I Am (Not) a Number: Decoding The Prisoner by Alex Cox

I Am (Not) a Number: Decoding The Prisoner Reviews

• 
  Jim Dooley

  A very short book, but quite a good one for fans of the original television series, THE PRISONER. The writer sets forth on the task of “decoding” the secrets of a series that has baffled aficionados for decades. His approach is remarkably simple ... watch the episodes in the order in which they were filmed, not the reshuffling that went on afterwards for broadcast.
  
  At first blush, this would seem to be too easy. However, the writer has a very valid point. How much more difficult is it to decipher a challenging series that demands viewer attention when the episodes are shown out of sequence? (The enigmatic Patrick McGoohan as star, producer and occasional writer and director always maintained that all of the answers you seek about THE PRISONER are contained within the episodes!)
  
  For the most part, these were not stand alone episodes. They did provide answers when taken in sequence and, while I don’t agree entirely with Alex Cox’s interpretations (he tends to dismiss as anomalies those moments that don’t support his position regarding The Prisoner’s profession), he really did open my eyes to things I’d completely missed even after multiple viewings (albeit out of sequence).
  
  The sole argument I have with his approach of watching in filmed order is placing the episode, Once Upon A Time, in position 6 of the total 17 episodes instead of in its traditional position as the penultimate episode. For me, it is obviously designed to set up the final episode and really makes no sense appearing much earlier in the sequence. Otherwise, the clarity watching in filmed order adds to the series is amazing.
  
  There are other books that detail the goings-on behind-the-scenes of the series and you’ll need to read one of them for a more thorough understanding of the turmoil that was present. Incidents are mentioned in this book, but do not go into much depth.
  
  Every once in a while, a television series is mentioned as being transformative and elevating television into the realm of Art. I’ve heard this said of DOWNTON ABBEY and THE SOPRANOS, although TWIN PEAKS is usually the most universally acclaimed title for that distinction. Before them all, though, was THE PRISONER. Those of us who watched it when it was first broadcast (minus one episode that the networks thought didn’t fit) realized that we were witnessing something unlike anything we’d ever seen before. It was ... and still is ... amazing to watch.
• 
  Santi

  After reading some reviews, I was aware that this was a less-than-accomplished book on The Prisoner. But I had thoroughly enjoyed Alex Cox' previous book "10,000 ways to die," a wonderful story of the spaghetti western, so I decided to give it a go. The book turned out as I expected: a very estimulating but very flawed take on the series. Exactly like Cox's filmography.
  
  The best part of the book is that it decides to ignore completely the fandom and the countless amateurish literature that it has generated, with its libertarian slant and its hagiographies of McGoohan. Alex Cox is out there to question EVERYTHING, even that Number 6 was a spy. Kudos for acknowledging the role of casting director, Rose Tobias Shaw, basically the only woman in the production crew.
  
  The worst part of the book is that, despite this great rejection, it is full of inaccuracies inherited from other texts (such as that McGoohan's pen name for the script of "Free for all" was taken from a Herman Hesse novel). Also, his theories do not stand any minor scrutiny. And when the evidence is overwhelming against them, Cox distorts the facts. Also, the book sometimes reads as an old man's rant on modern television. More importantly, the book is articulated as a sequence of rather factual episode summaries. Something useful in the 80s but unnecessary in the 21st century when The Prisoner is readily available.
  
  So, if you are a Prisoner completist or you are fed up with the fandom, its infighting and the cult of McGoohan, this book will interest you. If you are new to the series, read Fairclough's guide instead. If you look for a deeper analysis, go for Stevens and Moore or the French book by Ducher and Philibert.
• 
  Daniel Cornwall

  A very plausible and well thought out take on the surreal 1960s series The Prisoner. Lacks footnotes or a bibliography but contains enough clues to track down sources for his descriptions of what happened on the set.
  
  Mr Cox writes up the episodes in production order, as stated by call sheets he located. An episode synopsis with production notes is followed by a statement on what that episode tells us about the Prisoner.
  
