Thought For The Day

                                              

   In standing for election as the new No.2 in ‘Free For All’, I think No.6 saw as simply being an opportunity which he might be able to exploit in some way, well he might as well, seeing as he had nothing else to do!
    Yes, originally No.6 may very well have thought about bringing the system down from within, who can say with any precision what was in his mind at the time. But sadly that would never happen, as No.2 had been in control all the time.
    One other thought. I had always assumed, yes I know one should never assume anything where ‘the Prisoner’ is concerned, that No.2, even the Labour exchange Manager, knew all the time what No.6 would do if elected as the new No.2. Which would be to organise a mass breakout. But what if it was originally in the mind of No.6 to bring down the system from within if elected as the new No.2? So what better way to counter that, than by conditioning No.6's mind to the idea of organising a mass break out of the Village instead if elected, which he would be. In other words "they" didn't know what No.6 would do if he was elected, "they" were telling him what to do during that ‘Truth Test!’ Putting the idea of a mass breakout into No.6's mind through "Inception.”

Be seeing you

Village Life!

  Something seems to have upset No.6!
   
   "How dare you ask me that!"
   "I don't understand. I only asked if you thought you were getting enough votes!

BCNU

The Therapy Zone

Playing It By The Numbers

   Ronald Radd, No.53-the Rook in ‘Checkmate.’ Pity the poor Rook, his mind tortured, his body tortured. Yet he preserves enough of his spirit to band together with his fellow conspirator, No.6. His is the portrayal of an anxious man who fears recapture by those holding captive, which is deftly carried off by Radd. His early nervousness comes off well, he is suspicious of everyone and has good reason to be. A man whose mind is almost at breaking point, who likes to obey the rules, and not upset anyone. He is a scared man, scared of saying the wrong thing, to be heard by a guardian saying the wrong thing.

   His relief comes when he realises that he is being interrogated by someone like himself, a prisoner-No.6. Much of the performance of the Rook comes through tormented facial expressions and the actor with this part suitably deserves praise.

   Christopher Benjamin as the labour Exchange Manager in Arrival, assistant to No.2 during ‘The Chimes of Big Ben,’ and contact man to Mr.X/John Drake in ‘The Girl Who Was Death.’ Comedy and light relief are expertly provided by this actor. From twiddling that wooden contraption in his office of the Labour Exchange, to polishing Mr.X's suede shoes at his 'shoe-shine' stall. Benjamin brightens up the series with he performances. As for his role of "Potter," Benjamin had already played this part before in the series of ‘Danger Man,’ in the episode of Koroshi, when he was Drakes contact man, where incidentally, they met in a record shop! Although Benjamin always denied this was the case, as the two characters of the Potters are different.

   It might very well have been Benjamin's performance in ‘Danger Man’ which made him a natural choice for the Prisoner. In any event, it is a welcome decision, for his amusing antics add some dashes of colour to the sombre backdrop of the Village.

   John Sharp takes us from the amusing to the sinister and menacing with his portrayal of No.2 during ‘A Change of Mind.’ A more sinister character you would not wish to meet. Your worst nightmares would be difficult to equal this man, whose rotund shape and chubby face may give off a kindly appearance, but it is the cold piecing eyes one remembers. There is something cold and brooding about this man, and we cheer with relief when he is chased through the village, after being denounced by No.86 as being unmutual!

    When he speaks, the quiet tones of his voice sends shivers down the spine, even enough to freeze the blood in the veins of the listener. His is the face on the Orwellian style of poster, which at the same time is reminiscent of the First world War Kitchener poster.        "Your Community Needs You."

   This No.2 character who knows what is good for you, whether you like it of not.

    Over the past decades there has been something called "Whys and Wherefores", question and answer if you prefer, regarding the Prisoner. The only thing is, for every one question you might receive five different answers or interpretations, But then if you will ask questions......

   Why is Fotheringay so excited at news of No.6's return in Chimes?  

    Perhaps Fotheringay was speaking on the phone before being sent to the village as part of the set-up. Presumably the office where Colonel J questions the Prisoner is an exact replica of the one in London. Fotheringay may have expressed pleasure at being told he would be joining the others on the trip to the village.

