By Frederic Germay
Gripping, Moving, Shocking, Sensational, Devastating, Awe-striking, and Heartbreaking. All of these adjectives more than adequately describe Monday’s two-hour “Prison Break” event that was beyond exceptional. If anyone is still catatonic over Sara’s demise and questioning whether or not to continue with this show, I think this episode delivered glaring proof that this show is a keeper.
Putting aside that the two hours of “Prison Break” didn’t help with lightening my television load, I am pleased to be bothered by the extra hour, but I am more than thrilled that FOX didn’t try to delay the second hour in anticipation of the apocalyptic tragedy that is the Writer’s Guild of America’s second strike in twenty years. I can’t help but wonder if “Prison Break” has at least finished all of its fall episodes and I hope that we won’t be treated to an unfinished plot arc. That being said, if “Prison Break” decides to enact the tragic decision that NBC is considering regarding the change of “Heroes” fall finale into the season finale, I think the viewership will suffer dramatically. Despite the excellence of this episode, “Prison Break” hasn’t quite recovered from the ‘Sara’ issue, and adding insult to injury wouldn’t exactly aid with the viewership problem.
Concerning the actual storyline, the heralded prison break went underway…and then stopped…and then rewound. I thought breaking out in daylight was quite risky and that the method that Michael used was genius but based on flexible factors. It was quite disappointing to think that they were leaving the gloriously savage Sona behind, but I also felt a sense of relief as this allowed for different locations to be used. That is what made the first half of the second season bearable – the varying locations. Obviously, the first season was unparalleled by any other season of PB, but the second season faltered towards the beginning before its ultimate redemption in the final plot arc that lead to Michael’s imprisonment in Sona.
Along with the tear marks on my armchair, there were also the tears. I seldom feel that lump rise in my throat, and I rarely get those chills that occur when you see a phenomenal actor pour their heart out in a believable performance. When Lincoln told Michael what had happened to Sara – that was a television moment that I suspect people will use to define the beginning of the third season, along with the horrific demise of Sara. Props to William Fichtner’s Mahone for delivering another brilliantly paranoid performance, and props to Wade William’s Bellick for actually making me care for his once empathy-void character.
Concerning the plot developments, Lechero is now along for the escape and I don’t think Michael will be able to get rid of him. Unfortunately, Lechero can read Michael like a book, so lies or clever trickery aren’t of much use. This may include T-Bag on the escape, because the implication of Sammy as the bad guy may earn T-Bag right hand man status. Once again, this lends more credence to my theory of T-Bag eventually wiping out Lechero and taking his place. By the way, who ever thought that they would ever end up feeling sorry for Lechero…
In the end, the getaway failed and we uncovered that Whistler is, indeed, a bad man. Apparently, Michael’s distraction of calling out Whistler on account of Sara was actually quite the true accusation. This makes me think of the scene afterwards, when Whistler apologizes for Sara…what a liar! Who knew that Susan B…or Gretchen really does work for Whistler? Speaking of Susan, it was oddly satisfying to Lincoln unleash some brutality on her, despite the fact that it was eventually futile. Overall, if you view these episodes as one big episode, I believe the end result is beyond superb. I give this episode a 10/10
