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.