    Why is No.2 so surprised that Nadia is an Olympic Bronze medallist? No.6 was also an Olympianist, on the Olympic fencing team!

    Even though Nadia is on the side of the village, it is possible that No.2 would know every detail about her. To keep the set-up as authentic as possible, she may not have told No.2 the actual means of her staged escape attempt.

    Who speaks to No.2 on the phone in ‘A B & C’ to inform him of No.6's arrival?

    An unseen aide, {such as No.100 in Its Your Funeral} could have made the call from outside the chamber. Or maybe it was the Butler. Just because he never speaks on screen, it doesn't prove he is mute.

    Are Thorpe and the Colonel working for the village in ‘Many Happy Returns?’

    We know that one of their men questions Mrs. Butterworth. However, this man is the same man who, {tally ho note: no he's not!}disguised as the milkman, replaces the Group Captain as pilot of the aircraft. Even if Thorpe and the Colonel are not working for the village, it is obvious some of their men are. I believe the Colonel is on the side of the village, but Thorpe is not. Notice the way the Colonel readily accepts the Prisoners story while Thorpe remains sceptical.

    In ‘Many Happy Returns,’ why didn't the Prisoner try to escape by land using the Mini-Moke? With no guards, surveillance or Rover to stop him, surely he would have stood a good chance of driving to freedom.

    Alternatively, having decided to escape by sea, why didn't he use the fuel from the Moke and others he could have found to destroy the village by fire without loss of innocent life?

Be seeing you

Teabreak Teaser

   In 'Checkmate' we are told by No.8 that everyone tries to escape when their spirit is broken. But with 'Checkmate' comes No.6's final escape attempt, until 'Fall Out' of course. So the question is, in having gone to so much trouble in searching out his reliable men, coming up with an elaborate escape plan, only for it to be dashed by the Rook's suspicion, was No.6's spirit broken by this failed escape attempt? Or is it simply the case that there was no further opportunity for escape until 'Fall Out' came along?

BCNU

Thought For The Day

   The one thing about 'Many Happy Returns' is, that it is very difficult to swallow. For example, No.6's carries out a number of activities before felling a number of trees, emptying oil barrels, and then building himself a sea-going raft, without showing any sign of tiredness or exhaustion!
  We are told at the end by the Colonel, that the Prisoner is an old, old, friend who never gives up. Is that meant as sufficient explanation, that a man can overcome all obsticles simply by never giving up? A nice idea, but perhaps, that goes to make No.6 his own worst enemy!

BCNU

Exhibition of Arts and Crafts

    Portrait of No.2 from my Black and white Period.

BcNu

The Prisoners Double Meaning

    It was written some years ago that incredibly many years on from the original screening of the Prisoner that some people have still not twigged onto the double-meaning behind the series, even though McGoohan blew the whistle on himself rather obviously for the final two episodes.

    The Prisoner works very well a continuation series of 'Danger Man,' dealing with what happened to John Drake after he resigned. Of failing to see that No.6 and John Drake are the same character, a spy series where a man who resigns is abducted to the village to have the reason behind his resignation extracted, and coercion used against him to turn him towards the village, seeing as this man has a future with the village.

   But then the financial rug was pulled out underneath McGoohan, and so he abandoned the spy theme of the series, which most viewers had been following the stories on this surface level, and with the final two episodes swapped from symbolism to surrealism, then all hell broke loose. As the final episode was to reveal all, but which at the time revealed little or nothing upon the original screening of 'Fall Out.' Because then it went and gone, leaving the viewer with only what he could remember at that time.

    There was a great deal to take in at the time, and so short a time to take it in, 50 minutes to learn what the Prisoner was all about. which side ran the village - the location of the village, seemingly at the end of the A20 close to Dover as some fans thought! Who was No.1, well you met with him and still didn't get it! Why did the Prisoner resign? Well you were told, perhaps you were not listening, listen again why don't you. Would the Prisoner escape? Well he was just as much a prisoner at the end as he was at the beginning, it was, after all, his future!

Be seeing you