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I was delighted to have this as the sequel to my copy of the boxed set of "Danger Man / Secret Agent". It was used but like new in condition. Discs in pristine condition. Excellent quality sound and image. The included featured bonus rare alternate version of the episode "The Chimes of Big Ben" was not the same quality of sound and image, but was close enough to be enjoyable. The only real disappointment in this boxed set was lack of subtitling, a feature actually listed on the box but not found on any of the discs. A real plus was the "Video Companion to 'The Prisoner'". a fascinating 28 minute feature on Disc 10 discussing the allegorical themes and unsettled debates over interpretations and misinterpretations of the series, plus on Disc 5 a retrospective Behind the Scenes interview with Original Production Manager Bernie Williams on the making of the series. Both features reiterated Patrick McGoohan's insistence that "the prisoner Number 6 is most vehemently NOT John Drake!" (I think he is.) Spoiler alert. The "Video Companion" near the end states that Number 1 is in reality Number 6! But since 16 of the 17 episodes represent Number 1 as giving orders over the phone to Number 2 about breaking the resistance of Number 6 this is an inconsistent contradiction. Even as an "allegory" it makes no sense, especially if "the viewer is supposed to be the real subject being urged to retain personal identity by rebelling against conformity". Stupid nonsense void of real meaning, the only real defect of the "Video Companion". (Laughing at you for taking it seriously?) Just disregard. Most fun was the multiple Trivia Quizzes, and the simple Map of The Village allowing four scans of the area N E S W as bounded by mountains and the sea. The "viewing sequence of episodes" in this 2009 A&E (CBS) DVD boxed set of 10 discs (5-pack thin case) is according to the order endorsed by The Prisoner Appreciation Society "6 of 1".
A final note: The 16th episode Once Upon A Time explicitly stated that the "Absolute Degree" involved a drug, and that the whole procedure was an extreme and radical measure that would end in the death of either Number 6 or Number 2. Neither of them could leave before one of them was dead. The episode Living In Harmony established that another hallucinogen had been administered along with external props set up on the grounds of the Village to make the entire experience of the 19th century western adventure intensely real to Number 6. An earlier episode established that the Village was on the coast of Spain. The final situation is evocative of the films The Matrix, Total Recall, and Superman DC Comics' "Black Mercy", a lethal plant parasite which allows the victim to mentally experience what is most desired as being absolutely real while in reality it paralyzes the victim as it drains life away. Number 2 is dead, but revived, Number 1 is unmasked by Number 6 during a violent armed revolt, Number 6 destroys the Village by igniting the ballistic missile that was the headquarters and control center of Number 1, and escapes in the cage on wheels with Number 2 and Number 48 and the Butler by driving directly out of a tunnel to London on an unbroken multilane highway (from the coast of Spain!) in the space of about one hour. There, he leaves the mobile cage, reacquires his Lotus and drops off the Butler at his apartment which is numbered 1 on the door, a door which opens automatically as did the door of his apartment in the Village accompanied by Village music! He then speeds down the highway as he did at the beginning of the series as if the whole experience is going to endlessly repeat.
All the clues point to the fact that the "Absolute Degree" procedure has caused permanent brain damage with an irreversible perpetual hallucination begun with the ice cream cone in episode 16 which then played continuously all through the final episode 17 Fall Out, and as in Total Recall will end in his death in hospital with Number 6 chemically lobotomized and enjoying the illusion of freedom after "escape", while Number 2 and Number 1 in reality are still alive and in charge, and the Village and its population of inmates and warders will continue to operate.
The A&E 2009 Boxed Set I received did not have the U.S. episode intros with the blip images of a blond woman flashing split-second on screen a few times as the angry Agent strode down the hallway light dark light dark before he angrily opened the door, which suggested to the viewer the private reason he resigned (who was she?). It also did not include the song "Secret Agent Man"--"they've given you a number and taken away your name"--Of course not, that's a different series! The Prisoner makes a great sequel to Danger Man/Secret Agent after viewing episodes Korashi and Shinda Shima, broadcast originally after the final episode of The Prisoner.
"Be Seeing You."
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Patrick McGoohan's Unconventional Classic!
