The Prisoner: episode 13: A Change of Mind

Angelica's side: it seems that the write-up of episode 13 has taken far too long to get to. Despite the re-run prior to episode 14, much of my initial thoughts on the episode have been washed away by all the events in between mid-November and now. But I remember all the hubbub about being "unmutual" and I remember being fond of Number 48 (she was just kind of likable). I actually quite like these episodes where Number 6 isn't always out looking for a way to escape. For me, things seem most interesting when Number 6 is up to a little plotting and scheming of his own against those trying to break him. Sure, it is always a little far fetched that everyone would fall for all the things that he gets up to, but it is the Village after all, and people seem to just go with the flow, whatever direction it just happens to be going in at that moment.

Dave's Side: That would be telling. And as with this episode, there is no telling. That might be due to my two distant viewings of it though - one weeks ago and the other while i was making my sandwich/burger. Still, i found this one somehow disjointed, not flowing from plot-point to plot-point in a way that makes for easy recall. Number 6 is set upon by members of the Village who don't think he's being mutual - all of this is done in a rather unmutual way, i thought. Number 6's issue is addressed through predictably unsuccessful means (including observation of aggressive therapy on others), so he is brought in for such therapy (a lobotomy). But it's a fake lobotomy and he is drugged. Then he acts kind of weird for a while, maybe testing himself for aggressive qualities. Then he sees he's being drugged and pulls a switch. Someone is hypnotized, the tables are turned, and the Village goes after Number 2, believing he has been unmutual. So... this means the majority of the Village is not "in on the con?" That was almost as confusing to me (in the grand scheme) as it was confusing to see Number 6 fail to use his perceived state of being lobotomized to better effect (like, leading "them" on and somehow getting them to see the truth of his retirement... or some truth that would get him out of there... or would that be as likely as him pretending to join "them?"... and does he know better than us - as we are not spies like them - that most of these pedestrian efforts would result in his death, and that his only way out is by fisticuffs and straight-up escape from the Village?). I don't know. And i guess that's why we're watching 40 years later.

sandwiches: round 13: Chicken Out

Dave's Safeway Chicken Mexican Resolver: chicken, shredded, fried with olive oil; add shaved celery to pan; mix with garlic mayo, paprika, chili; spread over half a bun; spread layer of homemade preserve salsa (sweet and tangy); top with half bun.


Angelica's Sew Me a Satay: roasted chicken, homemade satay sauce (peanut butter, hoisin sauce, chili sauce, fresh crushed garlic, fresh ground black pepper, measured by eye and by taste), grated carrots blended with garlic mayo and dried tarragon, slivered red onions, garnished with dried cranberries and celery crosses, all atop slightly toasted brown rice buns.


Creative accompaniment: the entire episode 12, an unprecedented achievement.

Wine: Misterio (Argentinian Malbec)

Appetizer: corn chips and homemade salsa by Mike.

DM on DM: Like a chicken or tuna salad sandwich, it was consistent and filling. The salsa and the chicken flavours were distinguishable. Maybe could have used cheese or a lettuce leaf. This was simple, tasty, and satisfying.

DM on AS: Complex and varied, as usual. The celery interjections were a great balance to the rich, peanutty experience of eating this sandwich. i liked the cranberries especially. A really outstanding creation.

AS on DM: This sandwich had a lot of good flavours, with the salsa as a standout. I agree, a few slices of cheese would have raised this sandwich from really good to outstanding, and the spiced Gouda in the fridge might just have done the trick. There is a lot to be said of simplicity though, and this one did it right.

AS on AS: Many unexpected and opposing flavours came together in this last minute sandwich: rich satay versus crisp celery, sweet carrots versus sharp onion, tarragon versus peanut. And yet the chicken still held its ground and remained the feature ingredient. For the little bit of this and the little bit of that that came out of my cupboards, this turned out to be a pleasantly complex surprise.

Verdict:
DM - Complex vs. simple; Mexican vs. Asian; closed vs. open. Considering we started with the same chicken and did no shopping for this evening, two very different sandwiches were produced. This is a hard one for me to judge because both offered great enjoyment. But... i'm going to give the win to A over D because i think that in close races like these, artistic achievement tips the scales. "A" had the presentation, ingredient daring, and rare taste.

AS - Once again we go in opposite directions from the same starting point and turn out two fantastic sandwiches. I have to admit, I really didn't know how we were going to pull off the transformation of a Roasted Chicken Dinner and rather depleted fridge and cupboard offerings into decent dinner sandwiches, let alone Prisoner battle worthy contenders. But there was some pretty incredible resourcefulness and innovation that took place in that one hour of sandwich mastery. I too enjoyed both - D's for its smooth and consistent blend of fine flavours, mine for its complexity of unexpected flavours. In the end though, I think I have to go with mine. There is something in that peanut sauce that activates my "umami" taste buds and always leaves me wishing I had the room to eat more.

The Prisoner: episode 12: Living in Harmony

Angelica's Side: whoa....somebody stop this episode! This episode didn't feel like it knew where it was going...and that made me restless. I was sure it would link back into some plot by the current Number 2, but really, did it have to take quite so long? We've seen alternate realities for Number 6 before, but this one seemed a little out of hand....a Sheriff, in a Western, with horses and a saloon and drunkeness and all that shooting! Maybe I've watched too much Deadwood to appreciate what this episode was all about. I will admit to liking The Kid though...much more than Number 6 in this episode. That was some kind of intensity his character had (while Number 6 in comparison seemed surprisingly flat).

The episode was definitely still watchable, but I guess what sums this episode up for me is: I couldn't wait to get out of the Western and back to The Village...not into some kind of escape plan, but right back smack dab in the middle of The Village. Episode 13, take me back there! Please!


Dave's side:
The VHS tape came out of a sealed box. The box was labelled episode 12 of The Prisoner. I was pretty sure the tape itself said the same. But then, we open the show without the familiar montage, there is a cowboy on a horse, and i wonder if there has been a mistake. Even when i see McGoohan under a dusty cowboy hat, i wonder if the distributing company put something other than a Prisoner episode onto this tape. McGoohan speaks... it's not British. What in tarnation?

