Rating: 
Summary: The fourth set in the series; includes a bonus episode.
Review: My fiancé and I are slowly working our way through all five sets of Prisoner episodes, and I found this set to be the least enjoyable so far. The first episode, "A Change of Mind," is somewhat difficult to follow, and the end left me feeling dissatisfied (although, to be fair, that's consistent with the style of the show!). "Hammer Into Anvil" is probably the best episode in this group, as it shows Number 6 battling and defeating the current Number 2, who comes to a bad end. "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" is a real disappointment, as Patrick McGoohan hardly appears in the episode--his brain is transported into the body of an older, heavier male. We watch this new character take over the role of Number 6, and it's just not the same as McGoohan's riveting performances. Finally, "Living in Harmony" is a real divergence from the series, as it is done as a Western. The episode opens with no credits and no explanation for the old West setting; not until the end is the truth revealed. To me, this was an unneccessary gimmick that did not fit with the rest of the series, and I found myself missting The Village. If you are a Prisoner fan, there are defintely some good moments in these shows, but I much prefer the episodes on the first three boxed sets.
Rating:
Summary: A great series that just keeps getting stranger...
Review: My fiancé and I are slowly working our way through all five sets of Prisoner episodes; overall the show is amazing, but I didn't enjoy this collection quite as much as the first three. The first episode, "A Change of Mind," is somewhat difficult to follow, and the ending was dissatisfying (although, to be fair, it was certainly consistent with the style of the show!). "Hammer Into Anvil" is probably the best episode in this group, as it shows McGoohan's Number 6 battling and defeating the current Number 2, who comes to a bad end (of course!). "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was the biggest disappointment, as McGoohan hardly appears in the episode, as Number 6's brain is transported into someone else. Thus, we watch a new actor take over the role of Number 6, and the effect is just not the same as McGoohan's riveting performances. Finally, the bonus episode, "Living in Harmony" is a real divergence from the usual format of the series, as it is done as a Western. The episode opens with no credits and no explanation for the old West setting; not until the end is the truth revealed. To me, this was an unneccessary gimmick that did not fit with the rest of the series, and I found myself missting The Village. If you are a Prisoner fan, there are defintely some good moments in these shows, but I much prefer the episodes on the first three boxed sets.
Rating:
Summary: A great series that just keeps getting stranger...
Review: My fiancé and I are slowly working our way through all five sets of Prisoner episodes; overall the show is amazing, but I didn't enjoy this collection quite as much as the first three. The first episode, "A Change of Mind," is somewhat difficult to follow, and the ending was dissatisfying (although, to be fair, it was certainly consistent with the style of the show!). "Hammer Into Anvil" is probably the best episode in this group, as it shows McGoohan's Number 6 battling and defeating the current Number 2, who comes to a bad end (of course!). "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling" was the biggest disappointment, as McGoohan hardly appears in the episode, as Number 6's brain is transported into someone else. Thus, we watch a new actor take over the role of Number 6, and the effect is just not the same as McGoohan's riveting performances. Finally, the bonus episode, "Living in Harmony" is a real divergence from the usual format of the series, as it is done as a Western. The episode opens with no credits and no explanation for the old West setting; not until the end is the truth revealed. To me, this was an unneccessary gimmick that did not fit with the rest of the series, and I found myself missting The Village. If you are a Prisoner fan, there are defintely some good moments in these shows, but I much prefer the episodes on the first three boxed sets.
Rating: 
Summary: Possibly most Interesting and Intelligent TV series ever.
Review: Patrick McGoohan's `The Prisoner' TV series is perhaps one of the most intelligent and interesting programs ever created. The basic premise is that a British secret agent resigns for some reason. After turning in his notice, he is kidnapped and moved to a secret location called `The Village'. The series follows the efforts of his mysterious kidnappers to find out the reason why he quit and shows his repeated escape attempts.The series is filled with nuances that need multiple viewings to enjoy all of them. The DVD transfer is first rate with the picture quality excellent. The "technicolor" sets are shown in their vivid color. Highly recommended. This set continues to develop the series further and should only be viewed after seeing the first three.
