@@gleep23Regardless of where people think it falls chronologically, the plot is above the rest. I love the whole series but Hammer Into Anvil is *number one*. Heh
i appreciate how oddly relatable the premise of being introduced to the series by your father at a young age and then being somewhat traumatized by it is to many people, including myself lol
I'm surprised you didn't mention the anecdote about the remake they did in 2009 where they approached Patrick McGoohan to play the old man who dies in the opening moments of the first episode to which he apparently replied that he would only join the show on the condition that he be allowed to play Number 2.
This re-pop wasn't great, but it wasn't ALL bad & put a cheeky little twist on the end that wrapped it up neater than the original, IMO. The biggest weakness was having McKellen play No.2 throughout instead of pitching the protagonist against a new adversary every episode...
@@ivarsig It’s definitely a good thing you never watched the new one if you’re a fan of the original. I couldn’t make it past two episodes before checking out. The first ep was hard enough, with the whole diner and “we only serve wraps” sequence..
Interesting choice for Leo to make a long, comedic, detailed video essay about a niche topic, instead of his usual "bald man goes wild and sexy" content
thanks forever + ever for invitin me to have a segment on this weird-ass wonderful show. the next leo vid is gonna be a normal amount of minutes probably.
Woah woah woah, is this the “100 subscriber mega-palooza party & brunch” guy? IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF A LEO VADER VID?!?? I never thought I’d see the day
"Books! I read two books for this, and I know this might seem impossible to you, but me? I could knock out a couple of books in, really, no longer than half a year if it's my job." Thank you for this gift, Leo, I truly appreciate it.
About the bicycle as a symbol: In the early 20th century there was a fascist Italian art movement that loved violence and speed called Futurism. The bicycle was feature in some of their work since the wheel was one of its most important symbols "We want to sing the man at the wheel, the ideal axis of which crosses the earth, itself hurled along its orbit." which matches nicely with the alternate end titles. Some other highlights from the manifesto are: "We want to glorify war - the only cure for the world - militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of the anarchists, the beautiful ideas which kill, and contempt for woman." and "We want to demolish museums and libraries, fight morality, feminism and all opportunist and utilitarian cowardice."
Wow. At least they wore their hearts on their sleeves with that one. They didn’t disguise it like pussies the way the modern right wing party does in the US.
Wow, their ideology seems pretty incoherent. Damn. Usually fascists don't like Anarchists, and why would they be AGAINST utilitarianism? It's a pretty shitty moral framework which seems perfect for fascists.
This is a great observation. I'd also add that the Futurists have a direct link to the historical formation and ideology of Italy's fascist party. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti wrote both the Manifesto of Futurism (1909) and Fascist Manifesto (1919) which went on to be influential on the policy of Mussolini's government. Today to make allusions to Futurist ideology may seem too farfetched or esoteric, at the time much closer to WW2 they were probably more familiar with the link between Futurism and fascism, making your reading more plausible.
I watched this show on Amazon Prime not knowing anything about it other than it starred (like you mentioned) that guy from Columbo who directed the weirdedst episode. This was a great vid! You are geniuenly one of my favorite essayists/creators/artists on youtube. You work in these completely vulnerable, beautifully worded moments shrouded in humor that punch me right in the gut. It's sucha joy to go on these journeys with you. You're a unique voice and I appreciate you pushing the envelope even if someone is telling you no. This show definitely influnced my love of Leo Vader. As an aside it took me way to long to realize you were dressed like The Prisoner this whole video.
Now that this platform has been flooded with cheap, mindless "video essays" which are actually plot recaps and pretty much nothing else, you have achieved something increasingly rare: your work has got me truly interested in another work. Thank you for making this!
When Leo says “just wait” or whatever during the segment about the cowboy episode my video buffered for a minute and I didn’t realize it was real until about 20 seconds in, fantastic video I will never think about The Prisoner (1967) ever again
I'm excited for the surrealist era of Leo Vader. So glad I watched this right away. The title was so understated compared to all the points and connections you made. I'm shocked this series isn't more well known! Or maybe it is, but either way I'm surprised to not have heard of it! Also- so many jokes from Austin Powers are based in this show, and I'm only now realizing.
Thank you so much Leo! The Prisoner is one of my favorite TV shows of all time and I can never seem to convince anyone else to watch it. I understand why other people my age aren't into it, but I can't even get my boomer dad to watch the show, and he was alive for the original run!