Well, it becomes clear that it is an episode of the Prisoner when familiar themes and catch-phrases come into play. But... is this a psychological play taking place in the mind of Number 6? Or is it a historical revelation, showing us that The Village we have come to know is nothing new? And i wonder how many fledgling Prisoner fans in the late 60's skipped past or away from the original airing, confused as i am and maybe more disappointed.

By episode's end, we're comforted by the familiar setting of Number 2's santum. The western players are revealed to be 60's-modern men and woman dressed in cutting edge pop garb. They remove futuristic headphones, discuss their plot to baffle Number 6, and marvel at his super-human ability to know the fantasy for what it was. Thankfully, the episode continues for a while and the western setting is revisted, melding fact, fiction, past, present, hero, and tragedy. That final 10 minutes gave the 40 minute lead-up the meaning i was hoping for. I think the second viewing will be much better for knowing that it's not going nowhere. I suppose i should have trusted McGoohan.

sandwiches: round 12: Halloween Indulgence, The Wagonwheel Revisited

An impromptu Prisoner night. A Halloween inspiration in the isles of Choices. Ah, choices, too many, but the wagon wheel won out.

Drinks: red wine

Angelica's Wheel Inside a Wagon: blackberry jam sandwiched in marshmallow wheels, nutella on brown rice soda bread, toasted lighted then broiled open face

Dave's A.N.I.M.A. (Adams Nut In Mallow Aboudit)
Mashed marshmallows, natural PB in the middle, chocolately nutella on top.



AS on DM: Mmmm...this was indulgent. Thick marshmallowiness...thick peanut butteriness...thick nutella-ness(?). Definite Halloween memories, but more of the peanut butter cup kind. Which is good. Since I love peanut butter cups...they were always the treasures in my Halloween haul. I was always torn between indulging in them first or saving them and savouring them. I really didn't know whether to eat this sandwich all up first, or save half for after my sandwich. But I indulged. And loved every bite.

AS on AS: Once more I challenge the eater. I don't always make sandwiches with plate -to-mouth logistics in mind...well, perhaps it's rarely that I do. This was a pretty gooey mess as far as sandwiches go, but if bitten carefully, the eater was rewarded with a light and heavenly flavour. I remember (correctly or not) a version of wagon wheels with jam in them and that came in a red box rather than a blue box. It could all be my over-sugared imagination at work, but this this sandwich definitely brought me back to wagon wheel days. And those days were sweet ones.

DM on DM: How can you go wrong with these ingredients? If someone had given me this on Hallowe'en... it would have made a mess of my haul. So, let's say that if someone i knew and trusted had put this in front of me on Hallowe'en, i would have chosen it over just about anything in my haul. Except maybe peanut butter cups.

DM on AS: Inventive as always. This was a lot of sugar and marshmallow for me, but it tasted great. Any more would have put me in a sweet coma. Though i don't remember well the jam wagon wheel variety, this experience made me feel like maybe i'd had one before. Or handed them out at least. Ah, memories. Recent or long passed, true or false, it matters only that now i have them, and this sandwich is a good one.

The Verdict

AS: Both were fantastic, but I'm going to have to go with mine by a sliver. Maybe it was the extra sweetness from the jam, or maybe it was the slighted melted state of the marshmallows, but this one just had a little something that brought back those wagon wheel memories just a little bit stronger.

DM: For its inventiveness in design and the physical sacrifice incurred by its maker, Angelica's gets the nod. Let's get some tight white plastic bags and mass produce them.

immerse yourself in the village

http://www.virtualmidlands.co.uk/demos/prisoner.htm

The Prisoner: episode 11: Checkmate

Number 5's opinion: I liked it, and will probably like it again. This was a highlight along the journey as it goes. This number 2 could be my favourite - very attractive man, i insist, but i say so inclusive of his charismatic appeal; if i were Number 6, perhaps i would be swayed to the side of warden? perhaps not in the end. i digress. this episode was fantastic. chess might be an obvious metaphor for the village, the spy community, international politics, but it's damn good to see it plainly put after all these episodes, years, newscasts. yes? plain, but asking more questions than it answers, and that is the nature of this series.

i was happy with this episode especially because of the ending: the tragedy! oh, it didn't hit me until full seconds after passage, but the tragedy was like a canvas bag of stones across the face. finally, we had a male consort... and betrayer! though in this case, HE was UNINTENTIONALLY the object of our disappointment. still, we got the woman in waiting to satisfy us... i think they might have made a nice couple, living in the Village, playing chess, tag on the land-locked boat, at love, under the watchful eye of that guy*.

there is too much about this episode that i can't remember right now, so i will close by saying that never has McGoohan seemed to theatrical! WONderful portrayal, my good man. And perhaps this one derserves the reflections of a second viewing... which in the case of myself and my good colleague in sandwich-making is a given. Until then, queen's pawn to king 5.

* "Orange alert. Orange alert."

Angelica's take: this might very well be my favourite episode to date. It had it all - a tight plot, a cast of intriguing characters, a colourful set, interesting shots, those oh-so-stylish outfits and a twist here and a turn there.

That moment of recognition that Number 6's realizes he has caused his own downfall in this episode was rather unexpected for me (although it now seems so obvious that this probably should have happened earlier). His own traits turn against him and it is so easy to see why. Flip any of the fellow escapees into the leader role and him into a follower and I imagine he'd be beyond suspicious of the escape plan unfolding before them. It seems too planned, too good to be true...and in The Village, it is dangerous ground to fall for anything of that nature. I suppose the only thing worse in The Village would be to fall for a woman.

More after this episode's re-run. Until the rematch then...

sandwiches: round 11: Mediterranean Trio Theme

After much humming and hawing about a theme, we met at the grocery store to be inspired and decided on a Mediterranean theme...sundried tomatoes, Kalamata olives and feta cheese.

Appetizer: goat cheese topped with mixed fruit chutney or dill on sesame rice crackers

Drinks: red wine, alas not of Mediterranean origin





Angelica's Mediterranean Tortilla: sundried tomatoes, Kalamata olives, feta cheese mixed together with red pepper, cornflakes, rice flour, egg, salt and pepper to form a Spanish tortilla (which has nothing to do with a Mexican tortilla, instead it's really a type of omelet with much more filling than egg), served on rice bread with garlic mayo, slivered red onion and Romaine lettuce.

















