John Drake - A Most Complex Character

    The Prisoner, the concept of which was born of the long association with Danger Man John Drake. For many of the critics who have no doubts whatsoever, the identity of No.6 is that of John Drake.

    Drake started out as an agent for NATO Security, but was not averse to carrying out the occasional private assignment, and ask his own price. In his position in NATO Security, Drake took instructions from a number of superiors, Mr. Hardy being one, Colonel Keller being another, Mr Clements, the list could go on.

    Drake has a strange American accent in the beginning of the 25 minute episodes, but as time passes so does his accent mellow. And by the time of the 50 minute Danger Man episodes, not only is Drake now working for Her Majesty's Secret Service MI9, M9 in the series, he has lost his American accent altogether and appears to be as British as the British. Seeing as how Drake is actually born an Irish American and states as much in at least one episode.

   Six feet two and a half inches tall, the image of John Drake was originally supposed to have been closer to that of a James Bond type of secret agent, rather than the image of both versions of Danger Man series. His character is at first cold, aloof, calculating and enigmatic. He sets himself from women, there is no romantic involvement. His main weapon against his many adversaries is his intelligence. Though he is capable of using his fists, or some other weapon if necessary. Drake tries to rely more often than not, on his wits, to be able to respond to any adversity or the unexpected, by using his ingenuity and has a rare talent for assuming any number of different characters or guises in order to carry out his missions.

   Although handy with his fists and so being able to look after himself in a fist fight, he does try and avoid violence. But when he does fight, it is a clean fight. He has a horror of bloodshed. He rarely carries a gun, and will only use one as a last resort, but never shoots to kill. Well that is not quire strictly true, in the episode of Time To Kill, Drake is given the assignment of finding and bringing back, dead or alive, Hans Vogler, a hired assassin who has extended his activities from America to Europe. Drake is this one time, set to complete his assignment by killing his target, and does so, but by accident. As in a struggle a rifle goes off by accident, killing Hans Vogler.

    Drake's missions were many and varied; from investigating a number of suspicious deaths or the disappearance of a cipher agent. Tried to establish the sincerity of a young woman who had asked for political asylum. Recovered diplomatic papers stolen by a Sicilian petty criminal. Brought about the end of a spy ring who were despatching secrets from a radio pirate station to a submarine. Was entrusted with the protection of political or diplomatic personalities. Has saved an American consul and his family from the clutches of a terrorist. Infiltrated an IRA cell. Hunted down a master spy. Retrieved a spy master from the clutches of a foreign embassy. All requiring the appointments of a particularly gifted and qualified agent. But there is nothing 'superhuman' about Drake himself. He was given the opportunity to play a wide range of roles and characters, obliged as he was to assume a cover identity on many of his missions. The identity of a Czech engineer, a school teacher, journalist, drunken slave trader, a drunken airline steward. A deck hand, a radio DJ. An army Captain, assassin, jailbird, insurance investigator, Butler. Has impersonated other people, as in Colony Three when Drake took on the character of Robert Fuller, Michael Liamond an IRA man just out from prison, and there were more, many more. And at other times Drake often used his own name, unless this too is a false name, John Drake!

   And finally John Drake was the first agent to employ sophisticated gadgets derived by a special department. From micro tape-recorders, a variety of listening bugs. Tiny cameras, screwdrivers in pens, a tiny telescope hidden in a fountain pen. False shoe heels, false cigars to hide a screw in for example, to name but a few. And of course the sophistication of such gadgets would be far explored in the James Bond films.

    And the missions, they took Drake to all corners of the world, from Paris to Vienna, the Caribbean to Kashmir. The Balkans, Hong Kong, the Sahara desert. From Slavosk to Scotland, Wales and Central America. And the action was at a spirited pace, with no dead time whatsoever, well there wasn't time! The story was set, and it was straight into the action.

   But as both time and episodes went by, Drakes character changed. His maturity gave himself a greater sense of understanding of others. Drake finds himself involved in his relationships with other characters. He finds women attractive, where before he had no time for such observations. He looks upon women with more interest, and wonders what it would be like to be married. Perhaps one day there will be someone, a lucky girl, who will persuade him to leave his job, find a less dangerous way to make a living, and then finally settle down. Drake became less perfect, less infallible, and he behaves in a more human way, as he has become more 'humanised' in the 50 minute episodes. He can make mistakes and is altogether more likable.

    Well there have been times when, well let us say that there have been times when Drake has been less than happy with some of the assignments given to him, of the 'dirty jobs' he has been forced to do. Because as stated in the opening sequence of the 25 minute episodes: "A dirty job to be done? That's usually when they call on me or someone like me. By the way my name is Drake John Drake."

    "Other people's dirty work. Someone has to do it. Someone's got to do it... I suppose!" as Drake said at the end of one particular episode.

    Perhaps Drake got fed up with doing other people's dirty work, being used by others for personal gain as in the episode of ‘The Black Book.’ Another reason to resign wouldn't you say?

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