I want you to know that this comment made me stop watching this video less than a minute in so I could go binge the show. I'm on episode 10 and thank you for the outstanding recommendation. I may not have been your target audience, but I'm grateful all the same 👍
Vote for Trump and bring back the "good old days" when you could knock your wife and kids about with impunity, isn't it terrible that they have laws against that kind of thing now days? lol would you agree with me, that Trump is contaminating the Republic (Repugnant party), contaminating the body politic with his/it's poisonous Political Rhetoric. Robert Murdoch is from the silent generation, remember that as you read this: What is Rupert Murdoch's metaphysical belief system, don't tell me , Ensoulment? That's nice that Travis Hipp (Silent Generation 1928 to 1945) thought that the so-called Generation X were infesting "our Republic". Nik Kershaw in his song Radio Musicola called Generation X the lost Generation, the older Generation always gives a kicking to the young Generation, don't they? lol A lot of the so-called baby boomers like to give a kicking to the younger Gen-X it would seem. lol In the 1970s, I simply did not recognize the extent to which the 1960s “youth revolution” had terrified our ruling Elite, or that they would try to prevent future upsurges of radical Utopianism by deliberately “dumbing down” the educational system. What they have produced, the so-called Generation X, must rank as not only the most ignorant but also the most paranoid and depressive kids ever to *infest our Republic. I agree with outlaw radio star Travis Hipp that the paranoia and depression result inevitably from the ignorance. These kids not only don’t know anything; they don’t even want to know. They only realize, vaguely, that somebody has screwed them out of something, but they don’t have enough zest or bile to try to find out who screwed them and what they were screwed out of. Fortunately, this Age of Stupidity cannot last very long. Already, most people know that if you want a good TV or VCR, you buy Japanese; for a good car, Japanese or German, etc. Eventually, in order to compete, the Elite will have to allow a bit more education for American youth, before we sink fully to the level of a Third World nation. Wilson, Robert Anton Prometheus Rising . Hilaritas Press, LLC.. Kindle Edition. * infest is a interesting word to use, they seem to be personifying people as viruses or biological contaminants. Crisis of democracy Michael Tsarion with David Whitehead on American Freedom Radio 05/20/2013 1:27:55 it looked like man might free himself at this point because he I mean what I mean is free himself commercially and if you free yourself financially and commercially then you free yourself intellectually and that's what they were worrying about at the American experiment they tried to bring in the troops that didn't work so they had to find other ways to dumb down the population and they bloody well succeeded but it can be turned around it absolutely can be turned to a round Progressive Radio News Hour - Dennis Rancourt - 2-8-14 a new paradigm. They've understood something, they understood that with that, you know, economic freedom came freedom of thought and independence, of action and choice and democracy. And so and it gave rise to the sixties and seventies, where people revolutionised the structures of their institutions and so on. Universities became more liberal and so on and so on all the workplaces and unionism and so on. And they realised that they could lose control and that they had largely lost some control and they needed to regain it and the way to do it. They called it a crisis in democracy. And the way to do it was to squeeze down economically and also make gut universities so that you're not teaching thought and real knowledge. And instead you're teaching you you you're doing obedience, training and indoctrination. Democracy was regarded as entering into a crisis in the 1960s. The crisis was that large segments of the population were becoming organized and active and trying to participate in the political arena. p32,Excerpted from Media Control, 2002 the prisoner - fall out " The last episode fallout, how he escaped from Plato's cave I thought was ingenious. lol This session is called in a matter of democratic crisis.... opens the president. banging down his gavel to bring the assembly to order." The status quo wouldn't want a democratic crisis or a crisis of democracy like they had in 1968, would they? control, control ,control. lol When you so-called Americans say you love your country, what do you mean, because Countries are abstract concepts, so what are you in love with, an abstract concept, you are having a love affair with a abstract concept.? "In my opinion this is our story in a nutshell: in our youth, we realized we were screwed (by Boomers, government, society, fill in the blank). So, we took care of ourselves (many of us had done that as semi feral children, anyways), helped develop the internet, keeping to ourselves. We are Luke Skywalker who said he hates the Empire but can't do anything about it, so we stayed on the farm. We didn't get anyone to teach us about the Force so, to us, it's a lot of simple tricks and nonsense. What controls our destiny isn't hokey religions, it's brutal taxation, corporate cronyism, psychopathic politicians/CEOs, lobbyists, military industrial complex, etc. all vying for a piece of the pie in which you'll get crumbs if you're a lucky pawn. A pawn. You're a king or a pawn."
Not only is Leo Vader back but he’s made a feature-length video about one of my special interest shows and favourite actors? Am I dreaming? Yooo he even gave a Danger Man shoutout? Crazy
What a terrific walk through. I checked The Prisoner out from my local library like 20 years ago and it's stuck with me ever since. I suggest anyone having trouble finding it check with their library. I think about it whenever I hear Secret Agent Man on the radio and whenever I get assigned an ID number. I am not a number - I'm, like, at least 12 different numbers depending on what I need to do, and if I forget any of them I'm kind of screwed.
@@TSDT I knew it was the theme song but didn't know it was only for the American release so that's kind of interesting. Still a banger of a song, though, and still makes me think of the Prisoner just because it was the more memorable show.
well, that's one thing i can cross off my bucket list. finally someone gave this series the love and respect it deserves. what an insane piece of media. the first ever fan backlash for a tv ending? cheers for this, tremendous work.
I really think, personally, the Prisoner says why he retired in the final episode to the committee when they're interrupting him, and it breaks him. He goes quiet immediately and his face falls so hard, and the rest of the episode he's lost it, from seeing number one to the shoot out. I think it finally broke him, and his reward for compliance is getting to go 'home', but of course London is just the village, society is the village. The Prisoner lost. I love the last episode so much because it feels heartbreaking to me, that shift in McGoohen's face after he yells something we can't hear as everyone shouts is the shift of someone going from breaking to broken. Especially because the President calls for silence like immediately afterwards.
If you're talking about Six attempting to speak before the masked people in Fall Out, he talks about the British pound being devalued. This actually had happened at the time and had a major effect on the world economy. It seemed like an odd subject, but McGoohan was good in math and had managed a bank early in his career. McGoohan does not say what event, program, or information caused him to resign. He says he knew too much but not what he knew. That what the Village wanted.
Robotto Paluta, an animated kids’ show for NHK, used to give me nightmares as a child because of a guy named Robokuro. Eventually, my mom had to explain that Robokuro was just an alarm clock with arms and legs stitched on. When Leo mentioned Little Leo’s fear of the kidnapper from episode one, that childhood memory hit me like a truck. Crazy. Anyway, great video 😁😁
Dude no way! I just finished watching this show with my dad and I was struggling to find many videos online that covered it, especially in any detail. Was stoked to see that you of all people uploaded an in-depth retrospective as your most recent video. I love your channel, so this is like Christmas come early!
@@Evanz111 im not sure if it was his intent, but the show works on different levels i dont know if kids today would like it, but in the 60s, this was the perfect action/adventure for kids....no extreme violence (till the final epi), no love scenes and a really angry protagonist adults got the themes.... when it was replayed on pbs when i was a teen, i caught a lot of things i didnt when i was a kid when i saw it again on pbs, when i was in grad school, i caught even more and now as an adult, i catch even more
@@lesweizman388 Yeah, I completely agree! So I was 28 when watching the show with him, but he was describing just how impactful the show was for his generation, and it was really cool to hear! Since then I went into a rabbit hole of Patrick’s stories of how it affected him after the finale aired, and it’s crazy. I can definitely understand why it meant so much to people who watched it at the time! ^^
I love coming back to watch this retrospective, I believe it was THE retrospective that influenced the famous video from Jenny Nicholson's about the failure of the Star Wars hotel. Essentially sparking the whole genre of long forum essays on youtube. Amazing stuff.
