The Prisoner finally Escapes...

Patrick McGoohan, of "The Prisoner" series fame, is dead at age 80.

I really hate doing this. I don’t care much for writing some posthumous reference to a dear old actor who offered some of the most challenging, pioneering shows in TV history. That series was simply called "The Prisoner."

I thought he was a pretty sprightly guy for his age and expected him to be around for a longer time. But it didn’t happen. And we’re left in the world still stuck with absolute morons like Rush Limbaugh or Bill O’Rielly waiting in the sidelines to spring like jumping vultures on President Obama if he screws up. The conservatives are such a sporting bunch.

But this isn’t politics. It’s entertainment. And McGoohan, along with George Markstein, created what might be one of the most entertaining shows that muses on philosophy. Some of the things he poses in this series puts it at least thirty years ahead of its time.

This Prisoner series was already talking about things like numbers, credit cards, identity theft, indoctrination, out of control machineries… the anonymity of everything. His greatest fear was losing individuality to the threat of a growing society where numbers became crucial names to people. His biggest worry was the lost of free thought.

Pretty fantastic stuff for a series that only lasted seventeen episodes. But he only wanted for it to run a short time. With an ending in mind for the series. Not only that, McGoohan wrote the final episode with all the answers caged in his mind. He’s brought all the secrets of the Prisoner to his grave.

Someone asked me in referring to McGoohan’s death, “Did number Two get him or did Number Six finally escape?”

That’s a pretty good question. I say he does escape. From life.

I’m sure fans of the series will be debating that one for ages to come. But we’ll never know for sure. And I think McGoohan will be chuckling, even in death, about how the people are still debating over it. He’s got an odd sense of humor.

But his fame didn’t start with the Prisoner series. None of it was even conceived by the time McGoohan took to fame with his first successful series “Danger Man,” streaming into the early sixties on American television. You might not know it by the original name. But most folks hereabouts remember it as “Secret Agent Man” with its lively, pop tune peformed by Johnny Rivers that blazes through your head.

It wasn’t enough for McGoohan however. He wanted something more creative, far-reaching when he put the secret agent success behind him. McGoohan was considered the highest rated actor at the height of the 1960s. For a time, his name was almost everywhere.

But he had one little idea he was set on. He visited on the Welsh border where the reefs and different architecture of the Portmeirion in North Wales caught his eyes. The idea of the Prisoner began to form his head as he placed several different possible stories in this strange commodity. Several buildings looked rather surreal in the right kind of atmosphere.

"I thought it was an extraordinary place," McGoohan said.

Couldn't be more aptly put.

He wanted to set “The Prisoner” series there and he got it. His name was well known at the time. He had the credibility of his prior success to support a crazy idea like this.

And it was crazy.

Screwed up, really. But brilliant.

For seventeen episodes, we are ushered into a world where spies retire to a place called “The Village,” people of different numbers. There is no escape, only relaxation. It was supposed to be a paradise where people with pertinent information would go. Just relax. We have no choice as we are pulled into this blunt, different world where the rules were foreign. Everything was okay as long as you cooperate.

But if you didn’t, then it’s only fair game to the authorities. They’ll get their information no matter what. Through drugs, mind control, anything. Nothing was sacred to the authorities. There's even a giant balloon named Rover that goes around dragging people back if they try to escape the Village.

McGoohan played a man named Number Six who resigned from his position in government during the cold war, but he had some important information tucked away in his head. Throughout the series, the authorities tried every way to extract this information and came close to killing him at times. But Number Six often turned the tables on him. There was never a straight answer. But the closest answer we have received was this: “I resigned… for a peace of mind.”

The authorities were played by several different actors in the position of Number Two, the chief administrator. Every episode seems to have a different Number Two. This reflects the ever changing authorities in the working world… that different authorities are often replaced. Much like what is happening in the real world today. The constant turnovers.

The series offered an amazing creative formation of episodes. The concepts were often thrust through the lightweight entertainment… but there was often a more serious implications in the series. The question of individuality is slowly losing its grip. The final episode is the most damning one of them all… where none of the questions were answered. The audiences were not happy. And McGoohan had to leave his home on a holiday knowing that people would be very cross with him.

But he delighted in arguments. He was a very confrontational man as seen in interviews. Beneath the collected façade of his features laid a very thoughtful man.

We may never know the answers to his most famous series “The Prisoner.”

But we can still have a lot of fun with it. I would recommend the A&E series run as they placed all the episodes in the chronological order according to Number Six’s progress and personality. At beginning of the series, he is more of a caged animal wanting to get out. But later on, remaining stoic, he learns to play checkmate with the authorities. I have too many favorite episodes in the series though I did like “Free for All,” “Schizoid Man” and a few of the final episodes.

