The Prisoner TV Mini Series 2009

The original made a LOT of references to the notion of freedom

and choice. This series gives some answers the original didn't. I think

satisfactorily. In short watching this series you will ask: To make a

utopia, sacrifices must be made and do we agree the means justifies the

end without tragedy? We can make choices against others but are we sure

they will be correct when we don't really know what we're winning? Is

it better to give up? Is surrendering the right choice if we are to

welcome a new better age? Who is really controlling us, ourselves or

the big powers?

'''' BIG SPOILER BELOW'''

There is a rather bizarre twist, people are sent to The Village (we are

lead against their will) to be cured of psychological pains. Doesn't it

sound good to be living in shall we say the real world cured, but your

hurt psyche is imprisoned in another layer of consciousness? Those who

rebel are dealt with severely. But who says anyone gets actually killed

if all your being involved in is a shared consciousness and you'll just

be SHUT off from the shared sub consciousness?

Of course, the end sounds good, but its manipulation [good???] and a

ethical trade off (vs freedom). This series makes this point clearer

than the original. For this reason I give it the HUGE thumbs up!

There are some big plot holes and the technology of how it'd work in

actuality. How come people can share consciousness and interact? How

did they get there in the first place?

We are lead to believe that there's a lot of mental-ism between 2 and 6

IN the Prisoner world. Like any devil, 2 gives ALL the clues away, but

of course with the flash forwards (or not) the viewer is confused.

People believe are sent to this world where there's a "Derren Brown"

thought/mind control added with a bit of "Eternal Sunshine of the

Spotless Mind" mind control thrown in for good measure. I can take that

leap of faith as is normal in any c y b e r punk world! But people

interacting... this part I've not yet figured out in the plot!

'''' BIG SPOILER END''''

I'd say the filming, cast performance, direction and scripting is on

bar with that of "Lost". This is a VERY adventurous mini series.

If you're expecting an original concept of 17 episodes of let's face it

a very spaced-out but excellent source material with the legendary 2 vs

6 battle of wits, then this will NOT be your show. There are a few

technology to psychology parts that are not explained in the show, but

with 6 episodes, it's better left out, so I agree with the choice to

leave those out.

If you're expecting LONG plot curves this isn't your show. With BSG and

Lost having 6 series x 13 episodes (more or less), but you've condensed

the major mind-thriller parts to 6 episodes, I think it's a GRAND

achievement on bar with Miike's MPD Psycho. I found this show VERY

stimulating and probably one of the most recent c y b e r punk

influenced TV shows to be brave enough for 6 episodes and to sow things

up.

I think better for UK audiences who will love or hate it. Still it fires up interest in the original show as well, which can't be a bad thing. RIP Patrick McGoohan!