Not to knock on your joke but didn’t that Jenny video actually release after this one came out? A better joke would be using iBinged iCarly (2021) by Quinton Reviews instead
@@Ponto-zv9vf "be seeing you"(666) hand gesture was used on the Beatles yellow submarine single cover along with the devil horns, lots of symbolism in those hand gestures. Here's more symbolism for you guys, do you recognise the November 5th, election day or should that be night symbolism .
Oh my god me and my boyfriend have been binging your videos for like two weeks AN HOUR LONG VIDEO IS LIKE GIFT!!!! WE WERE GONNA WATCH A MOVIE TONIGHT!!!! ok but like seriously thank u for continuing to make content, I love your stuff and the character (space house guy) you play. You have consistently been creative in fun ways and it's been a blast revisiting your content and keeping up with new uploads. you're one of my favorite TH-camrs, thank you
Holy shit, Leo, I did not expect for the conclusion of this 2 hour video about a 60s TV series I'd never heard of to hit on the exact creative struggles I've been going through lately. I'm a visual artist who's very scared of the fact that I want to pursue a creative path, because I've grown afraid that to be an artist, I will be "forced" to work long hours and always be in a crunch mode. But your message is a real boost to my confidence that I can create my own healthy, balanced creative life. That I can be my own good boss! This kind of message is really so rare, and you're truly a one of a kind TH-camr, and one of my favorites! I've missed your videos.
Hey Leo, I started watching this video the day you posted it and stopped about 4 minutes in because I told myself I had to watch the whole show first. Well, i just finished the last episode today and man oh man I can't believe I've never heard of it before! Thanks for shining a light on this, its become one of my absolute favorites!
I got 49:30 through and saw your editor talking about how it was all free to watch on TH-cam. I’m now returning after watching 17 hours of the prisoner over the last month. Such a trippy show but it was a fun ride
My history teacher back in high school and I got on quite well due to our love of classic media and, after seeing more than one review compare Evangelion and Lain to The Prisoner, I asked about it. This then lead him to lend me the complete series on VHS which he later gifted me as a graduation present. He passed away several years ago and those tapes got lost in various shuffles of my life, but I'll never forget that gift and those conversations. Be seeing you Mr. L.
This is such a well worded, thoughtful, and articulate critique of a wildly dense show. and you also made me laugh out loud throughout. This is something you're really really good at.
I was in the process of watching this show with my father when you released this video. He's had problems reconciling his own views with the more abstract elements of the show, but I've sown him this video and it has helped a great deal. Also he likes weed alien. Thanks, my dude.
I first encountered The Prisoner in the 90s on the early internet. And I read full plot descriptions of every episode, because that was the only way you had to experience old TV before dvds. I thought it sounded so incredibly cool. Eventually, once dvds were a thing, I attempted to watch it but I always got lost midway through the series and couldn't force my way through. Still to this day, despite KNOWING about the ending, I've never seen it. So thanks for making me feel a little more informed about this show I should love, but in practice am not wild about when actually watching.
I got 15 minutes in and I'm enjoying the video but I don't think I can finish it because now you've got me wanting to go actually watch The Prisoner instead.
One of the weirdest things about this show is the village it’s filmed in, portmeirion in north Wales. I was staying near there and spotted it from the other side of the river and from that moment to finding and visiting it till leaving portmeirion I felt like I was in a dream and this was my first introduction to the prisoner. It’s like a Mediterranean dreamscape cult-theme park. Everything was so out of place from the obvious architecture and no one living there to the more subtle way everyone working in the shops/cafes smiled like they had a gun to their head.
Huh, after watching this entire thing and realising the setting looked oddly familiar I saw the "Port Meirion" in the description and realised that I'd visited there with my mum when I was a child and the realisation has unlocked a huge amount of memories I forgot I had. What a wonderful gift. Thanks, Leo.
Thank you for talking about the prevalence of alice in wonderland references in any piece of media thats trying to be weird and quirky. By referencing the OG weird and quirky thing
Thanks for the video! The first eight minutes convinced me to watch the show and I want to avoid spoilers, so I'm gonna pause this for two years, but thanks for making the rest too!!!!
"And he says the money will be in your company's account by Monday morning. Which it was." 20:02 imagine having that kind of influence for projects you want to push forward. Insane I've never heard of this guy or any of his work. It's as if it was a long time ago and in Britain.
He was “difficult”, but Paddy McGoohan was a genius - an absolute legend. And “The Prisoner” remains to this day UNIQUE and has something to say. Great vid btw - be seeing you👌
Hey Leo, you may not read this, but I just wanted you to know that this video was absolutely fantastic, and in ny opinion the best thing you've made. The algorithm might hate it, but thank you so much for putting it out into the world.
Im a newer viewer, I saw your masterchef video and loved the way you poked fun at the video essay genre. I clicked on this video while taking a break, not seeing the length. I already know you hate wasting my time. I will trust you with this 2 hour video good sir. I am off to do chores and study, I will update what I think. "Didnt even beat my wife" is crazy
Omg, my dad showed me and my brother The Prisoner when we were kids too! Honestly still one of my fav shows, so I'm glad this vid popped up in my recommended. I feel like I'm the one always bringing it up to other people (and telling them to watch it if I think they might have any possibility of handling the surrealist aspects), but this was perfect to satisfy the craving for the in-depth discussion of it I've always wanted.
Thank you for this video, Leo! First, just miss watching your stuff. Second, I found out about "The Prisoner" from an old co worker in 2008. I forget how I managed to watch it but I did, most likely the library. I've waited for years for someone to make a video like this. Thankfully it was you. Keep up the awesome projects!
This video might finally get my kids to watch The Prisoner. This was such an amazing show, but if there's one thing I know about being a dad to teens is that nothing you've ever liked will be cool to them. I'll just turn this on and say "what's this dumb show this kid on the tv is babbling about?" and a week from now they'll be experts
Seeing this channel’s format evolve has been such a joy, consistently the channel that answers questions I didn’t really need to know the answer to but gives me them anyway and I enjoy this.
