Patrick McGoohan - The Prisoner (x-post amazon)

The basic concept of The Prisoner, and most parts of its execution is done really well. The premise of "lone man versus closed society" is functional, and for its time it must have been rather novel. And the allegories visible throughout the episodes in relation to everyday life in ordinary society are good, relevant and thought-provoking. The problem manifests (for me) rather late in the series, but as episode followed episode the nerve of the series seemed to taper off, leaving me less and less interested in the workings of both the village and the organization. These appeared also to be shoved to the back a little as the series went on, in order to focus on less and less plausible scenarios. < If the show had been more thorough in its conspiratorial leanings towards the end i would've been more positive. As it is, it has some wonderful insights into the nature of society and the individual, and the interactions between the two. It also brilliantly conveys the power struggle between the two by extrapolating to the near absurd setting with which we are presented. Some really powerful ideas and moments that will stay with me for the rest of my life occur within. Anybody who at a time in their life feels themselves at odds with society, and during that period watches this series, is bound to encounter their own important moments, allegories and ideas. Very few series manage to do this, so this is really one of the best.