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Prison Break 3.5: "Interference" |
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Monday, 22 October 2007 |
By John Keegan
Visit Critical Myth for an archive of John's TV Review archives, with more than 1100 entries.
Thanks to the Major League Baseball playoffs, “Prison Break” took a short break early in the schedule. I’m not sure that it was a good thing for the series, since it gave fans a very long time to think about the drama behind the scenes. This episode, if nothing else, tries to bring the focus back on the main plot element: Michael’s struggle to break Whistler out of Sona.
The break gives the sense of urgency in this episode an odd quality, as if the deadline is suddenly out of place, but the writers keep the tension going and Michael appears requisitely stressed to the gills. His need to save Sara is the only thing driving him forward right now, and it makes her death more crushing. When he discovers the truth, he may never forgive Lincoln for keeping that secret. Especially since Lincoln is keeping the pressure on Michael to ensure LJ survives.
It’s also interesting to note that Michael’s scheme completely fall apart because of a single mistake. Not only does it drive home the consequences of failure, it also reinforces the idea that Michael is less capable when forced to improvise. This opens the door for Mahone’s integral part of the gambit, reminding the audience that an anxiety-free Mahone is an incredibly insightful Mahone.
For my part, the mystery surrounding Whistler and the Company is one of the weak points of the season arc. It actually makes the first season conspiracy seem relatively straightforward and interesting. The new complications regarding Whistler and his mysterious past feel extraneous. The writers are going to have to bring that into more focus if they want this mystery to be compelling to the audience.
In terms of the subplots, T-Bag’s apparent fall from grace in Lechero’s eyes could give him a reason to push for inclusion in Michael’s latest Escape Squad. Michael would have no reason to include him, but Mahone’s “tab” might be all the leverage T-Bag needs. One would expect Bellick to push his way into the plot, since there’s absolutely no other reason for the writers to have him hanging around. And of course, Sucre’s current troubles could quickly land him in the prison as well.
As intriguing as this episode is, it’s far too early in the season for the actual escape attempt to occur, so this deadline imposed by the Company feels needlessly artificial. It’s a transparent ploy to generate tension in the story, both for Michael within the prison and Lincoln on the outside. The only way to counter the problem of expectation is a terrible consequence for Michael’s inevitable failure. Having already delivered one such message, how can the Company possibly escalate the risk? The success with the answer to that question may determine the season. |
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