I loved this show when I was younger (still do), and one of my wife's best friends is a huge fan as well. When I showed her the first ep, she was like "oooohhh" Thats why Friend says "Be Seeing You" so much
Thank you for your effort. This was completly fascinating and an absolute joy to watch. If I could give my personal highest form of praise, I started watching this video while eating dinner and continued watching after I finished my food.
Never seen your channel before, I watched the first 20 minutes or so of your video and then paused it so I could go binge watch The Prisoner before continuing. Wild, amazing series and a well thought out retrospective.
I saw the title of this video and my immediate thought was, "Man, this guy is so weird. He literally doesn't care about making videos with a broad appeal that will bring in tons of views. He just makes videos on what he finds interesting, no matter how obscure it is. And I fucking love that. I wish more creators followed their own passions and interests instead of trying to cater to what's "popular" with an algorithm. Love it. And I'm going to watch this whole thing.
The research you have done on this video is incredibly impressive! I've been a fan of the show since being a child & you've taught me so much about the behind-the-scenes process that I didn't know!
is there another youtuber whose skit grew so massive and magnificent that the video turned into an alternate history retrospective? WAIT THIS WAS A REAL SHOW!?
god DAMN your vids are so good. the asides and cutaways, well constructed criticism and explanation, i’m enjoying the fuck out of this video so far!! i’m halfway thru so i sure hope it doesn’t go downhill at the end! :)
What a wonderful documentary. Holy Cow. The Prisoner was also a regular feature for me growing up and I talked about it incessantly . I think the best review I can give outside of I watched the whole thing is it made me rethink a lot of those episodes after a decade of having not watched it. Like it never occurred to me we're never told he was a spy. I always assumed it
you know a show is good/unhinged, when fans argue about the order the episodes should be viewed in, and how that changes the narrative
I know there are a few ideas about order, but had no idea there was an online feud, hah... I bet "Hammer into Anvil" is an episode in contention.
@@gleep23Regardless of where people think it falls chronologically, the plot is above the rest. I love the whole series but Hammer Into Anvil is *number one*. Heh
Hell yeah I'll watch an hour and fifty-one minute video on a show I've never seen
Same and I’m loving every minute of it. Leo doesn’t miss.
I do that all the time. I don't think I've seen/played most of the things I've watched video essays about.
yep I just finished this whole vid and I've never seen The Prisoner.... though Leo has made me consider checking it out.
He can make anything entertaining tbh his humor and how he talks about things is great
I’m going to watch this twice on 2x speed so I can laugh and learn double the usual amount in the same time frame
Diabolical
Pumped for Dome-King Cabbage!
Speed Learn is an abomination
Real question: does that result in higher watch time, lower, or the same amount?
i need to see the math for this
i appreciate how oddly relatable the premise of being introduced to the series by your father at a young age and then being somewhat traumatized by it is to many people, including myself lol
I just reached out to my dad about it and we are both surprised he didn't show it to me as a child, lol
I am sure he meant the best, but even the most loving parents are just authoritarian dictators
I'm surprised you didn't mention the anecdote about the remake they did in 2009 where they approached Patrick McGoohan to play the old man who dies in the opening moments of the first episode to which he apparently replied that he would only join the show on the condition that he be allowed to play Number 2.
I can't believe they rurned him down on that one. Might have made me actually watch that show
@@ivarsigit’s easy to believe because Number 2 was played by Ian Mckellen, 3 years after lord of the rings. It does really suck tho
@@basilciccone1679 even the great Sir Ian couldn't save that "re-imagining"
This re-pop wasn't great, but it wasn't ALL bad & put a cheeky little twist on the end that wrapped it up neater than the original, IMO.
The biggest weakness was having McKellen play No.2 throughout instead of pitching the protagonist against a new adversary every episode...
@@ivarsig It’s definitely a good thing you never watched the new one if you’re a fan of the original. I couldn’t make it past two episodes before checking out. The first ep was hard enough, with the whole diner and “we only serve wraps” sequence..
holy shit, my father made me watch this show when I was like eight and I thought it was a dream until just now
just like i'm gonna make my kids watch this video when they're eight. they will think it was a dream
@@forbenajsome people play like classical music before the baby is born, play this instead
We had the same childhood fr . My mates thought i was insane when i tried telling them abt my fav show
Interesting choice for Leo to make a long, comedic, detailed video essay about a niche topic, instead of his usual "bald man goes wild and sexy" content
thanks forever + ever for invitin me to have a segment on this weird-ass wonderful show. the next leo vid is gonna be a normal amount of minutes probably.
it better be TWICE as long
Boo better be a 24 hr long marathon
Woah woah woah, is this the “100 subscriber mega-palooza party & brunch” guy? IN THE COMMENT SECTION OF A LEO VADER VID?!?? I never thought I’d see the day
He's leveled up. Our boy is a real TH-camr now, because I can click on one video to fall asleep to rather than a playlist.
"Books! I read two books for this, and I know this might seem impossible to you, but me? I could knock out a couple of books in, really, no longer than half a year if it's my job."
Thank you for this gift, Leo, I truly appreciate it.
I read half a book in 1 year, and it's my job, so I'm beyond impressed
Books! You sound like that blond wigged idiot in the first Time Machine film.
leo recognizing the queens 💓
I lived in Sydney for quite a while, many, many queens there.
Thick Leo vid we won
Leo has always been thick. We never lost
Oh boy it is ain't it
@@fltngmmththe VIDEO IS THICK! NOT THE MAN !
The man is thicc @@casadastraphobia
@@casadastraphobia both tho...
About the bicycle as a symbol: In the early 20th century there was a fascist Italian art movement that loved violence and speed called Futurism. The bicycle was feature in some of their work since the wheel was one of its most important symbols "We want to sing the man at the wheel, the ideal axis of which crosses the earth, itself hurled along its orbit." which matches nicely with the alternate end titles. Some other highlights from the manifesto are: "We want to glorify war - the only cure for the world - militarism, patriotism, the destructive gesture of the anarchists, the beautiful ideas which kill, and contempt for woman." and "We want to demolish museums and libraries, fight morality, feminism and all opportunist and utilitarian cowardice."
