Years ago, I attended a science-fiction/fantasy convention and among other things they had rooms with presentations of various SF/Fantasy type shows. (They had to run them from reel-to-reel film on projectors; this was back in the late 70’s.) This episode was their selection for THE PRISONER, and I remember not being very impressed by it. Unfortunately, this re-viewing of it hasn’t improved my opinion of it.
Overall, it seems to be all an elaborate ruse to subject Number 6 to some interrogation techniques under the guise of being tested for his worthiness to run for office. In the end, it’s all just a sham and Number 2 apparently wasn’t even who he pretended to be. Along the way, they try to do some satire about how campaigns and elections have no real meaning. But the only scene that really works is where a reporter keeps inventing campaign jargon when Number 6 says “no comment,” then when he responds “Mind your own business,” the reporter writes, “no comment.” I remember that’s where everyone laughed when I saw it at the convention. I noticed that the reporter’s number was 113 – a subtle nod to BRIMSTONE. (Well, except for the fact that BRIMSTONE was 31 years later in another country on a different network and had absolutely nothing to do with this show.)
Other than that, it’s a boatload of nonsense. Number 2 seemed to be a position occupied by different people from week to week, yet here we’re told the position is up for election every 12 months and this one is running for a second term? Has Number 6 been there for a few years now? In the opening, the cheering crowd shouts “Number Two. Number Two,” and then the minute Number 6 throws his hat in the ring, the crowd is ready with a poster and a new chant instantly. So, no surprise it’s all bogus. I like that Number 6 promises them more leisure time, but what exactly do these people do? There are maids and taxi drivers around and I guess somebody cooks, but it’s more like the Villagers are the equivalent of rich people who have servants do all the work. So what do they need more leisure time for?
Meanwhile, the Prisoner is getting dosed with drugs again. At one point, he just goes nuts and tries to escape on a motorboat. The only trouble is it’s in broad daylight with a helicopter hovering over him. I was waiting for Number 2 to say, “You do know I’m hovering right over you, don’t you?” When the bubble is released, rather than plow the motorboat into it which might puncture and destroy the thing, he cleverly jumps out of the boat leaving himself completely exposed to the breath-smothering device instead. Later, he is at a pub (called “The Cat and Mouse” – now that was appropriate) being told that all drinks are non-alcoholic and taste the same. He demands something to drink even though he’s acting like he’s drunk already. Later he passes out, and we’re told he’s being dosed with something – as if we hadn’t already guessed.
Number 6 wins the election by a landslide (more like an avalanche) and is brought into Town Hall. But rather than ask to see Number 1, he is persuaded by his Russian maid to play with the control buttons. Then he’s slapped by the maid and beat up by a bunch of thugs (as the henchmen were on lunch break) and dumped back in front of the maid, who is apparently the real Number 2 for the week. “Will you never learn?” she asks him. Learn what, exactly? That the people who run the Village are a bunch of deceitful con artists? That’ll help next time they try to interrogate him. “Tell us the truth, and we’ll give you a position in our organization.” “Yeah, like you let me get ‘elected’ that time? Not falling for that again, buster.” The only thing he learned is that they don’t really have free and fair elections in the Villlage. Gosh, wasn’t that a shocker?
So let’s see if I can come up with some good things about this episode:
1. No dogs were harmed or killed during the show.
2. I liked the “no comment” scene.
3. I liked the name of the pub.
Okay, so I guess I award this 3 speeches written on big cue cards. Better luck with next week’s episode.
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JohnQ1127
10 years ago
Number 2 seemed to be a position occupied by different people from week to week, yet here we’re told the position is up for election every 12 months and this one is running for a second term?
Well, remember that this is really just the 2nd or 3rd episode in the series so he's not that familiar with situation of #2. We already watched things he did in Chimes of Big Ben and A, B, & C when he is much more savvy about the system. We also don't really know how much time has gone by between episodes. Also, It's not necessarily a reelection to give #2 a second term, it's a chance once a year to "unseat" a #2. Sort of like the Heavy Weight boxing champ giving some unsuspecting contender a title shot once a year.
“Will you never learn?” she asks him. Learn what, exactly?
Well, will he learn that there's no use in trying to escape or trying to fight the system.
At one point, he just goes nuts and tries to escape on a motorboat.
Again this was supposed to be the 3rd episode so he's still unfamiliar with his chances to escape. Also this was supposed to be "before" "The Chimes of Big Ben".
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dtmuller
10 years ago
The best part of this episode is that it gives us a definite answer to the question I posed last week. How would I have responded to the show if it were brand new and I watched it in this order?
"Arrival": This looks like it could be a really good show.
"Dance of the Dead": What the hell was that? (Which, by the way, was my exact reaction to Night Gallery's "Moon Mouse" episode.) But let's see what they do next week.
"Free for All": OK, that's enough of that. What else is on?
