Ever since the Prisoner was first screened, people have wondered what it's all about. Then in 1977 Six of One: The Prisoner Appreciation Society was formed as a forum for debate, to search for answers.
The Prisoner is not straightforward, it is frequently puzzling, that much is obvious.
Many people, if not most people who have watched the series, in part or whole, are left wondering what it all means, I know I was. They probably felt uncomfortable when the series came to an end because they didn't understand what they had seen. Or rather, they didn't, or don't, see what everyone else seems to see, that elusive answer!
I'll be seeing you
It has always baffled me as to why there was so much confusion as to the identity of 'Number Six', considering at the time of its premier, 'The Prisoner' was shown immediately after the series 'Danger Man'.
ReplyDeleteHad Frasier not been addressed by his name in his tv spin-off to 'Cheers', I'm sure American audiences would have taken it for granted the two disfunctional psychiatrists were the same character.
A British example would be the brilliant sit-coms 'Porridge' and 'Going Straight'. Had ex-convict Norman Stanley Fletcher not been referred to by name in 'Going Straight', British audiences would still have connected the character to the former criminal in 'Porridge'.
So why is it so difficult to get our heads round the idea that the ex-secret agent in 'The Prisoner' is former secret agent John Drake in 'Danger Man'?
At the time, McGoohan only revealed Drake was No6 privately to friends and crew members. I suspect he encouraged audiences to keep guessing simply because he knew 'The Prisoner' (in colour) would have a longer shelf life than the B&W 'Danger Man' and so his identity would be irrelevant to future audiences...
But look at it like this.
The resignation sequence has a far greater impact and shock value if we KNOW the character! This man who had a brilliant career and who's record was impeccable IS John Drake. Otherwise...WHY SHOULD WE CARE???
BCNU );oB
Hello Steve,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't agree more, but I know those who read my blog who will not!
Regards
David
BCNU