Wow. At least they wore their hearts on their sleeves with that one. They didn’t disguise it like pussies the way the modern right wing party does in the US.
Wow, their ideology seems pretty incoherent. Damn. Usually fascists don't like Anarchists, and why would they be AGAINST utilitarianism? It's a pretty shitty moral framework which seems perfect for fascists.
This is a great observation. I'd also add that the Futurists have a direct link to the historical formation and ideology of Italy's fascist party. Filippo Tommaso Marinetti wrote both the Manifesto of Futurism (1909) and Fascist Manifesto (1919) which went on to be influential on the policy of Mussolini's government.
Today to make allusions to Futurist ideology may seem too farfetched or esoteric, at the time much closer to WW2 they were probably more familiar with the link between Futurism and fascism, making your reading more plausible.
I can't think of the name of the architect name but there work reminds me of blade runner
they sound like lovely folks, a real artsy bunch
I watched this show on Amazon Prime not knowing anything about it other than it starred (like you mentioned) that guy from Columbo who directed the weirdedst episode. This was a great vid!
You are geniuenly one of my favorite essayists/creators/artists on youtube. You work in these completely vulnerable, beautifully worded moments shrouded in humor that punch me right in the gut. It's sucha joy to go on these journeys with you. You're a unique voice and I appreciate you pushing the envelope even if someone is telling you no. This show definitely influnced my love of Leo Vader.
As an aside it took me way to long to realize you were dressed like The Prisoner this whole video.
I didn't realise he was dressed like that at all...
He WHAT???
Wow. How the hell did I miss that?
I agree. Leo is just a cut above and has so many cool ideas and running gags in his videos. Makes me wish every TH-cam creator had lore lol
Now that this platform has been flooded with cheap, mindless "video essays" which are actually plot recaps and pretty much nothing else, you have achieved something increasingly rare: your work has got me truly interested in another work. Thank you for making this!
Oh my god yes. He’s been cooking this whole time!
I have watched and absorbed this entire video in 13 minutes. I can say with confidence, it's worth a watch.
open the video in 17 windows, each starting at a different episode. watch all 17 simultaneously. longest episode takes 13 min to cover. i believe you.
Phenomenal
we're so happy to see you again man :)
happy to be back ♥ promise it won't be so long until next time.
1:08:21 “they don’t like the word ‘season’ because it reminds them of seasoning and they don’t like that” GOTTEM
Burnt! (Just like the only way their food get flavor)
It’s actually because a British “season” is usually 6 episodes, which is easily twice the length of British summer, so it makes no sense to us
The absolute flex of taking a drink during the "be seeing you" montage.
Oh shit Leo finally realised long form videos are what the kids are into nowadays
When Leo says “just wait” or whatever during the segment about the cowboy episode my video buffered for a minute and I didn’t realize it was real until about 20 seconds in, fantastic video I will never think about The Prisoner (1967) ever again
I'm excited for the surrealist era of Leo Vader.
So glad I watched this right away. The title was so understated compared to all the points and connections you made.
I'm shocked this series isn't more well known! Or maybe it is, but either way I'm surprised to not have heard of it!
Also- so many jokes from Austin Powers are based in this show, and I'm only now realizing.
i had a "who does number 2 work for" joke in the script until a day before shooting. just couldn't make it make enough sense lol.
@@LeoVader"My God!! What did you eat?!" ... Yeah you're right. Great reference tho.
Thank you so much Leo! The Prisoner is one of my favorite TV shows of all time and I can never seem to convince anyone else to watch it. I understand why other people my age aren't into it, but I can't even get my boomer dad to watch the show, and he was alive for the original run!
I want you to know that this comment made me stop watching this video less than a minute in so I could go binge the show. I'm on episode 10 and thank you for the outstanding recommendation. I may not have been your target audience, but I'm grateful all the same 👍
It's unique, glad you're trying to share it.
Vote for Trump and bring back the "good old days" when you could knock your wife and kids about with impunity, isn't it terrible that they have laws against that kind of thing now days? lol
would you agree with me, that Trump is contaminating the Republic (Repugnant party), contaminating the body politic with his/it's poisonous Political Rhetoric.
Robert Murdoch is from the silent generation, remember that as you read this:
What is Rupert Murdoch's metaphysical belief system, don't tell me , Ensoulment?
That's nice that Travis Hipp (Silent Generation 1928 to 1945) thought that the so-called Generation X were infesting "our Republic".
Nik Kershaw in his song Radio Musicola called Generation X the lost Generation, the older Generation always gives a kicking to the young Generation, don't they? lol
A lot of the so-called baby boomers like to give a kicking to the younger Gen-X it would seem. lol
In the 1970s, I simply did not recognize the extent to which the 1960s “youth revolution” had terrified our ruling Elite, or that they would try to prevent future upsurges of radical Utopianism by deliberately “dumbing down” the educational system. What they have produced, the so-called Generation X, must rank as not only the most ignorant but also the most paranoid and depressive kids ever to *infest our Republic. I agree with outlaw radio star Travis Hipp that the paranoia and depression result inevitably from the ignorance. These kids not only don’t know anything; they don’t even want to know.
They only realize, vaguely, that somebody has screwed them out of something, but they don’t have enough zest or bile
to try to find out who screwed them and what they were screwed out of. Fortunately, this Age of Stupidity cannot last very long. Already, most people know that if you want a good TV or VCR, you buy Japanese; for a good car, Japanese or German, etc. Eventually, in order to compete, the Elite will have to allow a bit more education for American youth, before we sink fully to the level of a Third World nation.
Wilson, Robert Anton Prometheus Rising . Hilaritas Press, LLC.. Kindle Edition.
* infest is a interesting word to use, they seem to be personifying people as viruses or biological contaminants.
