Rating: 
Summary: Original and enthralling.
Review: "The Prisoner" remains to this day to be one of televisions most original series. Through it's short run, in England and then on CBS in the USA, this series captivated with it's mind-bending array of unanswered questions. And, the eerie feeling that this kind of thing could happen to you. If a well trained Secret Agent Man can't escape, what hope would you have?Patrick McGoohan, who also co-created the series, stars as Number 6 a former government agent who won't reveal to anyone why he abruptly quit his position with the agency. Number 2 will stop at nothing to get his answers. Number 6 will stop at nothing to beat the bubble. (You'll have to see it.) I strongly suggest you get the first edition so that you can see it from the beginning. Otherwise a lot of this won't make sense.
Rating:
Summary: Original and enthralling.
Review: "The Prisoner" remains to this day to be one of televisions most original series. Through it's short run, in England and then on CBS in the USA, this series captivated with it's mind-bending array of unanswered questions. And, the eerie feeling that this kind of thing could happen to you. If a well trained Secret Agent Man can't escape, what hope would you have? Patrick McGoohan, who also co-created the series, stars as Number 6 a former government agent who won't reveal to anyone why he abruptly quit his position with the agency. Number 2 will stop at nothing to get his answers. Number 6 will stop at nothing to beat the bubble. (You'll have to see it.) I strongly suggest you get the first edition so that you can see it from the beginning. Otherwise a lot of this won't make sense.
Rating:
Summary: "Unmutual!"
Review: Back in 1967, an allegorical television show emerged that has yet to be topped by any other English television series. The show: The Prisoner. Starring Patrick McGoohan, he plays the role of No. 6, a former secret service agent who resigned for unknown reasons and then finds himself knocked unconscious and trapped in a seemingly peaceful place called "the Village." Each episode features a new No. 2 (with a few exceptions), who watches his every move and strives to find out why he resigned. The only superior is the unseen No. 1, the supposed ruler of the Village. The only other characters that reoccur are The Supervisor (also called Controller), played by Peter Stanwick, and The Butler, played by Angelo Muscat. In "A Change of Mind," Number Six is labeled "disharmonious" and "unmutual" and is therefore shunned by the other villagers. They perform yet another mind game on him to make him "harmonious" and accepted, hoping for him to fit in and reveal why he resigned. Of course, he knows better by now and has a trick up his sleeve... In "Hammer Into Anvil" (one of my top favorites from the series), the new Number Two is an extremely paranoid official. Number Six starts to play his own mind game in which he utterly convinces the new Number Two that he is spying on him and ready to cause a rebellion. The message here is clear: when you have power, you don't have much trust for anyone. In "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling," Number Six is switched with a special agent. He finds himself outside the Village and in search of a famous scientist known for the creation of switching minds, but is he still free? In "Living in Harmony," Number Six finds himself in a Western-style Village... he originally a sheriff who resigns for unknown reasons. An interesting and actually downright creepy episode that is one of the most illogically pleasing episodes of the series. "The Kid" is silent throughout the episode (well, sort of, just watch it...) and his actions are louder than his words. Originally, this episode wasn't aired in America for two years, possibly because of its close connection to the Vietnam War. By now, The Prisoner has prevailed. He has grown resiliant to the Village, which makes each Number Two even more desperate than before. Overall, a fantastic series. While I give the series a high rating, I do recommend the megaset as opposed to the individual volumes.
