Prison Break Review Blog

Written by Christian Trokey
Directed by Bobby Roth

After changing the game in a big way in the previous episode, the writers were going to have to pull things together and establish a new status quo sooner or later. This episode tossed out a few red herrings right from the start, and didn’t stop until the final frame. For an episode that could have been a letdown, this was a promising way to transition into the next phase of the season.

It seemed like the end of the previous episode would leave Michael and the Escape Squad on the run from both the Company and Homeland Security, and the beginning of the episode certainly began on that road. Between that and Self’s sudden ruthlessness, it felt like the shift would be an easy adjustment. I certainly wasn’t expecting Homeland Security to figure out Self’s true colors so quickly.

Between the possibility of a new arrangement with Homeland Security and their subsequent betrayal of the Escape Squad, what seemed to be simple became an ugly mess. To be honest, I’m not sure what kind of position Michael and the others found themselves in at the end of the episode. The Company is still looking for them, and they’re still looking to get back at Self and retrieve Scylla for their own devices, but it’s unclear whether or not they’re active fugitives from the law. (I would assume they are, but their legal status has been murky for a while.)

The bottom line appears to be this: Michael and the others must fend off the Company long enough to get Scylla back from Self and get it into the right hands. There’s no telling how long that will remain the status quo; it’s entirely possible that another twist could come along and send the story in a completely different direction. That’s what makes this episode such a success. It handles the chaos borne of Self’s betrayal so well that everything still feels within the writers’ control.

Hanging over everything is Michael’s health situation, which is probably the only plot element that demands to be resolved sooner rather than later. The last thing I want to see is a mid-season cliffhanger where Michael collapses, apparently on death’s door. It’s far too predictable, and even if the pacing of the season means that Michael has only been suffering his attacks for a few days, it’s beginning to get tedious.

It is, however, just a small part of the story, and the rest of it is working just fine. The good is far outweighing the bad. If this is the last season, then I must admit, against all expectations, that this has been one great last hurrah.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

Written by Kalinda Vasquez
Directed by Michael Switzer

Someone needs to tell the FOX promotion department that telling the audience that the last five minutes will be “shocking” is far less effective when the title of the episode is already too suggestive. It doesn’t take much to figure out that either Agent Self will be killed or circumstances will force the Escape Squad to lose his protection. Thankfully, it was a little more complicated than a simple killing.

The episode, in my opinion, was a massive example of irony. We have Michael pulling off one of his best (and most brutal) gambits yet, getting one over on the General without missing a beat, only to be completely outplayed by Agent Self on the cusp of total and final victory. Now, not only is Scylla still out there, but the Escape Squad will have the Company and Homeland Security breathing down their necks.

It’s a great plot twist, because it’s so damned infuriating. There was no chance that the war against the Company would be won this early in the season, but this really puts Michael and the gang behind the eight ball. Michael in particular has the most pressing situation. His chance to resolve his medical situation has all but disappeared.

All of which happens at the same time that T-Bag finds his chance at legitimacy dashed against the rocks. Granted, who would be stupid enough to leave automatic weapons hiding in plain sight, when they’re already sitting within reach in that nice little bag? And one would think that they would come up with a story before someone came in and asked a few basic questions. But the writers did give T-Bag that moment of regret, where he was left to wonder what might have been.

One thing I definitely like is everyone’s self awareness about themselves, individually and as a group. The task of retrieving Scylla gave them a reason and a desire to overcome differences and see the best in each other. It also gave them time to recognize what the past several months has done to change them. Michael accepts the darker side of Sara, because he too has lost much of his early innocence. Would the Michael at Fox River even recognize the Michael now on the run?

Definitely the perfect way to start off the second half of the season, and as anticipated, it should serve as the beginning of the end. One way or another, Michael is being forced to find a way to bring this to a close, once and for all. The question is whether or not he’ll live to see that end.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 3/4

Final Rating: 9/10

While traditionally “Prison Break” has saved its biggest mid-season moments for its mid-season hiatus, this season has broken a few patterns and tossed the usual plans to the winds. So perhaps it makes sense for the writers to place a huge moment for the season arc in the very center of the story: episode 11. The anticipated midpoint of the season and the heart of the “complication” phase of the story, this will launch the characters into the final leg of this long and laborious journey.

