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Friday 26 September 2014

Prisoner Appreciation



   How do fans and enthusiasts show their appreciation for ‘the Prisoner?’ Well there are many ways, the simplest way of all is it to sit and watch the series. But then what? To sit there and watch it again, or perhaps to wait and watch it again after a matter of a few months, maybe to restrict yourself to watching the series twice a year. Or perhaps to watch the occasional favourite episode during the intervening months. But what then? After all there must be more to the appreciation of such a series than to simply sit and watch it all the time and nothing else. There is. You long began asking yourself the questions, and to formulate answers in your mind, perhaps to make note of them. You begin to think about what the series means. and you form interpretations, to put meaning to ‘the Prisoner.’ And that’s all well and good, but eventually you want to make contact with like-mined fans and enthusiasts for ’the Prisoner,’ to discuss, debate, and exchange ideas. It might be that eventually you meet up with fellow fans, in a club or society, to perhaps form a local Prisoner Group and organise activities. You visit Portmeirion, follow in the footsteps of Number 6. Even to wear Village attire at Prisoner Conventions. To act the part as others have before you, in re-enactments…….Six for Two, Six for Two, Six for Two. We want Number Six, we want Number Six, Number Six, Number Six, Number Six, Number Six, he’s the one, Six is the one. We want Six is the one, we want Six Six is the one, sorry wrong series!
    You make collection, of ‘the Prisoner on video, DVD. Buying books on the subject, perhaps ‘the Prisoner’ based novels. Pens, pencils, badges, mugs, ‘T’ shirts, sweat shirts. Not to mention photographs, postcards, posters, and ‘Prisoner’ memorabilia produced years ago, like the soundtrack on LP record, cassette tape, and cd. Perhaps you allow your imagination to run away with you as you listen to a particular piece of music, recalling an associated scene in your mind. That’s easy to do as you know the series like the back of your hand. One enthusiast used to speak in ‘Prisoner.’ You would say something to him, something quite ordinary and nothing out of the ordinary, but he would always reply with an appropriate line from ‘the Prisoner.’ Was that carrying ‘the Prisoner’ too far? There were those at the time who thought it was. Then on the other hand I knew one person who had not seen the series since its British screening in 1967, apart from the odd episode, and yet his appreciation of ‘the Prisoner’ is still second to none. And that answers the question I was going to ask, can one appreciate ‘the Prisoner’ without actually watching the series more than once? Apparently you can.
    Fans crave information, information, information, and by hook or by crook they get it, simply by logging on to the Internet and typing two words in the search box ‘the Prisoner,’ and all manner of websites, domains, and forum groups come up. The fan, the enthusiast is spoilt for choice. And through the Internet, one can make friends and contacts with whom to discuss ‘the Prisoner’ to their hearts content. But what after that? Well that is entirely up to the individual. Perhaps to aspire to owning a Caterham Seven in ‘Prisoner‘ livery, or Mini-Moke in Village livery as many enthusiasts do. I know one person who replicated the interior of Number 6’s cottage in her attic. While another enthusiast built a replica of Number 6’s cottage in his garden, and fitted out the interior as near exact of the interior of the study as it is possible to do.
   We each have our own way of appreciation. For myself, it has brought me here, writing my ‘Prisoner’ inspired blog for both my own enjoyment and that of others.

Be seeing you

6 comments:

  1. As it happens, recently I wrote down my recollections of my own first "real" Prisoner encounter, the 1991 convention. And the most remarkable thing about it is that it isn't just that event alone or the mere series, for that matter. It is the general and very personal experience surrounding it and how it all came about. And that includes e.g. the viewing habits in those days of TV (1969) as well as the very circumstances of our trip to the Village. In other words, it's part of the biography. Younger people may have completely different approaches to it such as through the internet or "social" media, music, art - whatever. And I think this is something specific, belonging to a certain generation of fans who were being socialised in the early days of TV. - BCNU!

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    1. Hello Arno,
      Yes I read your recollection, very interesting. And an interesting comment. I think Prisoner conventions are personal to each individual, and they either put in or get as much out of the event as they want. Some people are there to be able to dress-up in The Village of 'the Prisoner.' To take part in re-enactmants, or as a purely social event, a chance to meet up with old friends.That's how it always appeared to me.

      Very best regards
      David
      BCNU

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  2. Hi David
    I tend to watch an episode every few months if I have a few days off work when I can be alone (no distractions!). It's surprising the new things you notice when you watch each episode again. To be honest, I try not to analyse things too much as I find it spoils the mystery - I like there to be a few things that I still don't understand. One of the things that I love about the series is the mysterious village and enigmatic hero. Also, one thing I love is when I see or hear things in everyday life that remind me of the series e.g. the lion statue, portmeirion-style buidlings, or when someone says something like "Ill be seeing you", "by hook or by crook", "I am not a number".
    Love
    N
    x

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    1. Hello Nadia,
      That's the thing about 'the Prisoner,' there are always still things to see in the series, things to discover even after 47 years. And at the same time there are many aspects of the series which will forever remain a mystery, as they cannot be explained. I trust in reading my blog that I do not spoil your appreciation for 'the Prisoner' with my analysis, and different takes on the series.
      Writing about everyday life, one day recently my wife and I spent a day on the Great Central Railway, and there were a couple of Prisoneresque moments. One being when George Markstein got aboard the train! Well obviously it wasn't George, but someone the exact image of him. In face, build, and walk, even his spectacles were as like George Markstein wore. I tried to take a picture of him, but each time he turned away, even when I thought he wasn't looking! Then at one of the stations on the line there were a numer of gardeners working. One was bald-headed and reminded us of Oliver McGreevy, the gardener in 'Arrival.'

      Very best regards
      David
      BCNU

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  3. Hi David
    Following on from my comment above - this lunchtime I saw a telecoms van with the company slogan "Where you're always Number 1" How cool is that!
    N
    X

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    1. Hi Nadia,
      That is pretty cool. One time outside our house there was a workman's van stopped in the street. I cannot recall whether it was a plumber or electrician, but it had a Penny Farthing on the side of the van.
      Have a good weekend.

      Very best regards
      David
      BCNU

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