The WORST episodes of The Prisoner (1967)

Every episode of The Prisoner (1967) ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst 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.

Last Updated: 9/9/2024Network: ITV1Status: Ended
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Free for All
star
7.05
321 votes

#1 - Free for All

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/1967

Number 6 runs for the office of Number 2.

Directors: Patrick McGoohan
Writer: Paddy Fitz
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A. B. and C.
star
7.08
412 votes

#2 - 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.

Directors: Pat Jackson
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Dance of the Dead
star
7.21
173 votes

#3 - 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.

Directors: Don Chaffey
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Arrival
star
7.42
615 votes

#4 - 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.

Directors: Don Chaffey
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The Girl Who Was Death
star
7.42
187 votes

#5 - 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.

Directors: David Tomblin
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Living in Harmony
star
7.46
160 votes

#6 - 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.

Directors: David Tomblin
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The Chimes of Big Ben
star
7.52
469 votes

#7 - 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.

Directors: Don Chaffey
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Once Upon a Time
star
7.67
181 votes

#8 - 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.

Directors: Patrick McGoohan
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Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
star
7.80
192 votes

#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.

Directors: Pat Jackson
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The General
star
7.80
210 votes

#10 - 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.

Writer: Joshua Adam
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Checkmate
star
7.84
167 votes

#11 - 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.

Directors: Don Chaffey
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The Schizoid Man
star
7.87
334 votes

#12 - 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.

Directors: Pat Jackson
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A Change of Mind
star
7.88
195 votes

#13 - 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."

Directors: Joseph Serf
Writer: Roger Parkes
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It's Your Funeral
star
8.02
195 votes

#14 - 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.

Directors: Robert Asher
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Fall Out
star
8.11
190 votes

#15 - 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.

Directors: Patrick McGoohan
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Hammer into Anvil
star
8.20
138 votes

#16 - 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.

Directors: Pat Jackson
Writer: Roger Woddis
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Many Happy Returns
star
8.47
209 votes

#17 - Many Happy Returns

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1967

Number 6 wakes up to find the Village totally deserted.

Directors: Joseph Serf
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