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.