With the second escape deadline quickly approaching (as well as the end of this artificially shortened season), several Sona-specific plot points need to be addressed. In particular, the anticipated gathering of all “carryover” characters into the escape plan has to be completed, the challenge to Lechero’s leadership has to be resolved, and questions about Whistler’s true identity have to be answered. Many of those issues are tackled in this episode.

There was little doubt that Sammy was going to die in this episode. The real question was whether or not Bellick would die as well. Frankly, his character would not be missed. The writers have done little to justify his survival past the second season. So it was fun to watch the character face impending death at Sammy’s hands, even if it never came to pass. Now he’s part of Escape Squad Part Deux; maybe that will lead to some better material.

Giving Michael the responsibility for Sammy’s death is a lot more interesting, though, because he’s not a killer at heart. His psychological issues wouldn’t allow for that. This was a matter of survival, so he did what was necessary, but it’s another death to weigh on his conscience. He might have felt responsible anyway; he’s been haunted by the consequences of the original prison break since day one. It’s a miracle that he’s held it together this long. Hopefully the writers will keep all of that in mind moving forward.

Sammy’s coup served a dual purpose, of course, by heightening the tension. Part of the dramatic hook of any prison break storyline is the threat of detection. That threat needs a face; the guards on the towers are a poor substitute for Bellick in the first season. Sammy fit the bill perfectly, stepping into Lechero’s footsteps. Now it may come down to the most unlikely threat of all: that damn kid with the basketball, who may do something foolish in the hopes of getting Michael’s attention.

Besides the resolution to Sammy’s coup, the episode offered some of the best conversations between Michael, Mahone, and Whistler in quite some time. It’s good to see Mahone coming through the other side of his drug addiction, even if the worst is probably yet to come. His ordeal may be bringing him towards respect for Michael, which could be very interesting, since they both have a reason to hate the Company.

Together, they push Whistler’s buttons rather well, and after recent events, he seems to feel the need to justify his actions. Their skepticism was refreshing, and his constant nattering meshed well with the later revelations about his secret life. Sofia’s discovery could have an impact on Lincoln’s plan, whatever that might be, and that should complicate matters even further once the escape takes place and every moment becomes crucial.

In the end, this was a vast improvement over the past few installments, largely due to the strong pacing and the intent focus on the escape deadline. The plot twists were less bizarre, and the characters seemed to act more in keeping with their established strengths and weaknesses. I still hold out hope that Lincoln’s scheme will reflect his street smarts more than some Michael-esque genius.