Rating: 
Summary: Not representative of the series
Review: Having been a casual, but interested, fan of 'The Prisoner,' I was excited when A&E rebroadcast and released all the episodes of this series. From the first three episodes I saw, and reading about the series in an episode guide, I was excited to experience the rest of 'The Prisoner' series. This volume 4 however, is not very representative of this intereting allegorical series. In fact, the stories seem a little irrelevant to the thread of the series. Originally, Patrick McGoohan, the main force behind 'The Prisoner,' wanted to make the series just seven episodes but was persuaded to do twenty-six. But after thirteen episodes, it was clear that the ideas were drying up but four more episodes were squeezed out. I don't know if this volume 4 contains the latter few of the last produced episodes, but they are certainly the worst. Which is not to say that the episodes are entirely bad. But as a casual fan, I would not have bought volume 4 had I known what I was in for. The most entertaining episode is "Hammer Into Anvil," where Number 6 tries to upset Number 2 in a plot of deceit. "A Change of Mind" is not well written and seems rather vague. From previous episodes where Number 2 is in nearly complete control, the ineptness of the authority is hard to believe. The last two episodes, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" and "Living in Harmony" are both badly acted and inconsequential. Even the fact that "Living in Harmony" was never originally broadcast in the US, it's not worth it to watch it. Perhaps it was never broadcast in the US because the episode was so bad. One can easily appreciate and enjoy 'The Prisoner" series without watching Volume 4. I, in fact, highly recommend the rest of 'The Prisoner' series. But you won't lose anything if you don't buy Volume 4.
Rating:
Summary: Not representative of the series
Review: Having been a casual, but interested, fan of 'The Prisoner,' I was excited when A&E rebroadcast and released all the episodes of this series. From the first three episodes I saw, and reading about the series in an episode guide, I was excited to experience the rest of 'The Prisoner' series. This volume 4 however, is not very representative of this intereting allegorical series. In fact, the stories seem a little irrelevant to the thread of the series. Originally, Patrick McGoohan, the main force behind 'The Prisoner,' wanted to make the series just seven episodes but was persuaded to do twenty-six. But after thirteen episodes, it was clear that the ideas were drying up but four more episodes were squeezed out. I don't know if this volume 4 contains the latter few of the last produced episodes, but they are certainly the worst. Which is not to say that the episodes are entirely bad. But as a casual fan, I would not have bought volume 4 had I known what I was in for. The most entertaining episode is "Hammer Into Anvil," where Number 6 tries to upset Number 2 in a plot of deceit. "A Change of Mind" is not well written and seems rather vague. From previous episodes where Number 2 is in nearly complete control, the ineptness of the authority is hard to believe. The last two episodes, "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" and "Living in Harmony" are both badly acted and inconsequential. Even the fact that "Living in Harmony" was never originally broadcast in the US, it's not worth it to watch it. Perhaps it was never broadcast in the US because the episode was so bad. One can easily appreciate and enjoy 'The Prisoner" series without watching Volume 4. I, in fact, highly recommend the rest of 'The Prisoner' series. But you won't lose anything if you don't buy Volume 4.
Rating:
Summary: I am the new number 2
Review: I've always had a thing for 60s British TV shows. Of course, if you're reading this review, you probably do too, so you understand what I'm saying! Unfortunately, that love for those quirky shows has been exploited in the past with disappointing productions (see: "the Avengers" movie; what a tragedy). Like the broken-hearted lover, I am now leery of committment; hesitant to let myself get excited about any new addition to the ranks of remakes/reissues of my favorite old shows. However, I let myself purchase this set. I was just too much of a fan of the old "Prisoner" show to let it slide by. Honestly, I was expecting a mediocre quality disk with no interesting bonus materials, but I was amazed by the quality and amount of stuff on these disks! The quality of the shows is better than they ever looked on TV reruns, and the bonus materials are engaging and creative. If you are a fan of "The Prisoner," you will not be disappointed by these DVDs; this is the one that restores your faith in the old classics!
Rating:
Summary: Reflections of the 1960's
Review: If you know anybody who hangs on to conspiracy theories and was either born or maturing during the 1960's this watershed series will be a great gift. The plot is so simple it is not worth wasting this space. However the machninations in every episode would have been enough to write every spy plot Hollywood has ever come out with. While the acting may appear stiff it has a clarity lacking in much later works like this. A remarkable piece of TV history with plot twists and turns, betrayals and deceits worthy of its legendary status. This is TV never again repeated.
Rating:
Summary: This set is anything but unmutual!