Not only McGoohan acted, but directed, produced and wrote some of the episodes. Even came up with whistling the tune of the series title music. Apparently the guy couldn't sleep.

McGoohan is no longer with us. But his trademark series “The Prisoner” is… leaving behind a remarkable achievement that few were able to bring to television. This is his one greatest achievement and pride. And they are available to all of us through DVD releases. It is a gem in popular television and more imporantly science fiction.

Watch this series and you might find yourself scratching your head. I do envy you, the first time viewers, to discover this world of spies and prisons.

Be seeing you.

The Effect of Mass Effect

I don’t play video games often. I’m not one of the sharp-shooter types, the skillful ones that can plow through a modern game at the speed of light and finish it in time for a cup of coffee. That’s not me. I suppose that’s something of a relief.

However, given that I do own a X-box 360, a newer, more advanced version of the previous model, did allow for me to venture into getting a few games… though I’m not a gaming addict. But there is one game that comes closest to converting me into one.

Slanted as the first part of a three portion story series, Mass Effect takes a very science fiction approach to the video concept and ideas that takes place in the twenty-second century with some very surprising results. A good story for this helps a lot. And some of the best acting to be inputted into a game despite everyone looking like 3-D animatrics. No, this game makes a serious attempt at forging some of the best elements of science fiction.

One of the best things is the idea of mass effect that creates, for this game, the interstellar travel needed to make crossing the entire galaxy possible. (Using the device called mass relays). A sort of different version of a black hole. This is advanced technology discovered from an ancient race that had apparently died out. Leaving traces of their technological feats for the human race to use for their further exploring the cosmos.

But not all is it seems.

One of the Specters, an interstellar police force, has gone rogue. And his defecting has created a number of problems. The biggest issues is the possibility of raising an aged-old species called the Reapers which were guilty of genocide of several other races before they died out as well. The story does become a chase from one side of the galaxy to the other in search of this villainous Specter who has good intentions… but they are at fault. And would cost the lives of countless people if he isn’t stop.

That job is left to you as you play the character of Shepherd. A war hero, a loner, this spirited one who must take up the ranks of the best of human qualities. You can create your own character by mapping out all the features, using male or female, whatever race suits you. But the character is yours. And the story is yours to command.

If you think the story is complicated, wait until the rest of the side-quests and plot that takes a turn around every corner. There are a few nice surprises.

Since this game is created by Bio Ware Co. who are also responsible for the great development of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, you can also steer your character into basic good or evil. Light or dark. Whichever way you go, the story becomes a personal one, a journey for you to follow. Because there were so many crappy Star Wars games out there, Bio Ware had the difficulty of creating one of the best remembered, and beloved, games in video game history. So good that it should be considered part of the Star Wars mythos.

But Bio Ware did not disappoint when it came to Mass Effect. Far from it. They have created a game of originality and much action that you believe you were actually playing a movie.

I created a woman character for my game. I’m a goody two shoes as well, so I made her a decent sort of person with the high ground. But you can give your character any background which isn’t just for color. Your background can effect parts of the story later on. You can play a solider or a biotech which is a magician type in the story as they use science as a way to resolve issues. (By throwing, stasis, shields, etc.).

Even Seth Green contributed a voice for a long-enduring character throughout the game as the hotshot pilot Joker who takes you through various different locations on the ship SSV Normandy. Other science fiction veterans who voices the game are Lance Henrickson and Marina Sirtus. Even your own character speaks throughout the game. That wasn’t done in the other SWKOTOR games. So there are some nice added features.

One of the more interesting aspects is the moral decision you have to make as a commander. I don’t believe I’m throwing away any of the story when I say you have to decide the fate of two of your own characters: only one of them can come out of it alive. So you have to take that 50/50 decision. It’s a difficult choice to make. Especially if you like both of the characters who support you with loyalty.

The graphics are nothing short of amazing. With awe-inspiring visuals that gives it a very contemporary, Hollywood magic feel to it… there’s a feeling that you’re part of the history making, becoming a part of the story that veers towards greatness. The total hours of game playing if played straight through would be around 15 hours. But if played with everything involved, you can play the game for approximately 40 hours. That’s a lot to contribute a part of your life. But it’s worth it in the end. Particularly when you can make the end results different for every play.

Be sure to play the romantic side of the story. It’s worth getting into and helps to weave yet another complex layer to the story. Since I played a woman a character during my tenure in this game, I decided to experiment a little bit. And gave her some lesbian tendencies. This never happened in a game before to my knowledge. So I thought that was very untraditional for a video game of this caliber. Though you can also go for the straight, traditional man and woman relationship which would be all right too.

