11.28.06
Posted in Reviews at 10:46 pm by Administrator
Written by Zack Estrin
Directed by Bobby Roth
As the second season hits a relatively short hiatus, the writers manage to bring a number of plot threads to interesting cliffhangers. Not all of the story elements get the time they deserve, but that comes with the territory. The episode is treated more like a typical episode than a “fall finale”, but that actually works better from a structural point of view. The real fireworks should come in the next few episodes after the hiatus.
The big twist in this episode might have been predicted by some fans, but it may not be as simple as it seems. Kellerman appears to be turning on his former allies, but what if his goals are more complex? It’s hard to speculate with a series like “Prison Break”, but wouldn’t it work to Kellerman’s favor if he appeared to be helping Michael and Lincoln?
Kellerman has been strongly motivated to restore his place in the president’s confidence. He was willing to take out Sara to achieve that goal, despite his own complex (and warped) affections for her. On the verge of being retired himself, how could he turn things to his advantage? By helping Michael and Lincoln escape, he can eliminate the problems of William and Mahone (his direct competition) and, if successful, convince Michael and Lincoln that he can help them use the information Sara has to bring down the conspiracy. And wouldn’t it be a coup for Kellerman to get everyone in one place?
Leaving speculation aside for the moment, it’s doubtful that Mahone is actually dead. It would be a mistake to build up the character as such a threat, complete with a complicated back story, just to kill him so abruptly. Unless the writers have been taking lessons from the poorly organized staff on “24”, there’s no reason to toss a shocking death into the story at this point. Until his death is confirmed, I have every reason to think that he will remain a strong presence in the future.
T-Bag continues to succeed in his plot for revenge, and the writers give him some surprising depth in the process. It’s no surprise that he ends up killing more people along the way, but his regrets seem sincere. Is it possible that his intentions are not what they seem? T-Bag has become the kind of character the audience loves to hate, so where could the writers take him that would qualify as a surprise? I can’t help but wonder if Theodore will attempt a reformation of sorts, only to have it end badly, echoing his previous experience.
Bellick’s plot thread still seems a bit pointless, beyond the obvious karmic qualities. At the same time, I can’t help but believe that it will eventually tie into the big picture, justifying the time spent on the story. Certainly it gives the writers an opportunity to reveal information about the new warden, who promises to be important in future episodes. Similarly, Sucre’s escape will likely factor into the rest of the season arc, though there’s not much to speak of in this episode. With so many balls still in the air from previous episodes, the writers should have their hands full when the series resumes in late January.
(As a sidenote: I also have a new podcast associated with my various reviews called “Velocity TV”. Current episodes cover the “Prison Break”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://velocitytv.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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11.22.06
Posted in Reviews at 12:16 am by Administrator
The previous episode brought a number of important plot elements to the forefront, and this installment is all about the consequences. There are transitional elements to this episode, but there are also a number of important revelations. That mixture keeps the story moving at a blistering pace, and also helps to keep the disparate nature of the plot threads from getting too confusing.
We get a little more insight into the genesis of Michael’s psychological issues, and it’s not pretty. I suppose some fans speculated at an abusive childhood for Michael, based on his emotional problems, but this went a little further than I thought it would. In a nice touch, young Michael met the challenge of imprisonment by searching for a means to escape. More to the point, pushed to the limit, Michael fought to survive.
Michael could have fallen into despair at the death of his father, especially since it fed into his growing sense of responsibility for the pain and suffering that has resulted from his plot to free Lincoln. He didn’t really want to hear Lincoln’s counterargument that the conspiracy was ultimately responsible for everything, after all. But the instead of trying to run and hide, Michael has decided to put an end to the entire situation.
If one considers the true “prison” to be the threat of the conspiracy, then Michael is now doing the one thing necessary to escape that prison. It’s not enough to run away; the “prison” of the conspiracy would still be there. Michael and Lincoln would never be free from the possibility of danger. The only way to regain freedom is to bring the conspiracy down. So Michael is now dedicating his efforts to eliminating that “prison”.
I was hoping that Mahone would be turned against his controllers, but that’s much less likely to happen now. In fact, the writers are going to have to pull off quite an impressive bit of plotting to make survival even remotely plausible. Mahone really has Michael and Lincoln at his mercy. It would be all too easy for the writers to give Michael an easy way out.
Michael’s plot thread covered a number of crucial revelations, allowing the other plot threads to move along at a more natural pace. Most importantly, Sara manages to get away, showing more of that impressive resolve in the process, and her escape puts Kellerman in the worst possible situation. Similarly, Bellick ends up getting a more fitting reward for his troubles than I would have expected. I hope this isn’t the end of his story, but if it is, his apparent future date with a prison cell is a sweet turn of events.
Not everything worked so well. I thought that the lack of T-Bag was an oversight, though it would have been difficult to add more to an already packed episode. Perhaps it would have been better to focus on T-Bag instead of C-Note. C-Note’s story isn’t nearly as compelling as the rest of the episode, and it all hinges on an annoying plot contrivance. While that’s nothing new for “Prison Break”, in this case, it was an unnecessary distraction from much better material.
