History Series / ThePrisoner

* GainaxEnding: After footsying around with metaphor and allegory for the entire series, the GrandFinale goes so allegorical that there's a fairly good case for calling this trope the Fall Out Ending or the Prisoner Ending instead.

* AllJustADream - [[spoiler:It turns out the Village is actually a sort of shared dreamspace on a level deeper than the subconscious. Which makes it all a dream, but not ''just'' a dream.]]
* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever - Rover returns, but this time as a ''giant'' weather balloon bigger than a building.
* BottomlessPits
* BuryYourGays - [[spoiler: 909's death]], arguably [[spoiler: 11-12's]] as well.

* EnemyWithout - Schizoid
* EvilOverLordList - 2's last gambit is remarkably similar to #143
* FlorenceNightingaleEffect

* HospitalHottie - 313
* InfantImmortality - [[spoiler: Subverted with 147's daughter, 832. It looks like she's about to fall into a BottomlessPit, but she doesn't--until a few minutes later]]
* LotusEaterMachine - [[spoiler:explanation for the existence of The Village]]
* MythologyGag: At the final episode, all the villagers chant: ''Number Six is TheOne''.

* ShoutOut - In addition to elements actually carried over from the original series, there are passing references, like the penny-farthing bicycle hanging from the ceiling of the nightclub. The opening credits also follow the same general pattern as the original.
* ThirstyDesert - Surrounding the Village, instead of the ocean in the original.
* TomatoSurprise - Those flashbacks to Six's life before The Village? [[spoiler: They aren't flashbacks, they're happening simultaneously.]]

The show is known for its obscure, confusing, yet intricate subtexts and plot twists, which culminated in the most notorious (and most beloved) GainaxEnding in British television history. Patrick [=McGoohan=] had almost complete creative control, a budget 40% larger than that of most other series, and ''no idea'' where the show was going from episode to episode. After what was broadcast as episode 11, the script editor, George Markstein, quit the series and was not replaced. Scripts and story ideas from that point on came from random people and places: a Western-themed episode was suggested by a video editor, and the infamous episode "The Girl Who Was Death" was an unused script from ''Series/DangerMan'' (featuring characters, props and locations from said series). Finally, the series' infamous ending (reportedly written over the course of a weekend after ITC head Lew Grade abruptly cancelled the series) takes a turn for the surreal, fueled by [=McGoohan=]'s wish to have "controversy, arguments, fights, discussions, people in anger waving fists in my face saying, ''how dare you?''". Let's just say the GainaxEnding could easily have been called the "Prisoner Ending" and leave it at that.

* ArmedWithCanon: Co-creators Patrick Mc Goohan and George Markstein disagreed over whether The Prisoner was an [[CaptainErsatz ersatz John Drake]] from DangerMan or a completely new and independent character with each creator bringing their own interpretations to their respective efforts. [[WordOfGod The record]] finds evidence supporting both sides, but George Markstein did quit after the 11th episode as a result of that and other tensions within the production.

* AuthorAvatar: There are many clues that No. 6 represents Patrick [=McGoohan=] himself. The time and date of No. 6's birth, given in the pilot, are identical to [=McGoohan's=] own. The Village authorities' extensive knowledge of No. 6's personal life reflects the reluctant celebrity's own frustration with living in a fishbowl. Their obsession with why he resigned reflects [=McGoohan's=] frustration with those who thought he owed them an explanation for why he quit being John Drake. This trooper could go on for pages about the many parallels between No. 6 and [=PMcG=].

* Music/TheBeatles

** [[http://www.wired.com/underwire/2009/11/the-prisoner-an-all-star-appreciation/ The band loved the series]] (which is why they authorized the use of their recording), and were going to make a film before ''Film/MagicalMysteryTour'', directed by [=McGoohan=], based on ''The Prisoner''- it never happened.
** There's another story that claims the Beatles also considered [=McGoohan=] as a potential director for their planned adaptation of TheLordoftheRings.

* {{Calvinball}}: Kosho, a game involving trampolines, padding, martial arts, and a pool of water that Number Six apparently plays twice a week. The rules can be guessed at somewhat, but it's mainly there to contribute to the general MindScrew of the series.

* ComicBookAdaptation: A sequel miniseries (later collected into a [=TPB=]) called ''Shattered Visage''. Among other things, it provided an explanation for the show's infamous GainaxEnding. It also comes close to performing a GenderFlip by featuring a new No. 6 who, this time, is a woman ([[spoiler: in this story, the original No. 6, apparently driven mad, takes on the role of No. 2 - at least, until one of the original No. 2's returns to the Village]]). As for whether it's canon, well...the most [=McGoohan=] ever said about it was that he "didn't hate it".

* {{Costumer}} / CowboyEpisode: "Living in Harmony" takes place in a Wild West setting. Number Six is a sheriff who turns in his badge and gun and tries to leave town.

* DrivingADesk

* FailureIsTheOnlyOption: For Number Six - escape the Village. For Number Twos - to break Number Six. The finale elaborates on this. [[spoiler: Number Six gets home, and doesn't notice when a door in his old flat opens exactly the same way as the ones in the village. [=McGoohan=] later confirmed this was intentional.]]

The Colin Gordon question may depend on which order you watch the episodes. If "A, B and C" is seen before "The General", as it was during the show's original run, they may be different. If that order is reversed, they appear to be the same character who goes from highly confident to desperate to avoid punishment for failure.\\

It's worth noting that Colin Gordon's two episodes were filmed consecutively, with "The General" being filmed first and "A,B and C" second.

