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When it comes to the last episode (or last 2 episodes as despite the fact they were filmed months apart from each other they form a 2 part story) I don't think ANYONE understands it fully. The only person who claimed they did understand it was Patrick McGoohan, and his choice was to take it to the grave rather than explain it to anyone else.
For the benefit of those that Haven't seen it, STOP READING THIS ANSWER. Watch it first. DON'T READ ANY MORE as there will be spoilers involved here and it will color your watching of the series.
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.The last episode has some moments of genius and some major flaws in it.
I have the feeling that the big 'reveal' of number ones identity (was it number 6 or is number 6 merely a monkey) was more allegorical than truthful. Although it means that in the introduction every week when number 6 asks "who is number 1?" the answer that he got was really "you are, number 1" instead of " you are number 1". That comma makes all the difference.
The shootout to the tune of all you need is love, was also one of the strangest contradictions that I can remember seeing.
The reason that I see it as being flawed is because it closes the series in a metaphorical way rather than telling us anything about the end. Yes we get to see that number six keeps his individuality intact, and isn't broken by 'the man' whoever that may be.
But we never get to find out
Who number six was?
why did he resign?
where was the village? Here theres a direct tunnel leading to london. In previous episodes it was hinted it was off on a remote island
who runs the village? where they on our side, the soviets, or a private concern?
where their aliens involved? there are theories that suggest that they were?
My favourite thing though is subtle and right at the end. When the door opens at 6's real home after it appears he escaped. From here I think that although he did escape from the village, he isn't free. Whats happened is that the people in charge of the village have expanded their influence and now are in control of the world. Thus the knowledge that number 6 had dosen't matter any more as theres nothing he can do to foil their schemes. He isn't free but he doesn't realise it. Which is how I think Magoohan felt about society.
Anyway.. there are lots of opinions. After mine you may want to look at what some of the cast thought
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7wVyRkwUhI
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Answered Question
M$1
November 08, 2009 01:00 PM
Have you seen the original Prisoner series starring Patrick McGoohan? If so, here's your question...
In the Final Episode of the series, "Fall Out", there is much controversy over the "meaning" behind the episode. If you've actually watched the series, did you understand the last episode?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/f/f9/Prisoner_sm.jpg/225px-Prisoner_sm.jpg
NOTE: This question is NOT for those who look up the answer on Wiki or any other watchers opinion on it's meaning. I'm asking what YOU (who watched it) found the answer to be.
This is one time when I have my own answer to my own question. I want to see if anyone else saw the same thing I did. There's no tip so as to avoid the race to the coin and since I already have an opinion about the answer it wouldn't be fair to skew my "best answer" to the one who shares it.
Rather this is one question designed to inspire discussion and contemplation as there may never be a "true answer" now that Patrick McGoohan is dead (Jan 15, 2009).
http://media.comicmix.com/media/2009/01/14/patrickmcgoohan.jpg
Back to my commentary. Granted, it took me 6 times watching it through (yes, I'm a fan) but it finally clicked. I got it! It made perfect sense (no I don't drink or do drugs). I was utterly blown away. Absolute genius on Mr. McGoohan's part.
What did it mean to you?
The Prisoner (remake) will premiere at 8PM | 7C over three nights on AMC.
Sun., Nov. 15:
"Arrival" and "Harmony"
Mon., Nov. 16:
"Anvil" and "Darling"
Tue., Nov. 17:
"Schizoid" and "Checkmate"
http://media.amctv.com/photo-gallery/theprisonersneakpeek/crop8.jpg
NOTE: This question is NOT for those who look up the answer on Wiki or any other watchers opinion on it's meaning. I'm asking what YOU (who watched it) found the answer to be.
This is one time when I have my own answer to my own question. I want to see if anyone else saw the same thing I did. There's no tip so as to avoid the race to the coin and since I already have an opinion about the answer it wouldn't be fair to skew my "best answer" to the one who shares it.
Rather this is one question designed to inspire discussion and contemplation as there may never be a "true answer" now that Patrick McGoohan is dead (Jan 15, 2009).
Back to my commentary. Granted, it took me 6 times watching it through (yes, I'm a fan) but it finally clicked. I got it! It made perfect sense (no I don't drink or do drugs). I was utterly blown away. Absolute genius on Mr. McGoohan's part.
What did it mean to you?
The Prisoner (remake) will premiere at 8PM | 7C over three nights on AMC.
Sun., Nov. 15:
"Arrival" and "Harmony"
Mon., Nov. 16:
"Anvil" and "Darling"
Tue., Nov. 17:
"Schizoid" and "Checkmate"
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Best Answer Decided by Votes
| November 15, 2009 02:54 PM |
For the benefit of those that Haven't seen it, STOP READING THIS ANSWER. Watch it first. DON'T READ ANY MORE as there will be spoilers involved here and it will color your watching of the series.
....
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.The last episode has some moments of genius and some major flaws in it.
I have the feeling that the big 'reveal' of number ones identity (was it number 6 or is number 6 merely a monkey) was more allegorical than truthful. Although it means that in the introduction every week when number 6 asks "who is number 1?" the answer that he got was really "you are, number 1" instead of " you are number 1". That comma makes all the difference.
The shootout to the tune of all you need is love, was also one of the strangest contradictions that I can remember seeing.
