Best use of a Beetles song ever. I've always thought that the best explanation for Fallout was that No. 6 actually (and finally) broke under the strains of the previous episode (Once Upon A Time), and that once broken his mind became shattered. Fallout, therefore, is nothing more than his extended delusion. A great piece of television, however. Completely original, and one you're not likely to ever see again.
DrFruedienslip: Yes. However the more I look into it after all these years, the more I'm starting to see patterns matching Freud's Id/Ego/SuperEgo theory. 1 being the Id, and just about everything else in the Village being Ego. 6, 2 and 48 being "rebels" in that system. At least that's what I think, I'm just learning about Freud's theory now. After 6 takes 1's place though, I'm confused.
I wonder how McGoohan's meeting with the executives went. "Well my show hasn't made sense for the last sixteen episodes, why should it now? Fuck all, I want to mow people down with a semi-automatic while listening to the Beatles."
I don't think its wise to rationalize this episode, I think its pure symbolism. for instance with the unmasking of #1 its really irrelevant Who #1 is. The point as i see it is that we always look at our enemy as sub-human monsters but when we pull of that mask we find out that they are just like us. Or perhaps we discover that we are our own worst enemy all along.
Number Two told him who Number One is in the beginning of every episode. " I am the new Number Two" - "Who is Number One ?" - "You are, Number Six". The idea was that you are the master of your own destiny. You are Number One.
You're probably right because it really didn't make any sense in the literal dimension, I believe that originally, there was a plan to have "Number One" revealed as someone that had never been seen before which I think would have been much better and more logical but for some reason, the makers of the show kinda changed their minds and decided to do this seeming madness which has been debated about ever since. Some might say it was a big mistake because there was much disappointment back in the day for those fans who were old enough to remember this the first time around, up until that final episode 'Fall Out' it had proven an absolute sensation and it certainly was, everyone got something different out of it but the general consensus nearly everyone got was the idea of this being just like the modern society we live in which, post WWII has indeed evolved into what could be called a prison without bars, an open prison, a village if you like and of course we all want to know who is really behind it all, who is really in charge, who is....Number One? So I guess the thinking behind it was as you say, the idea is that we are actually all "Number One" and we don't know it, we think someone else is behind it all and we spend all our energy, all our lives trying to find them and all the time it is really us, it makes sense on one level but I can understand the disappointment that those original fans of the show had and the subsequent ones too, everyone felt the same, namely, confused and cheated, when they saw it the first time around and then saw the final, I can remember when I first saw it, I thought "huh?...have I missed something here?...I'm still none the wiser....who is Number One?....what was that monkey and all that aye aye aye about?....what was that court procedure and that Beatles song All You Need Is Love all about??....what has this whole thing been about?".....blah blah blah, it left me with more questions than answers. What was even more disconcerting is that it seems that the late, great, Patrick McGoohan himself didn't seem to know either, so in all honesty, if he didn't know, then who would?, not unless he knew but just didn't want to say and took the secret to his grave with him, well, it's conceivable but it also seems unlikely, there would be no point or reason in him not telling, so I can only guess that the most likely truth is he really just didn't know either and was just brainstorming when he made the show, well he certainly played a big part in the direction and the idea for the show, although there were others involved too, to be honest, we will probably never be totally sure, it just seems likely that you are right about it being symbolic, it's the only way it can make any semblance of logic, many thanks.
“it left me with more questions than answers.” I think that is exactly what they were trying to accomplish. Plato believed that if you want someone to understand something its best to ask questions than give answers. You could probable say the same thing about Jesus and his use of parables. As for the true meaning of the show, I think that it is the observer of art that defines its meaning not the creator. Whether it’s a panting or a book or a T.V. show, if the creator leaves anything to the imagination of the observer than they have given up any authority over that meaning. But that’s just my opinion.
