I had some major doubts about Prison Break after last season’s finale. Mahone in cahoots with James and Gretchen? Linc yukking it up down south with Sofia? Sucre in Sona? Michael (Wentworth Miller, pictued) driving off into the horizon with a yen for revenge? And for Pete’s sake, why Panama? It made me hot just to watch.
Then I was floored by the quality of last week’s premiere. Maybe it was Sarah Wayne Callies’ return (which felt a lot more natural than I’d anticipated) or Whistler’s head exploding. Or the excellent addition of Michael Rapaport as the lawman who assembled our guys to take down the Company. Everything simply worked. Now Prison Break is less of a heart-pounding escape drama than a highly-involved caper series. And that’s what good shows do: They change.
So I actually felt warm-and-fuzzy when I sat down to enjoy yesterday’s episode, knowing I’d get something good. My heart ached a little after Michael told Sarah not to worry, that they’d sail away together soon. And I’m still moved by the reconciliation between Linc and Alex. But what I want to know is whether or not you’re with me or if I’m alone: Is Prison Break on the mend? Is it soaring to new heights? Or am I just a fool with an unrequited crush on a very tired show?
addCredit(“Prison Break: Greg Gayne”)
Comments (1-30) of 80 Add your comment
I agree, it has definately gotten better. I admit I stopped watching about 2/3 into last season – it simply did not hold my interest any longer. But when I tuned in for season 4, there were my favourite characters (sans Abruzzi) doing their thing. I was hooked once more! Though I lament the removal of Michael’s tattoos.
I’m on the same boat. Last season totally lost me. I got about 2/3 of the way through it as well and couldn’t even make myself watch it on DVR and deleted it. I must say though, I tuned in (specifically because sarah was coming back)for this premiere and I’m digging it again. Nice save (so far anyways).. we’ll see if they can keep it going!
It is SO much better. It’ obvious the writers wanted to basically forget a lot of what happened last season so they’ve wrapped up a lot of the stories that really had nowhere good to go so that they could work on the new arcs. I love that decision. The premiere was fantastic!!
I still watch PB, but man, season 4 is a mess. What happened to the quality show that debuted in 2005? Gone is the high tension that defined season 1 and the involving manhunt of season 2. Now, setting up the convicts as a ragtag A-team style to collect six pieces of a superchip to stop the Company? PB’s premise now sounds like an cartoonish 24 plotline.
The manipulative way the writers set it up is jarring, especially T-Bag. You have around $5 mil and a hot Latino in bed, yet Scofield’s your focus now?
Though I still love the characters, I don’t care about them anymore (except Mahone after his kid died). The Company’s turned into a caricature. They used to be scary and performed all their tasks with military precision. Now, we’re supposed to believe they’re so loose with their operations, Sara got away?
Most frustrating of all is the still overused ‘innovative plans falls apart’ plot device. What was tolerable in 2005 is irritating now. PB really should’ve ended two years ago.
SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN!
Every year I wish they would cancel Prison Break, but when they don’t, I tune back in. Argh! It’s the show I love to hate. Or hate to love. Regardless, it’s great to see Wentworth Miller again, and his brother can be pretty funny. And thanks for bringing back the mini TV-Watch!!
I love it – never miss an episode. Although we are only 2 episodes into the new season, I agree, it’s much better than last season and I can’t wait to see what’s gonna happen next!!
Someone for the love of god ban that stupid Swingtown poster. I love the show too but stop already! Anyway Aubry I agree about PB. I can never stop watching this show and its making it easier that its soo good this season. Whoohoo!
I think PB has gotten better; I like how the former enemies now need each other. I loved the scene with Mahone and Linc last night; nearly cried. Wm Fichtner is one of the greatest actors on TV….when he saw the pictures of little Cameron…the look on his face….my God. Give that man a bucketfull of Emmys.
Season four rocks!
i love that a lot happens in each episode.
i’ve been a loyal fan for the first three seasons and i’ll keep watching the fourth.
i love prison break , it’s may favorite show on tv.
i think the this season is better than earlier ones but i still love pb.
It’s not better, but it is different. I love the addition of the sassy asian techie guy. I live to see him protest and get bullied by Linc. I absolutely don’t understand why they are still writing parts for Bellick. Get rid of him already. Finally, the Sara/Michael reunion turned my stomach…and not in a good way. His sappiness over her just does not fit his character. How cheesy was it when he said, “does this mean I have to divorce my wife?” Where are LJ and Sofia? AND WHY DO WE NOT GET A TV WATCH FOR PRISON BREAK BUT EW IS ALL OVER THAT RIDICULOUS HILLS SHOW? Give people who enjoy quality tv something to discuss.
I’ve been a fan of the show from day one, and it’s always one of my favorites season to season. Obviously not the most believable show on earth, but hey, if people can believe that The Hills is “reality,” we can believe what happens on this show.
Unfortunately, classic PB style is to mend together the plot with string thin nonsense. “shadow copies” of emails? Please.
How about the fact that the server room locked and suck out the air. Aside from being illegal, it makes no sense – so if I’m in the server room and someone pulls the alarm, I just die? Huh?
