The Therapy Zone

The Prisoner Is Put To The test!

The question was asked a number of years ago "Was the 16 episodes of ‘the Prisoner’ specific tests?

   Well of course they were, and the ultimate test being Once Upon A time. Yet in the 17th episode, ‘Fall Out,’ the manipulation of No.6 went on, and which culminated in his meeting with No.1.

   In those 16 specific tests No.6 demonstrated such qualities as:

A sense of humour

Strength of character

Determination

A sense of identity

He cared about those in the village, once anyway

Ingenuity

Survival

Individuality

Cleverness

Trustworthiness - in some people

Suspicion

Friendship

A skill in using his hands, building a raft in ‘Many Happy Returns,’ a coracle during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben’ for two examples. Stitch work in making his own punch bag, and private gymnasium sometime between the end of ‘It’s Your Funeral’ and ‘A Change of Mind.’

He demonstrated how he can live by his wits

Quick thinking in how he was quick to come up with an explanation of his three piece sculpture to the three members of the Arts & Crafts committee.

Sportsmanship in the noble art of boxing, fencing, shooting, not to mention Kosho.

    No.6 had it all, then rejected it all in Fall Out, and it was the manipulation used against him in ‘Fall Out’ that started it all in the first place. It's no wonder there was such a persistence with the question "Why did you resign?"

Its All I I I I I I I I I I I I I with Number 6!

    "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, briefed, debriefed or numbered! The fleeing No.1 screams "I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I" As it was with the delegates of the assembly "I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I" as they shouted No.6 down, not wishing to hear a single word he had to say.

    So its all "I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I" with No.6 as both the village delegates and No.1 sees the situation with No.6, or Sir as he became known. To the delegates of the assembly, and to No.1, there was the apparent danger that if the ultimate power was handed over to Sir, that he would in fact put himself - I, before the members of the assembly, the citizens of the community, and that of the village itself.

   You see, it's always I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I,I, with the Prisoner-No.6, "I will not be pushed, filed, stamped etc, etc". And in that there lies the problem!

This Session Is Called In A Matter Of Democratic Crisis!

   In the episode of Fall Out, the proceedings are presided over by a Judge, or President as he credited as being in the closing credits of the episode.

   But what I have to ask is, to what democratic crisis is the President referring? After all there is no democracy in the Village, that has long since been proven, and confirmed by No.2 during a conversation with No.6 during the ‘Dance of the Dead.’

No.6: "Your administration is effective, but you have no opposition."

No.2: "An irritation we have dispensed with. Even at best, free democracy is remarkably inefficient.

   So where is the democratic crisis?  There is only the question of revolt - and three specific instances - to be dealt with here in court!

Be seeing you