Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy TV series Round 1q

[Lord Jubjub]

This is a MULTIPLE CHOICE POLL.

Please select what you think are good series. I, myself, have not seen all of these series. I may well select some on the basis of reputation or premise. If you wish to make comments about these specific shows, they are welcome to those who may not have seen those shows.

[Gillianren]

Okay, we've actually got The Prisoner on DVD from the library right now--I'll vote after I've watched it.

[Van Rijn]

The Prisoner is a very strange series. Don't expect it to be straightforward - heck, I've seen nearly endless debate on the deeper meanings of various points. I'm not convinced some of those "deeper meanings" were intended, but I like the atmosphere of the series, and it is an old favorite (along with Star Trek, of course).

This is definitely a cult series. Some love it, some hate it.

Oh, by the way, it gets weirder as it goes along.

[ggremlin]

Hedge: War of the Worlds, Season 1 was pretty good, even with the explaination, that no one wanted to remember the events of the 1950's invasion. Season 2 must have taken place in an alternate reality and was so bad, it was rightly flushed.

[Van Rijn]

Yeah, season 1 of WotW was interesting, although I don't think it had as much potential as, for instance, "Earth, Final Conflict." Like EFC, they rewrote the story and killed the show. In this case it didn't take quite as long to die, though.

[ggremlin]

Definitely, Earth was a much better story line, but after they killed off the lead by disintegrating him at the end of Season 1, I lost interest in following the series. I know actor and salary problems, but come on disintegration!

[ToSeek]

Classic Trek made me what I am today. I've caught a few episodes of The Prisoner and always wanted to sit down and watch the whole series, but never got around to it.

[Gillianren]

The DVDs from the library are, from what I can tell, four episodes from no particular place in the series. (1, 3, 5, and 8?) It's okay, but I do see why some people dislike it. I'm a little off on the giant killer balloons, myself.

[Gas Giant]

Other than the first episode and the two parter that concludes it, you can view The Prisoner in more or less any order, I think.

[HenrikOlsen]

The DVDs from the library are, from what I can tell, four episodes from no particular place in the series. (1, 3, 5, and 8?) It's okay, but I do see why some people dislike it. I'm a little off on the giant killer balloons, myself.
I have only seen the first episode, but my impression, correct me if I'm wrong, is that the balloons are live capture, not kill thingies.

[peteshimmon]

One point I must make is that if the music is
good a series is halfway to success. And this is
where The Prisoner scored. Its use of well
known classic pieces as well as good
commissioned stuff provides much of the aura
that comes over. And Rover was derived from a
ping pong ball in an old film that I am sure
inspired the show. A Matter of Life and Death.
David Niven and Kim Hunter Star! See for
yourself! The music here is perfect.

[Gillianren]

I have only seen the first episode, but my impression, correct me if I'm wrong, is that the balloons are live capture, not kill thingies.

They certainly capture Our Hero, yes. But they seem to kill some random guy in the square during the first episode, at least that's what it looked like to me. They're still kind of silly.

[parallaxicality]

I love that episode of "The Simpsons" when Homer ends up trapped in the Village and stabs one of those balloons with a plastic fork. The Prisoner-guy standing next to him stares and says, "Now why didn't I think of that?

[Van Rijn]

Rover was apparently supposed to be a robot originally, but they had problems with the prop, so somebody had the idea to use a weather balloon. Most folks think it was a good choice, because it adds another bit of mystery and strangeness to the show.

The Village is designed to keep people from escaping, and Rover is part of that. It can kill or capture. No. 6 is (at least by the apparent story) something of a VIP. They still want information from him. They will play mind games on him. Other prisoners may be killed. Then again, you never really can be sure what's happening.

[Van Rijn]

Other than the first episode and the two parter that concludes it, you can view The Prisoner in more or less any order, I think.

I would disagree with this, but my reasons amount to something of a spoiler, or at least could influence the way a new viewer interprets the series. Anyway, after this SPOILER WARNING, I'll give my argument:







In the series, they are attempting to break the Prisoner, usually with psychological games. In the early series, the Prisoner responds conventionally, attempts to escape conventionally, etc. and is always foiled. By mid series he is starting to understand how the village works but still striking out. As the end of the series approaches he is playing psych. games on the others.