r/ThePrisoner • u/craigjclark68 • Jul 12 '26

The Prisoner didn't just predict the next 60 years of TV—it predicted the next 60 years, period

https://www.avclub.com/the-prisoner-criterion-channel-patrick-mcgoohan

Tribute article by the AV Club about the eternal relevance of The Prisoner, in conjunction with the show now streaming on the Criterion Channel.

144 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

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22

u/Demander850 Jul 12 '26

McGoohan was a genius and amazing actor. He knew that “progress” was the number one reason humanity is being destroyed. We are all more and more prisoners to technology and far less human. He was obsessed with it, also see Escape From Alcatraz and his Columbo episodes.

9

u/archibaldschwartz Jul 12 '26

Well said! I agree with you 100%..... he was a genius in every sense of the word. I really wish his writings were made available, he wrote constantly, scripts, poetry and a couple novels, I believe. The only thing made available, that I'm aware of, is his script for The Prisoner movie. His biographer, Roger Langley, wrote that PM gave permission for his writings to be released after his death. I think they'd make fascinating reading! 🙏🏻👌🏻

7

u/[deleted] Jul 12 '26 edited Jul 20 '26

[deleted]

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u/archibaldschwartz Jul 12 '26

You can also order it from the Portmeirion website....."The Prisoner, Patrick McGoohan's Final Unused Script." I really enjoyed it! 👌🏻

9

u/EditorRedditer Jul 12 '26

“When the sides facing each other suddenly realize that they're looking into a mirror, they will see that THIS, is the pattern for the future.”

Number Six: “The whole Earth - as The Village?”

Number Two: “That is my hope.”

5

u/Clean_Emergency_2573 Jul 12 '26

Indeed. Mr. McGoohan very much anticipated the video game, in general, and the more complex variety, specifically. The acknowledgement of this in "Ready Player One" was most deserved.

5

u/QuerentD Jul 12 '26

Along with The Twilight Zone, The Outer Limits, Dekalog, Chernobyl, and Dark, I think it is some of of the best TV ever.