15 Sci-fi TV Shows That Ended Too Soon
2. The Prisoner
The Beginning:
Don’t get folks started on how The Prisoner was conceived; there’s one school of thought out there that it was British writer come journalist George Markstein who came up with the concept, during the filming of Danger Man.
While other sources cite the aforementioned show’s star, Patrick McGoohan, as putting pen to paper on this one. As it stands, the eerily brilliant show has no 'created by’ credit.
Whatever noodle it came from, the result was a show that although only lasting seventeen episodes, had a major impact on the counterculture of its time (the sixties), had plenty of iconic images (Portmeirion, the balls!) and shaped the science fiction genre into something that could be thought-provoking as well as thrilling.
The End:
McGoohan had always envisaged The Prisoner being almost a miniseries affair and it was only at the urging of a colleague that he stretched the series out, resulting in a speedy writing session to get the final episodes written.
Come the cancellation, any plans for a series showing Number Six on the lamb were squished like a Rover had landed on them.
Still, the show is constantly topping polls for the best and most successful sci-fi shows ever and is still being brought back to life in re-launches, comic books and audio stories.