make sense of No 2's anxiety in A, B and C.
Given the recycling of actors in different rolls in different episodes, and to make sense of their real relationship with No 6, I'd put A, B and C immediately ahead of Many Happy Returns, ahead of Hammer Into Anvil.
Dance Of The Dead should be closer to the head of the viewing order as it establishes that to the outside world No 6 is declared dead, and also No 6 states that he's only '"very recently" been introduced to the village, whilst Roland Walter Dutton has been there for several months.
Regarding Dance of The Dead, I was going to change that to earlier. It was a lot to remember as I was doing the video....one can get in a pickle. Thank you for your thoughts too.
Excellent commentary and a superb show!
Todays lowest common denominator drivel cannot compare
Many thanks pal.
I saw the prisoner in an episode of Danger Man. I r
I am not a number
number one is Jesus. number two is Satan, he will test you all.
Red
McGoohan was round the twist!
When we look at the world, its leaders, politics and endless war....I'd rather be classed as 'round the twist', rather than being part of this real madness.
McGoohan was a genius. A very deep-thinking and spiritual man.
Maybe he didn't think like you