The BEST episodes of The Prisoner (1967)
Every episode of The Prisoner (1967) ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Prisoner (1967)!
The series follows a British former secret agent who is held prisoner in a mysterious coastal village resort where his captors try to find out why he abruptly resigned from his job. Although sold as a thriller in the mould of the previous series starring McGoohan, Danger Man (1960–68), the show's combination of 1960s countercultural themes and surreal setting had a far-reaching effect on science fiction/fantasy programming, and on popular culture in general.
#1 - Many Happy Returns
Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1967
Number 6 wakes up to find the Village totally deserted.
#2 - Hammer into Anvil
Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/1967
Number 6 vows revenge and goes after a sadistic Number 2 after he drives a fellow village resident to her death.
#3 - Fall Out
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/2/1968
After witnessing the trials of Number 2 and Number 48 and meeting the President of the Assembly, Number 6 escapes during the chaos that follows.
#4 - It's Your Funeral
Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/1967
Number Six hears of an assassination plot against Number Two, but it's the new Number Two doing all the plotting against the retiring Number Two.
#5 - A Change of Mind
Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/15/1967
After a brawl Number 6 is declared "unmutual" and is made to think that he has undergone "instant social treatment."
#6 - The Schizoid Man
Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/1967
Number Six wakes up with a new identity. Now he's Number Twelve. Worse, Number Two asks him to impersonate someone--Number Six. But the new Number Six is more like him than he is.
#7 - Checkmate
Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/1967
Inspired by a large chess game with people taking the place of the game pieces, Number 6 formulates a new escape plan with some compatriots.
#8 - The General
Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/1967
An instant learning process becomes the Village's latest fad, but Number 6 is sure that Number 2 is using it as a brain washing tool.
#9 - Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/22/1967
With his mind transferred to another body, Number 6 wakes up in his London flat and can't convince his colleagues who he is. He takes off to Austria to find the one man who can help him, the person Number 2 wants him to find.
#10 - Once Upon a Time
Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/26/1968
Because all other attempts to break Number 6 have failed, Number 2 decides to engage him in a game where one of them will end up dead.
#11 - The Chimes of Big Ben
Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/6/1967
A new Number 8 named Nadia arrives in The Village, and together Number 6 and she plot their escape.
#12 - Living in Harmony
Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/29/1967
Number 6 finds himself in the middle of a wild west version of his imprisonment.
#13 - The Girl Who Was Death
Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 1/19/1968
Back in London, Number 6 is trying to track down a crazed scientist who is protected by his homicidal daughter.
#14 - Arrival
Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/1967
After resigning, a secret agent finds himself trapped in a bizarre prison known only as The Village.
#15 - Dance of the Dead
Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1967
Number 6 comes across a body that has washed ashore with a radio. After sending the body back out to sea, he tries to use the radio to get rescued.
#16 - A. B. and C.
Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/1967
Number 2 believes that Number 6 resigned because he was going to sell out. Using dream manipulation, Number 2 tries to determine which one of three possible candidates Number 6 was dealing with.
#17 - Free for All
Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/1967
Number 6 runs for the office of Number 2.