As fans of the series know, Patrick McGoohan envisioned "The Prisoner" as a seven-episode story arc. It told the tale of a former secret agent who, upon resigning his post, is transported, mysteriously and against his will, to a resort-like interment camp called the Village. There is he stripped of his identity, given a number (6) to replace his name, and repeatedly interrogated for the reason behind his sudden resignation - all by captors who also have numbers instead of names and who might work for either side, for both, or for neither.

McGoohan's original arc followed a simple, unambiguous order, developing the story from Number 6's arrival in the Village to (perhaps) his eventual escape:

"Arrival"

“Free for All”

"Dance of the Dead"

"Checkmate"

"Chimes of Big Ben"

"Once Upon a Time"

"Fall Out"

 

This proposal was ultimately force-fed growth hormones by Sir Lew Grade of ITC Television, who wanted McGoohan to produce enough episodes to make the show saleable to overseas markets. Twenty-six was the agreed-upon number, but after the first 13 shows it became obvious that both the concept and the producer/star were exhausted. Production halted after 17 episodes were completed, including the climactic two-part series wrap-up.

Even with the addition of ten episodes, many written and/or directed by outside talent, "The Prisoner" retains a semblance of McGoohan's intended narrative flow. In any ordering of the full 17-episode series, "Arrival" remains the introductory episode; "Once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out" the two-part series finale. But when the show was aired, the other "core" episodes were scattered throughout the original broadcast orders in both the UK and the US:

U.S.	U.K.
"Arrival"	“Arrival”
"Chimes of Big Ben"	“Chimes of Big Ben”
"A. B. & C."	“A. B. & C.”
"Free for All"	“Free for All”
"The Schizoid Man"	“The Schizoid Man”
"The General"	“The General”
"Many Happy Returns"	“Many Happy Returns”
"Dance of the Dead"	“Dance of the Dead”
"Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling"	“Checkmate”
"It's Your Funeral"	“Hammer into Anvil”
"Checkmate"	“It’s Your Funeral”
"Living in Harmony"*	“A Change of Mind”
"A Change of Mind"	“Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling”
"Hammer into Anvil"	“Living in Harmony”
"The Girl Who Was Death"	“The Girl Who Was Death”
"Once Upon a Time"	“Once Upon a Time”
"Fall Out"	“Fall Out”
*not aired during original CBS run

 

Nowadays, the creative minds behind TV series - especially serial dramas and sci-fi shows like "The X-Files" - have considerable artistic control over many aspects of their productions, including running order. But during production of "The Prisoner," more practical considerations prevailed, including in some cases a tight production schedule that necessitated spooling whatever episode happened to be completed and ready to run.

As a result, the "proper" ordering of the 17 episodes has always sparked lively debate among fans of the show. Where do the original seven shows belong? What cues exist within individual episodes to time-stamp them? Do the few shows that significantly deviate from McGoohan's vision enhance or diminish the narrative flow? Even expanded beyond its original scope, "The Prisoner" behaves more like a miniseries than a traditional episodic drama, and devotees want to find the key that will weave 17 different stories into one.

This is not a new debate, and what follows is not a definitive re-ordering of the series. It's meant to provoke thought, spark disagreements, and encourage modifications. A detailed explanation of the logic behind the list begins below. Readers who wish to cut to the chase can click here to go directly to the list. Enjoy. Feel free...

 
 

How the List Was Constructed

I put together three possible sequences for the 17 episodes based on different conceptual "slants." I examined these for areas of agreement, as well as comparing them with the original broadcast order(s) and McGoohan's initial seven-episode arc. From these disparate sources I then put together a "final" list. In every permutation, "Arrival" was the first episode, and "Once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out" the 16th and 17th, respectively.

 
 

I. The Logical Sequence

The logical sequence approaches ordering the episodes from the standpoint of the Village's attempts to subdue and manipulate Number 6. In this scenario, the storyline develops in four distinct phases.

In Phase 1, the Village attempts to instill a sense of fatalism and impress upon Number 6 the futility of escape, either physical or psychological, from its clutches. This phase would include "Arrival," "Dance of the Dead," "Checkmate," and "Free for All."

Phase 2 concentrates upon extensive attempts by the Village to find out why Number 6 resigned. Various ploys are tried to get him to let down his guard. This phase encompasses "A. B. & C.," "The Schizoid Man," "A Change of Mind," "The Chimes of Big Ben," and "The Girl Who Was Death."

Phase 3 is a transitional time. Shifting its focus away from its primary objective, the Village attempts to use Number 6 as a pawn in other schemes it has going. It is also during this phase that the Village masters begin to understand that an unbroken Number 6 in their midst may be more dangerous to them than they are to him. Episodes include "It's Your Funeral," "Do Not Forsake Me...," "Hammer into Anvil," and "The General."

In Phase 4, the Village renews its efforts to break Number 6. These become increasingly more elaborate and potentially dangerous as desperation grows. Phase 4 episodes include "Many Happy Returns," "Living in Harmony," "Once Upon a Time," and, of course, "Fall Out."

