The Remake Of The Prisoner

A few years ago, I discovered THE PRISONER and watched the entire series. I loved the concept, a spy retires and is abducted and placed in The Village. He has no idea where it is, everybody there is called by a number instead a name, and they keep trying through various means to get him to reveal why he resigned and prevent him from escaping. He's renamed to Number Six and his main nemesis is an ever changing head of the Village called Number Two. (There were only two Number Two's who ever appeared in more than one episode.) Once he even escapes (or thinks he does) only to wind up back in the Village and finding out that the person helping him all along is the new Number Two.

The show was surreal and clever. The final episode is pretty much what I envision happens inside a person's mind when they go mad. It's strange, it doesn't make any sense, but it's pretty much a fitting ending if you look it as the main character finally caving to the immense pressure and having a psychotic break.

A remake has been in the works for quite awhile now. Originally the new Six was to be played by DOCTOR WHO's Christopher Eccleston. I don't know if that was a rumor or not. Still he probably had the intensity to play Six as well as Patrick McGoohan. This didn't happen.

Instead the remake is remarkably dull and soulless. They take a great concept, keep a few things, and the rest is bland "re-imagining"... except it's re-imagined by people without imaginations. I suppose one could argue that if they had imaginations they wouldn't need to be doing a remake.

The only good thing is Number Two, played by Ian McKellan. Instead of a different Number Two each episode, like the original, they have just one.

The new version seems to like to spell things out. No ambiguity. In the original this exchange...

"Who is Number One?"

"You are Number Six."

... was uncertain. It remains uncertain to this day. Was the question being answered, or simply ignored? In the final episode of the original, we're given an answer of sorts. Even then we have to ask, did we really get the answer? In the new one, we're flat out told that there is no Number One.

In the original, it's never revealed why Six resigned. The new version tells us within the first two hours. The reason is mind-numbingly dull. The new Six is about as interesting and layered as a dishrag. The original drove the series. This one just seems pushed along. Spy or pencil pusher? Which sounds like a more interesting character?

In the original we wonder who is behind the Village. Is it Six's own government? Are they testing him to find out if he'll crack? Are they worried he'll reveal their secrets or that he was going to defect to the enemy? Is the Village run by an enemy government? Are they trying to get an agent from the other side to crack? In the remake, while it hasn't been revealed yet, it's clear it's the evil corporation that Six worked for behind things.

The Village isn't as interesting. The original was practically a character in and of itself. The new one just isn't as visually interesting.

I found myself falling asleep watching this. I've already invested four hours, and I'll see it through to the end, but I think my time might've been better spent re-watching the original, which AMC has OnDemand this month.

Two things that I did like...

Ian McKellan is a great actor, so of course he gives a great performance. In fact, I think he would've been a great Number Two in the original series as well.

The subtle intimation that the old man that the new Number Six meets in the desert in episode one's opening is the original Number Six from the original show. He's wearing the same outfit as the original and says to tell them that he "finally escaped".

Edit: I did like one other thing, I like how the new logo incorporates a 6 into the O. That's pretty cool. Forgot that.

Watch the original's opening sequence. So much better.

Be seeing you.