Unique, wildly unconventional, often frustrating, but never dull, Patrick McGoohan's brilliant 17-episode original series, "The Prisoner" has stirred controversy for over 40 years. Was it a nightmarish vision of dehumanization? A bitter treatise on the loss of personal freedom to 'the System'? A satire of an era when vocal radicals were undermining the Establishment? Or something else, entirely? One of the pleasures of the series is creating your own theory (which McGoohan, himself, encouraged), and this collection provides everything you need to become an expert on the world of 'The Village'...It is a program with an intriguing backstory; after 86 spisodes playing 'John Drake' in the very popular British series, "Danger Man" (renamed "Secret Agent" in America), between 1961-1967, McGoohan abruptly quit. When the studio demanded compensation, he offered a new series, about a secret agent who leaves the service for personal reasons, is promptly kidnapped, imprisoned in an idyllic, but sterile community, renamed 'Number 6', and relentlessly interrogated by the unknown jailers. Each week he'd attempt to escape, only to be recaptured, until he'd finally learn the secret behind 'The Village'. The studio, intrigued by the concept (recognizing the parallels to McGoohan's own situation), asked for 26 episodes (McGoohan wanted to make only seven), and a compromise of 17 episodes was reached. Then the American distributor, CBS, became involved; they disliked the concept (believing it to be little more than a live-action 'Road Runner' cartoon, with McGoohan's character the coyote, devising elaborate schemes to escape that always failed), and dumped the new show into the little-viewed summer 'hiatus' between seasons, where failed pilots and unsuccessful series could earn back production costs by advertising revenue.But a strange thing happened; ratings soared, as word-of-mouth about the unconventional series spread, and CBS found itself with a hit! They quickly approached McGoohan, begging him to extend the series, and offering a prime spot in the fall TV schedule. The actor simply smiled, said, "Thanks, but no thanks!", and concluded "The Prisoner" with the surreal 17th episode.And the legend was born...Loaded with extras, including trivia quizzes, a 'Video Companion' to the series, production stills, and even a map of 'The Village', "The Prisoner - Complete Series Megaset (40th Anniversary Edition)" is the most comprehensive edition of the groundbreaking series you will ever find...I highly recommend it, and invite you to join Number 6 in the Village...and develop your own theories!
Top reviews from other countries
R. nichols
Campy, non-predictible old series
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2021
Gazza
Absolutely Brilliant
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2018
Gazza
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 20, 2018
From the very first episode you are watching something totally different from anything you've ever seen before. The story concerns a retired agent who cannot realistically be allowed to retire. As a result he is taken to an environment in which he is to spend his remaining days. This place is known as “The Village” (Portmeirion)―the place where the retired agent (renamed No. 6) spends each episode attempting to, in one way or another, escape from.
Of course there is more to it than this little summary. But one need not go into all the so-called philosophical themes underlying the episodes and series to enjoy it. You simply just have to sit back, get nice and cosy with a drink in hand and enjoy the spectacle of The Prisoner.
There is one criticism. It is that the last four episodes aren't, in my view, anywhere near as good as the first thirteen. And even within the first thirteen there are some episodes better than others with at least 5-7 stand-out episodes in the whole series. When you watch it you'll see what I mean. So what went wrong with the final four? For me, it seemed that they ran out of ideas and didn't know how to end it. So, you get a western-style episode (which doesn't even begin with the Lotus Seven S II racing around London) followed by three quite bizarre episodes. These didn't make much sense to me. They were full of surreal scenes, lots of shouting and the plot (if there was any plot) was difficult to follow.
But this shouldn't put you off to what is on the whole a fantastic series and one, if you haven't seen before, that is definitely worth watching. It’s true to say that it's one of those few series you'd wish you hadn't watched before so you could enjoy watching it all over again for the very first time. It's simply that good.
One final thought. I do find it hard to believe that this was made fifty years ago. When I look at the TV today I hardly find anything worth watching at all. Perhaps this is why The Prisoner stands out so much. It certainly was a classic of the time and is still very much a classic today. Watch and enjoy. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'm certainly looking forward to watching it for a second time in the not too distant future.
However, the final words should be left to Patrick McGoohan himself. On the back of the DVD box set he is quoted (August 2007) as saying:
‘While we were shooting The Prisoner there were some in high places who predicted doom for “that crazy thing with the numbers.” After the final episodes screened in London one prestigious newspaper wrote “Good riddance to bad rubbish!” Surprising as it may seem, forty years on “that crazy thing” still has its adherents and gathers more as it is discovered by a new crop of viewers. Thanks to network's fresh and vastly improved edition, The Prisoner can journey happily into the future.’
I hope you find my review helpful.
Images in this review
1rover1
Blu-ray Version: Like watching the whole series with new eyes
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 21, 2016