AUTOREN:

INTERVIEWS:

A: FIND MISSING LINK.
B: PUT IT TOGETHER.
C: (IF FAIL) BANG!

The spoken prologue of each episode gives a clue as for the Number Two character: some are honest, some are conceited, domineering or arrogant. Although - this applies to the German version mostly. In the original round about one two thirds of the prologues spoken by Robert Rietty as the "standard voice".

Replacing the various Number Twos normally would be the effect of not being successful enough to break into the realm of Number Six. But this is never really explored in depth. Here actor Colin Gordon takes on the role of Number Two twice; whether this was the solution of some casting problem isn't quite clear. But his two characters are alike at the same time as they are different enough.

Leo McKern, on the other hand, is officially reactivated to cope with Number Six in the "Once Upon A Time" episode. In the German TV version of 1969, however, this fact is somewhat blurred: "I’ve been here once" - McKern's first entry takes place quite early in "The Chimes Of Big Ben", German episode 11 creating continuity where there is none at all. When TV station Arte rescreened the series in 2010 thereby dubbing the four omitted episodes the British standard order was used.

McKern’s and Number Six’ duels of words are staged brilliantly. He is the most profiled actor in this role. McGoohan wanted McKern to play another episode (which was "Once Upon A Time"). Eventually he even performed in the very last one, months after having shaved his beard and cut his hair. And the script was adjusted consequently for Number Two to return from amongst the dead...

Right after the first batch of PRISONER episodes had been shot McGoohan went to Hollywood to film ICE STATION ZEBRA directed by John Sturges, a Cold War submarine tale of which not very much stays in mind except the McGoohan performance. There's indication that McGoohan accepted the role in order to secure the continuation of the PRISONER production. It had, however, been decided to conclude THE PRISONER with the rather unusual number of only 17 episodes. Costs had been high and the audience's response wasn't as had been imagined. Time was running short and some episodes hadn't even been written yet. So, a story was created where the star of the of the whole series wouldn't be shown at all: "Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling" was the result. The mind of Number Six, in this story, is transferred into the body of another man. McGoohan is seen only at the end, shot after he had returned from America.

The position of Number Two is held by women three times. Although women are treated ambivalently to the extreme by the series - and so by McGoohan. "Never trust a woman, even a four-legged one", he says about Morris’/Number Two’s cat. Suppose, not just a dialogue line. On the other hand, Number Six surely is always ready to help women in distress. Mary Morris does have the strongest part in "Dance Of The Dead". It is a stronghold to have a woman in that position but this is of relative value only since Trevor Howard was to get the role.
There isn’t anything like tenderness or sexuality within THE PRISONER. A fact resulting from McGoohan’s imagination of some puritanical, clean-cut family entertainment and his attitude towards women as well. Even John Drake never kissed the girl. Many of those involved in the shooting have reported this.

So, a chambermaid wearing a green wig of "Dance Of The Dead" appears to be lascivius in this perspective, young and innocent is a watchmaker’s daughter ("It’s Your Funeral"). For centuries German audiences never got to see the most pleasant females: Alison of "The Schizoid Man" believes she’s connected to Number Six more than telepathically. As people are often, she is misused by the Village authorities against Number Six. McGoohan is said to have the episode’s basically unambigous script altered: after exercising with her for a mindreading contest he awkwardly walks her out of his home, "it’s getting late."

Kathy of "Living In Harmony" is a saloon girl. She develops something like passion for him. When Number Six finds out what really happend Kathy is all in tears because she definitely loathes the machinations.
This is the only episode to have a character express sensual, sexual desire. Of course, not McGoohan/Number Six but a young actor, Alexis Kanner, as The Kid/Number 48 who went on to play the revolting juvenile in the last episode of "Fall Out".

Its twilight status between the audience and the ambition rating eventually implied the end of the commercial television show THE PRISONER - fortunately, in a way. A fragment that leaves many questions unanswered. All those questions,

• about the reason of his resignation from duty,
• about the identity of his abductors: was it them or us?
• (when) will Number Six' attempt to escape be successful?
• who is Number One,

they are mere McGuffins, the device to propell the audience’s interest. Number Six himself does in fact give an answer to the question of his resignation: "For peace of mind." But, could this be the answer audiences, let alone Number Two had eagerly been waiting for?