Most of this episode is elaborate set-up for the real action in the next episode, but it still manages to pay off a number of ongoing plot threads in the same instance. Most importantly, the Escape Squad makes their play on Scylla, breaking into the Company stronghold using a plan that is nothing short of ingenious. Would it work in the real world? Certainly not, since the writers take liberties and the audience is left to disregard some of the obvious gaffes.

For example, at one point, Michael has a serious seizure in the middle of the operation. Setting aside the fact that Michael should know better than to risk the entire operation when he’s having random attacks, he makes more than enough noise to trip off the alarm. Before that, however, the episode shows that one human body is enough to affect the thermal sensors. Yet somehow, when Lincoln has to save Sucre from falling off the rig, the thermal sensor is completely unaffected!

Equally interesting is the gambit developing between Gretchen and T-Bag. That subplot was always waiting in the wings, but now it’s finally having an impact on the rest of the story. I’m not one to complain about Jodi running around in a Catholic schoolgirl outfit, but bearing the General’s daughter? There’s an unwanted theory confirmed! Thankfully, her mercenary ways led her to betray her erstwhile allies, ending the pain.

T-Bag’s alliance with her against Michael was no shock, since he’s been looking for revenge since the beginning of the season. But I was a bit surprised and impressed to see T-Bag wavering. He was actually thinking about setting aside his criminal ways and living life as a slick and successful salesman. I imagine that would have worked out for him, since it plays directly to his talents.

If the show’s history tells us anything, it’s that the direction of the season will likely take a harsh turn for the worse before things get better. I anticipate a hefty body count before the end, and I’m sure that Michael’s decision to postpone medical treatment will be mined for all its worth. Hopefully the writers and producers will hear about the fate of the series and the rest of the season soon, so a suitable and satisfying final chapter can be prepared.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

This season of “Prison Break” just keeps marching along, and against all expectations, I’m still enjoying the hell out of it. Maybe it’s because the first three seasons inoculated me against the plot conveniences and contrivances, and I’m just enjoying it on the “entertainment” level as intended.

Not everything can be easily waved away, of course. I’m more than a little annoyed with Michael’s medical condition, considering how quickly it emerged out of absolutely nowhere this season. I can’t imagine that the writers will use this to kill Michael off at the end of the series, but it is going to be used for some highly unlikely medical drama in the middle of the season arc, and that makes it feel more transparent as a result.

There’s also the lingering over Bellick’s death by just about everyone. I understand that the producers and writers loved the actor and never wanted to get rid of the character, but the characters themselves had no love for the man. I can almost understand Sucre’s reaction, but T-Bag? That was definitely out of character, even more than Mahone’s silent display of respect.

The usual intrigue helped to make up for most of the annoyance, particularly Sucre’s encounter with the minefield and Mahone’s quest for the creator of the map to Scylla. Sucre’s subplot involved some interesting countdown sequences and a chance to see Gretchen play both sides. Gretchen’s loyalty is still to herself, but where that ultimately will take her should prove exciting.

Mahone had another good turn in this episode. It’s too early to tell if the writers will be able to transition him into another good subplot after the resolution of his revenge tale, but this was a good use of his talents. I like how the rest of the team was openly acknowledging that Michael and Mahone were on equal footing when it came to pattern recognition and decoding skills. Perhaps this is intentional. If Michael is sidelined by medical issues sooner rather than later, Mahone could step into his place for a little while.

There was also the relatively minor revelation that Agent Self already had someone working at the Gate Foundation. This particular twist should make things more complicated, but I wasn’t quite sold on its apparent importance. I’m just happy to know Shannon Lucio will be around for a while!

Writing: 1/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 7/10

Written by Paul Scheuring
Directed by Bobby Roth

Due to scheduling conflicts, I would up watching this episode on Election Night, while enmeshed in the endless stream of returns, exit polls, and electoral votes. One might think that it was difficult to pay attention to “Prison Break” with all that excitement. Surprisingly, I think that this episode managed to match the intensity of the evening. It certainly managed to hold my attention.

With the final “slice” of Scylla still in the General’s possession, it’s time for Michael, the Escape Squad, and their erstwhile allies to make their move. T-Bag’s previous office-bound subplot finally ties into the plot in a more substantial way in this episode, providing him with the chance to give the team sufficient cover. Watching him swivel around like a maniac in his chair to mask Michael’s attempt at digging was priceless!

