Just wanted to give my thoughts on how similar the things the Others are doing to the Losties are to way Number 6 is treated in the 60s show "The Prisoner".

Jack's predicament reminds me of the way they often tried to get a female on the island to gain Number 6's trust, when really they were a spy all along. As others have said, maybe its a similar thing with Karl (btw, anyone else think it odd that Sawker called him by name in the preview, but in the ep didn't find out his name till later on, probably an editing thing.)


They encouraged him to be creative and use his mind, but only in ways that suit Number 1, reminds me of Saywer's tests a bit. Perhaps the thing with Karl was to set it up so they feel like they've escaped only for them to realise that there is no escape (to crush their thoughts of escape)

In Prisoner, 6 was given lots of comforts and was treated to a breakfast with no.2 each morning, where he would be given food in the hopes that he would be more cooperative. Perhaps they're trying something similar with Kate? And Jack for that matter.

It seems to me that they are using isolation, tempatation, information = rewards, feelings for others and plants to try and break the Losties. These were all used in Prisoner.
I imagine future tactics would be to try and get them used to life in the Others camp, and to try and take on a new identity (specifically Kate).

Sorry if I'm rambling but do you think there are similarities there?

Yes, I agree with you. I picked up on a few of those but what I got out of it was that same... feeling. It just felt like The Prisoner in some parts/ways. :)

In Arrival #6 was told that his clothes were burned, just like what happened with Kate.

"That would be telling" type statement from TomZeke when he was talking to Kate.

I'd love it if Sawyer said "Be seeing you" and did that little wave thing No.6 did. :D

I know what you mean, I've thought about it myself sometimes. There are a lot of similarities between 'Lost' and 'The Prisoner'. Just some I've thought of:

The Island = The Village
Survivors = The Prisoners
The Others = The Warders
Benry = Number 2
'Him' = Number 1
The Monster = Rover
'Namaste' = 'Be seeing you'

I'm sure there are other ones I haven't thought of.

I had started a thread in the theories forum on exactly this subject. I like some of the observations here. The Prisoner often had breakfast and tea with #2. I suspect that the offer of coffee was a substitute for tea.

Another big similarity is the isolation. The Village on The Prisoner was accessible only by boat or helicopter (the last episode where they simply drove out of it through a tunnel near London notwithstanding). I was surprised to see that Othersville is located away from the water. You would think it would be on the ocean to be more easily resupplied, but that would also make it easier for people to escape. I think we can assume that only those with permission can leave to go to the hatches and other places on the island.

Sorry to spam, but here's the rest of my post from the other thread:

Othersville is definitely taking on the vibe of The Village in '60s TV show The Prisoner for me. First, it has an outward pleasantness that masks a very sinister purpose.

I read elsewhere speculation that the names of the Others seem to be fake. It's the way they say them. And when was the last time you met a "Juliette" instead of a "Julie"? If that's true then this would correspond to the practice in The Village of giving each new arrival a number to be used instead of their real name.

Then there is the fact that each of the new arrivals were drugged and and two of them woke up alone. This is just what happened to The Prisoner when he woke up in The Village. We know they were all blindfolded before, so why not just bring them to their respective places awake, but blindfolded?

At the start of each Prisoner episode, #2 states that they "want information", but it is evident that what they really want is to break the spirit of The Prisoner. That's clearly what is going on here.

I suspect that like many of the people in The Village, many of the Others arrived unwillingly and had their spirit broken. It would help explain Juliette's choice of the song "Downtown" which is about going to a big city and maybe finding love, something unlikely to happen in Othersville. It may be significant that Petula Clark is British and The Prisoner was a British TV show.

I agree that Ben is the Othersville's #2. He appears to hold great power, but does anyone think he's really the top man? We don't know who #1 really is. It could be Alvar Hanso or the DeGroot's, but Hanso would be over 80 years old. The Hanso Foundation site lists several excutive vice Presidents. It could be one of them too.

To be sure, there are big differences. The Prisoner woke up in very nice surroundings and had a fair degree of freedom though he was under constant surveillance.
100%
In The Prisoner, #6 eventually learns that direct confrontation is useless. He eventually destroys The Village by learning to master it. There is a scene in "Hammer Into Anville" where #6 grabs the handlebars of the penny-farthing bicycle that clearly symbolizes this.