  The last chapter presents his conclusions on who runs the Village, the profession of Number 6, and the identity of Number 1. All plausible.
  
  If you're a fan, definitely worth reading. I'm intending to rewatch the series in his suggested order.
  
  Be seeing you
• 
  Willy Boy

  I find myself at odds with many of Cox's conclusions, but the book was great fun - it had the feel of a spirited, friendly debate between fans of the great series, which is as it should be. His points are still well argued and worthy of consideration.
• 
  Richard Howard

  Like the author I first saw 'The Prisoner' when I was barely a teenager and, like him, was enthralled, bemused and amazed. When it became available on DVD I bought the box set and binge-watched it. Although, by modern standards, the sets are often creaky and the acting rather wooden, it still retains its ability to intrigue. The final episode is still maddeningly unclear, though Alex Cox does provide reasons why that may be so. I did not know that the episodes had been shown out of production order and will watch them again in the order he suggests. I don't know if I buy into his final analysis. To me the genius of 'The Prisoner' was that it encouraged multiple interpretations with its weird, surreal, Kafka-esque blend of terror and whimsy. I do remember how 'Rover' terrified me as a child though.
• 
  Sean McCloy

  Alex Cox offers his own interpretation of Patrick McGoohan's celebrated 1960s TV series 'The Prisoner' in this excellent book. 'I Am (Not) A Number' is a thrilling guide to what remains possibly the biggest enigma ever delivered to the viewing public via cathode ray tube. Cox's enthusiasm for his subject is clear throughout, but he's also clear-eyed about the occasional creative shortcomings of the show. And as you turn the final page, you may well find it hard to disagree that 'The Prisoner' presents a prophetic vision of our contemporary surveillance society.
• 
  Aaron Button

  An interesting take on one of the single greatest tv shows ever produced. Too bad it reads like an old LiveJournal entry penned at 3 in the morning after having binged all 17 episodes alongside a case of Stroh’s.
• 
  Jeremy Bagai

  Really? The director of Repo Man puts out a Prisoner fan-theory / episode guide? How odd.
  
  The episode summaries are pretty good. Accurate, well written, engaging tone. But . . . they're episode summaries. Does the world need a new set of Prisoner episode summaries? I would think not.
  
  Then comes the theory of the case, the Alex-Cox-branded interpretation of the surreal, metaphorical, allegorical, self-contradictory fantasia known as The Prisoner. And it's all of three pages. And it's pretty silly. I won't give it away in its entirety, but I will share this: He takes the series literally. All of it. If all this really happened, exactly as depicted, what kind of job must the prisoner have had prior to this series?
  
  Which is quite possibly the exact least-interesting question I could ever dream up about this eternally fascinating show.
  
  You can't take the show literally. I recall trying to when I was fourteen: "But how could Number 2 have learned the secret code from Number 12 in time to take over the helicopter while Number 6 is flying it?" And I recall watching again in my twenties and thinking to myself, "Oh, of course. It's an allegorical, self-contradictory fantasia constructed by a team of creators with wildly differing views on what they were creating. One can reflect on what the show attempts and achieves, the union of theme and design, and the prescience of its dystopian vison of information technology . . . but you certainly can't take it literally. That would be like critiquing the plot of a Rothko." I thought to myself.
  
  Alex Cox had a different thought.
• 
  Colin

  This is a personal interpretation of this celebrated UK TV series from the 1960s. Alex Cox offers a brief precis of each episode, given in the order in which the programmes were made, as opposed to their order of first broadcast. In Mr Cox's opinion, this provides a greater clue as to what the programme was actually about and provides an explanation as to who No 6 is, who No 1 is and where The Village is situated.
  
  I will not spoil the thesis by disclosing it here. Suffice to say that while it is plausible, I think it relies too much on the final episode, which in my opinion was scrappy, self-indulgent and had an air of improvisation.
  
  What this book is good at is offering an interesting and perceptive account of how the series was made and the strengths and weaknesses of individual episodes.
  