What's amazing is that several episodes are very well done, but here they've given us two in a row that are just awful. Does anyone, including #6, really believe for a moment that there was any chance at all that they would actually let him take over and release everyone? Or have any power at all? And his being new has nothing to do with it. On the very day he arrived and realized he was being held prisoner, if #2 had offered to put him in charge and give him power to let everyone go, should he have believed it? Of course not; that's absurd. So the whole election was obviously nonsense to anyone. It's one thing to make him think he could escape, so they could trick him into talking or to dash his hopes, as they did with "The Chimes of Big Ben" and the helicopter bit in "Arrival". But what purpose could possibly be served by anything so obviously contrived to fail? Utter silliness.
The episode gets 4 stuffed ballot boxes. And whoever decided not to jettison the audience by running these two turkeys in the #2 and 3 slots gets a solid 10 corner offices.
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brimfin
10 years ago
“Will you never learn?” she asks him. Learn what, exactly? (brimfin)
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Well, will he learn that there's no use in trying to escape or trying to fight the system. (JohnQ1127)
I would buy that reasoning if this whole plan was something Number 6 had initiated. Let's say, he had seen someone running for the office and persuaded him to drop out and let him try instead. Or that they had given him a campaign manager, and then he refused him and said, "No, I want to use this Russian maid instead," thinking he was outsmarting them.
But, they initiated the whole thing, suggesting he run for office, appointing the "maid" as his campaign manager. They told him that if he won, he would meet Number 1 and assume the trappings of Number 2's office. Then, when he wins the office they just beat him up and say, "Ha, ha, we were just fooling." He already knew he was a prisoner and that escape was nearly impossible. This didn't prove anything that he didn't already know. That was why I wasn't impressed with the episode the first time.
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JohnQ1127
10 years ago
I would buy that reasoning if this whole plan was something Number 6 had initiated. Let's say, he had seen someone running for the office and persuaded him to drop out and let him try instead.
I see your point. But remember #6 went along with this charade initially just because he had nothing better to do then he was brainwashed twice because he refused to participate in this whole fake election.
They told him that if he won, he would meet Number 1 and assume the trappings of Number 2's office. Then, when he wins the office they just beat him up and say, "Ha, ha, we were just fooling." He already knew he was a prisoner and that escape was nearly impossible.
In many ways I see #6 in these early episodes like Wile E. Coyote or Charlie Brown with the football and the various #2's play the Lucy or Road Runner roles. They're toying with him in these early episode trying to break him emotionally.
He already knew he was a prisoner and that escape was nearly impossible. This didn't prove anything that he didn't already know.
He doesn't know that escape is nearly impossible because this is supposed to be episode 2-3. Remember this episode was supposed to take place "before" the events of "Chimes of Big Ben". This is the problem of watching "Chimes" second. Chimes is a turning point after the first four episodes with the elaborate escape. Then #2 gets far more aggressive in trying to extract "information" in ABC.
Again were viewing these out of order and we've already seen where #6 is far more savvy in Chimes and ABC.
Also I think it's important to view the series and this episode in allegorical terms with aspects of surrealism mixed into the story telling. McGoohan is making certain critiques of the process of elections and the functions of the press in western democracies.
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brimfin
10 years ago
He doesn't know that escape is nearly impossible because this is supposed to be episode 2-3. Remember this episode was supposed to take place "before" the events of "Chimes of Big Ben". This is the problem of watching "Chimes" second. Chimes is a turning point after the first four episodes with the elaborate escape. Then #2 gets far more aggressive in trying to extract "information" in ABC. (JohnQ1127)
I'm not basing my statements on "The Chimes of Big Ben." My computer was down and I haven't watched it yet. I was planning to try to catch it in sequence soon. I was basing his inability to escape on the drive away attempt ("Arrival"), the helicopter attempt (also "Arrival") the beach in the middle of the night attempt ("Dance of the Dead") as well as all those darn surveillance cameras and the fact he is obviously cut off from civilization. I didn't think this episode proved anything because they didn't break some plan of his, but essentially one of their own.
Also, regarding his attempt to escape on the motorboat, it was clear when he did it that he wasn't thinking rationally - the result of the drugging, no doubt. It was clearly a crazy idea, just because of the helicopter hovering over him if nothing else. Again, on this, my statements were not influenced by "Chimes of Big Ben", which I haven't yet seen. (But I guess I should catch it soon.)
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JohnQ1127
10 years ago
I'm not basing my statements on "The Chimes of Big Ben." My computer was down and I haven't watched it yet.
Sorry, I forgot you didn't have access that week.
I was basing his inability to escape on the drive away attempt ("Arrival"), the helicopter attempt (also "Arrival") the beach in the middle of the night attempt ("Dance of the Dead") as well as all those darn surveillance cameras and the fact he is obviously cut off from civilization.
Well, he doesn't know where he is exactly so he could actually only be a few hours away from civilization. That's only 3 escape attempts before this episode and a character like #6 isn't likely to give up that easily.
I'm not sure why you're focusing on the "escape attempt" aspect of this episode seeing that the motor boat incident was such a minor plot point?
It's really mainly an episode satirizing western political elections and their political process.
These early episodes are just episodes where the #2's are just toying with 6 trying to break him emotionally.
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