Number 6 was a Plant: Fall Out and Conclusion
The introduction to this series of posts considering the theory that Number 6 didn't really resign and is a 'plant' in the Village may be read here: https://culttvblog.substack.com/p/number-6-was-a-plant-introduction
Fall Out
Of course you will have guessed that I've hit the same problem with Fall Out and the 'plant' theory that I previously found with The Schizoid Man, namely that the entire episode is barmy, which makes it virtually impossible to squeeze into a sensible idea like Number 6 being a plant.
The only scenario in which it would fit the idea of Number 6 being a plant (hear me out here, this would work) would be if Number 6 was put into the Village by somebody else, blew the whistle, and Fall Out was an incredibly stoned enquiry into what was going on. I say this because of the themes of conformity and disobedience, which could explain why the Village went off the rails so far. But as I say you would have to be smoking some very strong stuff to go down that route.
I think the part where Number 6 is free to go because he is the only good individual, spoils the show somewhat. Not to beat about the bush, I have always thought Fall Out a very unsatisfying end to the series, and it is absolutely maddening the way it essentially just tells him that he is It so there's no point anything continuing. It leaves too many threads not tied up: the connections with UK and international governments, and so on.
Conclusions
My conclusions, as you've probably guessed, are that the idea that Number 6 was a plant does fit the series, but doesn't fit all of the episodes. That said, I find that I have said this about every theory about this show and I think this conclusion necessarily reflects that there are several different shows going on here. It is simply impossible for one explanation to fit a show which incorporates science fiction, allegory, spying, and so on.
Frankly, the main thing that going through this show several times following different understandings has given me, is that they are all applicable in various ways and I'm convinced that the show is not intended to be understood in a single way. In support of this I would suggest the way that Patrick McGoohan tended to contradict every question about the show in interviews would suggest he intended it to be an enigma. And of course we have the disagreement with Markstein, who definitely only had one understanding in mind.
I have been surprised to find that what the 'plant' theory does is bring out the nature of Number 6's previous work, brings out various chilling truths about human nature and behaviour, and centres on Number 6's own possible responsibility for the atrocities of the Village. In this reading Number 6 has knowledge inside him, but it isn't to be extracted, he needs to use it himself to sabotage the Village and bring the reality to the attention of the world.
I have also been struck as I have watched the show this time in the similarity between the Village and a cult (this may simply be because I've been listening to a lot of podcasts about cults recently). The closed, controlled world, with its own rituals, and demonisation of outsiders, are particularly cult-like features. Although I think the modern idea of a cult was in its infancy in the 1960s, this may be a way I will consider the show in the future. I am still considering a series of posts about different viewing orders but obviously that idea is a bit daunting.
Watching through the show this time has been an interesting and invigorating experience, and brought all sorts of new insights.
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