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The Best Episodes of The Prisoner Season 1

Every episode of The Prisoner Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of The Prisoner Season 1!

After resigning, a secret agent is abducted and taken to what looks like an idyllic village, but is really a bizarre Kafkaesque prison. His warders demand information. He gives them nothing, but only tries to escape.

Genres:DramaSci-Fi & FantasyMystery
Network:ITV1

Season 1 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "The Prisoner" season 1 is "Arrival", rated 8.4/10 from 1209 user votes. It was directed by Don Chaffey and written by David Tomblin, George Markstein. "Arrival" aired on 9/29/1967 and is rated 0.1 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "The Chimes of Big Ben".

  • Arrival
    8.4/10 1,209 votes

    #1 - Arrival

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/29/1967

    After resigning, a secret agent finds himself trapped in a bizarre prison known only as The Village.

    Director: Don Chaffey

    Writer: David Tomblin, George Markstein

  • The Chimes of Big Ben
    8.5/10 1,082 votes

    #2 - The Chimes of Big Ben

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 10/6/1967

    A new Number 8 named Nadia arrives in The Village, and together Number 6 and she plot their escape.

    Director: Don Chaffey

    Writer: Vincent Tilsley

  • A., B. and C.
    8.2/10 976 votes

    #3 - A., B. and C.

    Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/13/1967

    Number 2 believes that Number 6 resigned because he was going to sell out. Using dream manipulation, Number 2 tries to determine which one of three possible candidates Number 6 was dealing with.

    Director: Pat Jackson

    Writer: Anthony Skene

  • Free for All
    7.7/10 952 votes

    #4 - Free for All

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/20/1967

    Number 6 runs for the office of Number 2.

    Director: Patrick McGoohan

    Writer: Patrick McGoohan

  • The Schizoid Man
    8.5/10 940 votes

    #5 - The Schizoid Man

    Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/27/1967

    Number Six wakes up with a new identity. Now he's Number Twelve. Worse, Number Two asks him to impersonate someone--Number Six. But the new Number Six is more like him than he is.

    Director: Pat Jackson

    Writer: Terence Feely

  • The General
    7.6/10 863 votes

    #6 - The General

    Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 11/3/1967

    An instant learning process becomes the Village's latest fad, but Number 6 is sure that Number 2 is using it as a brain washing tool.

    Director: Peter Graham Scott

    Writer: Lewis Greifer

  • Many Happy Returns
    8.6/10 953 votes

    #7 - Many Happy Returns

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/10/1967

    Number 6 wakes up to find the Village totally deserted.

    Director: Patrick McGoohan

    Writer: Anthony Skene

  • Dance of the Dead
    7.5/10 836 votes

    #8 - Dance of the Dead

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/17/1967

    Number 6 comes across a body that has washed ashore with a radio. After sending the body back out to sea, he tries to use the radio to get rescued.

    Director: Don Chaffey

    Writer: Anthony Skene

  • Checkmate
    8.2/10 850 votes

    #9 - Checkmate

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/24/1967

    Inspired by a large chess game with people taking the place of the game pieces, Number 6 formulates a new escape plan with some compatriots.

    Director: Don Chaffey

    Writer: Gerald Kelsey

  • Hammer into Anvil
    8.6/10 910 votes

    #10 - Hammer into Anvil

    Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/1/1967

    Number 6 vows revenge and goes after a sadistic Number 2 after he drives a fellow village resident to her death.

    Director: Pat Jackson

    Writer: Roger Woddis

  • It's Your Funeral
    7.7/10 797 votes

    #11 - It's Your Funeral

    Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/8/1967

    Number Six hears of an assassination plot against Number Two, but it's the new Number Two doing all the plotting against the retiring Number Two.

    Director: Robert Asher

    Writer: Michael Cramoy

  • A Change of Mind
    7.8/10 788 votes

    #12 - A Change of Mind

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 12/15/1967

    After a brawl Number 6 is declared "unmutual" and is made to think that he has undergone "instant social treatment."

    Director: Patrick McGoohan

    Writer: Roger Parkes

  • Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling
    7.3/10 810 votes

    #13 - Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling

    Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 12/22/1967

    With his mind transferred to another body, Number 6 wakes up in his London flat and can't convince his colleagues who he is. He takes off to Austria to find the one man who can help him, the person Number 2 wants him to find.

    Director: Pat Jackson

    Writer: Vincent Tilsley

  • Living in Harmony
    7.0/10 837 votes

    #14 - Living in Harmony

    Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 12/29/1967

    Number 6 finds himself in the middle of a wild west version of his imprisonment.

    Director: David Tomblin

    Writer: David Tomblin, Ian Rakoff

  • The Girl Who Was Death
    7.2/10 849 votes

    #15 - The Girl Who Was Death

    Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 1/19/1968

    Back in London, Number 6 is trying to track down a crazed scientist who is protected by his homicidal daughter.

    Director: David Tomblin

    Writer: Terence Feely

  • Once Upon a Time
    7.7/10 839 votes

    #16 - Once Upon a Time

    Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 1/26/1968

    Because all other attempts to break Number 6 have failed, Number 2 decides to engage him in a game where one of them will end up dead.

    Director: Patrick McGoohan

    Writer: Patrick McGoohan

  • Fall Out
    7.6/10 938 votes

    #17 - Fall Out

    Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/2/1968

    After witnessing the trials of Number 2 and Number 48 and meeting the President of the Assembly, Number 6 escapes during the chaos that follows.

    Director: Patrick McGoohan

    Writer: Patrick McGoohan