Joel Craig And it's a very noteworthy opinion too, The Prisoner does seem to be a composition of many different elements, which means that everyone is at least partially right, whoever looks at it and formulates an opinion regarding what they think it was all about is seeing what is probably a part of it, nobody is completely wrong and nobody is completely right, I guess that's the beauty of it :)
@RANDCOUNTERMAND : So No. 1's eye gets closed right after he escapes in the upper hatch. Must mean that he no longer is in control of the village (and all the evil that it did represent under its rule). Now No. 6 is in control, and whoever is armed with a gun (probably to symbolise defending the previous rule of No. 1) is powerless against No. 6. And then All You Need Is Love plays. I guess it means: Self-Love wins against hate, or something like that.
@DrFruedienslip: Or maybe, if I try to refine a bit more, #1 being the Id, the underground FallOut assembly (including the Judge) being the SuperEgo, the rest of the village officials/members being the Ego, and #6 fighting his way to to the Id? Not fully sure, but surely fascinating.
The flaw in the general consensus idea that Number 6 was Number 1 all along is in the fact that No 2 in early episodes was clearly speaking with No 1 on the phone in the presence of No 6, how this can be deduced is the way No 2 was saying "yes sir..no sir...I understand sir", No 2 would never crawl to anyone else other than his boss who could only have been No 1 as he was second in command, No 1 being revealed as No 6 all along was a change from the original intention I'm certain.
The Beatles were big fans of The Prisoner, and this was the only time they allowed their music to be used, while they were together.
Not the only time - Doctor Who used their music several times during the 60s.
Powerful memories. "Contact control!!!" :)
Best use of a Beetles song ever.
I've always thought that the best explanation for Fallout was that No. 6 actually (and finally) broke under the strains of the previous episode (Once Upon A Time), and that once broken his mind became shattered. Fallout, therefore, is nothing more than his extended delusion.
A great piece of television, however. Completely original, and one you're not likely to ever see again.
He has also mentioned the influence of a belief in God as his master as influencing the finale.
best ending ever.
All You Need Is Love
Once Number One's eye gets closed after the unmasking, 2, 6 and 48 all seem invincible against everyone.
We are all numbers...we only think we are free !!
Your village may be different from mine but we are all prisoners..
DrFruedienslip: Yes. However the more I look into it after all these years, the more I'm starting to see patterns matching Freud's Id/Ego/SuperEgo theory. 1 being the Id, and just about everything else in the Village being Ego. 6, 2 and 48 being "rebels" in that system. At least that's what I think, I'm just learning about Freud's theory now. After 6 takes 1's place though, I'm confused.
Not self-love.
McGoohan was a strict Roman Catholic. I have a hunch he was thinking of Divine Love.
I wonder how McGoohan's meeting with the executives went. "Well my show hasn't made sense for the last sixteen episodes, why should it now? Fuck all, I want to mow people down with a semi-automatic while listening to the Beatles."
I don't think its wise to rationalize this episode, I think its pure symbolism. for instance with the unmasking of #1 its really irrelevant Who #1 is. The point as i see it is that we always look at our enemy as sub-human monsters but when we pull of that mask we find out that they are just like us. Or perhaps we discover that we are our own worst enemy all along.
Number Two told him who Number One is in the beginning of every episode. " I am the new Number Two" - "Who is Number One ?" - "You are, Number Six". The idea was that you are the master of your own destiny. You are Number One.
Wow that is a wild take on it that I never saw. The Force is strong in this one.
You're probably right because it really didn't make any sense in the literal dimension, I believe that originally, there was a plan to have "Number One" revealed as someone that had never been seen before which I think would have been much better and more logical but for some reason, the makers of the show kinda changed their minds and decided to do this seeming madness which has been debated about ever since.
Some might say it was a big mistake because there was much disappointment back in the day for those fans who were old enough to remember this the first time around, up until that final episode 'Fall Out' it had proven an absolute sensation and it certainly was, everyone got something different out of it but the general consensus nearly everyone got was the idea of this being just like the modern society we live in which, post WWII has indeed evolved into what could be called a prison without bars, an open prison, a village if you like and of course we all want to know who is really behind it all, who is really in charge, who is....Number One?
