The Prisoner

I've been watching this 1960s British show via Netflix; I didn't realize its popularity in popular culture. Wikipedia names one of its major themes as "individualism versus collectivism"--ugh, this makes the entire concept of "collectivism" sound as if it's purely negative in nature. In fact, the only time I've seen that term wielded is when it's used in a pejorative sense by libertarians and other internet riff-raff (and oh yeah! Ayn Rand, woo hoo). I've only seen six of the 17 episodes so far, but I've got to say that the large floating white balloon-balls that menace the protagonist and a few other characters when they think nonconforming thoughts, the unnecessary raging at women the protagonist indulges in, and the other ridiculous details thrown in to make the time period seem more futuristic have been distracting from the allegorical meaning. I know it's there, but what I want to know now is if it really is making a political statement, then what kind? I'm guessing I shouldn't be too optimistic.