* DeadlierThanTheMale: The three episodes in which Number Two is female ("Dance of the Dead", [[spoiler:"Many Happy Returns"]], and [[spoiler:"Free For All"]]) are among those in which Number Six ends up most defeated and the closest to being mentally broken.

* FakeUltimateMook: Number 2 in "Hammer Into Anvil". At the start of the episode, he seems to be the most dangerous, sadistic, tenacious, calm, hands-on Number 2 in the series so far. Number 6 easily and ''utterly'' [[BatmanGambit destroys him.]]

* ArmedWithCanon: Co-creators Patrick Mc Goohan and George Markstein disagreed over if The Prisoner was an [[CaptainErsatz ersatz John Drake]] from DangerMan or a completely new and independent character with each creator bringing their own interpretations to their respective efforts. [[WordOfGod The record]] finds evidence supporting both sides, but George Markstein did quit after the 11th episode as a result of that and other tensions within the production.

An AudioPlay series by Creator/BigFinish, written and produced by Creator/NicholasBriggs, has been announced for 2016. The audio version will follow the general outline of the TV show, but Briggs has stated that it "won't simply be a slavish retelling of all the original episodes."

An AudioPlay series by Creator/BigFinish, written and produced by Creator/NicholasBriggs, has been announced for 2016.

* DancePartyEnding: The final episode.

The series deals with the conflict between individuality and authority, told through an unnamed man's attempts to escape from a surreal {{Dystopia}}n penal colony. Although that goal is continually frustrated, the Village's warders are almost as frustrated as they deal with a man who will not bend, will not break and ''never'' gives up the fight until he becomes dangerous to them. Almost uniquely (for a series of that era not based upon a novel), it had a distinct StoryArc. The episodes had no clear progression, but the series did have a distinct beginning, middle and end, capped off by the GrandFinale "Fall Out".

* DependingOnTheWriter: How independent and self-aware the other villagers are is determined by the needs of each episode's plot. In some, they're little more than lemmings, jumping to act ''en masse'' in whatever way their captors tell them. In others, they seem to be free-thinking individuals capable of resistance of against Number Two and his/her goons.

* LicensedAdaptation: There was a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Prisoner_(video_game) computer game]] which was highly acclaimed and received a sequel. It may not have been officially licensed, though.

* ActorSharedBackground: One of the only pieces of information Number Six voluntarily gives the Village is his date and exact time of birth (19 March 1928, 3:15 a.m.) -- which coincides exactly with [=McGoohan's=].

* LifeImitatesArt: The official Prisoner fanclub's leadership dissolved in a heady mix of paranoia, backstabbing, and accusations of people spying on each other in real life. Several tertiary members mentioned this trope when they heard of what happened.

* RecycledScript: "The Girl Who Was Death" is adapted from an unused ''Series/DangerMan'' script, which is why it feels so much like a ''Danger Man'' episode, at least at first. This fact is also used as ammunition by those who believe No. 6 and John Drake are the same character.

* TechnologyMarchesOn: Much of the technology, especially in "The General," have obviously become outdated. The big exception is the bulbous sentry robot, Rover, which still looks as believably advanced as a machine and scary as hell; not bad for a last minute improvisation when the intended prop sank.
* ThrowItIn: Leo [=McKern=] was easily the most popular No. 2 among cast and crew, so they wrote new episodes just to bring him back. When the show was canceled, they rushed the final episode and added an on-camera haircut to "explain" his trimmed beard and shorter hair.

* TrollingCreator: [=McGoohan=] definitely qualifies.

* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Kenneth Griffith wanted his character in "The Girl Who Was Death" to be based on [[ThoseWackyNazis Hitler]]. Thankfully, Patrick [=McGoohan=] [[DudeNotFunny didn't think this was funny,]] and made him change it to [[NapoleonBonaparte Napoleon]].

* WriteWhoYouKnow: Number Six is to an extent a stand-in for [=McGoohan=], unsurprising given that the series is all about his own views on individuality and authority. A prime example of how TropesAreNotBad.

* WhereTheHellIsSpringfield: we never learn the location of The Village.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Kenneth Griffith wanted his character in "The Girl Who Was Death" to be based on [[ThoseWackyNazis Hitler]]. Thankfully, Patrick [=McGoohan=] [[DudeNotFunny didn't think this was funny,]] and made him change it to [[NapoleonBonaparte Napoleon]].

*** Meanwhile, his mysterious tormetors want to know "Why did you resign?" And most likely, quite a raft of other things that we aren't privy to.

'''Number Two''': [[YouAreNumberSix You are Number Six.]]

'''Number Two''': [[YouAreNumberSix You are Number Six.]][[note]]Insert a comma in there if you like[[/note]]\\

'''Number Two''': [[YouAreNumberSix You are Number Six.]]\\

** It has been said that if the show had been given a second season, it would have been given a new format based on this where Number Six would be sent out on missions, but always pulled back in.
*** This, however, seems unlikely, since Patrick McGoohan has stated for the record that he never intended to do a second season, and in fact that he had to be talked into making ten more episodes than he originally planned (It was originally only going to be seven episodes) so that it could be syndicated.

* FriendToAllChildren: Number 6 is seen babysitting two children in one episode. [[PetTheDog Awwww!]]

* FakeUltimateMook: Number 2 in "Hammer Into Anvil". At the start of the episode, he seems to be the most dangerous, sadistic, tenacious, calm, hands-on Number 2 in the series so far. Number 6 easily and ''utterly'' destroys him.