So, those in charge of the Village have a computer that can predict what No. 6 will be doing during the day? Why can't they use it to determine just exactly it will take to get Six to tell them what they want?
Didja notice that all the clocks in the Watchmaker's shop are each set to different times?
The reason Six tries to foil the assassination is his belief that the entire Village will be punished. Upon what is this assumption based on? Those In Charge of the Village know who the Jammers are. Surely, it is the Jammers, and the Jammers alone who will be punished. And surely, their punishmnt will be enough to dissuade the others in the Village from attempting anything like it, especially considering how much like sheep the Villagers tend to be.
The Watchmaker says the assassination will wake the Villagers out of their lethargy. So? What good will that do? They're still trapped in the Village.
No. Six goes to warn the young, blonde No. 2 of the assassination attempt. Is it just me, or does No. 2's mouth seem out of synch with the words he's saying, about the time of "Oh, the little Watchmaker..."?
In "Free For All", we're told No. 2s are elected. Elsewhere in the series the indication is that they are chosen. In this one, we're told there are "interim" No. 2s. First of all, it's kind of strange, given how long Six has been in the Village at this point in the series, that he doesn't know about "interim No. 2s". Stranger still, that in all this time, he's never met the Elder No. 2. Was he on holiday? Or temporary assignment? If No. 2 is a permanent assignment, as this ep hints, then why do we see so many different ones in the series? Are they all "interim No. 2s"?
The means of assassination is interesting. A bomb in a medallion. How powerful would the explosion have to be to kill the Elder No. 2? For some reason, I can't help wondering if the other people around Elder 2, are in danger of being blown up, or at least hit by shrapnel. If I were the younger No. 2, I would not want to be around when the bomb goes off.
And how do the Jammers know the bomb will work? Early in the ep, Six makes a big deal about the surveillace systems of the Village ("They see everything. They hear everything.") With that in mind, it's hard to imagine that the Jammers could have tested an explosive device in the Village. Much less, make it without Those In Charge of the Village being aware of it.
Six finds the Watchmaker by a flash of light. That's similiar to how Sinatra finds Laurence Harvey in The Manchurian Candidate.
After the medallion has been passed to him, the Younger No. 2 begins a dedication speech. He's reading it from his notes. I guess he knew the assassination attempt would fail. Why bother writing such a speech, if the Elder No. 2 will be murdered before the unveiling can happen, thus interrupting the Appreciation Day ceremonies?
That helicopter either wasn't that far away, or the Elder No. 2 is pretty spry for an old guy. He gets to the chopper (and starts it up), pretty damned quick, doncha think?
Be seeing you.
I think this ep might work better (and might make some more sense) if the 'retiring Number Two was Colin Gordon from The General and A.B and C. That would give some reason for the Village authorities wanting to get rid of him (primarily cos he stuffed up the General and the SpeedLearn Project). What does anyone else think?
Good thought. It would make sense and add to the series' continuity (such as it is).
Derren Nesbitt who was the young Number two is perhaps also known to war movie buffs from the Blue Max and as Gestapo Major Von Hafen in Where Eagles Dare.