The real action, of course, was the plan to gain access to the Company facility, and Michael’s health issues along the way. Michael’s illness has been building as a concern all season long, and while I’m not sure that the condition is something that would go from nothing to disabling in a matter of a week or so, it works for the dramatic purposes of the story.

The situation goes from bad to worse in a matter of moments, and the net result is the loss of another Escape Squad member. Bellick finally does something this season, sacrificing himself for a good cause, and it’s a nice attempt at redeeming a character that has been, to this point, a coward. Unfortunately, I’m not sure that Bellick was ever a character that inspired a shred of sympathy, so his death was simply overdue. (That didn’t stop the producers from playing it up as a tragic moment, of course.)

Equally interesting was the drama back at the warehouse, where Agent Self was using basic technology to punk the General and render Wyatt the Assassin obsolete. As amusing as that was, it paled in comparison to the powerful turn in Mahone’s vengeance subplot. Mahone finally had the chance to take his pound of flesh and kill the man who murdered his son, and seldom have such just desserts been so disturbing.

It made sense for Agent Self to allow the torture; this secret war doesn’t play by the rules, and Self is pragmatic enough to know that. It’s a little more surprising for Sara to make the choice to leave Wyatt to his fate. Sara has darkened considerably since her return, and while it challenges Michael into asserting his mercy on occasion, it might also drive a wedge between them. Most of my fear, however, is reserved for Mahone. With that plot thread resolved, I have a feeling that the writers will consider him expendable.

My sense of Gretchen’s decision to return to the General was fairly obvious: she intends to use that connection to gain intelligence and facilitate the retrieval of Scylla. At the same time, I have to wonder if she could be convinced to return to the Company fold. After all, even if Gretchen is focused on her own enlightened self-interest to the extreme, that doesn’t preclude a good enough offer from the General to sway her back to that side.

There are four episodes left until the mid-season cliffhanger, if this season follows the usual pattern, so we’re definitely gearing up for the play on the final piece of Scylla and the break into the Company compound. So far, the season has managed to exceed expectations, and with a few more episodes like this, it could hit the hiatus on a high note.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

Written by Graham Roland
Directed by Bobby Roth

Against all odds, “Prison Break” has found redemption in its fourth and potentially final season. After the disappointing third season failed to live up to the promise of a more harsh prison environment, there was little expectation that the writers could mine the concept for more gold. This season has been a pleasant surprise all around, and this episode continues the hot streak.

I’ve never liked Roland. He served a narrative purpose by giving the Escape Squad a simple means of copying five out of the six parts of the Scylla database, but it never felt like betrayal was far from his mind. Sure enough, in this episode, he turns his back on the rest of the team and attempts to cash in with Wyatt the Company Assassin. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to understand what the Company is willing to do. Maybe he should have listened to Michael and the others a little more closely.

His absence will not be missed, and his betrayal will be better remembered for giving Mahone a chance to beat Wyatt to a pulp. The writers do toss out a plot convenience in the end; Wyatt’s survival only makes sense if the writers need him around for some plot twist down the road. Michael retains his compassion, but the others generally don’t. I’m sure Agent Self would have happily massaged the situation to cover up Wyatt’s demise at Mahone’s hands.

The most important element, however, is how the game has changed in the space of a single episode. Now the Company is aware that the Escape Squad is after Scylla. That means Michael can’t simply think on offense and let defense attend to itself. The Company is going to fight harder and make getting that last piece of the puzzle nearly impossible. A great challenge to Michael and his genius, but more so to his limited ability to adapt.

The fact that there are now casualties raises the stakes. Frankly, I think there should have been more leading up to this, and Bellick remains on my short list. (The character needs to do something to justify his existence.) Sucre doesn’t die, but Roland does, and there’s plenty of potential for consequences when working with T-Bag and Gretchen. This Asian connection is certainly going to be a problem.

I also found the Sara/Gretchen confrontation to be a great moment for the season. Gretchen has been living in a world where it’s always “just business”, but Sara has only been on the receiving end. It should be interesting to see if Sara’s surprising show of force continues, and what Michael thinks of the change.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4

Final Rating: 8/10

Somehow, the hunt for Scylla continues to be easier than anything Michael Scofield and the Escape Squad have ever done, yet the writers continue to make it damned entertaining. I’m also still convinced that this is designed to be the last season, since the battle against the Company is racing to a logical end.