Review: It has always been hard for me to choose my favorite episodes of "The Prisoner". This is partly because we have relatively few episodes to choose from due to the series' short run, and partly because so many of the episodes we do have are so darned GOOD! This particular set contains some of the shows that stand a bit apart for me, and are a delight to get reaccquianted with. "Do Not Forsake Me Oh, My Darling" is certainly one of the stranger segments in the series, putting our favorite Village resident's mind in another man's body! Everything is quite satisfactory, except for the ending (a bit too "pat", I think). It was interesting to note three things in this episode, however; the address in Scotland on the envelope sent to the scientist, the number on the door to the Prisoner's London flat, and the fact that we learn more about Number 6's past while Patrick McGoohan is hardly even featured! "Living in Harmony" is certainly the most different, if not bizzare episode of "The Prisoner", outside of the final installment. The episode puts Number 6 in a completely fabricated environment. It was so different, it's no wonder the show did not air in the US, given that (other than the star's presence), we have no clue until the very end that this is actually an installment of "The Prisoner"! The remaining two episodes in the set are more standard fare, but are quite possibly the best in the series. "Change of Mind" introduces several more samples of unique Village terminology; "unmutual", and "disharmonious". Number 6's unmutualism leads to yet another attempt to be broken by the new Number 2. It was very interesting to see the independent Number 6 react to being shunned by his fellow Villagers. It begs the question, has Number 6 grown a bit accustomed to living the Village, perhaps even started to fit in? "Hammer Into Anvil" is just stellar. Number 6 takes control of his situation like never before. While Number 6 has often used the Village's own schemes against it, this time he is completely turning the tables on his captors. He destroys the sanity of a particularly ruthless Number 2 in the process, taking revenge for one of Number 2's victims. This is an excellent set overall, although I naturally recommend buying and watching the sets in their proper order. A & E has done a good job packaging the series for DVD. The transfers are really good (for the most part), and while the extras on these sets mysteriously do not include an interview with Mr. McGoohan, there is an extensive interview with production manager Bernie Williams included with Set Three. What can be said about this wonderful series that has not been said already? Probably what is listed on the cover of the A & E sets sums it up best: "Television's First Masterpiece".
Rating:
Summary: This set is anything but unmutual!
Review: It has always been hard for me to choose my favorite episodes of "The Prisoner". This is partly because we have relatively few episodes to choose from due to the series' short run, and partly because so many of the episodes we do have are so darned GOOD! This particular set contains some of the shows that stand a bit apart for me, and are a delight to get reaccquianted with. "Do Not Forsake Me Oh, My Darling" is certainly one of the stranger segments in the series, putting our favorite Village resident's mind in another man's body! Everything is quite satisfactory, except for the ending (a bit too "pat", I think). It was interesting to note three things in this episode, however; the address in Scotland on the envelope sent to the scientist, the number on the door to the Prisoner's London flat, and the fact that we learn more about Number 6's past while Patrick McGoohan is hardly even featured! "Living in Harmony" is certainly the most different, if not bizzare episode of "The Prisoner", outside of the final installment. The episode puts Number 6 in a completely fabricated environment. It was so different, it's no wonder the show did not air in the US, given that (other than the star's presence), we have no clue until the very end that this is actually an installment of "The Prisoner"! The remaining two episodes in the set are more standard fare, but are quite possibly the best in the series. "Change of Mind" introduces several more samples of unique Village terminology; "unmutual", and "disharmonious". Number 6's unmutualism leads to yet another attempt to be broken by the new Number 2. It was very interesting to see the independent Number 6 react to being shunned by his fellow Villagers. It begs the question, has Number 6 grown a bit accustomed to living the Village, perhaps even started to fit in? "Hammer Into Anvil" is just stellar. Number 6 takes control of his situation like never before. While Number 6 has often used the Village's own schemes against it, this time he is completely turning the tables on his captors. He destroys the sanity of a particularly ruthless Number 2 in the process, taking revenge for one of Number 2's victims. This is an excellent set overall, although I naturally recommend buying and watching the sets in their proper order. A & E has done a good job packaging the series for DVD. The transfers are really good (for the most part), and while the extras on these sets mysteriously do not include an interview with Mr. McGoohan, there is an extensive interview with production manager Bernie Williams included with Set Three. What can be said about this wonderful series that has not been said already? Probably what is listed on the cover of the A & E sets sums it up best: "Television's First Masterpiece".
Rating: 
Summary: Change that Hammer and Anvil Your Mind, Oh My Darling
Review: My fianc? 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.
| 
