The Prisoner (www.the-usher.com)

"I am not a number"

Arrival
A man awakes in an isolated desert community called the Village with no idea of how he came there. He is designated "Six" and the Villager's administrator, Two, attempts to assimilate him into the community.

Harmony
Six discovers that his brother is in the Village but isn't sure who he really is. Meanwhile, Two tries to deal with his son's growing sense of rebellion.

Anvil
Six agrees to help Two by spying on his fellow Villagers. Meanwhile, 11-12's secret is revealed and 313 wonders what secrets her past holds.

Darling
Six meets a woman from his past while 147 endures family tragedy, and a series of anomalous holes threaten to engulf the Village.

Schizoid
Six is seeing double when an evil version of himself launches an assassination attempt on Two. 313 struggles with her inner demons and 11-12 seeks answers to his personal dilemma.

Checkmate
Six's rebellions are no longer tolerated and he is sentenced to execution. Two suffers a personal loss and the truth will out.

When it comes to reimagining classic TV shows for a new, modern audience, there has been very mixed results but can ‘The Prisoner’ take you back to the Village?

Remaking or reimagining classic TV shows on the small and big screen have always created mixed results. For every ‘Star Trek’, ‘Mission: Impossible’, ‘Blues Brothers’, ‘The Untouchables’ or ‘In the Loop’ you have ‘The Avengers’ ‘Bewitched’, ‘The Saint’ or ‘Thunderbirds’, showing that it is extremely difficult to recreate or surpass the original show. Probably the most critically acclaimed reimagining of a series is Ronald D. Moore’s ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and this is the show that has set the standard for remakes on both the big and small screen. Can the new version of ‘The Prisoner’ do the same?

Back in 1967, Patrick McGoohan starred in a series that would become a cult classic around the world. For seventeen episodes, McGoohan played Number Six a former secret agent who resigns only to awake in a mysterious Village where he is held captive. With a giant white ball stopping him from escaping, the series saw Number Six battle for his own will and planning to escape the Village. Filmed in the grounds of the Hotel Portmeirion in the North Wales village of Penrhyndeudraeth, the show became known for its surreal plots and the intriguing storylines that kept fans guessing as to what was going on. Now ITV and AMC have come together to bring us an update for a new audience but is the essence of the original show still there?

Taking the show away from its original North Wales home to a new African location of Swakopmund, Namibia, the update has been written by Bill Gallagher and directed by Nick Hurran but has kept the surreal plots and the story that will keep you guessing through out. The premise is the same, with Michael/6 awaking in the middle of the desert after resigning from his company. Not knowing where he is, he staggers into the Village, a utopia in the middle of nowhere. Here is greeted as the number 6, with the community embracing him but he knows that he doesn’t belong in the Village and will do anything to escape. Standing in his way is 2, the leader of the community and the man who trying to persuade that the Village is the best place for him to be. Over the six episodes in this mini-series, we are treated to a mix of the serial and the real world as we, the audience, are just as confused about the Village as 6 is but it does head towards an ending that explains what is going on. Well kind of.

Stepping into the shoes of Patrick McGoohan was always going to be a huge ask for any actor and for Jim Caviezel he struggle a little to have the same strength as the 1967 leading man. As Number 6, he spends most of the six episodes looking confused and trying to fine some clarity as to what the character supposed to be thinking and whether he is angry or sad through the duration of the mini-series. The supporting cast is much better however. Hayley Atwell continues to make a real splash as the woman of 6’s dreams, Lucy. Ruth Wilson is also well cast as doctor 313, who starts to believe 6’s delusions of another world. Lennie James is good as Taxi driver and friend to 6, 147 and Jamie Campbell Bower as 11-12 and Rachael as M2 have pivotal roles to play. It is Sir Ian McKellen as Number 2 that makes this mini-series something special. One of the great actors of his generation, McKellen lights up the screen every time he graces it.

The remake of ‘The Prisoner’ is an intriguing watch but doesn’t quite have the same appeal as the original. Jim Caviezel is no Patrick McGoohan but the supporting cast makes the show very watchable and it does come to a satisfying conclusion. As a remake, it succeeds but for fans of the original, they may still be longing for a return to the North Wales version of The Village.

Deleted Scenes for Ep 1 & Ep.2
The Making of Episode 1 & 2
Inside The Prisoner Ep.1 & Ep.2
Comic Con 2009: Prisoner Panel
Jamie Interviews Sir Ian Part 1
Character Profiles Two & six
Deleted Scenes for Ep 3 & Ep.4
The Making of Episode 3 & 4
Inside The Prisoner Ep.3 & Ep.4
The Prisoner Read Through
Jamie interviews Sir Ian Part 2
Character Profiles 313 & 4-15
Deleted Scenes for Ep 5 & Ep.6
The Making of Episode 5 & 6
Inside The Prisoner Ep.5 & Ep.6
Jamie Interviews Sir Ian Part 3
Character Profiles M2 & 11-12

The Usher Home | Hush, Hush... | The Big Story | The Usher Speaks

Stuck @ Home | Coming Soon | Links | Contact the Usher

TV SERIES