So I watched the first episode of the show tonight, and I am going to take several paragraphs and muse over it! This remake came to my attention due to my realizing that Mad Men (a show I have wanted to check out...much like the Tudors...) is an AMC show, NOT a HBO show. I then dug around looking at the new original programming AMC has been producing since their format shift, and I noticed "The Prisoner".
As someone who *was* a fan of Lost (Pretty much until Daniel Faraday hit the beach), I had heard the show criticized for essentially being a re-pitched The Prisoner. So, I was mildly curious. THEN, I saw a commercial for some epic movie starring Jim Cavizeal and Ian Mckellan. Said movie was the "series premiere" of The Prisoner!
I then found out it was on TONIGHT, so I made SURE to come home straight after work to watch it. Despite being a little tired while watching it, I was very impressed.
I think I may have seen some of the original YEARS ago, but then again, it may just be the pop culture references triggering false memory (The bubbles, etc). The show is AWASH in philosophical questions, many of which are subtle underlying textures, others which are more overt. I noticed a degree of criticism of psychology, the treatment of the mentally ill, the concept of "norms", closed-systems of belief (AKA, religions, cults, fascism, etc). I also noticed a strange reference to Scientology, one whose existence or lack thereof in the original series I am curious about. The "talking cure" REALLY had strong Dianetic/Auditing overtones to me, and the second "doctor" really gave an ominous tone to the whole proceedings.
I loved the towers, and personally, I cannot imagine being in that situation, feeling like you are the only sane person alive, and NOT doing everything you can to get to those towers. I hope that unlike Lost, that The Prisoner will *deliver* on some of it's mystery, and not just introduce more and more mystery, until you forget about the old mysteries, and the characters killed off due to contract disputes instead of proper plot development.
What's even more interesting is that this show really has a "big budget" feel. I cannot recall a movie in recent memory with such a richness of color and tone in its cinematography. Seeing Ian Mckellan on the small screen is just hard to believe at times, though I suppose the 6-episodes total to 4.5 hours, which I believe is just around half of the length of the Fellowship of the Ring Extended edition! ;)
What's also interesting is the fact that AMC is showing the ENTIRE miniseries over 3 nights. Two episodes per night, with what appears to be replays on the 15th and 16th, but not 17th, and then its’ done. I really wish I had taped this, though judging by the cheap price of the Mad Men DVD seasons, perhaps this will have a reasonable $25-$30 price tag as well.
I definitely consider this the most interesting show on TV right now, followed by the V remake, and it's "event television" for me from now until Wednesday! Now I just need to STAY OFF wikipedia until 12 eastern Wednesday night!!

Just a couple of things, Mad Men DVDs aren't particularly cheap, they are priced on the ball park of most television shows that are not HBO or BBC shows. The fact that it is being shown in three days in a row is not that strange for a mini series, that way you don't have to advertise for it as much, and you keep people watching while the interest is still high.
I was pretty pumped to watch it, but after tonight I am not as excited, I may watch it tomorrow if I don't have too much work, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if I missed it. And the amount of times that JC passes out in the desert in the first episode made me laugh.
And on a final note, I know that you never make mistakes and are never wrong like you've said several times on this forum, but belief is a noun, you may have wanted to use believe in the sixth paragraph, just saying.

My mother has been telling me to watch V, and I didn't believe it was good.
This series definitely sounds intriguing, and after being betrayed time and time again by Lost, I'm ready for a quality piece of work. The bits of psychology in Lost were my favorite part of that show - I am excited to see what you're talking about in regards to The Prisoner. Mad Men is fantastic, but that's really the only show I've had for some time now. I will check out V, and nab this series when it comes out on disc. Hopefully it will see a Blu-Ray release, assuming it is shot with quality equipment.

People still have cable?

I will never watch anything even remotely like Lost ever again. That show almost turned me off television entirely.
Mad Men is a great price at $30 Canadan a season. Most TV shows in my area are $50 a season, except the old fox shows, and several Showtime short-season shows.
BTW, of course I never make mistakes, since I am always right, except when I don't want to be. I find it hilarious that you took the time to post that however, I do like hearing from my fans.
You KNOW V was shot digitally. Have you seen the first 2 episodes? VERY big-budget in feel.

How are Mad Men DVDs $0 Canadian a season? sign me up! And it's good that we entertain each other, thats how healthy relationships are built. Also on V, is it that good? I have been meaning to check it out but haven't had the time.

I need to stop typing after 1 am....
That being said, V is good, though there could be said to be a thinly veiled attakc on the Obama administration embedded. But of course, he *is* the antichrist, right?

re: V
The script's been in the can since the Dubya administration. Incidentally it's a remake of a great (Reagan-era, if memory serves) mini-series and the subsequent ongoing TV show.
I think you're reading too much into it, though I've seen other people make similar assumptions. The evil empire and aliens with evil intentions are part and parcel of sci-fi (see: To Serve Man?, Star Wars, Foundation, etc, etc.) Especially popular during the Cold War era in short stories. IMO, we'll probably see more of it as a result of the War on Terror.

Yeah, it's a little known fact. On The Prisoner, how did you feel about tonight's 2 episodes? Personally I liked them, when I started watching tonight I was actually questioning why I was even bothering, but when the fourth one ended I was more like "awesome blossom!"

I am of two minds on "day 2" of "The Prisoner". I thought it used too much of that incessant Lost-style "flashforward" or whatever it is. I stuck with it, though several plot points seemed to delevop too fast. Lucy is a VERY interesting character no matter how you put it. I find myself more interested in 6's resignation in his past(?) life. I want to know what he found out!
I am still interested in the show, most definitely, and I still find it very refreshing, and superbly acted, but I am confused. I believe that is the point of the show however. Hopefully, unlike Lost, things will get meaningfully resolved.
Well, regardless of what a remake is based on, or when it was written, it is very easy to alter the tone to reflect contemporary issues with clever edits. And of course, there is the well-known fact that shows about the past or future are always about the present, even if not intended as such.

Haha, confused indeed. But the difference is that last night I was confused and didn't really give a shit, and tonight I was confused but interested in what will happen to the characters.

In the end I really liked, the first two episodes were ok, but last night it picked up, and today it was pretty awesome.

Ok. The series is over. So, I was on to something with my mental illness thread...the comatose wife has created the village in her subconscious, and other people who were found by the surveillance company go along for the ride, and are "fixed". First Jim Caviziel, then Mckellan, and finally 313 have their real-life version come in, since the representations in the village are their consciences/subconsciouses.
And the kid is a dream, and dies since the mother does, and theres nothing to sustain him, and then 313 replaces the mother..and 6 replaces 2....aaaaaannnnnddddd I am completely lost.
Back to the Outer Limits it is!
3/5 for style.

Agreed, I am very confused, yet somewhat satisfied with it all.

I am satisfied, but I won't watch it again or buy it on DVD. I also gave up on V.