November 22, 2005

The Prisoner - Remake?

Wes Raine points to an article that says a company is in the works to remake the classic, cult television series The Prisoner (which is on my Amazon Wish List, by the way).

The Prisoner stands out as one of my favorite television shows of all time. It aired only 17 episodes in 1967, but that's all that was needed. The series centers around Number 6 (Patrick McGoohan), a former secret agent who was banished to The Village...a sort of prison island for those that are considered a threat to the powers that be. It's was quite a strange show (a plus) filled with an "artistic, pop" feel straight from the 60's including lots of themes on paranoia and individualism.

I think that seeing the replays of the series as a youngster, it more than likely had a profound effect on my formation of individualism as well as fostering a distrust of authority (in the government). It wasn't the only factor, but I'm sure it did play some role. Oh...and he drove a Lotus 7. Maybe that also helped in my love for small British sports cars.

The problem is that there shouldn't be a remake of this show. It was a perfect show. To remake it would ruin the mystique (like all other modern day, unoriginal remakes tend to do)...

The new version will not be placed in the original setting, the north Wales village of Portmeirion, or have the arty, "pop" feel of the original, according to the magazine Broadcast.

Damien Timmer, who has been lined up to executive produce the show, told the television and radio industry magazine that the new series "takes liberties with the original".

He said: "Although it will be a radical reinvention, it will still be a heightened show with themes such as paranoia, conspiracy and identity crisis."

I could be wrong though. Maybe it will be good...but it will never be as good as the original.

I guess they never are.

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