Dave's "Lady Who Lunched" - Equatorial Lady Fingers: stripped bread, crumbled sheep feta, maliciously diced Kalamata olives, and sundried tomatoes drawn and quartered. Aaand and little bit of sundried tomato oil from the plastic container they sat in for some unknown number of days. mmm-MMM! Oh, and the SD's T's were briefly sauteed in brown sugar. *mwah*

















AS on AS: I was looking for some sort of different delivery mechanism for the three feature ingredients that would blend them together, yet allow for each taste to still have a presence...and so the idea for a Spanish tortilla. I think the final product delivered what I had intended. It had flavour and warmth and a little crunch from the fresh red onions. The lettuce may have suffered a little from sitting under the heat of the tortilla while we munched away at Dave's sandwich, but I think it, along with the red onions, offered a nice offset to the saltiness of the other ingredients. It felt like a hearty late night meal and was perfect for the crisp fall weather that has edged its way into town.

AS on DM: Who knew three little ingredients, with only a touch of outside enhancement, could taste so outstanding! I felt like I should be eating this in a little bar, down a narrow cobblestone street with the smell of the Mediterranean hanging heavy in the air. It looked pretty and tasted amazing. The addition of the sugar to the sundried tomatoes was simply brilliant.

DM on DM: i would admit that i got lucky if i didn't agree with Obi-Wan... "...in my experience, there's no such thing as 'luck." i was big on the idea of going with x ingredients and sticking with them, and the stripped sandwich is not a new method of presentation for me... all in all, i credit the Force in part. finally, the flavours i expect to present themselves do so. not one sat back this time around. i was impressed with myself, did the pat on the back, and bowed to the 5 corners of the ring for the crown, looking forward to neither victory nor defeat. 3 ingredients (arguably 4), and each of them was identifiable, vying equally for time on the pallet. if pride is a vice, call be Sonny Crockett. it was a good day for lady fingers.

DM on AS: Intimidation was high when, as i stood in the kitchen imbibing a glass of wine, Angelica, with unknown years of experience and inspiration, turning ingredients into sculpture in the frying pan, half cooked and half watched the previous episode of The Prisoner on the telly, my own simple thoughts turning like a sundial next to her digital timepiece, everything seemed pedestrian on my side of the preparation area, where, upon a cutting board, life was supposed to - but might not (if by 'life' i mean 'fair product') - take place! and angelica delivered, bringing ingredients together like the Brady Bunch (and Alice underneath it all, keeping it all together like you know she did every episode). i got to write this review, second to my esteemed sometimes-collaborator, sometimes-competitor, and i am honoured that she chose my fingers over her body of work, because she made a masterpiece. seriously, where did the patty idea come from? so hearty, so distinctly in-theme, yet so novel. i could have another right now.

The Verdict:

AS: my vote goes for Dave's creation this week. I liked mine a lot too, but it felt rather everyday next to the elegance of Dave's. While simple on the surface, the proportions and presentation were well thought out and didn't need for anything more.

DM: this was a battle of the titans. i shall take the belt and carry it on high, above my head, for all to see, but in the interview will give much praise to my ring partner: i agree that this night was taken by the lady fingers, but only by a small margin, and the victory could only have been this sweet with a competitor so worthy.

The Prisoner: episode 10: It's Your Funeral

Angelica's side (Take 1): We really need to not fall asleep when watching new episodes! I'd attempt to write something, but seeing as I missed what was likely the most critical parts to understanding this week's plot, I may have to wait until we watch it again. I could, however, go on about the trampoline scene at length...

DM: My god, that trampoline scene was something. Convolution! The asiatic semi-futiristic trampoline-fu, the life-predicting computer, the watch-switch-leading-to unlikely causation: all of these things made me feel like i was bouncing between planes, and at times, i was drowned in counfoundation. nonetheless, that number 2 was something. i must grow my hair again to get myself a pompadour like that two's. i will say that the jammer plot-line, while loose, was engaging. i wanted to know more, worried it would all go to the wayside, got the explanation in spades, and still thought it was a cool angle to the Village. i still don't know if it was for 'real' or if it was another 'number 2 plot.' Long live the Village, but not with me in it. Back to that computer that predicts every move one will make: why not use it to greater effect? Why limit it to knowing when one can supplant one watch with another? It's like using a time machine to swipe Blackbeard's treasure chest rather than invest in IBM. But the ending was pretty sweet. i liked how there is now a No. 2 who owes No. 6. When 6 gets out, he can can that favour in. i would. Big medals are pretty cool now that i've seen them in action - ceremonies recognizing big fish in small towns tend to have these grotesque batons. PS: another traitorous woman... what's going on in this village??

Angelica's side (Take 2): Wow, did this episode ever make a lot more sense after having watched those missing scenes. And on re-watching it, I had many other oh-yeah moments, like remembering a dream from the previous night, triggered by some split second image that somehow creeped into your brain: Number 6's exercises in the woods, the machine which can predict Number 6's behaviour (why not, however, use it it to predict more interesting things than that he would buy candy and at what time he would go do his trampolining...like maybe the next time he would try to escape???) and of course, more trampoline scenes. I really liked both Number 2's from this episode. The acting "Number 2" because he was so off-beat and somehow mesmerising - I could almost feel him slithering across each scene - and the episode's real Number 2 because he was a Number 2 which I actually felt some sympathy for. I liked the change of plot as well...Number 6 wasn't trying to escape and it somehow felt like for a moment he stopped being so much of an individual and behaved as a part of society...at least just a little.

sandwiches: round 10: Back to Basics Theme

After what has felt like far too long of a break, finally a Prisoner night! Fall has always been a time of returning, so what better sandwich theme than a return to the basics, to sandwiches from childhood which could be thrown together in a moment due to their simplicity. So, this round, two-ingredient childhood favourites...

Angelica's Cheddar and Sandwich Spread: Cheddar Cheese and Kraft Sandwich Spread on toasted brown rice flax bun.

