The Prisoner (2009)

It's only been on for the first night so far, but this may he the best thing on television this year. Not the biggest fan of Jim Jesus as an actor, but McKellen may be the finest actor living today. Never thought they could bring anything fresh to the original, but the dryness of the writng and the set design are amazing. Like being trapped forever in Ikea and forced to shop at The Gap for eternity. Can't wait to see how the series plays out, hopefully they don't change the classic ending too much, but I'm having a blast guessing how it will get there.

so is mckellen the only number 2?

  On 11/17/2009 at 5:03 AM, Rubin Farr said:

It's only been on for the first night so far, but this may he the best thing on television this year. Not the biggest fan of Jim Jesus as an actor, but McKellen may be the finest actor living today. Never thought they could bring anything fresh to the original, but the dryness of the writng and the set design are amazing. Like being trapped forever in Ikea and forced to shop at The Gap for eternity. Can't wait to see how the series plays out, hopefully they don't change the classic ending too much, but I'm having a blast guessing how it will get there.

  On 11/17/2009 at 5:08 AM, Z_B_Z said:

so is mckellen the only number 2?

I'm enjoying it too - it will be interesting to see what their take on the classic episodes will be, since I've noticed the titles are similar or the same as the classic series.

Yes, I didn't think about that - No. 2 was always "replaced" when he failed to break No. 6 into revealing why he resigned from the government organization he worked for. I guess if they decide to do a season 2 and McKellan isn't up for it, they could have a new No. 2 (unless of course they end it at one season).

afaik there won't be a season, just these 6 episodes. i've liked this so far. they've changed stuff but captured the paranoia and general mindfuckery well. i like how mckellan plays number 2, a genial old man, that still strikes fear in everyone. the small things are cool, like they only eat wraps or cake.

no no no no no no no this cannot be remade

I tried to watch some of the godfather pt 2 the other weekend but couldn't bear ( ) all the in-programme promo-hype for this dancing around the bottom of the screen. There's a special place in hell for whomever came up with this - I'm looking at you fox)

Rant aside, for someone who's never seen the original, is this tv time well spent?

watched a bit of this last night. seems to hold up well. ill be checking out the entire two hours later tonight..

  On 11/17/2009 at 7:42 PM, azatoth said:

afaik there won't be a season, just these 6 episodes. i've liked this so far. they've changed stuff but captured the paranoia and general mindfuckery well. i like how mckellan plays number 2, a genial old man, that still strikes fear in everyone. the small things are cool, like they only eat wraps or cake.

Only 6 episodes? Hmmm. I hope they don't leave it open-ended without a resolution...

I hate the jim jesus dood as well but yah this is pretty interesting story and well made for sure. Even if it wasn't well made I like seeing the metaphors and shit that stories like this put in with the whole totalitarian leadership + dreamers + sheep= relevant tale.

OK, it finished last night, and I thought the original ending was a headfuck - this takes the cake - I missed episodes 2-4, so I might have missed some relevant bits, but here's what I understood the whole thing to be:

I loved the new ending as well. The tears in her eyes said it all, man is doomed to repeat his mistakes in the effort to correct his flaws. I think 2 was in it from the beginning just to better his and his wife's lives, while 6 is an idealist but will nevertheless become corrupted as he becomes more desperate to maintain his vision of what The Village should be.