The reason that I see it as being flawed is because it closes the series in a metaphorical way rather than telling us anything about the end. Yes we get to see that number six keeps his individuality intact, and isn't broken by 'the man' whoever that may be.
But we never get to find out
Who number six was?
why did he resign?
where was the village? Here theres a direct tunnel leading to london. In previous episodes it was hinted it was off on a remote island
who runs the village? where they on our side, the soviets, or a private concern?
where their aliens involved? there are theories that suggest that they were?
My favourite thing though is subtle and right at the end. When the door opens at 6's real home after it appears he escaped. From here I think that although he did escape from the village, he isn't free. Whats happened is that the people in charge of the village have expanded their influence and now are in control of the world. Thus the knowledge that number 6 had dosen't matter any more as theres nothing he can do to foil their schemes. He isn't free but he doesn't realise it. Which is how I think Magoohan felt about society.
Anyway.. there are lots of opinions. After mine you may want to look at what some of the cast thought
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7wVyRkwUhI
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Voted as best: silverhammer
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So far I found this video to be relevant to my own interpretations:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-cp2yb43c
...which I'll share briefly here (since we seem to be the only two discussing it so far).
I will admit that any interpretation (beyond Mr. McGoohan's own words, or the comments of the other contributors) lies purely in the mind of the viewer.
My mind finally managed to shake all the pieces into a recognizable vision. I am reminded of the opening sequence where our hero simply wants to resign from the spy business (unofficially tied to the Danger Man/Secret Agent Man series as you probably already knew). And the question comes up, "why"? Who are you working for really? What are your motivations? Are they as pure as you want us to believe? Are you sure you haven't been manipulated or swayed by your many contacts, friends, acquaintances or anti-establishment feelings?
I believe that the Prisoner (John Drake, unnamed) began to wonder the same thing and (I promised to be brief) the entire show is him imagining himself "on vacation" and how he'd react should he be around "normal people" (which there are so few of in his business). What if he ran into old contacts? How would he react? He had to know and needed to test HIMSELF. To hell with anyone else's doubts.
The mentality that there's always someone running the show, someone with ulterior motives - is he immune from such in-depth training and conditioning? Could he, is he, really thinking for himself? If given the chance, reason or if captured, would he reveal information to the enemy (whoever that might turn out to be)?
In the introduction he's told that all that is wanted from him is "information". But with so many double meanings it begins to sound like "in formation". They wanted him to be normal, to comply. Or is that all Mr. Drake had left? To get in line, to look happy and fulfilled in spite of all the behind the scenes knowledge and experiences he'd had?
In the end when he sees himself as just a monkey pushing buttons (his own buttons?), capable of destroying the world, his world, with a mere slip of the tongue - he realizes that HE is his own greatest enemy (also quoted in the interview above) and that's when he has his MADDENINGLY obvious breakthrough. Almost childlike in it's simplicity.
His discovery provides the freedom and relief he needs. He knows now that he would never betray himself, or country (Mr. Drake is an American). On that note he says goodbye to it all and those he knew from that life, and steps into his apartment where his real adventure begins as a free man!
Are those people we see following him, appearing sinister ACTUALLY the beginnings of a malevolent force taking steps against him? Or are they truly innocent and our viewpoint is jaded by our own exposure (as voyeurs/viewers) to the paranoid life of a retiring agent?
That is where we, the viewers, are left to decide who controls OUR minds. And at that point, even though I loved the show before, I absolutely identified with the character and my understanding of how it all fell in place was ensured.
I'm choosing Best Answer because I'll be forced to anyway soon. Hopefully we (and others) will feel free to continue to contribute to this thread even so as the new series develops.
EDIT: Okay I TRIED to choose Best Answer but it is only allowing me to Vote. Not sure why, but there it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJ4psHOzo-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bp4A4Q_4bUo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZWI35jDXCA
I see the potential for a great earner on Mahalo in a Prisoner resource. Especially with the new series (remake) coming. If I had the patience I'd do it myself. I hope someone latches on to the idea and keeps it alive.
The videos above were hard to find (relatively). Hopefully they'll make the page.
I find it interesting also that while the #1 enemy in the series is "ones self", Mr. McGoohan specifies in these interviews that Progress is #2 (signified by the Monkey Mask and the Penny Farthing).
It's pointed out in the interview too that the Prisoner's escape from the island is preceded by an act of violence - something never resorted to in the past. Is this the act of "in formation" that was sought all along? Was his only way of escaping the torture and turmoil to "give in" finally? And while he manages to make good his escape, when he returns home and the door opens automatically we're given the distinct impression that it's starting all over again. But perhaps this time, he's one of the Villagers instead of the Prisoner.
Did he finally break? Did he finally just give in and didn't realize it? Was there truly no other way out but to fit in? In formation? Or as Mr. McGoohan points out, freedom is a myth. When that door opens just like every door in the Village, we know it just starts all over again. In my own words, perhaps the City he lives in is his own Village.
I realize this is a step away from my personal interpretation but Mr. McGoohan indicated that The Village wasn't just in the mind of the Prisoner. It was a real place. However he also makes it clear that interpretation is in the mind of the viewers. Much of the meaning behind each episode, as discussed by the fans, wasn't even the intention of the writers at the time.
Very interesting. Very fun indeed. :)
Be seeing you!