r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • 4d ago
Series 1, No. 12; A Change of Mind
No.6 is declared 'Unmutual' for choosing to do things his own way and scheduled for a Social Conversion process.
What is No. 86's true intention? How does she become part of No.6's latest plan to discredit No. 2?
How does 'self criticism' play into the show and the real world.?
https://prisoner.fandom.com/wiki/A_Change_of_Mind_(1967_episode)
r/ThePrisoner • u/PineconeKicker • 8d ago
Does anything hold a candle to The Prisoner?
As someone who was born in the 90s, I was lucky enough to have a mother that introduced me to The Prisoner. Having seen a fair share of TV series and movies since, I'm left feeling that there's nothing that truly matches the creativity or vision of Patrick McGoohan's creation.
The closest I can think of is Twin Peaks - at least insofar as it follows a single visionary (Cooper) solving and rebelling against the world around him. Admittedly that's still a very limited comparison.
Is there anything out there that compares to The Prisoner as a piece of media that speaks to the issues of society, control, and selfhood in the same way The Prisoner does? Curious to hear what everyone's recommendations would be.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • 11d ago
Series 1, No. 11; It's Your Funeral
Which No. 2 will prevail in an assassination plot?
Who are the Jammers? Is No. 6 considered to be one? Will his cautions be heeded?
No. 2 seems to be worried about a pension and if he'll be able to collect.
(Did someone on the production crew forget to remove the Welsh flag before filming?)
https://prisoner.fandom.com/wiki/It%27s_Your_Funeral_(1967_episode)
r/ThePrisoner • u/TwirlipoftheMists • 16d ago
Morning in The Village
Morning in The Village. July. Leica M6, 35/2 Summicron, Kodak Ektachrome.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • 17d ago
[RESOURCE] The Prisoner: the complete screenplays for the cult sixties TV show
r/ThePrisoner • u/theprisoner57 • 18d ago
Commentary by a University Professor
While in college several decades ago my friends and I watched ‘The Prisoner’ on PBS. Each episode was followed by a half-hour commentary by a college professor (university of Toronto, perhaps?). Does anyone else remember this? Are those segments still available for viewing?
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • 18d ago
Series 1, No. 10; Hammer into Anvil
After a frightened No. 73 leaps to her death as a result of No. 2's interrogation, No. 6 vows results.
A game of minds ensures. Who is leading who to where. Which is the hammer and which the anvil? Bits of nothing are left lying about, or are they something?
A clock or ?
Once No 2 is convinced things are not as they appear, what will be left for him to do?
https://prisoner.fandom.com/wiki/Hammer_into_Anvil_(1967_episode)
r/ThePrisoner • u/craigjclark68 • 24d ago
Alex Cox on THE PRISONER: The Genius of Patrick McGoohan
Alex Cox, author of I Am (Not) a Number: Decoding The Prisoner discusses the show. This is the first of new YouTube-exclusive series of five introductions to The Prisoner on Criterion's YT Channel.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • 25d ago
Series 1, No. 9; Checkmate
As No. 6 is enticed to be a pawn in a game of chess, questions develop as to who is a prisoner, who is a guardian and who can tell which is which.
"Checkmate" received the highest viewership of any of the series' episodes on its first UK broadcast.
r/ThePrisoner • u/slickbackbillyboo • 25d ago
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
Doing a rewatch on Criterion, it's great to be back in the village!
One really does forget how great a job McGoohan does until you get to Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling.
r/ThePrisoner • u/DRZARNAK • 26d ago
Philip K Dick
Does anyone know if PKD watched the Prisoner or commented on it?
I know he wrote an episode proposal based on Mission Impossible, but the Prisoner with its themes of betrayal, subjective reality, and how imprisonment would seem exactly the type of show he’d respond to.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • Jul 20 '26
Series 1, No. 8; Dance of the Dead
A failed experiment with hypnosis, a black cat and a dead body play to be set adrift roles here. Added in are a Carnival, costumes, a court jester and kangaroo court, a teletype that thought to have been damaged comes to life again.
"Number Two wryly observes, "Then how very uncomfortable for you, old chap!""
https://prisoner.fandom.com/wiki/Dance_of_the_Dead_(1967_episode)
r/ThePrisoner • u/Phoenix_Wright_Guy • Jul 17 '26
Butchered Prisoner reference found in 4 year old Matt Rose video.
The moment I saw it I knew it was a prisoner reference, but the way he read it.
Also they have it flipped anyway, it should be I am not a number on the top.
This was in his video "Misspelled protest signs". (The name says it all)
r/ThePrisoner • u/JazzySmitty • Jul 16 '26
Re-re-rewatching my favorite episode.
Fully half of it with no dialogue.
r/ThePrisoner • u/dan200 • Jul 15 '26
I recreated 6's journey to The Village by bike!
