Schizoid Man is really pivotal in the series because The Village got No. 6 to go from "I am not a number; I am a free man" to desperately trying to prove his identity as No. 6. I think this is the episode where they came the closest to breaking him.

I'll admit that in Free For All, when 6 apparently looses it - I was always working under the assumption that he knew that he wouldn't really be put in charge, but he was hoping to get some control over the Village so he could shut down Rover and other electronic 'guards/devices' so anyone who wanted to try and make a break for it would have a chance. But that's just me^^

Really enjoying these reviews, and I'm eagerly awaiting the final couple. Not to be impolite, but I think you missed the point of Free For All. Six wants nothing to do with the village, right? So they tempt him with power if he gets involved in the democratic process, which, allegedly, will make his escape plans work, or, at the very least, answer his questions. They promise him as much, really. He does get involved, which they knew he would all along (I love that they had his posters and stuff ready to go before he said yes). The purpose really had nothing to do with the election itself, but rather how 6 has to get more and more invested in the process and the community in order to run. He focuses on getting the office so much that he kind of forgets why he wants it. They knew that'd happen, too. This was basically a back-door attempt to break him. They know that if they can get him to reveal just one thing, he'll crack and they'll own him. Here, they try to sneak up on him by promising him something he finds intriguing without any apparent attempt to get what they want. However the more invested he becomes in the communty the more likely he is to give them what they want. Get it? Of course the point is that it's an allegorical critique of the democratic process, and how any attempt to reform results in the indoctrination and corruption of the reformer. The whole drugs angle is simply there to get us to accept how quickly 6 changes in this one.

Free for All. Compare David Cronenberg's description of McGoohan (who wrote and directed FFA) during Scanners: "He's a brilliant actor: the voice, the charisma, the presence, the face. Phenomenal.... But he was so angry. His self-hatred came out as anger against everybody and everything. He said to me, 'If I didn't drink I'd be afraid I'd kill someone.' He looks at you that way and you just say, 'Keep drinking.' "

it's a cracking TV series, surreal is an understatement. I'm happy that new generations are discovering this series. I'm from the 1980s and it was on terrestial tv but my generation never got into it and it was never really discussed. Can't believe he played Edward Longshanks in Braveheart

I admit Mr.Dom I'm surprised about your opinion on the Schizoid Man. This one was actually my favorite episode. I loved how they mind f%$#ed him just right that he was fighting to regain his identity as #6. It was the Village's first true psychological victory over him, and in the end he realized it.

Don't worry, Germany forgives you. Thank you for bringing this great series to us, I'd never have known about it without you

I am one of the VERY fortunate "American" who saw this wonderful show, thank you for reminding me of its brilliance. Also, I think I have found my new favourite KZfaqr

You underestimated the number of generations "The Prisoner" has confused.

can't wait for your review of the episode "Hammer into Anvil"

Regarding Free For All: It's more of an allegory than a story. There are many supposed "democracies" out there that are nothing of the sort; lots of countries that insist on putting "Republic" or "People's" or whatever in their name. The Village is no different; it's a mass that's fully under the control of a small cabal but fooled into swallowing the party line. What happens to 6 there is also a lancing of the political process, all the machinery that goes into work once candidates announce their candidacy. The media goes to work (note the interview is printed before he gives any quotes), he's brainwashed to spout rigmarole, and so on. Just imagine how there are many countries where someone gets elected prime minister only to find out that all the non-elected people around him are still doing THEIR jobs from before and he's changed nothing.

I actually enjoyed the political one - other than the lack of an ending - but I find politics interesting, so there is no accounting for my tastes. I think it is also heavily implied that the lie detector was actually some form of brainwashing/hypnosis, which is why he suddenly gets so enthusiastic, and his freak-outs are him fighting against the mind-control. I admit I found the lack of payoff a bit disappointing, but I think the plan of the village was to try and show him that no matter what he did (even take control of the village), he could not escape, whilst also trying to get him more invested in the village's way of life. However, honestly, I admit it was a weak ending because if their plan was to show there was no escape, then there were easier ways to do it, and if they wanted to indoctrinate him, then they seemed to mess that bit up at the end, when the new number 2 just starts slapping him a lot. I therefore really think the whole episode was more just an unsubtle bit of commentary on the politics at the time. Think Metal Gear Solid 2's commentary on politics about: the elections being a sham; the candidates being puppets with no power, who are being controlled and manipulated by shadowy figures; and the voters being easily led lemmings.

Weird, I just had a silly dream about remaking The Prisoner, then I woke up & found out there's a new episode of your show on Channelawesome.

im loving this series, thanks so much the Dom:) love from Australia.xxxx

So happy these are free on KZfaq!

As a kid I always assumed Rover was in charge.

The Free for All episode, could it have been one of the originally ear-marked beginning episodes and maybe that’s why it didn’t have as much weight as the other episodes?

When you said Free For All was one of the weaker episodes, I figured out you have no idea what’s going on.

Glad to see more of these, Dom, I was worried I wouldn't! You do a good job.

Did you hear that Big Finish is going to do Prisoner audio dramas?

It's nice to see someone else as fanatical about this series as me. With that said, if the sign-off tells us anything, it's that the Dom is one of them.

Look on the bright side 6, at least rover didn't kill you.

They get him to be left handed so he will lose/ struggle at fencing etc. while the copy will do things he could do better than him because he is right handed.

hey there the dom. You're awesome! Lost in Adaptation is an awesome little series, and i love your regular reviews too! (This is a weird ass show) just some suggestions for LiA shutter island (please please please) da vinci code gone girl harry potter (wishful thinking?)

So... while trying to replace or duplicate him...they give him a mustache and remove a mole. A mole? In espionage slang a mole is another term for a double agent! Jus' saying.

4:03 No . . . not the Lama! Anything but that!

I'm such a huge Prisoner fan and just finding these fantastic and humorous reviews of yours @Dom has made me your 12,666 subscriber, lol which having 3 6's makes it even more cool for number 6 reference.. yet also creepy with the Satan reference... lol anyhow can't wait for more reviews man!

Wait, is this what that weird Simpsons episode was based on?

Def gotta watch this at some point

All I could think about when I heard schizoid man was King Crimson's 21st Century Schizoid Man.

this look like a cool series

Charlie Sheen really missed the boat not opening themed resorts all over the world.

This show looks great, shame it's not on Netflix.

I really enjoyed watching this at first, but it got kind of frustrating at times, I've seen like 12 episodes so far.

Nothing is perfect. However, The Prisoner is the closest you'll get to perfection. Remember it's a product of its time!

Please review Stardust. Both the Novel and Movie are great.

It's a katana umbrella

also: How the hell did you choreograph the part at 4:20 where three of you are talking to each other? That must have been hard!

The Dom looks hot AF in the jacket and scarf.

Wow, this Dom is somehow a different Person.

Oh, and the assistant woman is speaking a totally fictional language, but one that Patrick McGoohan helped develop to sound vaguely Slavic.

Ah man, your video on Chimes of Big Ben & A. B. & C. has been removed, I'd love to see more of these but there's even less now.

Please review The Howling or Congo!

p.s. more, more, more ,more, more please.

I find Free For All a smart commentary of elections.

I've never heard of this show. What's it about exactly?

I'm German and I find his this hilarious

Didn't they remake the prisoner at one point? or was it an american "adaptation"?

Finish this.

+The Dom It's spelt "Llama", you dolt! Sorry my British politeness programming seems to have failed... I wonder if this is a thing that happens a lot on the internet.

Not German!

Oh, don't bother - Germans are cool. :-)

737 like

She's not German. The language she's speaking is gibberish. It's a fake language.