  The book is an useful and provocative companion to the series. It does not entirely overcome the view that The Prisoner was a triumph of style over substance. For all that, it remains a great piece of television. It was a period piece which still commands interest and respect. Mr Cox reflects this and so for fans of the genre, this will be a stimulating assessment.
• 
  Roger Gates

  I came late to The Prisoner, but I'm a huge fan. This book has lots of interesting theories and was fun to read, but I'm not sure about there being any great plan behind the series or the individual characters. It always seemed to me like the product of a lot of behind-the-scenes television production problems and something that was very quickly careering out of control due to various factors. But it became a great series in spite of these factors. I was also uncertain about the reappearance of certain actors in different roles having any real significance. This used to happen a lot in 60s series like this (Donald Sutherland appeared in 'Man in a Suitcase' playing two different characters, for example). I'm surprised, considering the 'Is Number Six John Drake or not?' arguments throughout the book, that Alex Cox failed to mention that the actor playing the batsman in The Girl Who Was Death was called John Drake!
• 
  Yiorgos Adamopoulos

  If you've ever watched the Prisoner, this book is a guide that can help you re-watch it and maybe sort out some of the issues you might have with this series. Especially if you've watched it decades after the 60s when it was shot. It does the following things:
  
  - It suggests a proper viewing order
  - It offers a theory on who Number 6 is
  - It offers a theory on who Number 1 is
  - It has more information on every episode than you ever wanted to know
  
  I know there are sites and other books dedicated to the series, and I will tell you that at times the book might bore you out if you're not in the film industry, but then again it could be that some episodes are with issues and it tries its best to interpret them.
  
  All in all, if you ever loved the idea behind the Prisoner, this books serves to uphold your feelings about the show and renew your interest.
• 
  Robert

  Well worth checking out if you're a fan of the show and/or of Alex Cox's movie writings... he examines the show in production order (the order in which the episodes were shot & yet another 'proper' way to view this show) and does make some good points, although I suspect there's some deliberate trolling thrown in at the end to keep people on their toes. Be seeing you...
• 
  Stan Pedzick

  An episode by episode break down of the TV show The Prisoner. Dealing with the theories of what things were supposed to mean, what the writers, directors and of course McGoohan thought it all meant.
  
  A quick but good read for anyone that watched it.
• 
  Kieran McAndrew

  'The Prisoner' was a highly influential genre breaking television series. Alex Cox takes his readers back through the series in an attempt to unpick some of the great mysteries which continue to surround this storyline.
• 
  Ben Tedds

  Mostly a summary of the episodes, with a little behind the scenes info and some speculation. Nevertheless, interesting tidbits and a convincing conclusion, providing an agreeable literal meaning to the show in parallel to its allegorical one.
• 
  Wilson

  I am not convinced by Alex Cox's thesis on The Prisoner, but the writing is very readable.
• 
  John Bleasdale

  I’m a big fan of the prisoner but Alex Cox’s decoding is an okay interpretation rather than a revelation. He writes well but the episode by episode pace drags.
• 
  Kyle Burley

  Alex Cox's examination of the great cult, TV series is an enjoyable read but, his interpretations should definitely be taken with a grain of salt. Recommended for fans of the show.
• 
  Thomas Molesky

  I love "The Prisoner" - I read everything I can about it. This was one of the better books written about it, and from the creator of REPO MAN!!!!
• 
  Anthony

  Interesting and clear deciphering of this classic British 60s series. Enjoyed the read.Be Seeing You.
• 
  Mike Gonzalez

  23
• 
  Elizabeth

  Pick up later. Too much else to read now.
• 
  Miguel Arsénio

  I love Alex Cox ("Repo man" is brilliant), but I'm not exactly sure about why he wrote a book which basically consists of summaries of the series' episodes.
• 
  J Grimsey

  Watched each episode on DVD and then read the chapter. Enjoyed this process but would have liked to see the complete second series.