Let’s face it, the odds were certainly against Prison Break Season 3. Who would’ve thought that a show about someone breaking out of prison could’ve spanned more than a mini-series, not to mention 3 seasons.
Let me fully disclaim my bias and mention that Prison Break is one of my all time favorite shows. Season 1 was quite possibly the most satisfying experience next to the first season of The Sopranos or 24. Heck, you Lost fans even will have a hard time convincing me that its first season was anywhere close.
In the first episode of Season 3, we find the tables turned with Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell); Michael is now in a Panama prison called Sona and Linc’s call to arms is to break him out. Only this time, the prison is about 15 times more shady than Illinois’ Fox River. In fact, Sona makes Fox River look like somewhere that Martha Stewart would’ve down hard time.
Fittingly, Michael finds himself in a load of trouble in Sona; a self-proclaimed dictator of the prison has it in for him and actually knows all about him from the news. Scofield finds an unlikely ally in Agent Alexander Mahone, who seriously comes to his aid when Michael is challenged to a death match.
Hardcore fans will also be delighted to see that Brad Bellick and Theodore Bagwell (T-Bag) have also been imprisoned in Sona. Bellick has seen better days as he’s harassed by other inmates and made to clean toilets; all without an ounce to eat. And T-Bag, well he keeps a low profile and chooses early on to befriend the unnamed dictator.
It wouldn’t be Prison Break though without the mystery and conspiracy. Apparently, Scofield hasn’t landed in Sona on accident. Some mysterious players want him to break out an inmate. In fact, they’ve gone to the lengths of kidnapping Sara Tancredi and LJ Burrows as leverage to force Michael to comply.
So yes, it’s somewhat outlandish and far from reality, but Prison Break still is one of the most entertaining shows on TV. The first episode appears to be the set up of some great TV to come. If not, we’ll at least get to witness some more of Robert Knepper’s brilliant acting as T-Bag.
What did you guys think? Should they have just written in a happy ending at the end of Season 2? Does Season 3 look promising?
nice
VER NICE TO SEE
say what you want about them dragging out the series, it’s still better than the other crap on tv
@ CMac
I think you make valid points about the writing involving strategies that don’t work out. That has definitely been the essence of the show - Michael adapting to reality when his original plan didn’t pan out. I was on the fence about them going to a third season, mainly because I didn’t feel closure on the original issue of Lincoln’s unjust imprisonment. The main culprits never really got theirs and Linc’s exoneration didn’t feel like the victory I had hoped for. Instead, they basically hit the reset button on the show and changed some roles up.
However, I do think that Season 3 and is the “reboot” that you talk about. It is going to be interesting given the fact that Michael has no plan… and Lincoln isn’t smart enough to break him out. Scofield’s going to have to make all this up as he goes along, with the help of whoever wants to break Whistler out of Sona.
horrible, dirty, and predictable. the prison break writers need to explore the concept of a few things actually working out. they have a nasty habit of constantly writing in a thin story line of hope, and then yanking it away with total despair. the pattern is becoming so obvious that it makes me roll my eyes in complete dissatisfaction and boredom. let’s move forward prison break!! why can’t they actually..ehhhmm, GET OUT? then the writers could possibly start writing new stories on the secret departments within the gov’t. maybe link and scofield could work on the “inside.” do something fresh….crazy…..new. change the title of the series like some wineries change their label names or some restaurants change the interior colors and theme to keep customers interested. i think TRAVELLER had more depth and mystery than this…too bad they cancelled it.
great episode - glad the show is back
this episode was freakin’ awesome. I hated that we had to wait until September this year for the premiere, but it was well worth the wait! I can’t wait to see how Michael breaks out of Sona!!