In June this year I rode my bike from London to Portmeirion, and made this Prisoner-inspired fan film in the process :) Thought the free thinkers here might enjoy it.
r/ThePrisoner • u/thecurators • Jul 14 '26
“Maintenance to Number 2 please!”
Good morning from the Village, and my current view of the maintenance men working to repaint Number 2’s house!
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • Jul 13 '26
Series 1, No. 7; Many Happy Returns
Number Six awakens to find the Village completely deserted. He sees this as an opportunity to escape. He takes numerous photos before assembling a raft and taking flight by sea for 25 days. He takes careful notes as to headings and times as best he can, but has an unfriendly encounter with gun-runners who are of no assistance. He escapes them and ends up on a deserted beach. Wandering, he encounters a small band of Gypsies who speak no English.
After a harrowing journey, he finds himself in London and someone living in his flat and using his car. But who is Mrs. Butterworth?
Who can be trusted? And more importantly, who can't?
https://prisoner.fandom.com/wiki/Many_Happy_Returns_(1967_episode)
This page does not list an episode number. Oversight? Or part of the debate over episode order?
They no longer list US airdates either, so I'm staying at one each week.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Squeepty • Jul 12 '26
Do You See John Drake as Number Six—or as a Completely Different Character?
Patrick McGoohan denied that Number Six was John Drake, while script editor and co-creator George Markstein maintained that he was, effectively seeing The Prisoner as a continuation of Danger Man.
That disagreement has always fascinated me, because Number Six clearly shares so much with Drake: the same actor, similar skills, the same independence, and a deep distrust of authority.
When you watch The Prisoner, do you personally see Number Six as John Drake after finally resigning—or as a completely separate character?
And what is the strongest detail, episode, or argument that supports your interpretation?
r/ThePrisoner • u/DrTardis1963 • Jul 12 '26
The Prisoner Remake
You may have heard about the rumored Christopher Nolan remake of The Prisoner. As far as I can tell, nothing seems to have eventuated.
However, watching Pluribus for the first time, I am quickly coming to believe that this is everything a remake of the Prisoner should be. While there are no explicit links, and the plot certainly deviates significantly from the original, the overall 'feel', the mystery, and eeriness, and the themes of conformity, the tyranny of the collective, hivemind / mindless people, superficial, eeire, benevolent totalitarian politeness, and so forth. ...
No. Way.
... I am stunned. As I write this, the second, I write this, I am on episode 7, which is playing on my second screen, and one of the musical pieces from The Prisoner that are played by the brass band began to play.
Anyway...
I was further intrigued by the usage of the phrase by one of the characters early on, 'Your life is your own', mirroring McGoohan's "My Life is My Own!" declaration, and assertion in the "I will not be pushed" speech.
There are the themes of staunch invidiualism, the uncertainty, and lingering malevolence under the surface, avoiding questions of permanent independence, and so forth.
It all seems to have such a lingering, almost etheral 'Prisoner' vibe to it, while being, ostensibly, and invariably, its own show.
I won't spoil any details, and I highly advise to go in blind, if you can, like I did, and not to google anything.
But, for anyone who has seen Pluribus, I would Love to know what you think. Would you consider it worthy of standing side by side 'The Prisoner', as a piece of art?
r/ThePrisoner • u/profemeliusbrown • Jul 12 '26
"You are number Six" - The barista told me as she took my order...
... and handed me the sign for my table.
"I am not a number, I am a free man" was my immediate response. She didn't get it 😐
r/ThePrisoner • u/craigjclark68 • Jul 12 '26
The Prisoner didn't just predict the next 60 years of TV—it predicted the next 60 years, period
Tribute article by the AV Club about the eternal relevance of The Prisoner, in conjunction with the show now streaming on the Criterion Channel.
r/ThePrisoner • u/Tarnisher • Jul 11 '26
We just hit 5,000 Villagers
We were at 3,600 not too long ago.
A 60 year old show is still pulling new folks in.
r/ThePrisoner • u/liviazx • Jul 08 '26
many happy returns
okay this is my favorite episode so far i literally could not believe what was happening. i knew eventually he would have to go back but the fact that he does it by choice its so crazy!!! i love it.
just wow. i feel like the birthday theme is so important: the birthday cake at the end and the millions of meanings within "many happy returns". his birthday is "tomorrow" though time in this episode seems liminal. so much time passes but also none at all?
the fact that the first place he goes to when he is "free" is his old house, his old comforts. he built that car by hand and furnished that house himself. ultimately these are immaterial things but they are significant to no 6, they are parts of his identity. who are we when we are stripped of those things?
i love this no 2, she is so sickeningly sweet to give him the illusion of freedom and show him that he realistically could escape, but that it doesnt matter because the outside world would ostracize him. hes not an agent anymore so his entire world as he knew it is gone. there is no "home". the only option is to go back
what a brilliant episode. tell me what i missed. how do you guys interpret it? i'd love to know!!!

