This Week I Am Mostly Watching
‘Arrival,’ after his "falling out" in the previous episode ‘Fall Out,’ the Prisoner returns to London
This Session Is Called In A Matter Of Democratic Crisis
Those are the words of the President as he first address the delegates of the Assembly. But what I want to know is this, what democratic crisis? When did this "democratic crisis" first make itself evident, in a village that has no democracy? Did we all miss something whilst watching No.'s 2 and 6 at their deliberations of ‘Once Upon A Time?’
The President went on to say "The community is at stake..... and we have the means to protect it." Again when was the community put at stake? It seems to me that while No.2, the Butler
Hero Or Anti Hero?
From remarks made by former colleagues and friends in the episodes of Many Happy Returns and Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling, Thorpe excepted of course, it would appear that the Prisoner-No.6 is a much respected and well-liked man. Full of integrity, loyal, and extremely competent.
His Fiancée Janet Portland is so devoted to him that she has been waiting for her fiancée to return to her for a year, and has remained faithful to him in all that time! and when her fiancée finally does return to her, albeit in the guise of the Colonel, she accepts his bizarre story, that this complete stranger is her missing lover. It would seem that despite the mind of the Prisoner being wrongly housed in the body of the Colonel, the Prisoner still kisses the same way!
At the end of the episode ‘Free For All’ No.6 speaks momentarily on the phone to the Manager of the Labour Exchange. So why did it not occur to the new No.2 to pick up the telephone and call No.1?
Be seeing you
"democratic crisis": Leaving aside for the moment that Ken Griffith had to pen his speech himself and perhaps had to figure out what the series was all about.
ReplyDeleteWhy a democratic crisis when there's nothing of a democracy as we know it? It must have been their self-conception. As the President he is heard saying "You made us realise our mistakes" (if that's the correct English version). I can imagine that the Village's "failure" in breaking No. 6 or otherwise in pulling him over to their side was considered a veritable crisis. It was probably because of the presumed or factual importance of the man called No. 6 and their realisation that virtually no community or society can possibly exist on and by such a "last final conundrum" (as Jane Merrow's character would put it in "Resolution"). To me a lesson of some kind directed towards the audience. And like many other instances in the final episode it isn't particulary consistent with the action of the series before.
Hello Arno,
DeleteVery nicely put Arno, it is that the former No.6 "You convinced us of our mistakes" is the correct quote. Had they failed in "breaking" No.6 then I can see that would have created a crisis, seeing as they saw No.6 as having a future with them. But the President is pleased with "sir" as the former No.6 became known, seeing as he had vindicated the right of the individual to be individual. And heaped praise on the former Prisoner. But it's all a game isn't it? Even the President is a former No.2, perhaps brought back to the Village for one final attempt to break No.6 in 'Fall Out." And yet it would seem that the Village Administration has run out of ploys and tricks, seeing as they faced No.6 with himself, hardly original, seeing as they had tried that one once before!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
>>But it's all a game isn't it?<< It is. Let's be even more sophisticated and look at it dialectically: a game that's a play, a theatrical play, isn't it. The series' action steps out of its familiar context (being an adventurous TV series) to become sort of a didactic discourse about unconformity, inadequateness - you name it - staged by PMcG and directed to virtually us. We've been discussing this issue once. Amazing it is, it works even if the majority of people at the time couldn't realise it. - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteYes we have been discussing this before, and very well put. And yes I agree, it's a game, a play, a theatrical play that was, as you say, staged by Patrick McGoohan. So on a very basic level, 'the Prisoner' is entertainment, and we, you, me, everyone who watches it, are the theatre audience.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteI always thought that "crisis" referred to those rebels put on trial. (But I like the tinking that Number 6 triumph was percieved as crisis, too)
I guess in a way it's a characteristic of the villages special kind of democracy that it is always "on crisis" as long as there are such "rebels" as Number 48 and Number 2. Just like society today is always "on crisis" from the perspective of several security agencies.
Very kind regards,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
DeleteI cannot see how No.6's triumph could be construde as a "crisis", after all isn't that what they wanted? It had to either No.2 or No.6, seeing as how they got the better man they should be pleased!
I have always questioned that "matter of demorcatic crisis," and found the statement wanting!
That is pefectly true, in todays world there is always a "matter of demorcatic crisis" somewhere, and every day!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hello David,
Deletethis is a tricky one.
By now I think Fall Out is about three rebels. Two of them are put on trial. You are right, they were no threat to democracy, but they were to authority. Because the village is no democracy in the first place, is it? They call themselves democratic, in some ways, but we know how they dealt with the problem an opposition would cause.The third rebel of course is special. Number 6, the ultimate individual who withstands all efforts to break him, suitable to lead them. Accordingly they offer him the post of a dictator.. Maybe to test him one more time, but also to handle him, to make him fit in in the hierarchy of the village.