Dave's Honey Toast: bread (preferably english muffin consistency) + butter + honey.

Sides & Drinks: no sides, just red wine.

AS on AS: this was, as it always had been for me, a complex mix of flavours for so few ingredients. I used to make this on Canadian Rye and always eat it standing in the kitchen right next to the toaster while standing on one leg (really!). I am surprised that Kraft actually still makes Sandwich Spread...I don't know anyone else who actually eats it these days, but there it is, always on the shelf tucked in behind the mayo.

AS on DM: I don't know how two such simple ingredients can combine to produce such a heavenly flavour. I could taste the butter and I could taste the honey, or I could taste the butter or I could taste the honey...whichever I wished.

DM on AS: "Sandwich Spread?" This reminds me of the "skin colour" crayon of bygone days - who got to decide that this was so much the standard that it could have the definite article insinuated before it? "The" sandwich spread. But... it is really good. I don't think I could eat more than this at once, but I would have been looking forward to it in elementary school class, watching the big white clock on the wall, half-focused on the math or whatever in front of me.

DM on DM: Ah, my honey toast, how long has it been this time? A few years? Maybe less. When we meet each time, it's like no time has passed. Honey toast and I met when I was not even in school, and we have kept in touch regularly throughout my life. There were periods when we saw each other daily and long stretches we would not, and this is for the best I guess as absence makes the heart grow stronger and too much of a good thing makes one unfit. Did you know that honey never goes bad? Crazy. Did you know that honey is the redeeming quality that I kept in mind through two decades of hating/fearing bees? It's true. I love to see my old honey toast, tonight was no exception, I loved what the new kind of bread brought to our meeting. Butter, honey, toast - so good.


The Verdict:

AS: oooh, ahhh, another hard one. Mine for memories; Dave's for newness. I'd pull mine out of my grade 3 lunchbag and trade half of it for yours any day.

DM: We are ever more the collaborators of late; tonight, we produced another incomparable pairing, yours the entree and mine the dessert. Total tradezees. Would your sandwich be wrapped in wax paper like mine?

The Prisoner: episode 09: Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling

we seriously need to get on this, girl. reviewing this and viewing more :)

Angelica's long overdue entry: I'm not sure if it's the time that has passed since the last Prisoner viewing or that I was more observant this time (or perhaps more awake?), but this episode felt much less familiar on its second viewing. It was definitely a clever way to work around Patrick McGoohan not being there for the episode and a good use of minimal filming in the Villiage. It was nice to get a few more glimpses into his personal life (a girlfriend?) and nice to go along on a little roadtrip. It felt like a nice easing back into some sort of Prisoner schedule...like an interlude before we launch into a full dose of Patrick McGoohan.

Dave's take: i can't help but watch this episode and wonder what was happening in McGoohan's life that he would leave his pet show for an episode of filming, put all kinds of creative work into making it as McGoohan-populated as possible, and leave viewers knowing something was up. i have learned that it was Ice Station Zebra that took him away. He was, after all, an actor looking to make the biggest name for himself. Suddenly, i see parallels between the experience of an actor and that of this episode's character. Both trying to figure out who they are, how to convey it, who will believe it... believe in them! Our hero wakes up with a new exterior, completely transformed to the audience eyes. Success. Our hero seeks allies and faith. Security. Our hero seeks re-transformation, a return to his true exterior, but he is a spy, a made liar among an audience of actors. i wonder if McGoohan conceived himself a man behind an actor playing an actor playing roles, and this episode, playing out allegorical mirror layers that wrapped around the layers spoken to. i think so; McGoohan seems complicated. As was the process of discovering the location of the mad scientist (slide show) and transferring minds across bodies (Metropolis Lite F/X). It really is no wonder to me that i didn't follow this episode the first time.

(this is the only picture i could find of Nigel Stock - Number 6 of this episode. note: he does not sport tweed or pipe in the episode.)

sandwiches: round 09: Do Not Forsake Me theme

Our theme was supposed to refer to some ingredient that might be forsaken from a familiar sandwich. In DM's case, the traditional pork and apple sauce of Britain (home of Number 6) was transposed to canape format and coupled (strangely?) with cranberry. In the case of our appetizer, marmelade is not the most popular of condiments (in spite of repeated effort over the decades, i still cannot tolerate it).

Dave's Alt_Brit P&A Canapes: Rosemary Ham; Golden Delicious scratch apple sauce with cinnamon and rosemary; on white rice bread; topped with the nicest cranberries i could find in the bulk aisle.


Angelica's Cozy Chicken & Pancetta Dinner Sandwich: rotisserie chicken wrapped in pancetta, pan fried Japanese eggplant brushed with Ponzu, shredded Asiago cheese mixed with mayonnaise, homemade red pepper jelly.

Appetizer: Orange Whisky Marmalade atop cream cheese and rice crackers

Sides & Drinks: oven roasted cherry tomatoes on the vine and yellow zucchini tossed with olive oil, red Hawaiian salt, fresh ground pepper and herbs de provence; port in rollie-pollie glasses.

Sandwich Making Soundtrack: Phontaine (DJ)

AS on AS: Hearty, complex and packed with flavour, this sandwich was a self contained meal all on its own. I had worried about the structural soundness given its height and weight, but it held together well, resulting in a perfectly proportioned mix of flavours in every bite. And every ingredient came in complementing flavour/texture pairs: sturdy chicken wrapped in delicate salty pancetta, tender eggplant brushed with lively citrus ponzu, sharp asiago blended with smooth mayo, and both spiciness and sweetness in the red pepper jelly.

AS on DM: another blending of contrasting flavours in these small sized, but large flavoured canapés. What impressed me the most was their versatility...their savory flavours came out when eaten pre-other sandwich (more like an appetizer) and their sweetness came out post-other sandwich (more like a dessert). In fact, every flavour could be easily isolated due to the skillfulness of this sandwich's creator.


