If there’s something I like to do from time to
time, its having a rummage through my Prisoner collection. It was while I was
going through papers in one of my ESCAPE files the other day that I came across
a crumpled, yellowish, coffee stained sheet of paper upon which at some point
in the past I had scribbled my own idea for the screening order of the
Prisoner. With there being both a screening order for the Prisoner and the film
library order as according to film editor for the Prisoner Tony Sloman, there
has always been a question amongst fans of what is the correct screening order
for the series? This is the first time I have entered this debate, and publish
my own listing for the first time. I realise that there are several different
facts to factor in when considering what order to put the episodes in, but
these facts although help define a screening order, they can also conflict with
each other. For example both ‘A B and C’ and ‘The Schizoid Man’ take place at
the same time according to the date of The Tally Ho newspaper. Also ‘Dance of
The Dead’ is supposed to be the second episode and precedes ‘Free For All.’ How
can it be that in having dispensed with an irritation like democracy, then they
later hold local elections in ‘Free For All? So I decided to ignore all the
facts, and place the Prisoner episodes in correct alphabetical order. It was
then that I hit upon the first of two problems. First it would make ‘A B and C’
the first episode that obviously wasn’t going to work. The second problem ‘Fall
Out’ would be placed 8th in the order and that wouldn’t do. So I had
to make three exceptions, ‘Arrival’ had to be first, ‘Fall Out’ last, with
‘Once Upon A Time’ the prequel to the conclusion. But 14 episodes in between have
been placed in correct alphabetical order ignoring ‘the’ of course. So my list
is as follows.
1]
Arrival, this has to be the first episode.
2]
A B and C
3]
A Change of Mind
4]
Checkmate
5]
Chimes of Big Ben
6]
Dance of The Dead
7]
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
8]
Free For All
9]
General
10] Girl Who Was Death
11] Hammer Into Anvi
12] It’s Your Funeral
13] Living In Harmony
14]
15] Schizoid Man
16] Once Upon A Time, this episode has to
precede ‘Fall Out.’
precede ‘Fall Out.’
17] Fall Out, obviously this has to be the
final episode.
The
Jailbird – Steve Matt 1986
18] Village Day ----- At least I do
not have to give 14 individual reasons why I have placed said 14 episodes within
the order I have. I am also aware that certain situations do not function well
as I have broken my mantra regarding ‘Dance of The Dead’ and Free For All.’
Also
by the time of the 7th episode No.6 has already been in the village
for a year, and subsequently both the events of ‘Many Happy Returns’ and
‘Schizoid Man’ would take place in 1968. And what’s that edition, an 18th
episode? Back in the 1980’s and 90’s fans would talk about the 18th
episode to the Prisoner, so I’ve thrown the film ‘Village Day’ {produced
1998-99} into the mix. Why, because in my opinion the film is extremely fitting
to be called the 18th episode of ‘the Prisoner.’ I don’t know how
many reading this have seen the film, but I will say this much, there’s a new No.6 in the village who makes a
terrible discovery. Although the screening order debate has been going for a
very long time, no-one has ever been able to arrive at a definitive order, each
as different to any other. And yet there will be those who would argue the
correct screening order to ‘the Prisoner’ is the one we are all familiar with, used
for television screenings as well as videos and DVD ’s. But that’s never stopped fans from
juggling with the order of the episodes.
A surprising list, David. It works well, but also almost like any other order list. The thing about coherent plots and actions, like in the case of "Dance" and "Free", is that there doesn't have to be a stringent coherence. Because Carrazé and Oswald write, "All the episodes of THE PRISONER seem to take place in an eternal present and to tell an uncompromising cyclical story." I think that's a valid statement. Although we know very well that the series wasn't really purposefully designed to be like that. Much was accidentally achieved. - BCNU!
ReplyDeleteHello Arno,
DeleteYes it a curious screening order. I suppose ‘Fall Out’ could have gone before ‘Free For All,’ but being the conclusion clearly made it impossible.
Carrazé and Oswald are quite correct, most all episodes can take place at any time, and in any order, but a few can only take place at certain times of the year. Much was accidentally achieved, and yet much was deliberate as well.
David
BCNU