Rating:
Summary: the prisoner set 4
Review: The prisoner series is one of the most innovative spy series ever. This is the best mind twisting convoluded roller coaster rides that a retired British Secret Agent has ever been on.
Hats off to Patrick McGoohan as #6, The whole The Prisonor series is his best work. If you like James Bond 007 and Man From Uncle you'll love this.
Rating:
Summary: Getting into the meat of this series
Review: These are some of my favorite episodes. This set of shows gives us more insight to Number 6. While the final episodes still leave me a bit baffled, these shows are rich with detail of his life, and his pysche. This DVD once again has very difficult trivia, and some stills from the episodes. The color is good, and the transfer seems to be of good quality. This is a wonderful way to re-live this show.
Rating:
Summary: Getting into the meat of this series
Review: These are some of my favorite episodes. This set of shows gives us more insight to Number 6. While the final episodes still leave me a bit baffled, these shows are rich with detail of his life, and his pysche. This DVD once again has very difficult trivia, and some stills from the episodes. The color is good, and the transfer seems to be of good quality. This is a wonderful way to re-live this show.
Rating:
Summary: Assorted mind games, and the episode CBS refused to show
Review: This classic miniseries concerns ex-secret agent "No. 6" (Patrick McGoohan), held captive in a strange prison camp called The Village. The head man is No. 2, who reports to an unidentified No. 1. What starts as an offbeat spy thriller ends as a surrealistic allegory.
In "Change of Mind," it looks like No. 6 might suffer permanent physical damage. "Mind" reminds me of the earlier "Free for All," partly because both episodes include formal confrontations in the Council Chamber*, but mostly because in both episodes, No. 6's enemy is the entire Village population, not just the authorities. (The two bullies still seem a bit out of place, because they appear not to subscribe to Village group mentality.) Another unsettling detail is the Village authorities literally playing God, with Villagers confessing their sins in a parody of a religious ceremony. One potentially offensive detail is the element of misogyny, present in several episodes, but strongest here, since the woman administering No. 6's "treatment" is portrayed as first evil, then foolish.
"Hammer Into Anvil, " reverses the main conflict, as No. 6 goes after No. 2. But No. 6's tactics aren't ultimately as effective as No. 2's paranoia. The idea of being oppressed by some part of your own personality is one that will figure prominently into THE PRISONER's final resolution. But I have two complaints about "Hammer." First, I feel the idea doesn't support a full hour-long story. I find myself saying, about halfway through, "Okay, I GET it." This problem is particularly annoying when contrasted with the extreme complexity of other episodes. Second, although No. 6 is avenging a friend's death, I lose sympathy for him when he actively seeks to hurt someone.
"Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" resulted from a schedule change that required an episode to be filmed while McGoohan was away working on ICE STATION ZEBRA. The story puts No 6's mind in another man's body in hopes that he'll track down one Dr. Seltzman, the only person who can reverse the process. Of course, No. 6 is also being tracked, so that Seltzman can be captured and pressed into sharing his technology. As in several other episodes, it looks like No. 6's own people may be involved with The Village. The idea isn't terrible original, but it's done with enough style and class that it's still way above most commercial television.
Note the altered beginning, which includes a teaser in London and omits the dialog between No. 6 and No. 2. I'm guessing this is to emphasize the involvement of those outside The Village, and foreshadow No. 6's memories of The Village being wiped.
Unfortunately, there are various logical problems and inconsistencies with the rest of the series. There has been NO SUGGESTION thus far of No. 6 having a fiancée, and some of Janet's lines suggest No 6's apartment has been empty since he was abducted. What about Mrs. Butterworth from "Many Happy Returns"?
More importantly, although No. 6's memory of The Village has been wiped, he's still a trained secret agent and old friend of Seltzman -- and thus should know what in general is going on and be hesitant to locate Seltzman, however much he wants his own body back. And if No. 6's memory of the Village has been wiped, why doesn't he ask where he is at the end? It's been suggested that No. 6 should have located his body first, because Seltzman couldn't help him without it. However, he might have figured it would be easier to bring Seltzman along on the search for his body, rather than vice versa.