Crisis of democracy
Michael Tsarion with David Whitehead on American Freedom Radio 05/20/2013
1:27:55
it looked like man might free himself at this point because he I mean what I mean is free himself commercially and if you free yourself financially and commercially then you free yourself intellectually and that's what they were worrying about at the American experiment they tried to bring in the troops that didn't work so they had to find other ways to dumb down the population and they bloody well succeeded but it can be turned around it absolutely can be turned to a round
Progressive Radio News Hour - Dennis Rancourt - 2-8-14
a new paradigm.
They've understood something, they understood that with that, you know, economic freedom came freedom of thought and independence, of action and choice and democracy.
And so and it gave rise to the sixties and seventies,
where people revolutionised the structures of their institutions and so on.
Universities became more liberal and so on and so on all the workplaces and unionism
and so on.
And they realised that they could lose control and that they had largely lost
some control and they needed to regain it and the way to do it.
They called it a crisis in democracy.
And the way to do it was to squeeze down economically
and also make gut universities so that you're not teaching
thought and real knowledge.
And instead you're teaching you you you're doing obedience,
training and indoctrination.
Democracy was regarded as entering into a crisis in the 1960s. The crisis was that large segments of the population were becoming organized and active and trying to participate in the political arena. p32,Excerpted from Media Control, 2002
the prisoner - fall out "
The last episode fallout, how he escaped from Plato's cave I thought was ingenious. lol
This session is called in a matter of democratic crisis.... opens the president.
banging down his gavel to bring the assembly to order."
The status quo wouldn't want a democratic crisis or a crisis of democracy like they had in 1968, would they?
control, control ,control. lol
When you so-called Americans say you love your country, what do you mean, because Countries are abstract concepts, so what are you in love with, an abstract concept, you are having a love affair with a abstract concept.?
"In my opinion this is our story in a nutshell: in our youth, we realized we were screwed (by Boomers, government, society, fill in the blank). So, we took care of ourselves (many of us had done that as semi feral children, anyways), helped develop the internet, keeping to ourselves. We are Luke Skywalker who said he hates the Empire but can't do anything about it, so we stayed on the farm. We didn't get anyone to teach us about the Force so, to us, it's a lot of simple tricks and nonsense. What controls our destiny isn't hokey religions, it's brutal taxation, corporate cronyism, psychopathic politicians/CEOs, lobbyists, military industrial complex, etc. all vying for a piece of the pie in which you'll get crumbs if you're a lucky pawn. A pawn. You're a king or a pawn."
_You are you own boss and your boss is being toxic_ is not the inspiring universal take I expected from Leo Vader analyzing The Prisoner. Brilliant.
Not only is Leo Vader back but he’s made a feature-length video about one of my special interest shows and favourite actors? Am I dreaming?
Yooo he even gave a Danger Man shoutout? Crazy
im the 84% that leo could take or leave but im here to stay baby so happy to see a new video
What a terrific walk through. I checked The Prisoner out from my local library like 20 years ago and it's stuck with me ever since. I suggest anyone having trouble finding it check with their library. I think about it whenever I hear Secret Agent Man on the radio and whenever I get assigned an ID number. I am not a number - I'm, like, at least 12 different numbers depending on what I need to do, and if I forget any of them I'm kind of screwed.
he said it was all on youtube for free im pretty sure
@@dxzzydxm5518 Ah, so it is. That's good to know - makes it easier to recommend to people.
I'm sure you're aware but Secret Agent Man is actually the theme for the American version of McGoohan's Danger Man, which was retitled Secret Agent.
@@TSDT I knew it was the theme song but didn't know it was only for the American release so that's kind of interesting. Still a banger of a song, though, and still makes me think of the Prisoner just because it was the more memorable show.
"sometimes I want to be the person who made the thing more than I want to actually make the thing" is such a real quote
well, that's one thing i can cross off my bucket list. finally someone gave this series the love and respect it deserves. what an insane piece of media. the first ever fan backlash for a tv ending? cheers for this, tremendous work.
I am so ecstatic that there is a new Leo Vader video out
I really think, personally, the Prisoner says why he retired in the final episode to the committee when they're interrupting him, and it breaks him. He goes quiet immediately and his face falls so hard, and the rest of the episode he's lost it, from seeing number one to the shoot out.
I think it finally broke him, and his reward for compliance is getting to go 'home', but of course London is just the village, society is the village. The Prisoner lost. I love the last episode so much because it feels heartbreaking to me, that shift in McGoohen's face after he yells something we can't hear as everyone shouts is the shift of someone going from breaking to broken. Especially because the President calls for silence like immediately afterwards.
If you're talking about Six attempting to speak before the masked people in Fall Out, he talks about the British pound being devalued. This actually had happened at the time and had a major effect on the world economy. It seemed like an odd subject, but McGoohan was good in math and had managed a bank early in his career. McGoohan does not say what event, program, or information caused him to resign. He says he knew too much but not what he knew. That what the Village wanted.
The last episode fallout, how he escaped from Plato's cave I thought was ingenious. lol
Robotto Paluta, an animated kids’ show for NHK, used to give me nightmares as a child because of a guy named Robokuro. Eventually, my mom had to explain that Robokuro was just an alarm clock with arms and legs stitched on. When Leo mentioned Little Leo’s fear of the kidnapper from episode one, that childhood memory hit me like a truck. Crazy. Anyway, great video 😁😁
Finally! A Leo Vader video i can show my father!
Dude no way! I just finished watching this show with my dad and I was struggling to find many videos online that covered it, especially in any detail. Was stoked to see that you of all people uploaded an in-depth retrospective as your most recent video. I love your channel, so this is like Christmas come early!
this was one of the few shows that my dad and i watched together
@@lesweizman388 I posted this before seeing the other comments, but it’s kinda funny to see just how many kids watched it with their dads :’)
@@Evanz111 im not sure if it was his intent, but the show works on different levels
i dont know if kids today would like it, but in the 60s, this was the perfect action/adventure for kids....no extreme violence (till the final epi), no love scenes and a really angry protagonist
adults got the themes....
when it was replayed on pbs when i was a teen, i caught a lot of things i didnt when i was a kid
when i saw it again on pbs, when i was in grad school, i caught even more
and now as an adult, i catch even more
@@lesweizman388 Yeah, I completely agree! So I was 28 when watching the show with him, but he was describing just how impactful the show was for his generation, and it was really cool to hear!
