The Prisoner (2009– )

An update to the cult favorite series from the 1960s about a government agent who is kidnapped and sent to a remote island known as "the Village".

Stars:

Ian McKellen, Jim Caviezel, Ruth Wilson

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 5 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Ian McKellen	...	2 (6 episodes, 2009)
Jim Caviezel	...	6 (6 episodes, 2009)
Ruth Wilson	...	313 (6 episodes, 2009)
Lennie James	...	147 (6 episodes, 2009)
Rachael Blake	...	M2 (6 episodes, 2009)
Jamie Campbell Bower	...	11-12 (6 episodes, 2009)
Hayley Atwell	...	Lucy (5 episodes, 2009)
Renate Stuurman	...	21-16 (3 episodes, 2009)
Sara Stewart	...	1891 (2 episodes, 2009)
Hanlé Barnard	...	23-90 (2 episodes, 2009)
David Butler	...	Shopkeeper (2 episodes, 2009)
Leila Henriques	...	Curtis' PA (2 episodes, 2009)
Isabella Calthorpe	...	765 - Wonkers (2 episodes, 2009)
Wolfgang Weissenstein	...	Butler (2 episodes, 2009)
Savannah Charon Esau	...	832 (2 episodes, 2009)
Will Kemp	...	23-30 - Wonkers (2 episodes, 2009)

Storyline

A New Yorker awakens to find himself in a place called The Village run by a man known as Two. As everyone in The Village is referred to only by a number, everyone in The Village refers to him as Six - despite he himself knowing that he has another name - and seems to know who he is. He is told he lives in The Village and that The Village is the only reality there is. Six's mission becomes to find out where The Village is, who Two is and why he is seemingly keeping him prisoner in The Village (despite Two stating that Six is a free man), and how he can escape to his life back in New York. Six has to learn who among the Villagers he can trust - who include a doctor named 313, a cab driver named 147, and Two's own son named 11-12 - in his quest to escape from The Village. Six also has recurring memories of his life in New York, including an encounter with a woman named Lucy, which may be part of the key to discovering why he's in The Village.

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Plot Keywords:

village | new york | number | old man | isolated town | 

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Taglines:

Resist

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Details

Official Sites:

AMC

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Prisoner - Der Gefangene

Filming Locations:

Alfred Mall, Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Company Credits

Production Co:

Granada International, ITV Productions, Out of Africa Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

360 min 360 min (6 episodes) 90 min (PAL DVD)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Lithgow was considered for Number 2, but scheduling conflicts with Season 4 of Dexter, forced him to turn it down.

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Connections

Remake of The Prisoner (1967)

User Reviews

Wow! This is REALLY interesting!

(Spoiliers contained)

I've only watched the first 5 parts so far, but I have to say I am very impressed!

The people who are complaining loudly while comparing this to the 60's Prisoner are perhaps missing the point, possibly even missing the point of the whole original series.

This new version of the story is *very* clever.

The humans in the Village are no different than the people living in our real world, but with this show, the control mechanisms are right there in the viewer's face. The episodes dealing with family and love are particularly insightful. It's amazing how our emotions can be so easily used to control us and to throw us off our path, even when we are entirely cognisant of our being manipulated.

Even the myth of "evil" tobacco drifted into focus in episode #5. Ian McKellen's #2 tells us, "I used to smoke in order to think." --This is, of course, true; nicotine is one of the only two drugs which enhance awareness without affecting judgement. (The other is caffeine). Smoking is naturally not allowed in the village; same as out here in the 'real' world.

In the original series, #6 was the super-man. He chewed through #2's every second episode because he was smarter and stronger than the system trying to contain him. It felt good to cheer him on. And while the fantasy of the emotionally stunted super-spy fit well into the cultural head-space of the 60's, and while I still have warm place in my heart for that series, it was largely escapist fantasy with little to say about our actual day-to-day reality. By contrast, the #6 in this series I find much easier to relate to. He is not a pretend super-man; but rather he is faulty, but dogged and persistent. He has made his choice and no matter what obstacles they throw in his way, he struggles toward full awareness. This show is relevant to where we are now as a culture.

I definitely recommend this series, but I really don't think it's for everybody.

And bearing in mind, I say all of this not having seen the 6th part yet. . .

EDIT~~~~~

Have now watched all six parts. It's brilliant! I didn't think they'd go there. 6 becomes 2. --And this is the uncomfortable truth of conspiracy; Those who have the strength and courage to seek all the way through without falling into a submissive role within some other agency, those who grow are no longer are able to fit into the same level of awareness as their peers. In a closed system, such people *by default* become the caretakers and keepers of those who are still growing. 6 became the master and the rest of the people his kennel. Upsetting, but very, very accurate.

But he'll learn. The cycle doesn't end, and he's coming from a place of compassion. I think he'll make a better 2 than the creepy version of Gandalf.

An excellent series, but only for those with eyes to see.