I also have a technical quibble, which I've had with other mind-switching stories as well. If you put Oscar's mind into Wold's body, the displaced Oscar -- assuming he doesn't WANT to step into Weldors shoes -- would speak with the TIMBRE of Weldors voice, while retaining all other vocal vocal characteristics of Oscar. If Oscar had an English accent, he would speak with one from inside Walled, even if Walled were American. If Oscar was a loudmouth, he would be one from inside Walled, even if Walled were soft-spoken. But the displaced No. 6 speaks with all the mannerisms of his new body's original owner. The problem manifest itself even more strongly in the twist ending.
"Living in Harmony" makes an interesting follow-up to "Forsake" for two reasons. First, if No. 6's memory of The Village was wiped, that would set him up for happens here. Second, both episodes alter the show's opening. "Harmony" features a radical alteration, omitting the regular opening sequence and series title -- although what we see instead is a reworking of the regular opening. I'm among those who suspect CBS refused to air this episode because viewers might think it wasn't THE PRISONER. The more popular theory is that "Harmony" looked too much like an allegory of the Vietnam war. (BTW, O.S. residents may be seeing the "Harmony" trailer for the first time on this DVD.)
I'm guessing the intention is to (a) show No. 6 completely submerged in the illusion of the Western town, Harmony, and (b) produce a similar effect in the viewer. You KNOW this is a PRISONER episode, but you're persuaded to forget you know, which keeps you from anticipating the ending too strongly. The episode includes a second twist at the end to offset the fact that the first twist isn't going to be a true surprise. That second twist also makes "Harmony" into a story that can be appreciated on its own, without an understanding of THE PRISONER as a whole.
But "Harmony" is also tied to the final episode by the presence of actor Alexis Kana in both. The official work is that there is no relationship between the two characters, but I like think that The Kid was somehow reincarnated.
*The Council Chamber appears in "The General," but the proceedings are much less formal.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant, intelligent and SCARY
Review: This is the coolest, most intelligent TV show ever. Sorta George Orwell meets A Clockwork Orange meets James Bond. As a kid, the scariest part for me was when this giant Beach Ball shows up and squashes people trying to leave the island.. OK sounds silly but it's really pretty terrifying. Basically, the premise is, this British secret service agent decides to resign from the service. Those in power think he knows something.... he is kidnapped and imprisoned on an island in a pseudo "perfect" little community where everyone has a number (our protagonist is number 6) He's watched all the time, and interrogated in each episode as to what he "knows." He regularly tries to escape, as those in control play mind games and use psychological control mechanisms in an attempt to "break" him...
Get the first episode of the series, and go all the way through. You won't be disappointed. Though very entertaining, this series has a serious message about how a totalitarian society fears independence of thought and personality. In fact, it has much to say to 21st century viewers.
Rating: 
Summary: Change that Hammer and Anvil Your Mind, Oh My Darling
Review: This portion of the 5 tape Prisoner set is to my mind, one of the more intriguing, as it includes one of my favorite episodes, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling". In this bizarre turn, the Prisoner's mind is transplanted into the body of another secret agent, allowing #6 to see his familiar surroundings, his former lover and the life he left behind when he resigned, but of course, he's barred from enjoying the experience as himself, and to fully realize the joy of being in love. Patrick McGoohan doesn't appear much in the episode, but he narrates the ersatz Prisoner's thoughts, which is just plain strange. "Hammer to Anvil," is a real creep-out, with a sicko #2 that radiates disdain and drips pure evil. Number 2 gets his in the end, in a very inventive twist of fate. The Western episode,"Living in Harmony" is a another trippy expedition, using American t.v. cliches (gunfights, harlots with hearts of gold) to make a powerful anti-violence (and by extension) anti-war statement. Worth viewing, especially today. "A Change of Mind," with its emphasis on mind-control shows just how far the keepers of the Village will go to enforce conformity. Exciting, well-crafted and full of the tension that makes the Prisoner such an intriguing piece of work. A great box set for the Prisoner fan, without a doubt. Be seeing you.
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