AMC's The Prisoner: Anvil/Darling
The plot thickens! The second third of the series adds a lot of intrigue, plenty of confusion, and a few things that reinforce that this is, indeed, The Prisoner.
SPOILERS FOLLOW!
AMC got most of those important fan references out of the way in the first two episodes, and while there were a few little nods in this set (did you see the bike at the club?), most of this was all newness.
The names of these episodes actually come from two of the most memorable episodes of the old series: "Hammer Into Anvil" and "Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling". Both of the new episodes touch on the main themes of these old episodes, but deviate into their own territory after that.
"Anvil" is about Six attempting to beat Two at his own game... to use the resources in the village to his advantage. Of course, for McGoohan's classic Six, this went flawlessly and he won... he always won, in the end. In the AMC version, we find out that Six and Two are not the only players in this game. The new version of the Village is full of crosses and double crosses. This episode plays up the notion of the Surveillance State... the comforts and fears we all have with regard to being seen. There was a bit of 1984 in this episodes, a bit of Truman Show, and of course, a freaky weird sequence involving dogs, Rover, and a tunnel full of grubby "patients".
Was any of it real? Who knows! It's The Prisoner!
"Darling" dove deeper into the notion that there is absolutely nothing in The Village that anyone can trust. Betrayal abounds, Six is repeatedly drugged (a classic staple), and crazy science is introduced to the story (another staple). This episode shows a very human side to Six, just like the classic series' counterpart (even though McGoohan was not playing Six in this episode).
The highlight of this episode, for me, was the reveal at the end, that indeed Lucy had been brought to the village to trick Six. This is a big thing for me, as I wasn't sure from the first third of the AMC series if they were going to make The Village into some sort of dream world. No one gave any inkling, aside from their dreams, that there truly was an "elsewhere". Lucy admits that she was recruited by Two for his plans.
What does this mean for the final act? Well, the very last scene in "Darling" makes me think it has everything to do with Two's wife. Of course... it's meant to.
I'm starting to feel sad that this is a six episode series. Yesterday I was glad it was, but now I know that after tomorrow night, I'm going to want more of this series.
LiLi I'm the one that you don't see, Who watches you so cautiously, The one, Who loves you silently, I'm always one glance behind, I'm on the outskirts of your life, But you don't notice me , When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile, When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile , I'm the one just out of view, I'm the one you're looking thru, So close, And yet so far from you, I'm a portrait still unveiled Unrealized and frail, A girl, Who's scared to fail , When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile, When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile , Oh yeah I'm invisible, I'm vulnerable to you, Oh yeah tell me what I need to say, need to do , Oh when will I catch your gaze, Every look leaves me more amazed By you, With you I melt away, One moment is all it takes, To change your life to change your fate, And I deserve one leap of faith , When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile, When you smile, smile, smile uh huh, And in your eyes I know I don't exist, Can't resist, When I see you smile .