DM on AS: i begin with the meal-sandwich. reading AS's own review of her sandwhich, i don't know how to proceed; she says it all and says it well. (it's high time i produced the the first set of reviews.) indeed, it was a hearty creation whose size belied its integrity and whose complexity seemed boundless - i'm sure that each half tasted a little different, as each combination of distinct tastes manifested novel impressions. i was impressed with the taste to be sure, and that comes as no surprise at round 09, but it was especially marvelous to have everything hold together through the final bite. this was a blue-ribbon special.

DM on DM: i was very happy with how this came out. i have to give myself a pat on the back for avoiding my typical pitfalls (i.e. not enough 'pop,' buried flavour in the case of one component). everything appeared to shine through the way i had hoped, and one of my favourite meals was interpreted well to the appetizer format. what can i say? i am happy with how things went and wouldn't want to improve on this one.

The Outcome:

AS: how does one choose between two sandwiches that were so clearly complimentary to each other, rather than competitive? Each sandwich simply made the other better.

DM: it might be the pre-blog talk we had together... i again agree with AS that these were compimentary and not competitive pieces. if i had to put them up against all the creations to date though, i think Angelica's sandwich would take teh prize. as much as i loved my work this time, her meal-worthy creations deliver on taste as well as the time:satisfaction ratio. but kudos to the both of us for concocting a four course masterpiece for the evening.

The Prisoner: episode 08: Dance of the Dead

Angelica's side: I still feel a bit like have just awoken from a strange dream every time I think of this episode. Between the pixie-likeNumber 2, the body on the beach, the black cat, the observer, the dance, the trial, the chase, the secret room and the invincible computing machine, this episode drifted in and out moments that were clear and completely plausible (for the Village) and others that were far beyond any of the absurdities encountered by Number 6 so far. One could never really predict what would come next as new events started just as abruptly as others ended and seemed to only loosely be linked together. I enjoyed this change of pace though, this unpredictability and contrast to more recent episodes (particularly episode 7 which seemed the most grounded in reality of all the episodes). I haven't yet seen an episode that I didn't look forward to seeing again, and so look forward to a second viewing of this one. And as I said earlier this week, I feel some momentum coming on in the Prisoner project.

Although I am sure this was not the intent, I would like to think that this episode was all the mad imaginings of the drugged up and wired up Number 6 that we saw at the beginning of the episode. And that the abrupt ending (with no real resolution on the execution order - I assume Number 6 will be well and alive for episode 9) was a jarring wake up back from one absurd existence to another. And so, on this episode I still wonder, am I awake or am I still dreaming...is Number 6 awake or is he still dreaming?

Dave's Side:
Final lines of the episode:
6: "You'll never win."
2: "Then things will be very uncomfortable for you then, won't they?"

Surely this episode was meant to be aired earlier, at least to establish this ever-present thread by which we viewers ought to be guided. As long as #6 has it in his mind that he is at odds with the community, he is both the irritant and irritated, a saw moving against the grain.

The court procession and subsequent executioners' chase were nightmarish, leading #6 back underground through the rabbit hole, under the morgue, and yet again into the omnipresent hands of the elfish #2. Just before the prophetic final lines of the episode are uttered, #6 tears out the innards of message-creating computer, stopping it. Just afterward, it resumes typing, and #2 laughs. The Village, which has been around for "a very long time" cannot be ended - certainly not by one man. And like the typing machine, its source of power is not likely to be uncovered. Even with its apparent guts ripped out, the community of the Village will persevere.

This is the daunting obstacle before #6. He is a hero of the highest order, settling not for mere escape, but for the eradication of the Village at the least. Escape is proving hard enough, and his ultimate goal may be nearly impossible to achieve if he cannot discern pawn from puppet master, left from right, and perhaps dream from waking life.

#6 walks through the decorated carnival in his own clothing - he is, in the context of the Village, the only one in costume, the only actor among stage sets and props. i think that if i were #6, i would consider entering the dream to gain the footing to gain ground. But is there any way out of the dream once a part of it? It stands to reason that many of community thought so.

sandwiches: round 08: italian theme

Inspired by the best rice bread to date, a Focaccia, an Italian theme tonight...

Dave's Fietza: canned pizza sauce, gypsy salami, salty black olives*, cheese**, nectarine, on rice focaccia














Angelica's Pesto (Almost-)Panini: roasted turkey breast, smoked applewood cheddar, pesto, tomato, green onion, post-baking mayo, on rice focaccia














Sides & Drinks: pistachio ice cream, fizzy Merlot

In the Background: episode 7 re-run

Angelica on Angelica's' Pesto Almost-Panini: this sandwich was a bit of a mystery to me. The flavours were all separated out by layer and yet every bite, every mouthful tasted identical throughout. One could not pick out any individual flavour the next, despite some of the flavours normally standing out on their own quite easily. I haven't decided yet if I liked this property or not. There is something to be said for consistency (especially when the flavour is fantastic), but then again, there is something appealing about the progression of flavour throughout a bite or an expected flavour in a bite. I did enjoy the flavour medley of this sandwich very much, but it bordered on pleasant, rather than wow. And I think it could have benefited from an open face format...I think that that somehow that format alone might have elevated it to more of a wow.

Angelica on The Fietza: in contrast to my wallflower panini, this sandwich bounded in with flavour screaming out in various proportions in every bite...olives one moment, cheese the next, the pepper rind of the salami the next, the meaty part of the salami the next and then moments of subtle nectarine sweetness. All fantastic flavours, but there were moments of flavour overload and richness that could have done with a pause, a more simple, more balanced bite inbetween to separate one decadent moment from the next. But overall, this sandwich knew how to wow.


DM on Angelica's' Pesto Almost-Panini: hearty and tasty is a combination not easily achieved, but it is here. Angelica and i diverged in our approaches, creating (as we have both noted in person) a difficult time comparing our creations. but i like where she went with the Italian theme and tasted the 'Italy' in this one. this was a great achievement, i think, as the theme was experienced on two important levels: taste and heartiness.

DM on the Fietza: i remember thinking that the bread could have been wider. otherwise, i would have had to put less on this piece of bread to get the correct proportions. on the other hand, maybe a towering mound of ingredients is the best way to prepare a Fietza (fiesta pizza). i think it worked out in any case, and like most sandwiches, the fall-out is my ante-appetizer, a chance to try some of the ingredients on their own after the event. i enjoyed the combination of sweet and spicy, as always, and i can see how widely contrasting flavours are becoming my pursuit and signature. i was happy with this one.