So I guess the thinking behind it was as you say, the idea is that we are actually all "Number One" and we don't know it, we think someone else is behind it all and we spend all our energy, all our lives trying to find them and all the time it is really us, it makes sense on one level but I can understand the disappointment that those original fans of the show had and the subsequent ones too, everyone felt the same, namely, confused and cheated, when they saw it the first time around and then saw the final, I can remember when I first saw it, I thought "huh?...have I missed something here?...I'm still none the wiser....who is Number One?....what was that monkey and all that aye aye aye about?....what was that court procedure and that Beatles song All You Need Is Love all about??....what has this whole thing been about?".....blah blah blah, it left me with more questions than answers.
What was even more disconcerting is that it seems that the late, great, Patrick McGoohan himself didn't seem to know either, so in all honesty, if he didn't know, then who would?, not unless he knew but just didn't want to say and took the secret to his grave with him, well, it's conceivable but it also seems unlikely, there would be no point or reason in him not telling, so I can only guess that the most likely truth is he really just didn't know either and was just brainstorming when he made the show, well he certainly played a big part in the direction and the idea for the show, although there were others involved too, to be honest, we will probably never be totally sure, it just seems likely that you are right about it being symbolic, it's the only way it can make any semblance of logic, many thanks.
“it left me with more questions than answers.” I think that is exactly what they were trying to accomplish. Plato believed that if you want someone to understand something its best to ask questions than give answers. You could probable say the same thing about Jesus and his use of parables.
As for the true meaning of the show, I think that it is the observer of art that defines its meaning not the creator. Whether it’s a panting or a book or a T.V. show, if the creator leaves anything to the imagination of the observer than they have given up any authority over that meaning. But that’s just my opinion.
Joel Craig And it's a very noteworthy opinion too, The Prisoner does seem to be a composition of many different elements, which means that everyone is at least partially right, whoever looks at it and formulates an opinion regarding what they think it was all about is seeing what is probably a part of it, nobody is completely wrong and nobody is completely right, I guess that's the beauty of it :)
You forgot to mention The Phantoms on bicyles, a silly screaming judge and a space rocket launching to the moon... for some reason.
@RANDCOUNTERMAND : So No. 1's eye gets closed right after he escapes in the upper hatch. Must mean that he no longer is in control of the village (and all the evil that it did represent under its rule). Now No. 6 is in control, and whoever is armed with a gun (probably to symbolise defending the previous rule of No. 1) is powerless against No. 6. And then All You Need Is Love plays. I guess it means: Self-Love wins against hate, or something like that.
Never heard about other TV show using Beatles songs.
An episode of Gerry Anderson's UFO uses the Beatles' GET BACK.
No. 6 in episode 11: You should protest some other way, not by murder.
No. 6 in episode 17: Let's kill them all. 🤣
@RANDCOUNTERMAND : Took me all these years to notice it :). Quite the symbolism!
The first appearance of Mario, Luigi, Peach and Toad, I assume.
we have THE ORANGE ONE !
@DrFruedienslip: Or maybe, if I try to refine a bit more, #1 being the Id, the underground FallOut assembly (including the Judge) being the SuperEgo, the rest of the village officials/members being the Ego, and #6 fighting his way to to the Id? Not fully sure, but surely fascinating.
Many thanks!
The flaw in the general consensus idea that Number 6 was Number 1 all along is in the fact that No 2 in early episodes was clearly speaking with No 1 on the phone in the presence of No 6, how this can be deduced is the way No 2 was saying "yes sir..no sir...I understand sir", No 2 would never crawl to anyone else other than his boss who could only have been No 1 as he was second in command, No 1 being revealed as No 6 all along was a change from the original intention I'm certain.
@djsixottawa i really think you get the point-hip-hip-hooray, long live the revolution!
@serentochan YESSSSSS!
????????
@djsixottawa YOU-GET THE POINT!
@Wellch
You mean the prison bin laden was being held in? Well, the military does seem to really enjoy tragic irony.
@serentochan
I think they broke 6 at the end.
@djsixottawa