(As a sidenote: I also have a new podcast associated with my various reviews called “Velocity TV”. Current episodes cover the “Prison Break”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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11.15.06
Posted in Reviews at 11:09 pm by Administrator
Written by Monica Macer and Seth Hoffman
Directed by Greg Yaitanes
With this episode, the second season of “Prison Break” hits the midpoint, which is traditionally when the complication phase hits a major turning point with a huge plot twist. In this case, the writers provide the solution to a long-running mystery, introduced in the first season as an important element for the post-escape plan. We now know what “Bolshoi Booze” means, and it works well within the context of the story.
Perhaps more important was Michael’s moment of realization, where he finally begins to realize the cost of his plan to rescue Lincoln. His psychology doesn’t allow him to dismiss the consequences of his actions, and knowing that the cost will continue to rise, he struggles with the need to resolve those consequences. This was something that I was waiting for since the beginning of the season, and it was good to see it integrated into this story.
A lot of subplots come together at the end of this episode. Certainly Michael and his father will have some words in the near future regarding his activities in the first season, and they have a vested interest in running to Sara’s rescue. The explanation about the flash drive and the evidence of Lincoln’s innocence holds water (and for now, it’s all fitting together well enough), then it should all come down to Michael and Mahone facing off over its possession.
Speaking of Mahone, there’s now a hint that he could be turned against the conspiracy, if resources were available to protect his wife and son. Michael’s father has a small but capable organization, one that could protect Mahone’s family easily enough. After all, the conspiracy can’t be watching them too closely, or Michael wouldn’t have gotten the chance to speak with Mahone’s wife. It could be fun to watch Mahone undermine his own investigation team, especially since they are beginning to question his motives.
Sara is definitely going through the wringer in this episode. Kellerman is about as creepy as it gets, with his mixture of violence and affection. Sara may have decided to put Michael and the truth behind her, but when push comes to shove, she’s willing to die for it all. This is one of the better moments for the character this season, and if she survives, her reluctance to help Michael will probably transform into steadfast purpose.
Overall, this is probably the best episode of the season in quite some time. The narrative is clearly building towards the cliffhanger to come with episode 13 (the fall season finale), but this is satisfying because of the culmination of so many lingering plot elements. The writers still need to address the fact that the characters are spread out so much, but for now, the season seems to be back on track.
(As a sidenote: I also have a new podcast associated with my various reviews called “Velocity TV”. Current episodes cover the “Prison Break”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
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11.08.06
Posted in Reviews at 12:23 am by Administrator
Not so long ago, I was concerned at the future of “Prison Break”. I felt that the writers had robbed themselves of one of the more intriguing conflicts by shifting Mahone into the conspiracy. It would have been interesting to have Mahone as a flawed but legally correct individual, contrasting with Michael’s morally questionable “hero”. Elements of that conflict remain, however, and in this episode, the writers manage to make the conflict a little more personal.
As it stands now, the two characters are still circling each other in something of a chess game, and whenever they get to square off, it’s damned entertaining. Michael has come to the point where he’s trying to justify the horrible decisions he’s made to achieve his goals, and he’s trying to minimize the damage. Mahone is willing to go a lot further, but it sounds like the conspiracy has a hold over him.
So Michael feels forced to use immoral means (crime) to achieve a moral end (saving his brother), while Mahone is using a moral means (fugitive capture) to achieve an immoral end (killing the fugitives). Both men, however, feel trapped. Michael has been trapped by his feelings of responsibility for his brother, and Mahone seems to be blackmailed by the conspiracy in some way.
While they are at odds now, they both operate from a desire to do the right thing and overcome the conditions driving them into actions they would rather not take. This opens up the possibility (however unlikely right now) for Michael and Mahone to work in common cause. If Michael continues to evade Mahone and the conspiracy, why wouldn’t Mahone begin to wonder if Michael could help him escape the conspiracy himself?
All that said, the conspiracy is closing in. I had forgotten Michael and Lincoln’s father and his resources, even though they were important in the first season, and it has introduced another complication that could make the fight against the conspiracy a little more even. Assuming, of course, that the conspiracy’s mole doesn’t bring the whole operating crashing down, which is equally possible. The writers have left themselves plenty of room to maneuver.
Many fans were looking forward to the reunion between Michael and Sara, and it was definitely worth the wait. The best aspect of this reunion was the lack of gushy romance. Sara was reasonably bitter over her losses, and Michael was left to justify his choices and decisions. In fact, Michael begins to show more cracks in his confidence upon learning about Sara’s father. He can still point to the conspiracy as the party responsible for the whole mess, but he’s psychologically unable to ignore his own culpability.
The Michael/Sara/Mahone plot dominates the episode, but there are other elements that move along quite nicely. As mentioned before, the writers make it possible to feel sorry for T-Bag, because it seems wrong for either of the former guards to get the money. It seems all too certain that T-Bag will have to rip or cut his own hand off again, which has a certain delicious irony. And of course, Sucre’s situation is setting up an interesting reunion with Michael in the near future.
(As a sidenote: I also have a new podcast associated with my various reviews called “Velocity TV”. Current episodes cover the “Prison Break”, so it might be something of interest. Go to http://entil2001.libsyn.com if you want to listen!)
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4
Final Rating: 7/10
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