I watched this series as a kid. I believe I was nine. Groundbreaking stuff at the time. Even then I was attracted to McGoohan's unpredictability and unwavering belief in himself. The kind of person I hoped I'd become. The craziness of the Village, the bizarre order of things, the Guardians roaming around and everything else that went into the making of this wonderful timeless series just fed something in me.
When I saw it had been released on Blu-Ray I was somewhat hesitant. Hesitant because not all the older media transfers well to Blu-Ray and, even if it does, sometimes its age or mechanisms used to create an effect can be exposed for its crudeness. Well, I'm happy to report that, as of watching up to Episode 7 of 17, I've only noticed one such exposure. The floating Guardian ?
I feel like a kid again watching this stuff over. I do remember the show becoming a little self-indulgent towards the end as the surrealism was played up a little to much here and there but, for me, I wont tire of this series. I'll pull it off the shelf every so often and indulge myself in its self-indulgence and relive childhood days.
Summary: Should this set become damaged or lost, I will replace it with the same.
Prime Video
The Prisoner
Season 1After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.
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Episodes (17)
- 1. ArrivalJune 1, 196751minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglish
After resigning, a secret agent finds himself trapped in a bizarre prison known only as The Village. - 2. The Chimes of Big BenOctober 8, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglish
A new Number 8 named Nadia arrives in The Village, and together she and Number 6 plot their escape. - 3. A. B. and C.October 15, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglish
Number 2 believes that Number 6 resigned because he was going to sell out. Using dream manipulation, Number 2 tries to determine which one of three possible candidates Number 6 was dealing with. - 4. Free for AllOctober 22, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber 6 runs for the office of Number 2.
- 5. The Schizoid ManOctober 29, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber Six wakes up with a new identity. Now he's Number Twelve. Worse, Number Two asks him to impersonate someone--Number Six. But the new Number Six is more like him than he is.
- 6. The GeneralNovember 5, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishAn instant learning process becomes the Village's latest fad, but Number 6 is sure that Number 2 is using it as a brain washing tool.
- 7. Many Happy ReturnsNovember 12, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber 6 wakes up to find the Village totally deserted.
- 8. Dance of the DeadNovember 26, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber 6 comes across a body that has washed ashore with a radio. After sending the body back out to sea, he tries to use the radio to get rescued.
- 9. CheckmateDecember 3, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishInspired by a large chess game with people taking the place of the game pieces, Number 6 formulates a new escape plan with some compatriots.
- 10. Hammer into AnvilDecember 10, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber 6 vows revenge and goes after a sadistic Number 2 after he drives a fellow village resident to her death.
- 11. It's Your FuneralDecember 17, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber Six hears of an assassination plot against Number Two, but it's the new Number Two doing all the plotting against the retiring Number Two.
- 12. A Change of MindDecember 31, 196750minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishAfter a brawl, Number Six is declared "unmutual" and is made to think that he has undergone "instant social treatment."
- 13. Do Not Forsake MeJanuary 7, 196850minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishWith his mind transferred to another body, Number 6 wakes up in his London flat and can't convince his colleagues who he is. He takes off to Austria to find the one man who can help him, the person Number 2 wants him to find.
- 14. Living in HarmonyJanuary 14, 196851minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishNumber 6 finds himself in the middle of a wild west version of his imprisonment.
- 15. The Girl Who Was DeathJanuary 21, 196851minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishBack in London, Number 6 is trying to track down a crazed scientist who is protected by his homicidal daughter.
- 16. Once Upon a TimeJanuary 28, 196851minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishBecause all other attempts to break Number 6 have failed, Number 2 decides to engage him in a game where one of them will end up dead.
- 17. Fall OutFebruary 4, 196851minTV-PGSubtitlesEnglish [CC]Audio languagesEnglishAfter witnessing the trials of Number 2 and Number 48 and meeting the President of the Assembly, Number 6 escapes during the chaos that follows.
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More details
- Directors
- Patrick McGoohan
- Supporting actors
- Leo McKernChristopher BenjaminMichael Miller
- Season year
- 1968
- Network
- Shout! Factory
- Content advisory
- Drug useviolence
- Purchase rights
- Stream instantly Details
- Format
- Prime Video (streaming online video)
- Devices
- Available to watch on supported devices
Customer reviews
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2016
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Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2016
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Reviewed in the United States on January 9, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2017
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Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2019
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Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2016
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Top reviews from other countries
M. Phillips
Solid HD Release--But Soundtrack is Too Quiet
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 7, 2018Verified Purchase
Wide Awake
A must watch for all students of the Esotreric!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2018Verified Purchase
Sulley
Blu-ray release of the Prisoner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2018Verified Purchase
Blu-ray release of the Prisoner
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2018
Smartly packaged with the (Number) 6 discs in a shrink-wrapped gate-legged inner with matching cardboard sleeve. Also a decent, not quite libretto but more than a table of contents 4-page (open for information) booklet describing each disc's content and running order, which is required as the individual discs are, ironically, just numbered...Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 9, 2018
As for the overall production? It's all 17 episodes of The Prisoner in the UK order of transmission on discs 2-5 (go to Wikipedia 'List of The Prisoner episodes' as it's a constant debate after 50 years as to watching order) plus some excellent extras for aficionados on discs 1, 5 and 6. What else do you want?
The episodes' 1.33:1 picture is superbly restored and HD is amazing considering the 60's source material. Some reviewers have found the sound to be too quiet. I haven't on the Blu-ray version, so if you have problems here, get your hearing checked as you may be 50+ years older now. Or just increase the volume and educate your neighbours.
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TwarkMain
Great show, amazing picture quality, but...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 29, 2017Verified Purchase
Kristian Xavier LaVey
I am not a number
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 8, 2021Verified Purchase