Mass Effect brings around a chance to bring something explosive, cosmic to their game, as if they are adding on more masterful paint strokes to their large picture. Yet, this is simply only part of a broader design. And it makes you think are far they are thinking into this game. Mass Effect is only hitting its second part of the story for the middle of this summer. And you may be jumping in for a pretty big ride. The story telling and playability of these games make it a worthy effort.

Science fiction has gotten a whole lot cooler these days.

New, New Doctor

Doctor Who is on the rebound again.

With a different actor be joining the ranks at the start of 2010, we’ll be waiting for another year before we find out how the new ideas and concepts of new show runner Stephen Moffat would coincide with a brand new Doctor.

I am at my seat's edge like a lot of people are. There's worry for us too as to how the television series is shaping up. Every few years, there's a chance for a different actor to step into the part to bring his own qualities. See it as a kind of James Bond of science fiction.

I’ve already some concerns for the new casting which still befuddles my thoughts. Most people (including myself) have wanted either a black actor or a woman to get into role of the Doctor and create some different dramatic conflicts within the series’ parameters. Throwing a black man into the part would certain heighten some interesting possibilities. It could make for some interesting interracial conflict as well. (Imagine a black Doctor Who in the middle of the Civil War).

However, on the Saturday evening in the previous weekend, the BBC News announced that the next actor to take over the reigns of the world famous time traveler would be a relatively unknown actor Matt Smith.

Who? Exactly.

He’s fairly a fresh face on the television screens with a few credits behind him already and played a large role in the Sally Lockhart mysteries alongside with Billie Piper about a modern-day woman solving crimes of violence in the still Victorian era England. They’re pretty decent stories written by Philip Pullman of the Golden Compass fame.

Though, admittedly enough, when first viewing these TV films nearly a half a year ago, nothing came to my mind regarding Matt Smith’s performance in the stories. He’s a likable guy in there, very funny, with a pretty good cockney accent to boot. But I never did for once stand up and point out, “Yeah, there’s our next Doctor Who! I can see him in the part!” I never that gut reaction when seeing these movies. I have to admit that I thought the other guy J.J. Feild who played Piper’s love interest would have been more of Doctorish material.

Of course, it could be a different reaction when it came to the writer and producer Piers Wenger searching for the next actor to play the part when they were hosting the auditions. Perhaps Smith did come across better to them and found himself a center stage when winning that role.
There’s a couple of things.

His age. He’s pretty far young to play the part at the age of 26... making him the youngest actor to be tackling with the famous role. That’s a pretty hefty weight to put on a younger man’s shoulders particularly with all the show’s history that came before him. But they said that Smith brought a uniqueness to the part that would be very good. We’ll see. Right now, I am reserving any opinions before I can actually see him in the part… and hopefully will like him in the part. But he’s awful young.

I can only make certain guesses as to why he was picked for the part. Number one, the current incumbent David Tennant, who is the tenth actor to play the role, has a huge female fan base. There are many women viewers who like him for his boyish charm and good looks. I’m sure the television series like Doctor Who wouldn’t want to lose such a huge fan base. So they pick someone who may chalk up to the same qualities Tennant had in the part, being younger, fresher, like a schoolboy with some teacher qualities about him.

Number two, I’m still interested as to why so many other possibilities were ignored for the sake of keeping a very traditional Doctor in the house… he’s still very white and also English. So there’s no black actor in the part now. Nor a woman which could have make some interesting changes. Even other probabilities… I thought they might consider someone like Sean Pertwee simply due to the well-known name… his father had already been the third actor to play the famous role. (And Sean looks remarkably like his dad). So I was a little surprised when he didn’t get picked for the part. I think everyone was surprised at the choice. I think all of us remain a little taken back by the eventual choice of the actor Matt Smith.

So many actors, so little time.

Finding a younger actor like this, in my mind, could mean that the actor could stick around a little longer than three years this time, giving him a lot of exposure to the rest of the viewing audiences. It could be a good thing for someone who is relatively known to the world. Then again, we had already one unknown in the part of Doctor Who… goes by the name of Tom Baker. And look how well that went with an unprecentated seven years and still the holding record for the longest stay on the series. So perhaps it’s not a bad thing.

But I’ll reserve my thoughts and opinions until the actual show begins. It’s better that way. I don’t want to make any judgments that would be unfair. And Moffat is writing for the series with a number of literary awards under his belt… that’s good news to have a writer of immense stature. And now we’ll have an actor who will hopefully rise above the average to capture the stirring writer’s vision. Perhaps the collaboration will be a good one. I hope so.

Join us once again with the time traveler’s exploits as he ventures into the wonderful and creative world of Doctor Who. With some exciting possibilities waiting for us, new stories to lure us with the imagination. And I can only hope that this change will be a good one.