The Prisoner - Dance of the Dead

Episode Name: Dance of the Dead
Original Air Date: November 17 1967
TV Airing Order: 8
KTEH Airing Order: 2
Summary - Number Six tries to save an old friend headed for destruction at the hands of the Village.

Dance of the Dead marks the first time that the KTEH ordering deviates from the original TV airing, and as such I was nervous as to how well this whole episode shuffling business would work. I suppose I am simply used to modern shows with strict continuity and cannonical underpinnings (not to say that The Prisoner is marred by any lack of this strictness). In any case, I'd say it worked out pretty well on a whole, save for the first five or so minutes. The first thing to throw me off was the modified introduction, which apparently will be used from here on out. After that, we are treated to scenes that suggest that the leaders of The Village have been continuously experimenting on Number 6, and that he has grown rather accustomed to his new place in life. This is quickly shattered when he eventually reacts to a situation in his home by saying "I'm new here". From here on out, he once again begins to act like a newcomer, someone who doesn't know all the answers and believes that his escape is all but guaranteed. If you shrug off the opening scene as being a bit of In Media Res storytelling, you can see that shifting this episode to the 2 slot is a smart move. I can't imagine that the original second episode would fare better (though I'll find out two episodes from now!)

Another reason why this is a good ordering choice is the sheer crudeness of the scheming. Number 6 is still relying on little to no planning in his escape attempts, and Number 2 and crew try again to use a woman to spy on him (which didn't work out too well the first time). Both sides appear to be underestimating each other, but that notion is thrown away once the Carnival begins. The Village Carnival is the focus of the episode, and it is important for several reasons. First, it gives us more insight into the villagers themselves. We learn that they actually ordered to have fun during the festivities, though every time this happens, the looks on their faces are anything but cheery. I'm not sure if this was an intentional bit of direction, but the villagers react to the Carnival with a kind of indifference that borders on sadness. I won't go so far as to say that they are all unhappy with their lot in life, but they certainly look broken. There's no real happiness here, only orders to do one thing or another, which they carry out without question.

But their tone changes dramatically at the end of the party, when Number 2 and crew reveal just how quickly they learn from their mistakes. Number 6 is put on trial for breaking an important rule, which is a bit surprising considering he broke it right in front of 2 and his Observer. Apparently is wasn't going to go unpunished. In fact, the trial is over almost when it begins. 6 is found guilty of his crimes, and his sentence is death by the people. The result throws the villagers into a frenzy. They immediately go from gloominess to sheer joy, as they form a mob that happily chases Number 6 through the Town Hall, every one of them eager to kill him. The trial is also strange in that his Observer servers as his prosecution, even though we see just how much she regrets the idea of 6 being slain. No matter what she feels, she still must obey her commands. They way both she and the other citizens change their tone on a dime is creepy as hell, and shows just how powerful the rulers of the Village are.

But it isn't even the strongest example. 6 doesn't die, of course, but he is only saved due to Number 2, who takes one of 6's rescue attempts and uses it to fake his death. At first, I thought this scene brought everything together, but after a few days I changed my mind. On one hand, it is chilling to realize that the people in control of 6 are also his main protection. Yet the ending doesn't make sense. If the villagers are told that he is dead, surely they will realize that he is walking around afterward. And reversing the sentence would never happen. The only solution to this plot hole that I can think of is that their minds are so flexible that they can quickly be convinced that everything is alright sometime later, and that the whole exercise was meant to remind 6 of just how screwed he is.

In the last post, I mentioned how I was looking for that episode that would hook me in, and Dance of the Dead was it. Despite the oddball ending, it showed the twisted, trippier side of the Village, and ended with the feeling of hopelessness that I was waiting for. All I could think of at the end was that I needed to see just what else they would try on Number 2, as well as whether or not he would change his tactics. We'll have to wait for Episode 3 to see what happens.

Be seeing you...