Televisual British SF or fantasy

By the way, I wrote most of that post before putting in the options -- had thought that I would include maybe 15, and although I've watched some of all of these, a few here I haven't watched that much of, nor have they been that special to me as I haven't got to know that well. And I notice a typo, but rather than editing I'll say here, it's Survivors (Terry Nation's).

Utopia I've gone on a lot about at PA in the past, as it just stunned me. It can be very violent, and I found it superb. Here's the trailer:



Though actually very different, but shares certain thematic elements, for those that like it, I would recommend the Japanese 20th Century Boys film trilogy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VwAIzPweL5o

{Late EDIT to fix youtube embed as you used to be be able to do it two ways and I chose the one that no longer works}

Edited by Logan - January 03 2018 at 11:10

lazland wrote: Life on Mars, one of the finest tv shows to come out of Britain in recent years.

My wife saw the US version on TV and called me to watch thinking I'd like it. It was quite good, but then I quickly discovered the BBC original, and I loved that.

It's also been adapted for Russian TV, called The Dark Side of the Moon (apparently named thus because Pink Floyd was so much more more popular in Russia in the 70's than David Bowie).

The Prisoner

Guy Guden wrote: The Prisoner

Love the Prisoner.

Quoting myself, thus the terrible writing:

A man furiously tenders his resignation, is drugged , and wakes up in a strange and sinister place simply known as The Village. The man is numbered 6, and he is The Prisoner! *cue thunder and lightning*

Using hallucinogens, psychological conditioning, thought control, and a bevy of other coercive and experimental techniques, his “keepers” try to learn why he resigned. But while they devise schemes to break him, Number 6 plans his escape. But escape from what exactly?

The Prisoner is part sci-fi, part spy and psychological thriller, part adventure, part satire, part allegory, and altogether quite original. Symbolism, ambiguity, surrealism, existential angst, and garish costumes are some of the hallmarks of the series. Its seventeen episodes date back to the late 60’s, and whilst the plots were heavily influenced by the Cold war, its underlying themes remain relevant. It’s a very creative, symbolic, and timeless exploration of freedom and individuality; the struggles of one man against most oppressive authority, to be individual, whilst under strict surveillance. Sound familiar? Oh, did I mention that it’s also a lot of fun?

The Prisoner Motto:

“I am not a number, I am a free man!”

The Prisoner Creed:

“I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered. My life is my own!”

Guy Guden wrote: "Who are you? "The New Number 2." "Who is Number One?" "YOU ARE..."(emphasis, my own)..., Number 6."

Haha, that should come with a spoiler alert.

Just adding some more of what I wrote about the Prisoner many years ago for personal nostalgia.

"Questions are a burden to others. Answers a prison for oneself" (old Village saying).

As you watch The Prisoner you’ll notice that many questions are posed, but few clear-cut answers are given. In fact, it's most likely that you'll have far more questions than answers by the end of it (even when they seemingly offer you some sort of an answer to a long-running question, you can still expect to be baffled by it). Much is left to the viewers’ individual interpretation, and this, I believe, is one of the reasons behind its lasting success and bona fide prime cult status. Several crucial questions are asked in this intro to each episode:

No. 6: Where am I?
No. 2: In the Village.
No. 6: What do you want?
No. 2: We want information.
No. 6: Whose side are you on?
No. 2: That would be telling. We want information, information, information.
No. 6: You won't get it.
No. 2: By hook or by crook, we will.
No. 6: Who are you?
No. 2: The new Number 2.
No. 6: Who is Number 1?
No. 2: You are Number 6.
No. 6: I am not a number, I am a free man!

Where and what is The Village? Information for what purpose?
Who is Number one, and for that matter, who is Number 6?

While the prisoner’s number one question is “Who is Number One,” the major piece of information the “keepers” ask No. 6 is “Why did you resign?” Why did he resign? Why is it so important to them? And why does No. 6 under great duress refuse to answer? And who exactly are the “keepers” anyway? once again the show treats you as an individual by allowing you to draw your own conclusions..

But perhaps the most important question of all is "WHY?"* ... Now that would be telling! … but, unfortunately, that’s one question that does not compute.

"He has revolted. Resisted. Fought. Held fast. Maintained. Destroyed resistance. Overcome coercion. The right to be person, someone or individual. We applaud his private war, and concede that despite materialistic efforts, he has survived intact and secure!" (The President in Fall Out)

"Freedom is myth." (Patrick McGoohan)

Edited by Logan - May 17 2016 at 18:46

Atavachron wrote: Gerry & Sylvia always had great style, especially the live-action, those old UFOs are priceless camp.   And I remember Journey to the Far Side of the Sun [Doppelgänger] as being not bad, even a little proggie.

Agree on UFO. I haven't seen that film. Speaking of the Andersons, I just realized that I missed a really big series that I used to watch a lot: [Gonna party like it's] Space 1999 (which they created and were writers on). I forgot that it was a British production (well, and Italian co-production on the first series/ season).

Edited by Logan - May 17 2016 at 19:48

Logan wrote: And I just remembered another that I should have included as I have re-watched all of those in recent years: The Tomorrow People. That was one of my absolute faves as a child.

I like the anecdote, Guy.    I really loved The Tomorrow People. Recall now that I did include it, but accidentally edited it out when I decided to reorder things a bit.

Dean: Although not so obvious an omission for me, Children of the Stones is another I later thought of that I wish I had included. I've seen all of those. I didn't watch them as a child, but much later. I started on Sky a year or two ago, and forgot about it, but enjoyed what I saw. I think that many of these children's shows are terrific, well-written, imaginative, often well acted and conceived and do have an appeal to kids and adults alike. I highly recommend Chocky to those that haven't seen it as it's very poignant and moving, well, at least the first two series. Another later children's one I recall had some kind of spacecraft that kids found (a brown and sleek one).

For quite a long time I was looking into the children's shows as there was this scene of a pyramid that kids find from I think a British show that was stuck in my head as a child. I seem to remember the Thames theme coming up at the beginning. And no, in case anyone thinks of it,its not from the US Land of the Lost (another fave of mine when young), and it's not Chocky....

Prisoner and Blake's, though to be fair I have not watched all of these

Logan wrote: Another later children's one I recall had some kind of spacecraft that kids found (a brown and sleek one). For quite a long time I was looking into the children's shows as there was this scene of a pyramid that kids find from I think a British show that was stuck in my head as a child. I seem to remember the Thames theme coming up at the beginning.

Edited by Dean - May 18 2016 at 13:39