Since then I went into a rabbit hole of Patrick’s stories of how it affected him after the finale aired, and it’s crazy. I can definitely understand why it meant so much to people who watched it at the time! ^^
@@Evanz111that is pretty cool.
im glad new gens are discovering the show.
I love coming back to watch this retrospective, I believe it was THE retrospective that influenced the famous video from Jenny Nicholson's about the failure of the Star Wars hotel. Essentially sparking the whole genre of long forum essays on youtube. Amazing stuff.
I heard this video actually influenced the making of The Prisoner (1967). Leo really is a visionary.
Not to knock on your joke but didn’t that Jenny video actually release after this one came out? A better joke would be using iBinged iCarly (2021) by Quinton Reviews instead
"I am not a number; I AM A FREE MAN!"
I never knew Iron Maiden sampled that line from their song "The Prisoner"
I had to scroll wayyy too far for an iron maiden reference. The song kicks ass!
Lots of creators use the Prisoner especially that "be seeing you" hand gesture.
@@Ponto-zv9vf "be seeing you"(666) hand gesture was used on the Beatles yellow submarine single cover along with the devil horns, lots of symbolism in those hand gestures.
Here's more symbolism for you guys, do you recognise the November 5th, election day or should that be night symbolism .
Oh my god me and my boyfriend have been binging your videos for like two weeks AN HOUR LONG VIDEO IS LIKE GIFT!!!! WE WERE GONNA WATCH A MOVIE TONIGHT!!!! ok but like seriously thank u for continuing to make content, I love your stuff and the character (space house guy) you play. You have consistently been creative in fun ways and it's been a blast revisiting your content and keeping up with new uploads. you're one of my favorite TH-camrs, thank you
Holy shit, Leo, I did not expect for the conclusion of this 2 hour video about a 60s TV series I'd never heard of to hit on the exact creative struggles I've been going through lately. I'm a visual artist who's very scared of the fact that I want to pursue a creative path, because I've grown afraid that to be an artist, I will be "forced" to work long hours and always be in a crunch mode. But your message is a real boost to my confidence that I can create my own healthy, balanced creative life. That I can be my own good boss! This kind of message is really so rare, and you're truly a one of a kind TH-camr, and one of my favorites! I've missed your videos.
Hey Leo, I started watching this video the day you posted it and stopped about 4 minutes in because I told myself I had to watch the whole show first. Well, i just finished the last episode today and man oh man I can't believe I've never heard of it before! Thanks for shining a light on this, its become one of my absolute favorites!
I got 49:30 through and saw your editor talking about how it was all free to watch on TH-cam. I’m now returning after watching 17 hours of the prisoner over the last month. Such a trippy show but it was a fun ride
My history teacher back in high school and I got on quite well due to our love of classic media and, after seeing more than one review compare Evangelion and Lain to The Prisoner, I asked about it. This then lead him to lend me the complete series on VHS which he later gifted me as a graduation present.
He passed away several years ago and those tapes got lost in various shuffles of my life, but I'll never forget that gift and those conversations. Be seeing you Mr. L.
This is such a well worded, thoughtful, and articulate critique of a wildly dense show. and you also made me laugh out loud throughout. This is something you're really really good at.
My housemates and I call the rover "Orb", and we chant "ORB! ORB! ORB! ORB! ORB!" every time it shows up on screen.
i've been re-watching this video since yesterday, i watched it... then watched it again. idk what what leo put in this vid but it's so addicting
I was in the process of watching this show with my father when you released this video. He's had problems reconciling his own views with the more abstract elements of the show, but I've sown him this video and it has helped a great deal. Also he likes weed alien. Thanks, my dude.
I first encountered The Prisoner in the 90s on the early internet. And I read full plot descriptions of every episode, because that was the only way you had to experience old TV before dvds. I thought it sounded so incredibly cool. Eventually, once dvds were a thing, I attempted to watch it but I always got lost midway through the series and couldn't force my way through. Still to this day, despite KNOWING about the ending, I've never seen it. So thanks for making me feel a little more informed about this show I should love, but in practice am not wild about when actually watching.
I never thought I'd see my favorite show get the Longman treatment, but it's completely deserved.
whoever's decision it was to put the portal sounds every time the screen behind Leo changed is a genius, and i applaud them
I love the way this is structured. Episode breakdown followed by history lesson. It’s so good.
I'm so happy to see Leo back, and with such a well made video as well. Thank you for another wonderful video.
Saw what the video was about, watch the whole series for the first time, watched the video, was not disappointed. Thank you Leo.
I got 15 minutes in and I'm enjoying the video but I don't think I can finish it because now you've got me wanting to go actually watch The Prisoner instead.
One of the few TH-cam videos I can unironically watch with my Dad and we both enjoy it, Thank you!
a 2 hour leo vader video? right before bed? perfect
One of the weirdest things about this show is the village it’s filmed in, portmeirion in north Wales. I was staying near there and spotted it from the other side of the river and from that moment to finding and visiting it till leaving portmeirion I felt like I was in a dream and this was my first introduction to the prisoner. It’s like a Mediterranean dreamscape cult-theme park. Everything was so out of place from the obvious architecture and no one living there to the more subtle way everyone working in the shops/cafes smiled like they had a gun to their head.
I absolutely love content like this about stuff I’ve never heard of or cared about before. Teach me everything.
the puppets are just my absolute favorite it makes me want to do youtube with a puppet friend 🥺
BARTS POWERPOINT OH MY FUCKING GOOOOD!!!
leo liked my comment I’m puking in happiness
Huh, after watching this entire thing and realising the setting looked oddly familiar I saw the "Port Meirion" in the description and realised that I'd visited there with my mum when I was a child and the realisation has unlocked a huge amount of memories I forgot I had.
What a wonderful gift. Thanks, Leo.
