The Prisoner

Author: Patrick Mcgoohan, George Markstein

The Prisoner is something of an enigma. Influencing everything from Twin Peaks to LOST, it told the story of a secret agent kidnapped and held on a really weird island. We're as lost as to what's really happening as our hero is, but we have the advantage of watching the story told through beautiful costuming, wonderfully wacky storytelling, and terrifying moments featuring a giant floating balloon. A strange series that's never really died off. Part of that is the strange combination of futuristic concepts such as mind control and super-security, while mixing with elements of the past with the way people dress and speak. The combination is somewhat disturbing. There've been re-makes, comic books, references in other media ranging from The Simpsons to V for Vendetta, it's cut a major path through popular culture, but more so, it's a tightly written, brilliantly paced, and endlessly re-watchable. It has everything you need for a science fiction television masterpiece. Why it's on the list: You can watch it and never have a single question answered, but at the same time, you don't really mind!