Diary of a Prisoner Virgin – Information: by hook or by crook … or by breakfast?

(Episode 2 – “Free for All”)

So early in the game, this is where things get really strange, and I’m not talking about the show content itself. The DVD set has this set as the second episode, whereas the “real” second episode — the one that aired on television — was “Chimes of Big Ben,” which doesn’t come for several more episodes on the DVDs. So, I decided to take the DVD set route and watch “Free for All” first. I’m not sure yet if it was the right choice.

Apparently this episode was always meant to be the second episode in the series, though it still appears somewhat out of line with how things ended in the first episode. For example, Number Six so easily sits down for breakfast with Number Two, as if it’s some kind of a temporary truce and they had been getting along so well for so long already:

Number Six: “I will not give you information! Who is Number One? I want out of this place! I hate you all! I hate it here! GET ME OUT!”
Number Two: “Breakfast! One egg or two?”
Number Six: “Ooo! I’ll take two, please.”

Alright, it didn’t quite go down that way, but it’s the impression I got. I’m guessing it’s partly the English way of doing things, and it’s just something I need to get used to.

We get a real sense of what the heads of The Village will do to extract information from Number Six, along with manipulating him into the fake election for a new Number Two, as if winning it means he’ll get answers as to what The Village is, why he’s there and how to get out. What I don’t understand, though, is why Six thinks Number One will have any more answers than Number Two. He doesn’t know who Number Two is, really, so what makes him think knowing Number One’s identity will help at all?

Another big theme in this episode was how the media is portrayed in that they print whatever the hell they want, and fast. What Six says as “no comment” isn’t ever treated that way by the Tally Ho.

Some interesting clues from this episode:

• Is Number Six “afraid of himself?” I take that to mean he’s afraid of the information he has and what it would mean, should they be able to get it out of him.
• Apparently Number Six does not drink alcohol and makes a point of mentioning that. Will that be significant later, or is it just to highlight that he wants a clear mind at all times, so as not to be intimidated to reveal the sensitive information he has in his noggin?

(Episode 3 – “Dance of the Dead”)

Another episode aired out of order, which was quite confusing due to the presence of a new Number Two so soon, where we were just introduced to a new one in “Free for All!” It appears that each Number Two has his or her own method for dealing with Six, and this one is particularly sneaky and always seems one step ahead of him.

What I liked in this episode was a great illustration of Six’s quick thinking when he finds the body washed up on the shore. The show is quickly moving along to show that Six is working his way to finding some escape from The Village, not allowing himself to become too comfortable with the notion of having to stay imprisoned there. What I didn’t understand, though, was why he did nothing to hide the radio he found on the body. He just whipped it out in broad daylight and allowed Number Two to see it. Six works in very mysterious ways, I tell ya.

Something else I found interesting was how each episode opens the same way, with the whole opening sequence to “Arrival.” I didn’t really make note of that until this episode, but I wonder if it’s significant or if it’s simply just the way they want to open each episode, from what happened before? They make it appear as though this is happening every day.

The central theme in this episode was the incredible mind games The Village heads are playing with not only Number Six, but all of the others there. Where we see them trying to manipulate Six into providing the information through a mind-controlled Roland Walter Dutton was creepy as hell and really sets the tone for the rest of the series: what information is Six keeping that the Village wants so badly? The idea of manipulating someone into beliving they are in a different locale and talking to legitimate people in order to extract information out of them has been borrowed by several other TV shows and movies.

One thing I’m having a hard time getting over is the horrible music in this show. I get that it’s the ’60s, but holy crap is it awful. I’m letting this and other small gripes of mine pass, though, since I really do want to follow along and try to figure out what’s going on and what will happen.

Past posts: Episode 1

Clacked by Keith McDuffee
on Jun 08, 2009 @ 17:00 EST5EDT