Anyone watch the redux? I've only seen the first two episodes thus far and feel like it's a real mixed bag. KQED here in SF ran the original series in the late '70s and it totally galvanized my friends and I, so it's been fascinating to see the reinterpretation.

Originally I thought that doing a re-imagining was the best approach. I didn't mind that the producers found a new location for The Village, even though Portmeirion in Wales has been mostly preserved to retain the look it had in the original series.

There have been quite a few clever brain teasers and interesting nods to the original series thus far, without any of them being too obvious. One exception might be the scene in the shop in the first episode, "Arrival," in which Six buys a map. If memory serves, that scene matches the same scene in the original series very closely, possibly word for word.

When is Sir Ian McKellan not great? He's great in all his roles, regardless of the quality of the film in general. I think he was the perfect choice to play "Two," and am cool with the fact that there isn't a New Number Two in each episode. His emo son and the drugged wife, I don't know, we'll see.

Mixed feelings about Jesus Caviezel as Six. While I'm trying really hard not to compare this version to the original, I've gotta say, Caviezel really lacks the "zing" and sharp self-consciousness of Patrick McGoohan, which along with the original's New Wave-influenced editing, set the tone of the show. More importantly, the original Number Six really seemed like someone with a "Secret Agent Man" past, hyper-aware, always vigilant and on his toes. By contrast, 2009's Six is full of metrosexual self-doubt, doesn't seem like the type of person who would have worked in intelligence/surveillance, and has none of that "I can play your game too" quality that was crucial to No. 6's original character, especially once the series resolved in the amazing final two episodes. In the original, when No. 6 starts using the Village's de facto farewell "be seeing you," it seems that he's asserting himself, keeping the people around him guessing about who's really in charge. In the new version, the first time Six says it, it's so completely lame ... like he's just relenting without a reason.

Those of you who've seen the full series know more than me about the mysterious towers, but at this point I'm thinking that they're a clear thematic nod to the NYC WTC towers (???) ... looming over a surveillance state (get it? get it?) But this is just a guess.

I'm also not so sure about Two living in such a grand palace of a home. This completely changes the vulnerable nature of the original No. 2s ... 2 appears to be fully in command, rather than the latest stooge of the unidentified (until the end) No. 1.

Assuming this hasn't already been discussed elsewhere at SB, what do y'all think? Was this a worthy revisitation, or does it fall flat? I'll have more to say after finishing the rest of the series.

Just watched the last one... and yes, Sir Ian is excellent in pretty much anything. They did manage to capture an appropriately creepy feel, slightly reminiscent of Kubrick. I have only a vague memory of the original, but we'll be revisiting the new ones and tracking down the old.

I have the first six episodes and trying hard not to think of the past series.
Will see it this week

My wife took me to Portmeirion.Its a pretty cool place.We didnt stay, but did the tour.Its a cross between a tv set, welsh village and trippy resort.You can stay the night in all the different coloured houses.

I really tried to like this new series, as I am quite fond of the original.
Mckellan was great but Caviezel doesn't have half the charisma that McGoohan had, so he doesn't make the character interesting enough to care about.
However, this was far better than the atrocious remake of my other favorite Bristish show, The Avengers. That movie sucked!

I tried to watch the first episode and couldn't make it through to the end.
I loved the original, and I like actor Sir Ian McKellan, but it just seemed like The English Patient meets something or other.
And the two mysterious towers seemed too 9/11 heavy.

Some works should just be left alone.
Another example, The Pink Panther with Steve Martin. Pass.

I watched the series yesterday and thought it was OK. The story seemed rushed and I think it might have been better if stretched over some more episodes.

I haven't seen the new one yet, but I also have the original series burned in my brain. I probably watched it twice growing up and once more in college with a roommate who had taped it off of PBS in high school. I really cannot see how anyone could credibly play No. 6 other than Patrick McGoohan. It seems like a lot of people don't know that he starred in a B&W show prior to "The Prisoner" called "The Secret Agent". So as an actor, he got to live out the backstory before being dropped in the Village. There really haven't been any espionage movies or TV shows in recent years that were anything other than action vehicles. McGoohan played a very cerebral character, and the original series really seemed like it took the whole Village environment just to match wits with #6.

Be seeing you.

Possible spoilers

I just saw ep1-2.
With this type of story it could have been filmed with much more pace, mysteriousness and directed a lot better.
They did spend a lot of money on the sets but too bad the characters were all shallow and found it hard to connect to them all especially 6.
Gandalf stole the show... didn't like the scene with the twin psychologists when 2 tried to manipulate them. Didn't feel genuine or scared. Thought of V for Vendetta, Matrix and Blade Runner interogation scenes were much more convincing.
Would be funny if 6 finally reaches the twin towers and find out they are in Dubai

I don't think I will watch ep 3.
Going to track down the old series now.

I couldn’t stand this remake. It completely screwed with the premise of the original series, and the over-seriousness/ponderous tone of it all made me want to wretch.

The original series at least had a sense of humor and wit. This was yet another modern re-make that has no clue how much humor and charm are a part of the original.

Whew, glad I'm not the only one. I got half-way through episode 3 and wondered "do I really want to bother with the rest?" Tired of the LOST-infused flashbacks to when Six was "Michael."

My best friend got a phone call from an old friend last week. He had turned her on to the original series when they were at college together. She worked on the new production. She called my friend to apologize to him and to tell him not to bother watching it.

The thing that kills me is that I really do think it could have been re-imagined well. Maybe I'll force myself to finish the rest. Like a fool I went and bought the whole thing instead of test-driving an episode or two. I'd rather revisit the original though.
Oh well, don't mess with the classics unless you know you're a maverick!