The Prisoner/Recap

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  • E01 Arrival
  • E02 The Chimes of Big Ben
  • E03 A, B and C
  • E04 Free for All
  • E05 The Schizoid Man
  • E06 The General
  • E07 Many Happy Returns
  • E08 Dance of the Dead
  • E09 Checkmate
  • E10 Hammer Into Anvil
  • E11 It's Your Funeral
  • E12 A Change of Mind
  • E13 Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
  • E14 Living in Harmony
  • E15 The Girl Who Was Death
  • E16 Once Upon a Time
  • E17 Fall Out
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As is apropos for a series that elevates the Mind Screw to a work of art, there are multiple orders that are accepted by various groups] as the order that episodes of The Prisoner should be watched in. Four of those lists are given here.

The only things that are certain about the story order is that 'Arrival' is the first episode and 'Once Upon a Time' and 'Fall Out' are the final two episodes, in that order. Most lists agree that 'The Girl Who Was Death' comes immediately before 'Once Upon a Time'.

Initial UK broadcast

The order used for this list of The Prisoner episodes is the order of initial UK broadcast, also used on most DVD issues and (for simplicity) on All The Tropes. This order causes some characterisation and thematic inconsistencies.

1. Arrival
2. The Chimes of Big Ben
3. A, B and C
4. Free For All
5. The Schizoid Man
6. The General
7. Many Happy Returns
8. Dance of the Dead
9. Checkmate
10. Hammer Into Anvil
11. It's Your Funeral
12. A Change of Mind
13. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
14. Living in Harmony
15. The Girl Who Was Death
16. Once Upon a Time
17. Fall Out

Patrick McGoohan's 'Word of God'

The seven original episodes that Patrick McGoohan said 'really count'. This list does not include the filler episodes.

1. Arrival
2. Free For All
3. Dance of the Dead
4. Checkmate
5. The Chimes of Big Ben
6. Once Upon a Time
7. Fall Out

The KTEH broadcast

The order that the episodes were aired by PBS affiliate KTEH, which apparently was approved by Patrick McGoohan. The first five episodes are the same as the first five episodes on the 'Word of God' list, but are not in the same order.

1. Arrival
2. Dance of the Dead
3. Checkmate
4. The Chimes of Big Ben
5. Free For All
6. Many Happy Returns
7. The Schizoid Man
8. The General
9. A, B and C
10. Living in Harmony
11. It's Your Funeral
12. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
13. A Change of Mind
14. Hammer Into Anvil
15. The Girl Who Was Death
16. Once Upon a Time
17. Fall Out

The 'Six of One' order

The order that the fan club 'Six of One' recommends viewing the episodes. The first five episodes are the same as the first five episodes on the 'Word of God' list, and in the same order.

1. Arrival
2. Dance of the Dead
3. Checkmate
4. The Chimes of Big Ben
5. Free For All
6. A, B and C
7. The General
8. The Schizoid Man
9. Many Happy Returns
10. It's Your Funeral
11. A Change of Mind
12. Hammer Into Anvil
13. Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
14. Living in Harmony
15. The Girl Who Was Death
16. Once Upon a Time
17. Fall Out

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