AS's pick of the night: I feel my choices tonight are really between not enough of a good thing and too much of a good thing with tonight's sandwiches. One good as comfort food and one for moments of decadence. In the spirit of this competition though, I have to go with decadence. And Number 6 too, I think would have gone for decadence.

DM's pick of the night: this is a tough one for me, as i really liked Angelica's creation. though i like where i am going with the Fietza concept, i think, as Angelica said, less might have been more. her sandwich on the other hand hit the mark she aimed for and was a piece that in its exact form i would like to have again. on that basis, i give the win to the Pesto Almost-Panini.

The Prisoner: episode 07: Many Happy Returns

DM's thoughts:

i loved this episode because it started with a twist, progressed rapidly through plot points, and continued to deliver twists right up through the final scene. A break-neck pace, ascending questions answered by rushes of surprising storyline; it felt like a roller-coaster, and i'm looking forward to getting back on it.

*Another femme fatale for the faith and mental fortitude of our Number 6.
*A clever bit of dialogue writing to keep Number 6's true name concealed from the audience.
*Suspension of disbelief required to accept that Number 6, man of all-around savvy, would so poorly restrain his newly captive captors. And why did he head out to sea rather than follow the coastline more closely?
*Lingering confusion about Number 6's reasoning for trusting his old colleagues, as well as the allegiance to Number 6 on the part of those colleagues.
*And a question that will poke at every episode from here on in: does Number 6's knowing now where the location of the Village help him in any way?

Overall, a most satisfying episode. i can't wait to see how it looks after 17 episodes, and to hunt down the novels and comic books. Isn't there a new movie coming out soon? Is it a remake, a new chapter, a reinvention? i'm sure i could find out, but i am fearful of spoilers - for which reason i am resisting the urge to read the Prisoner guidebook given to me by AS for my birthday!


AS's thoughts: what are the chances that I would share the same birthday as Number 6? Well, 1 out of 365 in a non-leap year, but still, it's kind of cool that March 19 was chosen as a significant day in the story (It's Patrick McGoohan's actual birthday too). But on to the episode...it was the first half of this episode that I enjoyed the most...the deserted village, the adventure at sea, the lack of dialogue...it was refreshing to have a somewhat quiet and almost reflective start to this episode. What was he leaving behind...what could he be returning to? I have to admit, that I had hoped for a different second half...I wasn't sure that I understood why he would trust his old bosses...why he would go back to them instead of go underground or head for that tropical island. Of course it was clear that he would have to go back and that those who he thought were helping him would betray him, so I suppose I had to just go along with it. But still, I liked the change of pace of this episode, and am looking forward to the next round of being back in the village.

sandwiches: round 07: many happy returns theme

Dave's Sandwich: Revisiting my first one, the grilled cheese with brie and capers. This time, minus the pepper (an oversight), more capers, capers mixed into mashed brie, topped with a slice of brie, topped with caper juice, and slightly burnt on the bottom (a fortunate accident). The bread was a heavy white rice bread. Fried with butter.

Angelica's Sweet Repeat: cinnamon and pepper cream cheese, 9 blueberries apiece, melted semi-sweet chocolate, and a sprinkling of salt on buckwheat bread.

Music accompaniment: Deathcab for Cutie, Truckasaurus, The Battles.

Sides and Drinks: tortilla chips and mango salsa, shiraz

Intermediary event: The Festival of Lights fireworks finale, viewed from a rooftop deck.

AS on Caper Grilled Cheese: While I am still puzzled that the capers faded into the background on this sandwich, it was definitely a huge leap from its first showing. The brie oozed out in exactly the right way and the later addition of the caper juice brought is flavour up from a tab bit too subtle to just the right kind of subtle. The return of this sandwich was very much welcome.

AS on Sweet Repeat: my two earlier sweet sandwiches were either too bland or too sweet; I was hoping for a better balance this time. I had had my heart set on cherries rather than blueberries, but it seems we are at the end of cherry season and the pickings are slim. So blueberries it was and they were a more than adequate substitute. The flavours blended perfectly for me on this one and the additional dollops of chocolate on the last few bites took the sandwich up a notch into a dessert I'd gladly finish off any meal with.

DM on Sweet Repeat: Sublime (full stop)

Nota Bene - i maintain that the most effective manner in which to approach this open face meal is thusly: name the 9 blueberries with numbers starting at 1, moving upward in chronological order from left to right and row by row, resulting in the following pattern (which touch-tone telephone users will be familiar):

1 2 3

4 5 6

7 8 9

Holding the bread with thumb at a position between 1 & 4, index and middle fingers at 3 & 6, and letting the ring and little fingers support the bread from beneath position 9, bite the entirety of blueberry number 7, including the bread beneath it, taking care to avoid brushing chocolate topping with the upper lip or teeth. Follow similarly with blueberry numbers 9, 8, 4, 6, 5, allowing your fingers to retreat so as not to be also consumed. While blueberries 1 through 3 may be consumed in chronological or anti-chronological order, good form dictates that 1 be eaten first and 3 last. Attempting to eat 2 first will curry favour only with the lower order.

DM on Caper Grilled Cheese: That's what i was talking about in the first place! Though the pepper may have driven this winner into mythical status, it was nice to see what the capers and brie could do unaided and unmasked. Half way through our halves, i took the sandwich back to the kitchen to add the caper juice, as it seemed (yet again) that the capers' flavour abandoned ship at the sign of heat. i agree with AS that the brie to bread balance was nicely done, and has to measured against the character of the bread - in this case heavy and biscuit-like; perhaps all the cheese held it together.

AS verdict: Any sandwich that leaves me wanting more is a fine, fine sandwich. I wanted more of both...last night...and now. These sandwiches are too different to compare to each other so I will compare them to their respective categories. While I think I would stand by my original winners (AS for grilled cheese and DM for sweet), these would have been a very close second.

