The Prisoner

Since hearing from Pajiba that they’re remaking “The Prisoner” with Jim Cavezial and Ian McKellan, I decided that I should get familiar with the original. The 1967 “The Prisoner” series starred Patrick McGoohan as an ex-spy who is kidnapped and taken to The Village, a lavish but dangerous prison where he’s held until he gives his captors what they want. At first glance, it sounds like “The Fugitive” crossed with Escape from Alcatraz or something.

I feel like television could benefit from a new version that has thought provoking writing. It’s a perfect vehicle to explore current social and political themes such as the power limits on certain government agencies. “24″ before it got ridiculous was an excellent show to question the methods of how governments protect our freedoms. With the idea of an indefinite prison, one can easily imagine the political commentary possibilities. Here’s hoping it’s not just another throwaway conspiracy theory serial like “Vanished”.

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