Maybe it's not so much a crisis of democracy, but more a crisis through democracy which they try to prevent.
Best wishes,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
DeleteVery well put and I'm in complete agreement. No.6 being a man who resists the Village. No.2 has bitten the hand that fed, and No.48, well he just causes mayhem and chaos wherever he goes! I particularly liked the last sentence;
"Maybe it's not so much a crisis of democracy, but more a crisis through democracy which they try to prevent."
That's a different interpretation, and one that tickles my imagination.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Where and when exactly was it that former No. 2 "bit the hand" that fed him? On his No. 2 position he was arguably a very dominant personality forceful enough to make his own point in the face of - No. 1 or whoever was his superior. Would that bit of unconformity be sufficient to put him on trial? Let's forget for the moment that the "Fall Out" trial was only staged... for that matter. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteAdd: As a contrast, the Hippie, No. 48, would be considered an offence to the good public taste, a nuisance per se. Think of the time it was made, 1967. Hence, he was "guilty" of being a rebell or whatelse. But former No. 2? I can't really make it out. - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteThat's a very good question, the truth of the matter is No.2 didn't bite the hand that feeds, not that we the viewer sees anyway. This No.2 was loyal, he even put his life on the line for the cause. I myself in the past have questioned when it was that No.2 bites the hand that feeds. I think it's to do with the fact that Kenneth Griffith wrote his own speech for 'Fall out,' because that statement about No,.2 doesn't fit the character at all. I can only imagine that when Kenneth wrote that speech given by the President, that he had no prior knowldge of the character of No.2. And yet there is a moment when in 'Fall Out' No.2 does bite the hand that feeds, the moment he removes his badge, and spits in the eye of No.1!
No.2 was indeed a forceful enough to force his point with No.1, or his immediate superior. And yet his failure of 'Once Upon A Time' would be enough to see No.2 out on trial, for that failure alone!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hello Arno,
DeleteYes I can see the point you make about the hippie. And the case against the former No.2 is difficult to figure out, it's very vexing! But here's something else...why is the hippie also allowed to wear his own clothes like the former No.6? Has he also undergone something like 'Degree Absolute?'
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
He was allowed to wear his own clothes just because they wanted to expose him, to demonstrate his attitude was considered not tolerable. After all, this is a show trial. - BCNU!
DeleteHello Arno,
DeleteAn interesting interpretation.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Is it? ;-)
DeleteHi there,
ReplyDeleteI'd like to think that that it has to do with Number 2's character. I don't know if there's one special moment when Number 2 bit the hand that fed him. But he's been treated with caution since the beginning of Once Upon A Time. So something might have happened before. Also, we hear his recorded laugh, and see himself laughing. Maybe he was too sympathetic towards Number 6 and didn't take it all serious enough. And then he changed positions with Number 6 during Degree Absolute. As they point out that's sometimes neccessary when doctor and patient have the same problems.
Very kind regards,
Jana
BCNU
Hello Jana,
Delete"Maybe he was too sympathetic towards No.6." You may have something there, after all the original idea behind having so many different No.2's is so that No.6 cannot create a relationship with No.2. And yet we hear No.2 say in 'Once Upon A Time,' "I'm beginning to like him," that might be enough if that was overheard by Observers. Depneding on whether or not they was listening!
And yes No.6 did change places with No.2, and in that lies his failure, doesn't it? I said in another comment that the case against No.2 in 'Fall Out' is a difficult one to understand, I'm beginning to think I'm not so sure about that!
Very kind regards
David
BCNU
Hello David,
DeleteI get the feeling that it's something like a picture puzzle.. I'd like to think that Number 2's failure lies in his sympathies for Number 6, yes, and also in his familiarities with him and some similar character traits, maybe. But when I take this into focus, then another part of the plot gets blurred. Because if they put Number 2 on trial for his failures regarding Number 6 then they put the one on trial who helped them find their new Sir, who might become their new master. It's really vexed. Ok, when I think about it, one might think that this means that they didn't want Number 6 to be their new Number 1 in the first place, perhaps this would make sense.. But .. Somewhere there's a missing link.
Very kind regards,
Jana
Be seeing you.
Hello Jana,
DeleteA missing link? No.2 tried to find that, and look what happened to him! It's not something that's cut and dried is it? No.2 put on trial for his failure, a man who helped them find a new No.1. Yes, perhaps they didn't want No.6 as their new master, and that's why No.2 was put on trial. But then if they didn't want the former No.6 as their new master why build him up in the way the President did in this praise for sir? Obviously so they could knock him down again, that's the only reason I can think of.
I enjoyed your comment, I hope other readers do.
Very kind regards
David
BCNU