DM verdict: i will repeat what i said last night: this was less a competition than a collaboration: dinner and dessert made a well formed evening of eating (rounded out, of course, by appetizers and wine). i think i might have called a tie on the grilled cheeses if this entry could go back in time to replace it's malformed predecessor. And AS's Sweat Repeat, i think, would have taken the prize if it too had access to my time machine toaster.

The Prisoner: episode 02 (alternate cut): The Chimes of Big Ben

David on alternate editions: when i love something, i am a glutton for more, even if it's a couple of extra bits, and especially when the bits are incorporated into the story and have been shown to the masses some time ago; this sort of alternate edition is not made for the cash grab (ala neo-Lucas 'special edition' film presentations); it is a verified alternate presentation placed like a brick in the foundation of its now towering history (ala the super-long television cuts of the late 1970's Superman films).

David on the new scenes in this version of Episode 2: not really that noticeable, and the one significant scene would have required more explanation to be useful (i.e. why did the device fail to provide the information he wanted?).

David on the music: not the same, not as good; it was interesting to see a different take on the scoring, but the stuff we've been exposed to in the first 6 of the standard presentation episodes is more lively and at the very least has formed an impression in my mind (which i think lives up to the impression i've gathered from fellow fans in the past).

David on the texture of this episode: i can see that when the series was made available for home viewing purchase, picture and sound were "restored" to a higher standard; this episode, without the benefit of said restoration, looks and sounds like we were watching it on channel 3 in 1981; the sound effects would be too loud or the dialogue too quite, the image was gauzy, and the colours saturated - beautiful; if i were a little more tired, i might have gotten out of my seat to turn off the TV, or maybe turn the channel knob for a few seconds to see what was on the other 11 channels.

David's found a reference to have a look at: http://alternateprisoner.blogspot.com/ -- check out one person's mission to restore this, perhaps the only Prisoner episode remaining to be restored.

Angelica on the alternate version: Despite there not being a lot of new or different scenes in this version and despite its roughness, I really enjoyed the viewing experience as a whole. As someone who likes drafts and revisions, I liked this peek at the roughness this episode once had...at an intermediate stage on its way to something else. What I missed more than anything in this version though was the sound...its abruptness, its clang, its general noisiness. I remember awaiting to hear the chimes of Big Ben...and heard nothing! I am sure they were there, but were too muted even on the max volume of my TV.

Angelica on multiple viewings of this episode: This was the third viewing of this episode (2x standard version, 1x alternate version)...interesting that now I have three separate memories around this episode, watched under very similar conditions...same place, same company, same time of day (although this time sandwiches were missing)...since one never remembers the same story twice in exactly the same way (whether viewed, read, heard, told or self-experienced) and since I have three experiences of this one story (and many more if other episode nights are counted), it is likely that around each viewing I will, at different times, have variations of crisp and polished memories of each evening...ones I can hear and I can feel and remember the before and remember the after...and alternate more murky, more hushed, less familiar versions in which there are parts that don't belong and others that fade just out of grasp. It all just depends on which tape I happen to put in at that moment.

The Prisoner: episode 06: The General

Dave's Side: the unusual toy hand that reaches from a vague black box to take an under-explained token - this is representative of the entire episode upon first viewing. i admit i was perplexed. i didn't know what was coming at me, where it came from, or what some things were for. like the little Village token, i was lost. i have a feeling that the second viewing will yield better comprehension. i don't underestimate the effect of fatigue either - then, as now, i was suffering from the effect of a draining cavalcade of vocation-related events. so, i will re-review this one, and for now, here's to the prisoner and to escape. be seeing you.

Dave's Side (take two) - okay, i really like this episode. maybe it was the extra attention i gave it (even compared to some first viewings), or maybe it was the day around the viewing (relaxed, full, devoid of time worries). or maybe it's just likable. i found it charming. there were many scenes that i was glad to revisit, such as the artists' garden, the electrical outage, the beach scenes, the barely acknowledged bust collection... yes, much of the episode was artistic, haunting... and the hypnosis and black-out transitions were experimental - i found them remarkable. there was a nice reveal at the end (though a weak bit of philosophy responding to it) and a tragic outcome for he who may have been a trustworthy co-conspirator for Number 6. my thoughts are a little disjointed (still) on this review, but i will place some credit for that in the hands of the professor and his eerie, hypnotic gaze.

Angelica's Side: leaving my update for an entire week was a mistake...but a few things have stuck with me and so, a few thoughts on what seeped into my memory and stayed there. I don't actually remember much about Speedlearn nor the Professor nor the General. What has stuck with me and what I am most curious to understand more about on second viewing is the new Number 12. Who is he? Why does he want to help Number 6 (or why does he want Number 6 to help him)? Is he acting alone or are there others? What exactly is his plan beyond destroying the General? Will there be others like him to follow?

Angelica's Side (take two): I followed this episode much better on second viewing and liked getting another peek at the inner workings of the village...new spaces, new processes, new machinery, new attitudes. While on my first viewing I was very much drawn to Number 12 (and still was this time), the Professor got a good share of my attention (and sympathy) this time - more so than Number 6 who seemed much more able to hold his own in this episode. On second watching I thought more about the consequences of the General being destroyed...what systems might depend on his answers, what other technology depended on his computations...seems that a few episodes on, the disappearance of the General hasn't actually resulted in much. All seems to be functioning as normal and the inhabitants seem to be blissfully going about their lives without any Speedlearn to fill up their brains. I wonder, will we begin to see a crack in the system? Or will the episodes continued to only be loosely tied together, but not entirely dependent on each other? Either way, I'm captivated. I want more Prisoner. Soon.

sandwiches: round 06: blueberry jam theme

Tonight's theme deviated from the normal path......no battle this evening, but simply enjoying the result of an afternoon of blueberry jam making. Tonight's sandwiches were meant to showcase the jam:

-Blueberry jam and cream cheese on white

-Blueberry jam and cream cheese on brown

-Blueberry jam solo on buckwheat











AS: While I missed the duel, I liked the simplicity of the evening and the simplicity of only two sandwich ingredients. The jam was outstanding, the cream cheese the perfect accompaniment. All three were lovely. What more can I say?

