Once Upon A Time
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Content warnings for: alcohol abuse, motor accidents, psychological manipulation, nervous breakdowns A clash of wills! A favorite Number Two returns to put the screws to Number Six. Will the secrets of the spy's resignation be revealed with regression therapy? What will reveal about Six's life - or McGoohan's? Who really IS Six in this scenario, anyway? Learn all this and more as we go back to school in ONCE UPON A TIME. Send your questions to ! Next time: FALL OUT. --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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The Girl Who was Death
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Sometimes, when The Prisoner plays with the format of the show, it produces some interesting results - results that can give you a new lens with which to view the show. Sometimes it results in an episode like this one - a spy farce with uneven budget, odd performances, and even odder costume choices. Join us to find out how Number Six deals with THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH Next time: ONCE UPON A TIME. --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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Living in Harmony
The Prisoner's Dilemma
The Prisoner! You know, the show about spies. Right? Or is the spy story simply one context of many? A genre that serves to surround the tale, a medium that serves to surface the message - that any of us might be made prisoners at any time, any where? Maybe even in a place far from here, in the frontier, where the might made right at the end of a shiny revolver. Join us for a trip to the old West in LIVING IN HARMONY. Next time: THE GIRL WHO WAS DEATH. --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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BONUS - Ice Station Zebra
The Prisoner's Dilemma
An American nuclear sub... A sky full of Russian paratroopers... a race for the secrets buried in the Arctic! In 1968, McGoohan was already looking ahead to what would happen beyond the Prisoner. Would military thrillers of Hollywood lie in his future? Would the spy that he'd played so well for so long translate to the big screen? Judge with us as we watch ICE STATION ZEBRA. Next time: LIVING IN HARMONY --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
The Prisoner's Dilemma
What happens to The Prisoner when you take Patrick McGoohan out of the equation? Has he used his power as auteur and leading man to create the scaffolding necessary to drive the show forward in his absence? Or does everything devolve into a form familiar for the era, where spies, ciphers, and sloppy kisses are the order of the day? Find out in the globe-trotting carnival that is DO NOT FORSAKE ME OH MY DARLING. Next time: ICE STATION ZEBRA --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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A Change of Mind
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Content warnings for lobotomies, aversion therapy I can't stand a podcast that doesn't know how to make a decent description. A lesson: The premise, rinsed out. Tease the plot, always. Now, the details: one for me, one for thee, one for the SEO, one for luck. Boiling interest, let stand for one moment - pour the milk, won't you? - cup, saucer, sugar, pour: A CHANGE OF MIND. Next time: DO NOT FORSAKE ME OH MY DARLING --- Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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It's Your Funeral
The Prisoner's Dilemma
Someone's going to assassinate you! I know, it sounds crazy, but you must believe me! A stranger told me about it! Now, I know that doesn't sound super credible, but I had my hands on the bomb itself! What? No, I didn't do anything with the bomb. Why would I? Look, if you don't want to believe me, that's fine. After all .... IT'S YOUR FUNERAL. Next time: A CHANGE OF MIND. Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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BONUS - Columbo w/Nic Tringali
The Prisoner's Dilemma
We take a break from McGoohan's most iconic work to examine the television that he'd be most known for in his later career: playing murderous villains in the murder mystery series COLUMBO, opposite Peter Falk as the scruffy, awkward, eponymous detective. Nic Tringali ( @nictringali.bsky.social ) joins us to talk about what makes the show work, how McGoohan's touch can be felt, and the price of cheese. Episodes watched: Identity Crisis, Agenda for Murder, and Ashes to Ashes Next time: IT'S YOUR FUNERAL Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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Hammer into Anvil w/Michael Hansen
The Prisoner's Dilemma
We often joke that it's a Number 2's greatest ambition to get Number 6. You know, to REALLY get him. But what if ... just this once ... it was Number 6 who was doing the getting? What might that reveal about this strange little place we call the Village? Find out as Michael Hansen (@modality.bsky.social) joins for HAMMER INTO ANVIL. Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
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Checkmate w/Em
The Prisoner's Dilemma
This week, Number 6 gives up the solo-secret-agent act in favor of being a battlefield commander: a strategist who moves his pieces across the board, anticipates his enemy's moves, and lays traps to ensure victory. But who is he playing against, really? Em from Abnormal Mapping () join us to decide who's making moves in CHECKMATE! Music by Devin Nelson. Art by Si Sweetman.
info_outlineWe take a break from McGoohan's most iconic work to examine the television that he'd be most known for in his later career: playing murderous villains in the murder mystery series COLUMBO, opposite Peter Falk as the scruffy, awkward, eponymous detective. Nic Tringali ( @nictringali.bsky.social ) joins us to talk about what makes the show work, how McGoohan's touch can be felt, and the price of cheese.
Episodes watched: Identity Crisis, Agenda for Murder, and Ashes to Ashes
Next time: IT'S YOUR FUNERAL
http://the-prisoners-dilemma.com
Music by Devin Nelson. http://devindecibel.bandcamp.com
Art by Si Sweetman. https://sifsweetman.carrd.co/