Question: Weird British Mod Sixties Spy-Fi shootout: The Avengers vs. The Prisoners

[Motorik]

Do you live in an apartment decorated with Op art wall hangings?

Perhap you prance around in Saville Row suits or Mary Quant minidresses and catsuits.

Do you drive some kind of small sports car?

Are you a spy?

Do you ever find yourself in confusing situations in places with giant chessboards, optical illusions, and passageways that lead round and round in a circle and you can't get out, even using your judo skill?

If you answered yes to any of the above question then you probably feel a connection to the titans of Swinging Sixties British surreal spy shows: The Avengers and The Prisoner.

 

[Denverdave]

There can only be one correct answer.

 

[shoeless]

That's a tough choice. I was going to go "both equally", but after some consideration I gave the Avengers the nod mostly because episodes had some closure. While The Prisoner did too, to a degree, there was always the underlying question of "who is number 1". The finale of The Prisoner was pretty epic though. So in the end, maybe it really just came down to Diana Rigg.

 

[Motorik]

That's a tough choice. I was going to go "both equally", but after some consideration I gave the Avengers the nod mostly because episodes had some closure. While The Prisoner did too, to a degree, there was always the underlying question of "who is number 1". The finale of The Prisoner was pretty epic though. So in the end, maybe it really just came down to Diana Rigg.

And also there's simply more of The Avengers. The Prisoner only ran for one season, and it didn't really resolve satisfactorily and left some unanswered questions.

 

[Monson]

I'm totally into the swinging sixties aesthetics; Aston Martins and Ferrari Berlinettas, vox amps, browline glasses, Ronson lighters and slim fit suits, but I've somehow missed those shows.

 

[shoeless]

And also there's simply more of The Avengers. The Prisoner only ran for one season, and it didn't really resolve satisfactorily and left some unanswered questions.

Agreed, which also probably factored into my vote. I didn't realize The Prisoner only ran for a single season. It seemed like I watched many episodes, but I was young back then. Some might argue that the lack of resolution and unanswered questions only added to the mystique of The Prisoner.

 

[Motorik]

 

[Motorik]

I'm totally into the swinging sixties aesthetics; Aston Martins and Ferrari Berlinettas, vox amps, browline glasses, Ronson lighters and slim fit suits, but I've somehow missed those shows.

You'd like both shows, I'm sure.

 

[Pine Apple Slim]

I was a fan of Emma in like the 3rd grade.
Never saw the Prisoner.

 

[shoeless]

I was a fan of Emma in like the 3rd grade.
Never saw the Prisoner.

How do you feel about large, bouncing latex balls?

 

[yabba]

definitley the prisoner for me

 

[sunvalleylaw]

And also there's simply more of The Avengers. The Prisoner only ran for one season, and it didn't really resolve satisfactorily and left some unanswered questions.

I liked what little I saw of The Avengers when I was a kid. I was a little young, and not allowed so much. But I loved the aesthetic, etc. And for years, I owned an Alfa (well, two over the years) and totally dig the small euro 4 banger sport car vibe.

Never saw The Prisoners that I recall.

So, I guess by default, The Avengers.





EDIT: and thought it was not "Mod", and really a different thing, the one I watched most with a 60's vibe and a small sport car that I liked was "Get Smart" with that cool Sunbeam.

 

[frunobulax]

The Avengers were fun.

The Prisoner was making a Statement.

I'll watch The Prisoner if I find it on, and there's a good documentary about it on Amazon Prime called 'In My Mind'

Bonus points - I've been to Portmerion. The Village.

 

[Honkridge]

Is that Smurfco's head?

 

[LeftyTom]

Plus, the early "Avengers" were shot in black and white, lending "film noir" cred.

 

[Rick 381]

There's only one answer,

The most interesting thing about this picture is Diana Rigg said she supplied her own wardrobe for this episode. Nights at Dame Diana's house must have been, "interesting".

 

[Gary Blanchard]

I am a big fan of The Avengers, and yes, Diana Rigg; I also thought Patrick Macnee was great as Steed. The Prisoner was interesting, but The Avengers was great fun.

 

[Motorik]

The Avengers were fun.

The Prisoner was making a Statement.

I'll watch The Prisoner if I find it on, and there's a good documentary about it on Amazon Prime called 'In My Mind'

Bonus points - I've been to Portmerion. The Village.

'The Prisoner was making a Statement'. That's a great point, I think you've just cut right ot the heart of it.

When you went to Portmerion was it full of Prisoner fans? The Prisoner seems to have a fanbase who are really, really into it. I knew a guy once who used to go to a convention there, wearing the jacket.

I will check out the documentary, thanks for the tip.

EDIT: just watched that whole youtube interview. That was really interesting!

 

[Motorik]

There's only one answer,
View attachment 68563

The most interesting thing about this picture is Diana Rigg said she supplied her own wardrobe for this episode. Nights at Dame Diana's house must have been, "interesting".

I had such a crush on her when I was a kid. That info has made me like her all the more!

 

[Acadiafall]

I was too young to really remember Diana Rigg but im still going with The Avengers because of Joanne Lumley.