Three main plot threads are covered in the episode, but two of them dominate. Michael’s latest ordeal with T-Bag plays out in a believable fashion, especially when Gretchen’s involvement is taken into account. T-Bag has enough potential for violence without someone propping him up, but Gretchen’s amoral self-interest fuels the fire. I was worried that the writers would play up sympathy for Gretchen, but they’re playing her as the ultimate wild card instead.

Michael had the chance to demonstrate his usual mental prowess along the way, both in terms of decoding the book (which makes me wonder how quickly he could have done it all along, given the chance) and setting up their rescue. In this situation, right from the beginning, he’s banking on Mahone’s equally formidable abilities. (In fact, Agent Self does the same; all in all, a good episode for Mahone!).

The caper in Vegas was a lot of fun, and it finally threw a complication into the too-easy card-copying gambit. The writers did a nice job of explaining why Lincoln would be too distracted to realize that Roland (I finally remember his name) was going to do something stupid. For that matter, once Lincoln explained the family medical history with Sara and Sucre had the best shocking bait-and-switch of his life, I doubt any of them gave a damn about Roland.

The upshot to that plot thread is that the final piece of the Scylla puzzle will not come as easily, and that gives the writers a little time to maneuver in terms of fleshing out the new blueprint, the connection to Gate, and how resolving the encryption on Scylla is going to work. I expect that if there’s going to be a high profile death during this phase of the game, it will come during the mission to complete Scylla.

Agent Self’s Mahone-inspired survival tactic may actually set the stage for how the Escape Squad will get into the Company stronghold. It was perhaps too easy for Self to push the General for an invitation into the club, but what better way to ensure that the good guys have the access they need? It’s certainly no less believable than anything else this season!

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10

Considering the fact that the producers and writers have always seen the value of the character of Alex Mahone since his creation, as evidenced by his inclusion in every season thereafter, it’s about time that the Escape Squad figured out that he’s valuable to them as well. After all, Mahone is just as much a victim of the Company as anyone else on the team, and Michael and Mahone working together represents a killer double threat.

The writers pulled off an interesting change of pace in this episode, because it wasn’t centered on the retrieval of the next portion of Scylla (which happened very quickly and too easily in the first act). Instead, it was about Mahone and Michael’s decision to save him from the Company assassin. While one can never be certain on this show, especially when it comes to strange bedfellows like the current Escape Squad, I think it’s safe to say that Michael has gained Mahone’s loyalty.

As usual, kudos must go to William Fichtner for bringing the necessary depth to Mahone. I also appreciated the notion that Sara helped Michael see the light and consider what would happen if he were in Mahone’s place. Sara still hasn’t quite found her footing yet, which is logical for the character, but serving as Michael’s touchstone to his own conscience is a fair enough role.

After “Shut Down”, Agent Self could have been written in a less balanced manner, but he has been given some complexities of his own. It’s fun to watch him throw what little weight he has around, and this episode did a good job of delineating the boundaries of his authority and influence. I’d like to think that Michael shamed Self a bit in the process of saving Mahone, but now that the Company knows for a fact that Self is implicated with some anti-Company operation, things are going to get a lot more complicated.

While I think T-Bag’s plot thread wasted a great deal of potential, it did serve the purpose of covering some background exposition on Whistler’s little book. I look forward to T-Bag’s next reunion with the Escape Squad, especially now that the slightly more sympathetic Gretchen is involved. Gretchen is still far from being a hero, but the writers did the expected and tried to soften her hardcore killer portrayal. Gretchen seemed like someone with nothing to lose, but that’s obviously not the case.

The end of the episode could have a couple of bad implications, since the hacker (whose name never seems to stick, since he’s annoying) appears to be planning his own deal for survival. Will it simply be turning on the Escape Squad, or will he try to frame Mahone? Only time will tell.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10

Written by Seth Hoffman
Directed by Karen Gaviola

The hunt for the six pieces of Scylla is moving at a much quicker pace than I would have imagined. I’m beginning to wonder if the writers mapped the current arc out for 13 episodes rather than the usual 22. It’s keeping the season from losing its energy thus far, but I’m worried that the writers might run out of juice before the season comes to a close.

