Ep 1. Arrival

As a newly retired spy, the protagonist of The Prisoner has come to a picturesque village off the coast of England to enjoy his peace and solitude. Unfortunately for him, this paradise soon turns out to be a trap, and he wakes up one morning to find himself held captive by an unknown and sinister mastermind.

The episode, titled "Arrival," begins with the protagonist (played by Patrick McGoohan) abruptly resigning from his job as a British intelligence agent and packing his bags for a getaway. As he drives through the idyllic countryside, he suddenly finds himself drugged and transported to the mysterious Village, where he is now known only by the number Six.

From the very beginning, the Village seems to be a surreal and unsettling place. Its inhabitants are dressed in quaintly outdated outfits, and everything seems anachronistic and out of place. Six quickly learns that he is not alone in his captivity; there are many others held prisoner in the Village, each of them branded with a number instead of a name.

The Village is run by a series of shadowy figures, all of whom seem to be in on some grand conspiracy, and Six has no idea who to trust. The most prominent of these figures is Number Two, an ever-changing role filled by a rotating cast of actors over the course of the series. In this first episode, Number Two is played by a jovial and charming actor named Guy Doleman, who lures Six into a false sense of security before quickly turning ruthless.

Throughout the episode, we see Six's attempts to escape the Village. He spends a great deal of time puzzling over its layout, devising clever schemes to outwit the guards, and even trying to short-circuit the security system. But every time he seems to be getting somewhere, he is thwarted by Number Two and his minions.

Meanwhile, Six is also dealing with the social dynamics of the Village. There are factions and cliques among the prisoners, with some more eager to collaborate with their captors than others. There's a sense that Six is a wild card in this hierarchy; he's tough, independent, and unwilling to bow down to authority.

One of the most memorable scenes of the episode is Six's interrogation by one of the Village's doctors. In this eerily clinical room, the doctor attempts to break Six down, using every psychological trick in the book to get him to reveal his secrets. But Six remains steadfast, insisting that he has nothing to tell them.

Overall, "Arrival" sets up the premise and style of the show in a compelling way. The themes of individualism, freedom, and surveillance are all front and center. The Village seems to be a metaphor for a kind of psychological prison, one in which the inhabitants are constantly manipulated and observed. And yet, Six remains a fighter, refusing to give up his identity and his autonomy even in the face of overwhelming odds.

With its trippy visuals, surreal atmosphere, and biting commentary on the nature of power, The Prisoner is a show that has stood the test of time. "Arrival" is a strong opening salvo, laying the groundwork for what promises to be a thrilling ride through one man's battle for freedom.