Wouldn't it be great if Michael and Walt get all the way back to the states, then mount a rescue operation, and then just as they are flying over the island to direct the team of Delta Force rescuers, they are ejected and float back down to the island on Widmore parachutes. Many Happy Returns, Michael.

The Prisoner is a huge influence on this show. Who is good? Who is bad? WHo is in charge? Even the specific similarities mentioned in this post are too startling to be coincidence.

You know, Patrick McGoohan is just about the right age to play Alvar Hanso...

You know, Patrick McGoohan is just about the right age to play Alvar Hanso...

Wow! That would be awesome, wouldn't it! lol

just checking my new avatar

Thanks for the thread... this could very well be the Season of the Prisoner.

I can't remember what article it was but among JJ Abrams, Damon, Carlton and Bryan Burke one of them admitted to be a huge admirer of The Prisoner. Since so much of LOST incorporates elements from the producers' favorite shows and authors, The Prisoner should be the next one we examine with close scrutiny.

Thanks for the thread... this could very well be the Season of the Prisoner.

I can't remember what article it was but among JJ Abrams, Damon, Carlton and Bryan Burke one of them admitted to be a huge admirer of The Prisoner. Since so much of LOST incorporates elements from the producers' favorite shows and authors, The Prisoner should be the next one we examine with close scrutiny.

I'm completely not sure but I think that may have been Carlton. Seems like he mentioned this in one of the podcasts last year... hm, maybe not though. Don't quote me on any of that. ;)

It was a nod to The Prisoner that had me make mention of Number 6 under my ID. Obscure I know. But then... that's kind of fitting isn't it? :)

There have been a couple threads on The Prisoner--can we please merge them?

Just wanted to give my thoughts on how similar the things the Others are doing to the Losties are to way Number 6 is treated in the 60s show "The Prisoner".

Jack's predicament reminds me of the way they often tried to get a female on the island to gain Number 6's trust, when really they were a spy all along. As others have said, maybe its a similar thing with Karl (btw, anyone else think it odd that Sawker called him by name in the preview, but in the ep didn't find out his name till later on, probably an editing thing.)


They encouraged him to be creative and use his mind, but only in ways that suit Number 1, reminds me of Saywer's tests a bit. Perhaps the thing with Karl was to set it up so they feel like they've escaped only for them to realise that there is no escape (to crush their thoughts of escape)

In Prisoner, 6 was given lots of comforts and was treated to a breakfast with no.2 each morning, where he would be given food in the hopes that he would be more cooperative. Perhaps they're trying something similar with Kate? And Jack for that matter.

It seems to me that they are using isolation, tempatation, information = rewards, feelings for others and plants to try and break the Losties. These were all used in Prisoner.
I imagine future tactics would be to try and get them used to life in the Others camp, and to try and take on a new identity (specifically Kate).

Sorry if I'm rambling but do you think there are similarities there?

I was thinking this all week. I was at my sisters over the weekend and their internet was down so this is my first chance to post. I think I am going to get a hold of some prisoner episodes to refresh my memory. I have not watched them since 94.

I haven't seen The Prisoner but my Mum told me about it, she also watches Lost and pointed out that it reminded her of The Prisoner.
After reading the posts I Wikied The Prisoner and it seems to me that Jack is the equivilant to # 6. Kate has the potential to become an Other but only on the level of say Ms Klugh or Juliette, Sawyer is more than capable of filling say Ethan or Goodwins shoes, but Jack seems to have the professional skill and knowledge that the Other's really need.
At the end of The Prisoner # 6 met # 1( who had a chimpanzee face !!! ) this meeting took place in a hatch with a ladder ! The ? on Lockes map could be where HIM/HE hangs out. Also at some point in the show I think a cliffhanger could be Jack meeting HIM.

I brought the Other's camp and taking of Jack, Sawyer and Kate up the day after the epi aired over on the Linear Board. Eccleston of Dr.Who fame was supposed to play "the new number 6" on an updated version of The Prisoner, but it never got made. Don't forget those big rolling baloons that catch and bring the prisoner back whenever he/they tries to escape by sea!

"The Prisoner" a song by Iron Maiden that incorporates a soundbite from that show is one of my all-time favorites.