DM: Another perfect evening, surrounded by a fantastic adventure, i might add. i agree that the duel was missed, mainly because there was less diversity on the table, but the spirit of collaboration was serendipitously timed with our viewing episode Number Six; our protagonist needs some collaboration and nearly had some this time around.

The Prisoner: episode 05a: Schizoid Man

Dave's half:

i will likely beat Angelica to this point: another woman introduced who reinforces the pattern: women cannot be trusted. well, no one in the Village can be, but always there is the plot devise of the hopeful consort who in the end betrays Number 6.

the series continues to foray into territory that requires an open mind. this time, telepathy. i wonder how far they may ask us to move out on that limb.

i saw a few possible endings to this one, at least in terms of who was who and how they switched. was it all in his head? was Number 6 actually Number 12 after all?? my imagination was well engaged by this episode. in the end, a simpler answer was true. and unfortunately so was the answer to the question: how will Number 6 fail to escape this time? i dare say that the answer was overly simple, and overall i thought that the characterization of Number 6 as being overly verbose was out of line with previous episodes. still, it was a notably emotional ride for that last 5 minutes - i really wanted Number 6 to get a little farther from the Village!

i was happy with this episode. and the title on the VHS cover might be the only one with a special (fractured) font. that gets points in my book.

vvvvv^^^^^

Angelica's half:

There's just no way to go wrong with double the Patrick McGoohan...a fantastic unfolding of who is pretending to be who and who is actually who (bonus points for the reverse jacket!). I like that over the past few episodes there has been a shifting focus slightly more towards character than action and information than escape (all though all elements continue to be there). The prisoner is settling in for a much lengthier stay than anticipated and we may as well learn something more about him the meantime - in this episode, learning what he isn't at first to reveal what he is.

I haven't entirely given up on hoping Number 6 will actually get out of the village in an upcoming episode, but for now I am happy to be curious as to how he isn't going to get away this time.

As for the female characters...it's not that they can't be trusted that frustrates me somewhat (it's true, no one, really, can be trusted in the village), it's that we we haven't seen one yet stand up to the village ways. Sure, some are clearly fully committed to being deceptive, but a few do express reservation about what they are being forced to do and/or regret what they have been convinced to...but it stops there with these characters and that's what's frustrating. Maybe I'm asking too much, but I am still hoping that a strong and trustworthy female will appear who will speak her mind.

sandwiches: round 05a: O/D theme

For this round of sandwiches, we re-presented episode 5 since we both evidently fell asleep a few times during its first airing. O/D means "Origin Destination" (thanks, AS). And in this case, we are referring to Number 6's travel origin (England) and the place to which we suspect he intented to travel before being surreptitiously spirited away to the Village (as seen in a carefully packed photograph in the show's opening montage).

The Sides: Swiss Farmers Sausage, Pomegranate Blueberry Lime Spritzer

Sandwich Making Soundtrack: tropical tunes

iiiiiiiiin this corner...

Dave's P?B&Bw/B* Sandwich (*Mystery Butter & Bacon with Banana).
Hailing from Britain, greasy bacon, salted and drenched with flavour. From various tropical locales, red bananas: not too soft, and bursting with banana goodness. And from arguably both origin and destination, various nuts smashed into a creamy spread. Surrounding this triple threat is one toasted and one untoasted piece of [rice bread].


Judge Dave says: "Well, frankly, i was a little disappointed in the way the bacon performed. While the banana came on strong and the mystery butter contributed to some classic-fantastic two-punch combos, the bacon seemed like it was still in the corner waiting to hear the bell. 'What happened to the bacon?' i ask! (And i wasn't the only one asking, i assure you.) This bout could have been something special with two competitors coming from their own divisions with big-time hype. Unfortunately, that's not what the fans got tonight. This match was decided in the first round, and the only mystery about this sandwich is how it even got this title shot."

Judge Angelica says "The much hyped bacon failed to show up to the match tonight...there wasn't anything exactly wrong with this sandwich (and indeed, it was an entirely pleasant sandwich), but it lacked edge that its visual appeal projected. Solid work on the part of the mystery butter and the banana, but could the bacon have simply been too refined? A little more crunch, a little more salt and dare I say it, a little more fat, could have made a difference. However, still a most enjoyable intro to a classic that never made it into my childhood lunchbox."

aaaaand in this corner...

Angelica's London to Lost Mediterranean (from the UK, full fat cream
cheese, apricot Stilton and hearty green onion; from sunnier climates lime rind/juice, Mission figs and lean prosciutto; pepper from origins unknown, all colliding on double toasted brown rice soda bread; tropical umbrellas - blue for Dave, yellow for me)

Judge Dave says: "Wow! Now here's a fighter! Multi-threat, complex combinations! It's got touch and it's got power;
___floats like a butterfly,
___stings like a bee -
___a talent like this
___coulda taken Ali.
I'm impressed. Way impressed. Tonight's match-up was one marked by incongruities, i'll give you, but from what i could see, this sandwich could go the distance with any contender currently active in the WSP Division. Really, i want to say a little more about this, but let's hear from Judge Angelica first."

Judge Angelica says: "For a last minute inspiration in the fruit isle, a much unexpected taste explosion, even for its creator. This sandwich had its act together and knew when and where to step up - the sweetness of the figs, the tartness of the lime, the sharpness of the onion, the smoothness of the cheeses and the delicateness of the prosciutto all knew their place. And together...well, it was solid teamwork and a tough contender to beat. It most definitely earned its place relaxing under tropical umbrellas."

The Final Score:

AS: London to Lost Mediterranean breezes ahead and claims the championship (but I'm waiting for P?B&Bw/B to make its comeback).

DM: Was it lack of physical ability or mental game tonight? i don't know, the fans don't know, and i don't think the sandwich knows. We're talking about P?B&Bw/B, we're talking about heartbreak, and we're talking about London to Lost Mediterranean taking this battle and leaving the champion. And maybe we're talking about the seeds of a Cinderella comeback tale.

The Prisoner: episode 05: Schizoid Man

DM: Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..................*

*not meaning boring; i actually fell asleep for most of this episode!

AS: I might have fallen asleep for a few key scenes too...