The logical sequence thus reads like this:

 
"Arrival"
"Dance of the Dead"
"Checkmate"
"Free for All"
"The Chimes of Big Ben"
"A. B. & C."
"The Schizoid Man"
"A Change of Mind"
"The Girl Who Was Death"
"The General"
"It's Your Funeral"
"Do Not Forsake Me..."
"Hammer into Anvil"
"Many Happy Returns"
"Living in Harmony"
"Once Upon a Time"
"Fall Out"
 
 
 
II. The Chronological Sequence

Although "The Prisoner" does not necessarily occur in real time (McGoohan made a conscious effort to minimize elements that might later date the series), chronological referents do occur throughout the 17 episodes. Therefore, it's possible to assemble a running order based on the perceived passage of time. It's also risky, as not all the references may have been deliberate, and deciphering them can be highly subjective. Nonetheless, some of the more obvious time-stamps are as follows:

• "Arrival" is without a doubt the beginning of the sequence
   
  
• In "Dance of the Dead," Number 6 refers to himself as "new here"
   
  
• In "Checkmate," he seems to be relatively unknown to the other citizens; he is also relatively ignorant of the workings of the Village
   
  
• In both "Chimes" and "Free for All," he is exhorted to become more involved in Village life, suggesting their placement early in the sequence
   
  
• "The General" and "A. B. & C." are logically consecutive episodes because they show the progressive downfall of the milk-drinking Number 2 (although there is precedent for Number 2's returning for non-consecutive terms, e.g., "It's Your Funeral" and "Once Upon a Time"); it can also be argued that these episodes represent Number 6's first tastes of success against the Village
   
  
• "The Schizoid Man" and "Many Happy Returns" occur about a year apart: both begin in February and end in March but cannot logically occur simultaneously; the logical progression suggests that "The Schizoid Man" occurs first in the sequence
   
  
• "Hammer into Anvil" seems to be a later episode; Number 6 tells Number 2 that "many have tried" to break him
   
  
• WARNING: BIG "IF" HERE If we assume that the actor (Patrick Cargill) who played both Thorpe in "Many Happy Returns" and Number 2 in "Hammer into Anvil" is actually playing the same character, then "Many Happy Returns" comes before "Hammer into Anvil" in the sequence, although they may occur quite close together (There is no concrete indication in the scripts that Thorpe is working for the Village and later becomes Number 2, but "Many Happy Returns" does suggest that Number 6's former superiors may not be all they seem, and it would give Number 2's personal enmity toward Number 6 in "Hammer" extra shadings of significance)
   
  
• In "Do Not Forsake Me..." Number 6's "fiancee" states that he has been away for a year; this is rather problematic for several reasons: First, the plot of "Many Happy Returns" strongly suggests that it is the first time he has been back home since his imprisonment, and we know he has been in the Village for at least a year at this point (see above); perhaps he has his memory wiped at the end of the episode, although the script itself does not suggest this; in any event, it seems strange that Number 6 should reappear in London twice after resigning and disappearing, and even stranger that in "Many Happy Returns" he gives no thought to his "fiancee" (unless he has made a conscious effort to avoid her after their painful previous meeting in "Do Not Forsake Me..."). Ultimately, one must fall back on the knowledge that "Do Not Forsake Me..." was a stopgap episode, filmed to accommodate McGoohan's absence while filming Ice Station Zebra, and there is simply no way to comfortably fit this episode chronologically without allowing some logical lapses
   
  
• In "It's Your Funeral," the retiring Number 2 returns after a leave, but Number 6 apparently has never met him before; several individuals serve as Number 2 in his absence, although no specific interval of time is mentioned - it may (possibly) be presumed that the retiring Number 2 began his service prior to Number 6's arrival in the Village. Unfortunately, there is no way to determine how many of the Number 2's in the sequence of episodes are interim holders of the post and how many serve after "It's Your Funeral" takes place
   
  
• It is suggested that considerable time has elapsed when Leo McKern returns as Number 2 in "Once Upon a Time;" this suggests that McKern's first outing, in "Chimes," comes fairly early in the sequence, although it really only has to occur just prior to "Once Upon a Time"
   
  
• Several episodes have no time stamps whatsoever, including "Living in Harmony," "A Change of Mind," and "The Girl Who Was Death," although there are logical cues in each (see The Logical Sequence, above)
   
  
• "Once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out" are concretely the final two episodes in the sequence
   
  
• Finally, one gets a few clues about when Number 6's imprisonment begins; in the opening sequence, he is not wearing an overcoat in London, suggesting that the time is anywhere from late spring to early fall when he resigns; similarly, at Madame Engadine's party in "A. B. & C," which occurred not long before he resigned, the weather seems to be warm. Of course, the weather in the Village is nearly always fine...

