SEMI-SPOILERS: I've only seen the first night's show of two hours. I will reveal a few things. But there were two more nights of two hours each which I did not see, and hence cannot spoil.
The basic setting as you've seen in the trailers is cool: the desert, the A-frame houses, Ian McKellan as Number 2, a really large Rover...
But sadly, the details are not very compelling.
Number 6 did not seem to be a resigned spy, but some kind of statistician. There's a guy who may or may not be Number 6's brother -- 6's memories are messed with, so it is not clear. Number 2 apparently has an ailing or drugged up wife. There's a mysterious young man, 2's son.
Basically, so much is changed and new, it is not really the Prisoner. I couple friends who had never seen the Prisoner were rather enjoying it; but a friend who's a big Prisoner fan, and myself, did not particularly like it.
The plot of these first two hours just felt like a whole different show. Depending on how events developed, it might be interesting, but it really is not the Prisoner.
There's a nice bit where 6 comes across a bearded man who escaped from the Village -- he's wearing the classic Number Six black with white trim outfit from the original series. I understand this cameo was going to be played by Patrick McGoohan.
I suppose I will try to see the remaining four hours at some point. I enjoy remakes when they are true to the spirit of the original, re-envisioning it for a different era. But they've made so many changes here, I think Prisoner fans will be disappointed. |