Also, they seriously went to all that trouble – to get Scofield in prison and kidnap everyone just to get Whistler in Panama to find a leak? Why not just bust up the prison, the way they did it in season 3 finale, to get Whistler?
Lastly, if Self was so surprised that Scofield got the card in one day, why would he force im to get the second by the end of the day? They committed to this project for what, 24 hours? Insane!
…and yet, I love it.
Hey, Mel! SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN! SAVE SWINGTOWN! Ha ha! Got your attention!
the show has got its mojo back. I would watch Wentworth Miller in absolutely anything, anytime, anywhere but at least this season the hour I spend each week is more pleasurable than last year. I love that Sarah is back – no matter how implausible and I love the humor and the sense of camaraderie that is there. It feels very Ocean’s 11.
Last season, I only watched casually and I loved Season 1 but the season opener and last night’s episode reminded me why I loved the first season so much. My roommate who’d never watched it is now hooked (which may only be because he couldn’t switch the DVR without erasing it) Hoping they can keep it up. Can we get a TV watch?
Prison Break is back in a big way. I can’t wait til next week when T-Bag is back in the mix.
OMG! This season of Prison Break is AWESOME! I count down the minutes each week until it is back on. It is so intense. I love it. Oh, and what woman wouldn’t???
This show is stupid. First of all, they decapitate Sarah and stick her head in a box. Originality? Hello?? Anyone seen that little movie called Seven with that guy in it, what’s his name? Brad Pitt? And now she’s NOT decapitated. What is this, General Prison Break Hospital??? I agree with Save Swingtown, I’d rather watch that show than this waste of time piece of doo-doo show ANY DAY!
Lilian, I must agree. Bellick has got to go. He is a waste of air. But, I’m so glad Sara is back. Her and Michael have such chemistry.
To AS:
If all you have to do with your life is nitpick TV shows, then that is a sad state of affairs. Relax…it’s just TV.
As much as I feel addicted to watching the show, I watch it with a sense of frustration at the writer’s refusal to explain some of the back story. Whatever happened to the vast government conspiracy? who’s the President now? What happened to the female vice-president? How about an explanation from some official of what the Company is??
Anything is better than the SONA episodes. Would love to see PB become a Mission: Impossible-type caper show.
Given PB’s non-chalance for continuity, could they please get Scofield out of the long-sleeve t-shirt? I mean, I know it’s only been about 3 days since he had his entire tattoo removed, but he should be completely healed in PB-land, no? Let’s see a little skin!
I LOVE Season 4 of PB with a passion!!! It has already completely won me back–which after last season I really doubted was possible. But, I was so wrong. The clinger: MiSa is back in a BIG way right out of the gate!!! No dragging out the reunion or more depressing separation anxiety between the lovebirds…That got SO old & overdone.
I sense a REAL, tangible effort by TPTB to make amends with the fans this season. Not only with MiSa, but with the stories in general. All the major plotlines are being introduced in quick succession and they are excited, gritty, and done with finesse once again–unlike the chaos & confusion that was Season 3: The Sona Nightmare (in more ways than one!!). They are even tying up some of the weaker stories from last season in better than expected fashion. The whole “beheading of Sarah” thing was cold, callous, and beyond ridiculous, and it backfired on the show in such a HUGE way. I find the backstory we are just glimpsing intriguing & SWC is riveting!!!!
By far the BEST show on TV and anyone doesn’t think so, don’t know a good show when they see it. No one could come into watching the show now and know whats going on. Can’t wait from week to week to see what’s going to happen next. They have the best writers ever. 5 thumbs up for the show……….
This by far the BEST show on TV, and anyone doesn’t think so, doesn’t know have to tell a good show from a bad one. I can’t wait from week to week to see what is going to happen. I love the show for many reason but, the may one is that it keeps your interest, because just when you think you have it all figured out, the writers throw you a curve ball. I give the ratings as a 10, and thumbs up to the writers……I hope that they allow Michael and Sarah to have a normal(or as normal as they can be) life some where in the show.
THe new season has been anticipated for months, and maybe we were let down to an extent. Micheals tattoos were too time consuming and tedious, so they were simply washed out….with that extent of laser treatment the guy would be oosing and in pain for a while. I love the show, but there are times I feel that they are trying to get too much info into too short a period. It almost feels like watching “24″ the longest most dreaded day of anyone’s life……and completely impossible. Time is of the essence with shows like Prison Break, but do we honestly have to rush a good thing? Why not slow down, savor it and invite others with intrigue.
As much as I often nit-pick shows (and I still do, a little bit, with PB) this is one show where I just hang up my incredulity and enjoy the ride, like I do with 24. While I do think that this should be the last season–how many capers can the guys pull off within the span of several weeks, anyway?–I’m still enjoying it. I’ve been a fan of William Fichtner since he was on As the World Turns, and watched Invasion mostly because he was on it. The scene last night between Alex and Linc was powerful, and they’re so BFFs now.
It does still amaze me that T-Bag falls into sweet situations all the time…of course, he generally falls out of them just as quickly.
Melinda65, love your reference to Alex and Linc being BFFs!!!