Search This Blog

Saturday 28 April 2012

This Week I Am Mostly Watching

THEPRIS6NER-09 'SCHIZOID'

  In the Village Store, which has everything for your needs, just so long as its a Village map you wish to buy! 37927 enjoys a cigarette with Un-Two. The cigarettes are illicit, sold from under the counter, which is curious, as many shops here in the UK now having to sell cigarettes from under the counter, and not allowed to be seen on display.
   After Un-Two has left the Village Shop 37927 telephones the Clinc to report Un-Two, just as in the original series after No.6 has left the General store in 'Hammer Into Anvil,' the shopkeeper reports No.6 in the same sneaky way to Number 2.
   'Schizoid' is all about doubles, or the alter ego of Six, being two-times-Six. Two hasn't a double, that's simply Two playing the role of Un-Two, yet Two imperosnators, are, according to Two, a danger to the Village, and in the end 37927 is accused of being a Two impersonator, and is taken off to the Clinic for treatment, plus he's wearing the old school scarf. Two never wears the old school scarf, not in this series anyway.
   Two-times-Six wants to kill Two in revenge for the death of 4-15 in the previous episode. But isn't that how Six feels, so it must be Six who wants to kill Two.
   Are there in fact two Six's in the Village? Has Two discoverd a way of splitting the human psyche? Because even though at times Six seems to be struggling with his inner-self, at other times there is the physical presence of two-times-Six, 147, 313, and Two has seen two-times-Six!
    Two has some wonderful lines in this series.

    "Impersonating Two is an act of treason. In the event of a Two impersonator arising, you must seek him out and apprehend him. This man may look like Two, but you will know that he is not Two, becasue he is not Two. He may appear in the Village in a dishevelled state, which has resemblances to Two. He may claim to be Two, but he is not, and he must be treated as who he is, which is someone who is not Two. He is a danger to the Village."

    Also when Two and his body guards go to the 'Go-Inside' bar, he pays tribute to the original series, by looking up at a Penny Farthing bicycle suspended from the ceiling, a nice touch I thought.
   Poor old 11-12, he is desperate to go to the 'other place,' but that is only possible for the people who exist there, and who are brought to the Village. For those like 11-12, born of the Village, there can never be anything other than the Village, as 11-12 does not physically exist.

Remember, Village is best for us.

8 comments:

  1. I just watched this series over two mights and found 'Schizoid' quite interesting - particularly the line; "If we're one, we can beat Two."

    I'm reminded of the bizarre coincidence of Anton Rogers appearing in both 'The Schizoid Man' and the movie 'The Man Who Haunted Himself', starring Roger Moore (based on the short story 'The Curious Case Of Mr Pelham'). Like No6, Pelham has to prove to Anton Roger's character that HE is the 'original' as opposed to his doppelganger.

    An even MORE mind boggling coincidence occured in the ad breaks of 'The Schizoid Man' when it aired on Channel 4 in the early 80's. It was for the 'Twin Blade Gillette Razer' and the voice-over commented that "Two are better than one."

    The voice was that of Anton Rogers!

    BCNU );oB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Steve,

      That's an intersting comment, and such coincidences, quite remarkable. I like the film 'The Man Who Haunted Himself,' and Pelham was far better off when he became whole again at the end if the film. Pelham was beginning to lose his sanity, perhaps that is what had happened to No.1 by the time of 'Fall Out,' certainly he's seen laughing maniacally!

      'Schizoid' is my third favourite episode in the series, after 'Arrival' and 'Anvil. As for 'Checkamte,' well I felt cheated by the shortness of this episode when I first watched it, not even 50 minutes, let alone an hour!

      Regards
      David
      Be seeing you

      Delete
  2. I understand 93 was supposed to be No6. That was the impression I got when I first watched it in 2009.

    I felt 'Checkmate' was an anticlimax. If I'd had MY way, I would have written a final twist...

    ...the 'remake' turns out to be a PREQUEL and 'Michael' (now in charge) is seen to be overseeing plans for a new Village (Portmeition) with the final scene depicting him looking through the file of an upcoming abductee. He puts it aside and the camera pans into the front cover.

    It's the iconic image of Drake's 'resignation photo'!

    BCNU );oB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Steve,

      Yes, I suppose in one respect 'Checkamte' can be seen as something of an anti-climax, it was all about handing over the Village, and escape. For me the episode is too short, almost as though Bill Gallagher had run out of ideas.

      Now there's a thought THEPRIS6NER a prequal, interesting. And who said this series does not create throught and debate?

      Regards
      David
      Breathe in breathe out, more Village.

      Delete
  3. ...casual viewers would not be aware that the Village was around since 'before the war' but I think they'd have loved the 'prequel' idea as a satisfying twist - with a final nod to Patrick McGoohan, whom I'm sure would have approved.

    Everybody's happy!

    BCNU );oB

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Steve,

      THEPRIS6NER as a prequal, why not, after all the Village appears to be set in the 1950's.

      Yes, I think McGoohan would have approved of THEPRIS6NER-09.

      As ever
      David
      Be seeing you

      Delete
  4. The only reason I can think of for giving Two a double must have in order to give the real star of the dreadful remake, Ian McKellan, an interesting parallel storyline. However, it only served to muddy the waters of what might actually have been the one good idea in this ill-conceived cash-in on McGoohan's genius.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Anonymous,

      It seems I've read that phrase before 'This ill conceived cash-in on McGoohan's genious.'
      I wonder if you would have considered it to be so had McGoohan appeared in the series? I wonder what McGoohan would have made of the series had he lived long enough to see it?

      Regards
      David
      Be seeing you

      Delete