R.I.P. Patrick McGoohan

[Jboy001]

Man, I was just starting to watch The Prisoner episodes on AMC's website. I suppose 80 is a good mark to hit though...

Be seeing you!

http://io9.com/5131312/rip-patrick-mcgoohan

[Laughing Penguin]

This makes me sad... I loved McGoohan in pretty much everything he was in, even Scanners. The Prisoner was one of those incredibly entertaining and complex TV shows that sort of set the bar for me in terms of what I think of what good television can be. Considering McGoohan's approach to the series and his reasons behind it, I would have loved to have heard his thoughts on the upcoming AMC series (which has me a bit edgy, I tend to hate what remakes do to good ideas and stories).

Collectively, television just got a bit stupider and less ambitious with his passing.

[biosc1]

Awww...dang...I can't count how many times I've watched the Prisoner. They used to re-run it every few years up here.

I also recall Ice Station Zebra and Braveheart as good roles for the man.

[Jboy001]

I had never heard of The Prisoner or watched it until rumors of Ian McKellen being in the remake surfaced, once AMC put them online I've been watching them wondering why I had never seen it before. The show is amazing and well done.
I am confused though, why there seems to be different no. 2's in different episodes (the first changeover was explained as a promotion, but later on nothing was mentioned and then there was an election which was a farce), but I'm only like 4 episodes in so maybe they explain that later.

[Inverarity]

The Prisoner was very high on my list of formative TV shows - as mentioned above, it really showed me just how good TV could be. Time to go and rewatch a couple of my favorites. "Dance of the Dead", I think, and "Hammer into Anvil" (probably the best episode other than "Arrival" to show a new viewer), capped off with "Once Upon a Time".

[biosc1]

I am confused though, why there seems to be different no. 2's in different episodes (the first changeover was explained as a promotion, but later on nothing was mentioned and then there was an election which was a farce), but I'm only like 4 episodes in so maybe they explain that later.

Consider the numbers to represent a position, not a person.

Not a spoiler, but I thought I would be careful.
You will find that they are being replaced because they can't get the job done.

[National Kato]

A great actor who extended his wonderful performances into his twilight years, e.g. his role as King Edward Longshanks in Braveheart. One of the best villain roles in film.

[Tron]

So is the Prisoner worth watching? I've often thought about renting the whole series.

[Psykoboy2]

Ricardo Montelban died today too.....I think.

[Jboy001]

If you enjoy lost or spy type scifi i reccomend it, its great for a show from the late 1960s

just goto www.amctv.com they are hosting the entire series right now.

[Wraith]

Ricardo Montelban died today too.....I think.Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricardo_Montalb%C3%A1n) suggests it is so.


"Laugh with me, Jocko!"

[Hyperglide]

I remember him best as King Longshanks from Braveheart. He was truly terrifying in that movie as the tyrant king. R.I.P.

[LongStepMantis]

I remember him best as King Longshanks from Braveheart. He was truly terrifying in that movie as the tyrant king. R.I.P.

"Ready the archers."

"...but Sire, won't we hit our own troops?"

"Yes...but we'll hit theirs as well."

that and

"Send the Irish...arrows cost money. The dead...cost nothing."

He was so cold-blooded in that movie. RIP, what a great talent.

[Gwinny]

He was great in The Prisoner, and was always a good villain in Columbo. RIP!

[LongStepMantis]

I started watching The Prisoner yesterday and wow...I can't believe I never heard of this before now. I do have a couple questions for anyone who has seen it though, keeping in mind I'm only like 3 episodes in. If they explain either of these things in later episodes, I'll wait for the answer.

Is there a reason they go through three different No.2's in the first two episodes? The original guy is replaced before the first episode even ends, and then his replacement is replaced in the 2nd episode...was that intentional? Then it changes again in Episode 3...so is there just a new No.2 every episode or what?

What the fuck is with the giant bubble-yum security bubbles? Why did it capture that first guy dressed like Where's Waldo in the first episode? I understand now that they use them for security, but why did it attack someone in town seemingly at random?