This is surely one of the best endings to a tv series ever. I epecially like the mask idea when 6 pulls off the first mask to reveal a monkey one :0. Classic.

What exactly was the rocket meant to do? And is the Supervisor dead? It also seems a little far-fetched that everyone in the village can be evacuated in only a few minutes.

During the scene where Dem Bones is playing during No 48's trial and everyone is clapping to it, Identification's card falls off the bar.

When No 6, the Supervisor and the Butler enter the chamber, clapping can be heard, but the 'council''s hands aren't moving. Then there's a cut before the Supervisor puts on his mask, and suddenly they are.

When the lorry leaves the tunnel, and the people inside the truck are throwing out their guns, white cloaks etc, look to the top right of the screen, and very briefly you can see the camera crew filming down onto the road.

The shot of the sign LONDON A20 or whatever shows the grass is covered in small patches of snow. No other shot has snow in it.

I'm presently contributing after doing research on and becoming increasingly fascinated with "The Prisoner" series. To date, I'm heavily immersing myself in the late-night Friday showings of each episode on Channel 13.

What was with all the '60s pop songs playing during some rather inappropriate, unsuitable moments (e.g., the shootout at the end)?

Is the President (i.e., the man with the white wig and red robe) supposed to be the same character as the one who was Napoleon Bonaparte/Number Two in "The Girl Who Was Death"? Was Number Forty-Eight also supposed to be the same character from "Living in Harmony"? Was this return of these two actors and/or characters significant? Or perhaps even coincidental? The two respective episodes featuring these characters were, in addition to this episode, the only episodes that had Number Six fire a gun.

What was with all the judicial antics and hijinks, namely during Number Forty-Eight's calmer chortling of his defiant song? Further, what was the purpose of Number Six's humorous gestures and postures to the bobby (British police officer) near the end of the episode?

What was with the celebratory activities of Number Six, the former Number Two, and Number Forty-Eight in the car-carried prison, and how is it that Number Six so quickly came to trust the former Number Two?

The President mentions "mind, leadership, and to never forget us" comments to a newly empowered Number Six (identified as Sir), "applauded for his individual example." I am really starting to believe that the entire series was meant to occur in Number Six's mind, perhaps accounting for the show to come full circle. That is, the finale ends the way the series opening always began. Another theory would be that Number Six died and refused to go either to heaven or hell. This was and will remain his purgatory, plausibly giving reason for the door to Number Six's home opening like his door always did in the Village (different setting, same resistance to transcend to the next level).

Could Number Six have descended into madness in that mirroring Number One's maniacal expression just after Number Six lifted his mask and revealed Number One to be himself? They look at each other the same way just when the second mask is lifted, maybe signifying that Number Six has entirely stepped over the line of sanity.

This episode just did not make a whole lot of sense for me. I realize I am asking more questions than providing remarks or praises. Any input would be welcome and appreciated.

"This episode just did not make a whole lot of sense for me. I realize I am asking more questions than providing remarks or praises."

I always think this episode pretty much means whatever you want it to...look for deeper meaning, or do as I do, sit back and enjoy where it takes me.

Was it supposed to mean anything?

>>What was with all the '60s pop songs playing during some rather inappropriate, unsuitable moments (e.g., the shootout at the end)?


It was meant to convey the irony of our continual preaching of "love love love" against our destroying our fellow man.

A thought just struck me: is Number Two, who's manacled to that metal pole engulfed in white exhaust fumes and as he's being lowered into the subterranean chamber to the missile so as to be placed into that orbit tube, breaking the fourth wall when he clamors, "Be seeing you"? It was almost as if he was addressing the audience a la (SPOILER!) the ending to the Tom Cruise movie Vanilla Sky when that tech support bloke implicatively identifies the external decision panel by gesturing toward us as the camera zooms in on Tommy's face fixed also on us.

Speaking of which, what was the deal with those orbit tubes, anyway? Both Numbers Forty-Eight and Two were apparently in some type of a trance that involved, respectively, Forty-Eight endlessly humming "Dem Bones" and Two maniacally laughing. I understand it's suggested that the third empty orbit tube was intended for Number Six, which essentially invalidates all those promises by the President of Number Six's being freed or endowed with sovereignty over the Village. However, the orbit tubes were as if the only means to silence or eliminate revolt. I suppose the missile was meant to launch no matter what.

One last thing: each of the principal actors (i.e., Numbers Forty-Eight and Two) at the end of this episode are credited by their names. However, Patrick McGoohan has himself listed simply as "Prisoner" and is in fact the last name to be mentioned. Does this bear some significance? And yes, I, too, noticed that Number Six's house's door has the number one right smack there in the center. Interesting.

I got the usage of principal and principle wrong, didn't I? Dagnabbit!

No, you got it right the first time, dagnabbit

Nove, yes, you like that word, huh? I forgot where I heard it from, but it's pretty much up there with "nut-bunnies" or "neato-torpedo" (a shiny new penny for anyone who catches those references, as well as my "shiny new penny" comment).

To rectify, I'd like to correct what I said before regarding how "Prisoner" was the last name mentioned during the penultimate end credits to this episode. Leo McKern's name was actually the last name listed.

Two more observations. First, Number One had always been contacted by the yellow or red telephone or both. The red telephone on the receiving end is visible in the missile as Number Six is adjusting the launch controls. And secondly, there is a black large-roofed car that drives by the Butler, Number Six, and Number Six's car and domicile just at the end. Is that the same car seen in "Arrival," "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling," and really every episode intro save "Living in Harmony"? Something to ponder.

Here's a nit and an explanation for it.

Number 6, the Supervisor and the Butler approach a wooden door. They enter and are taken underground. The otherside of the door is made of metal and has a sign on it, "Well Come". How can the door be made of wood on side and metal on the other? Read here for the lost "Fall Out" scene and learn how :

http://www.retroweb.com/prislostscene.html

Pictures from the deleted scene are included.

Be seeing you.

I'm assuming the Village (and whoever may have been left in it) was destroyed by the rocket exhaust when it launched. The fact that the Villagers were fleeing indicates their lives were in danger. So this means two things:

A. No. 1 presumably intended to launch the rocket to send No. 48 and No. 2 into orbit as punishment for their revolt. I don't know why he couldn't just shoot them. But anyway, that means No. 1 was willing to destroy the Village. Why would he do that? Because No. 6 had defeated them somehow? All he did was survive Degree Absolute. How does that make the Village obsolete?

B. No. 6, by launching the rocket himself, apparently had no problem with killing whoever was in the Village at the time so that he could escape and kill No. 1 (who I assume was trapped in the nose cone). Strange, since he tried to save the Villagers from punishment in "It's Your Funeral."

As far as No. 1 being No. 6, perhaps this is meant to show that No. 6 is being imprisoned by people not unlike himself. Under the right conditions, he might use the same cruel methods that were employed against him. In fact, that was No. 2's hope, as mentioned in "Once Upon a Time." Perhaps at the end of the episode, when "Prisoner" appears on the screen, he is being held captive by his own dark impulses now. Maybe that explains his launching the rocket and leading a violent escape from the Village. Maybe by meeting No. 1, No. 6 freed his evil side. When they met, No. 1 began laughing maniacally, and so did No. 6.

Of course, the whole episode could be happening only in his mind. Everything happens as he might wish for it to occur: the Village honors him, requests that he lead them, he ultimately escapes (and arrives in London by road, which seems highly unlikely). The automatic door on his house could be a subconscious signal that he is still in the Village, having broken down under Degree Absolute.