The Therapy Zone

The Chimes Of Big Ben

    What if the Prisoner had actually been physically taken back to London? After all the trick might have worked, and No.6 would have revealed the reason behind his resignation.

    Well what would have been the point in that? All that would have been achieved was the confirmation that it was the British who were running the Village. And after all were we really supposed to know which side runs the Village, or even why the Prisoner resigned. But of course No.2 does finally succeed in discovering the reason behind the Prisoner’s resignation in ‘Once Upon A Time,’ the only trouble is it doesn’t seem to be enough, almost as though he thinks there is more to it than resigning for “peace of mind!” He asks the Prisoner to tell him again, but he’s been told, and the moment is passed!

   As the portly, and heavy No.2 in ‘A Change of Mind,’ having been denounced and marched through the village by the citizens chanting "Unmutual, unmutual, unmutual" to the beat of a drum. No.2 then takes to his heels, and spritely runs up the steps to the relative safety of the Green Dome.

   Can we really believe that a man of No.2's stature is so light on his feet? Well of course we can't, as actor John Sharp who played the role of No.2 never went to Portmeirion. Mind you I do really think that they could have found a slightly heavier and portly man to run up those steps. Perhaps at the time of filming they had no idea that John Sharp was going to play the role of No.2 in ‘A Change of Mind.’

The Prisoner

   If’ the Prisoner’ is anything, it is both Patrick McGoohan and Portmeirion. Yet having watched the Prisoner documentary ‘Don't Knock Yourself Out’ found on the 40th anniversary DVD, I'm positive, and the evidence is quite clear on the matter, that Patrick McGoohan was the driving force behind ‘the Prisoner’ series. That he took overall control over every aspect of the series production, acting, producer, director, script writer, and even having a say in the production of the theme music, cannot be denied. I'm sure that so much involvement tipped Patrick McGoohan over the edge, in the way he treated members of the production crew, at times he completely lost it, ranting and raving at directors in front of the whole cast and crew. And in his office at script writers.

   I wonder if it would have been better for Patrick McGoohan if all he did was his job, and left others to get on with theirs, and not become involved with every aspect of production, and then taking over completely. But then perhaps the Prisoner would not have turned out the series it did. As sometimes when you feel so passionately about something, you need to stamp your authority upon it. In Patrick McGoohan's case, I think his passion and drive were just too much for some who worked on the production of ‘the Prisoner.’

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