The chronological sequence thus looks like this:

"Arrival"
"Dance of the Dead"
"Checkmate"
"The Chimes of Big Ben"
"Free for All"
"The Schizoid Man"
"Do Not Forsake Me..."
"The General"
"A. B. & C."
"A Change of Mind"
"The Girl Who Was Death"
"It's Your Funeral"
"Many Happy Returns"
"Hammer into Anvil"
"Living in Harmony"
"Once Upon a Time"
"Fall Out"
 
 
 
III. The Psychological Sequence

Over the course of the series, the relative strengths of Number 6 and the Village wax and wane and change places. This sequence is geared to the evolving psychological status of Number 6 with regard to his predicament:

• The Village seems to hold all the cards in "Arrival," "Dance of the Dead," "Free for All," and "Many Happy Returns"
   
  
• Number 6 wins a battle, but loses the war in "Chimes," "Checkmate," and "Schizoid Man"
   
  
• Number 6 scores a personal (psychological) victory that doesn't necessarily help his situation in "The General," "The Girl Who Was Death," and "A. B. & C."
   
  
• Number 6 strikes a blow against the Village, but at considerable personal cost, in "Do Not Forsake Me..." and "Living in Harmony"
   
  
• Number 6 learns to manipulate the Village to his advantage in "A Change of Mind"
   
  
• Number 6 shifts his focus a bit, becoming a defender of personal liberty against the tyranny of the Village, in "It's Your Funeral" and "Hammer into Anvil"
   
  
• Number 6 ultimately (?) turns the table on his captors in "Once Upon a Time" and "Fall Out"
  

 

The psychological sequence thus looks like this:

 
"Arrival"
"Dance of the Dead"
"Free for All"
"Many Happy Returns"
"Checkmate"
"The Chimes of Big Ben"
"The Schizoid Man"
"The General"
"A. B. & C."
"The Girl Who Was Death"
"Do Not Forsake Me..."
"Living in Harmony"
"A Change of Mind"
"It's Your Funeral"
"Hammer into Anvil"
"Once Upon a Time"
"Fall Out"
 
 
 
Side-by-Side Comparison

We have, then, three primary sequences to work with (besides the broadcast order and McGoohan's seven-story arc):

Logical	Chronological	Psychological
"Arrival"	"Arrival"	"Arrival"
"Dance of the Dead"	"Dance of the Dead"	"Dance of the Dead"
"Checkmate"	"Checkmate"	"Free for All"
"Free for All"	"The Chimes of Big Ben"	"Many Happy Returns"
"The Chimes of Big Ben"	"Free for All"	"Checkmate"
"A. B. & C."	"The Schizoid Man"	"The Chimes of Big Ben"
"The Schizoid Man"	"Do Not Forsake Me..."	"The Schizoid Man"
"A Change of Mind"	"The General"	"The General"
"The Girl Who Was Death"	"A. B. & C."	"A. B. & C."
"The General"	"A Change of Mind"	"The Girl Who Was Death"
"It's Your Funeral"	"The Girl Who Was Death"	"Do Not Forsake Me..."
"Do Not Forsake Me..."	"It's Your Funeral"	"Living in Harmony"
"Hammer into Anvil"	"Many Happy Returns"	"A Change of Mind"
"Many Happy Returns"	"Hammer into Anvil"	"It's Your Funeral"
"Living in Harmony"	"Living in Harmony"	"Hammer into Anvil"
"Once Upon a Time"	"Once Upon a Time"	"Once Upon a Time"
“Fall Out”	“Fall Out”	“Fall Out”

 

"Arrival" and "Dance of the Dead" are consistently #1 and #2. "Checkmate" has the feel of coming before "Free for All," so we'll designate it #3. The chronological sequence seems most persuasive, so "Chimes" and "Free for All" become #4 and #5. Ironically, even though the logical sequence puts "A. B. & C." before "The General," that doesn't make logical sense (hey, this isn't rocket science!). I prefer to put "Schizoid Man" at #6 (yes, even though two of the three sequences have it at #7), followed by the one-two punch of "A. B. & C." and "The General" at #7 and #8. Slot "A Change of Mind" at #9 for its first decisive blow against the Village power structure. We'll make "The Girl Who Was Death" #10, and the problematic "Do Not Forsake Me..." #11. "It's Your Funeral" becomes #12, and "Many Happy Returns" #13. "Living in Harmony" gets spot #14 and, as a final act of revenge against the system before the screws really get turned, "Hammer into Anvil" is #15. Of course, "Once Upon a Time" is #16, and "Fall Out" is #17.

So our "final" list looks like this:

 
"Arrival"
"Dance of the Dead"
"Checkmate"
"The Chimes of Big Ben"
"Free for All"
"The Schizoid Man"
"The General"
"A. B. & C."
"A Change of Mind"
"The Girl Who Was Death"
"Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling"
"It's Your Funeral"
"Many Happy Returns"
"Living in Harmony"
"Hammer into Anvil"
"Once Upon a Time"
"Fall Out"

 

This essay is © 1998, Theresa Donia. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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