The Prisoner: Dance of the Dead

(S01E03) "Music, dance, and happiness--by order."

This episode pits Number 6 versus the new Number 2, a pixie-ish woman with a demonic laugh, in a battle over who can control who. Number 2 persuades Number 6 to join in the carnival festivities, but Number 6 wants no part of it, being that he does not want to be a member of the village and is constantly plotting to escape. He also is being observed by an attractive woman who seems not to enjoy her job, but she has no problem reporting on his activities and scheming to get him to supply Number 2 with information.

As Number 6 contemplates another escape, he comes across a dead body on the beach, where he finds a wallet and a radio on him and takes them with him after he hides the body in a cave. As time passes on, Number 2 continues "by hook or by crook" to get Number 6 to assimilate more into the Village, but his anger at being there and his plans for escape are his prime motivation.

When watching this show, it's amazing to see how many psychological devices are used to get prisoners to talk. Electric shock treatment, the administering of powerful drugs, and mind control techniques are just a few of the ways that the powers-that-be use to get what they want. I bring it up only because even though British television in the 60s certainly allowed more "adult" or "controversial" material to be broadcasted than the FCC would in America, but it's pretty strong stuff just the same.

Number 6 goes back to the cave and attaches a life preserver to the dead body and a rescue note. However, he is observed by an old colleague who is now a village resident, Roland Walter Dutton, who seems resigned to the fact that he will die there. Of course, Number 6 is being observed the entire time.

As Carnival Day approaches, a proclamation is made (as quoted above) but the villagers are not very joyous. You may have noticed that the villagers are expressionless--they seem programmed. (Think The Stepford Wives.) They are all in costume, and Number 6's costume is chosen for him--a tuxedo. (I guess all secret agents end up wearing a tuxedo sooner or later.)

At the dance, Number 6 questions his observer, and later sneaks off in disguise to see what is up at Town Hall. Number 2 and her black cat, which was a recurring character/theme in the episode, discover him, and then he is put on trial for "breaking the rules." Number 2 acts as his defense attorney, but we all know she won't exactly fight for him.

Number 6 then calls for Dutton to testify in his behalf, but Dutton is in a jester's outfit and seems to have been lobotomized. Obviously, Number 6 has been thwarted again. To no one's surprise, he is found guilty and is sentenced to death. He runs off, chased by the carnival crowd. He manages to hide in a room with a computer that seems to be spitting details about him, but Number 2 finds him again, ending the episode with her demonic laugh.

Number 6 is still resisting with all his might the idea of feeding information to the leaders of the village. He is being subjected to all sorts of mind control and deception, but he feels that is strong will and mind will keep him from becoming another mind-controlled village resident.

As I've said in previous posts, The Prisoner seems other-wordly. The situations, dialogue, and storylines require close concentration and for the viewer to not let any detail slip by. Simply brilliant television.

Until next time:

Be seeing you!