I’m still enjoying the new status quo, and this time around, the characters have more variation in their activities. Michael and Lincoln are still focused on the mission first and foremost, but Bellick and Sucre are on the hunt for T-Bag and Mahone is chasing down his son’s killer. Meanwhile, Agent Self is getting his hands dirty, and in the process, he’s exposing himself to the enemy.

The operation within Homeland Security was a bit too easy; either that, or our counter-terrorism efforts are seriously lacking. The writers did their best to keep the tension high, however, and once the initial suspension of disbelief was managed, it was a fun ride. Two other plot threads, however, made the episode that much better.

Mahone’s scene in the diner with his estranged wife was one of the best moments of the fourth season. While Wentworth Miller manages to sell Michael’s genius and desperation week after week, it’s no match for the broiling intensity that William Fichtner brings to Mahone. I have the feeling that his recent turn may end tragically, which would be a shame. The Michael/Mahone dynamic has not been exploited this season, and if Mahone is the first sacrifice of the season, I’ll be very disappointed. I’m not sure the series can survive long without him.

T-Bag’s subplot provides a completely different level of entertainment. I love his interaction with the gorgeous and devious receptionist (Shannon Lucio is stunning, to say the least). It’s also good to see a timeline imposed on his activities as well. It will practically force him to work with the Escape Squad again, and those conflicts are also worth the wait. I’m a bit disappointed that we haven’t seen T-Bag attempting to do his “job”, since it would be comedy gold, but I’m no longer waiting for the character to fade into the background.

In contrast, I’m not quite sold on Gretchen’s subplot yet. It seems like an unnecessary complication to an already messy situation. Then again, she could be on her way to a semi-redemptive turn similar to the one Kellerman was given in the second season, and that could be interesting. Gretchen could be the wild card of the season.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10

The previous episode worked because it placed an unexpected pressure on the Escape Squad early in the game.  It threatened to upend the new status quo and keep the audience on its toes.  After all, it would have been easier to ease into the black ops attitude and focus on just the hunt for Scylla.  Instead, the writers made sure that pressure was coming from all sides, and placed Agent Self in a more delicate balance than anticipated.

This episode, on the other hand, presents a more pedestrian situation.  The next “mark” in the hunt for Scylla is identified, the team puts together a gambit to make the copy, and they execute the plan.  There are the usual complications (one of which doesn’t quite make sense), but the job gets done.  Oddly, despite the foreshadowing, the mission does not involve the loss of part of the team.  (The impending arrival of the assassin, however, might resolve that seeming discrepancy.)

Generally speaking, the episode worked, except the writers made a key mistake.  After the premiere, I wondered why the first cardholder’s driver didn’t recognize Sucre.  It occurred to me that Sucre could have been dismissed based on the context of the “accident”, but why wouldn’t the Company men know what the Escape Squad looks like by now?  Even so, the rule seemed to be that the team was more or less unrecognized, except by a certain few.

This made the deception at the Eagles and Angels event possible, after all.  But then the writers made a mistake; one of the Company men not only recognized Lincoln, but knew him by name.  It would have made sense for him to recognize Lincoln’s face from earlier in the episode, but if he knew Lincoln’s name, why didn’t he recognize Michael?  For that matter, why didn’t the other guards and the cardholder recognize Michael?  (It also would have made sense for Bellick to die saving Lincoln, since Bellick serves no purpose and hasn’t since the second season.)

While the main plot was a bit by-the-numbers, I was surprised by Sara’s subplot.  It makes sense for Sara to deal with Bennett’s death badly, and it makes even more sense for her old addictions to threaten her sobriety.  The scenes with the bartender were very well done, and while it was probably a bit too easy in the long run, it had to be covered at the usual “Prison Break” pace.  Even so, this was a nice way to explore Sara’s character beyond her role as Michael’s love interest.

I’m not sure if it was revealed previously, but I’m almost certain that the Gate Foundation will be key to the decryption of Scylla.  Perhaps they’re a front company of some kind?  Whatever the case, T-Bag’s plot thread is actually interesting this season.  I’m also intrigued by whatever plans are distracting the Company.  Some kind of endgame is in the works, and I have the feeling it won’t be pretty.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10