The Prisoner/Recap
As is apropos for a series that makes the Mind Screw 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'.[1]
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.
- Arrival
- The Chimes of Big Ben
- A, B and C
- Free For All
- The Schizoid Man
- The General
- Many Happy Returns
- Dance of the Dead
- Checkmate
- Hammer Into Anvil
- It's Your Funeral
- A Change of Mind
- Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
- Living in Harmony
- The Girl Who Was Death
- Once Upon a Time
- 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.
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.
- Arrival
- Dance of the Dead
- Checkmate
- The Chimes of Big Ben
- Free For All
- Many Happy Returns
- The Schizoid Man
- The General
- A, B and C
- Living in Harmony
- It's Your Funeral
- Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
- A Change of Mind
- Hammer Into Anvil
- The Girl Who Was Death
- Once Upon a Time
- 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.
- Arrival
- Dance of the Dead
- Checkmate
- The Chimes of Big Ben
- Free For All
- A, B and C
- The General
- The Schizoid Man
- Many Happy Returns
- It's Your Funeral
- A Change of Mind
- Hammer Into Anvil
- Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
- Living in Harmony
- The Girl Who Was Death
- Once Upon a Time
- Fall Out
- Back to The Prisoner
- ↑ But not Patrick McGoohan's list, which leaves 'The Girl Who Was Death' off the list altogether.