Love that the mind swapping controls Zeltsman is holding are in fact an EKG simulator...something I know because it says EKG simulator on it. 😂
Thank you for talking about the prevalence of alice in wonderland references in any piece of media thats trying to be weird and quirky. By referencing the OG weird and quirky thing
Thanks for the video! The first eight minutes convinced me to watch the show and I want to avoid spoilers, so I'm gonna pause this for two years, but thanks for making the rest too!!!!
"And he says the money will be in your company's account by Monday morning. Which it was." 20:02 imagine having that kind of influence for projects you want to push forward. Insane I've never heard of this guy or any of his work. It's as if it was a long time ago and in Britain.
He was “difficult”, but Paddy McGoohan was a genius - an absolute legend. And “The Prisoner” remains to this day UNIQUE and has something to say.
Great vid btw - be seeing you👌
One of my favourite shows covered by one of my favourite youtubers. sick.
God damn I missed your content.
No clue what this show is, but I'm looking forward to spending the next week watching this video in parts.
This was a great video essay over something I've actully never heard of before.
Hey Leo, you may not read this, but I just wanted you to know that this video was absolutely fantastic, and in ny opinion the best thing you've made. The algorithm might hate it, but thank you so much for putting it out into the world.
It took me 24 minutes to realize he's wearing the jacket.
Well it took me 114 minutes and this comment to realise he was wearing the jacket, so you win
It took me like 5 hours of total watch time and forgetting about this comment once or twice before I actually saw it
I only realized when reading this comment after the video was over
Im a newer viewer, I saw your masterchef video and loved the way you poked fun at the video essay genre.
I clicked on this video while taking a break, not seeing the length. I already know you hate wasting my time. I will trust you with this 2 hour video good sir. I am off to do chores and study, I will update what I think.
"Didnt even beat my wife" is crazy
You have betrayed my trust, you motherfucker you. /j
Omg, my dad showed me and my brother The Prisoner when we were kids too! Honestly still one of my fav shows, so I'm glad this vid popped up in my recommended. I feel like I'm the one always bringing it up to other people (and telling them to watch it if I think they might have any possibility of handling the surrealist aspects), but this was perfect to satisfy the craving for the in-depth discussion of it I've always wanted.
Thank you for this video, Leo! First, just miss watching your stuff. Second, I found out about "The Prisoner" from an old co worker in 2008. I forget how I managed to watch it but I did, most likely the library. I've waited for years for someone to make a video like this. Thankfully it was you. Keep up the awesome projects!
This video might finally get my kids to watch The Prisoner. This was such an amazing show, but if there's one thing I know about being a dad to teens is that nothing you've ever liked will be cool to them. I'll just turn this on and say "what's this dumb show this kid on the tv is babbling about?" and a week from now they'll be experts
Seeing this channel’s format evolve has been such a joy, consistently the channel that answers questions I didn’t really need to know the answer to but gives me them anyway and I enjoy this.
thank you for this video, I genuinely had no idea this show existed and now I'm gonna go watch it all
This was extremely insightful, especially towards the end. Glad to see youre back
I loved this show when I was younger (still do), and one of my wife's best friends is a huge fan as well. When I showed her the first ep, she was like "oooohhh" Thats why Friend says "Be Seeing You" so much
I'm such a huge fan of your work, you're funny and thoughtful a legit inspiration.
nearly two hours of delicious content thank you mr vader
Speaking as one of the queens, thanks for this video Leo! So glad you’re back!
Me when I’m coming home after my wedding day in a taxi and the driver hits me with a “Be seeing you” as we take a wrong turn and go to the airport:
Thank you for your effort. This was completly fascinating and an absolute joy to watch. If I could give my personal highest form of praise, I started watching this video while eating dinner and continued watching after I finished my food.
Two hours?! This is going to be one of those videos i rewatch while i disassociate
I freaking love the chill aliens. It's such a brilliant addition to a channel honestly. So well executed, lovable and funny.
I LOVE SPENDING MY MONEY ON LEO VADER MERCH!! I WISH I HAD MORE MONEY SO I COULD SPEND IT ALL ON LEO VADER MERCH!!!
Never seen your channel before, I watched the first 20 minutes or so of your video and then paused it so I could go binge watch The Prisoner before continuing. Wild, amazing series and a well thought out retrospective.
Leo could even make a 2 hour video about the Prisoner (1967) Full Series Retrospective and I’d watch it.
I saw the title of this video and my immediate thought was, "Man, this guy is so weird. He literally doesn't care about making videos with a broad appeal that will bring in tons of views. He just makes videos on what he finds interesting, no matter how obscure it is.
And I fucking love that. I wish more creators followed their own passions and interests instead of trying to cater to what's "popular" with an algorithm.
Love it. And I'm going to watch this whole thing.
OMG I can't believe there is now a 2 hour Leo Vader video about The Prisoner. Have you been reading my diary
I think its cute how him and the puppets are working well together. Love the chemistry the team up has!!
Leo Vader and The Prisoner. I would have never expected these circles I enjoy to form a Venn diagram.
i haven’t even watched this yet but i just want to say thank you for covering this crazy obscure show that only my mom and people her age watched
This type of content looks great on you, Leo.
The research you have done on this video is incredibly impressive! I've been a fan of the show since being a child & you've taught me so much about the behind-the-scenes process that I didn't know!
is there another youtuber whose skit grew so massive and magnificent that the video turned into an alternate history retrospective?
WAIT THIS WAS A REAL SHOW!?
leo making the video perfectly cyclical and seamless bc that’s how much he cares abt it
god the ending of Many Happy Returns in probably my favorite in the series. such an amazing gut punch, what a spectacular title drop
I used to watch this show with my grandparents! I love that it's getting some attention.
god DAMN your vids are so good. the asides and cutaways, well constructed criticism and explanation, i’m enjoying the fuck out of this video so far!! i’m halfway thru so i sure hope it doesn’t go downhill at the end! :)
What a wonderful documentary. Holy Cow. The Prisoner was also a regular feature for me growing up and I talked about it incessantly . I think the best review I can give outside of I watched the whole thing is it made me rethink a lot of those episodes after a decade of having not watched it. Like it never occurred to me we're never told he was a spy. I always assumed it