(S03E02) "I was sent to get you out of here." - Michael
And so the plot unfolds. I'll tell you, two episodes in and this is already infinitely better than season two of Prison Break. You know why? They're back in jail. The one thing that made the show great in the first place has been given new life. Rather than an entire country at his disposal, Michael now has only a few hundred jail cells surround by iron bars, brick, and concrete. It feels tense and more importantly, the eerie feeling of claustrophobia is back as well. The title of the show is applicable once again too.
Why is it better? There's no plan in place for starters. It's humorous to see Michael stuck in those long sleeve shirts while everyone else sweats like crazy as the hot sun beats down on Sona, but it's a constant reminder that the tattoos hidden underneath are completely worthless. He really has nothing to work with and even worse, the three people on the inside that he has a connection with (Mahone, Bellick, and T-Bag) are all willing to sell him out in a second if it means seeing freedom again. It wouldn't be fun if it wasn't a challenge though.
That being said, I feel obligated to lay out why the show is ridiculous at the same time. Again though, that's another factor that adds to the enjoyment. So we're really supposed to believe that in the short time that Michael and everyone got thrown in prison, a giant conspiracy to use Michael's skills to bust someone else out was put together? That was fast. Oh, and it's really likely that a prison with no inside guards runs that smoothly under the leadership of Lechero. Well... I suppose it could happen. If anything, it creates a blueprint for how Prison Break could run for maybe a couple more seasons. Michael freelancing as the Danny Ocean of correctional facility busts. We'll see how this season goes first.
So far? Not too bad. Aside from what I mentioned earlier, there's a lot to like about this season. The switcheroo with Lincoln on the outside while Michael sleeps behind bars was inevitable but it wouldn't surprise me if Lincoln goes and robs a churro stand to get himself into Sona sometime soon. At the heart, the theme is still the same. Break out of prison to save someone you love. This time, the ones you love just happen to be held hostage.
I do find it somewhat annoying that unless Sarah (played by Sarah Wayne Callies) is recast, she's almost guaranteed to be killed. You'll notice we've only seen LJ in those little videos "Susan B. Anthony" is sending to Lincoln. Speaking of "Susan," I'd love to find out if she has any involvement with The Company. I think at this juncture, that it would be a disappointment if The Company didn't have some hand in manipulating Scofield and Burrows. It'd be weird if those who used to call the shots with the late Bill Kim just closed up shop.
Inside of Sona is where it's at though and there's plenty to discuss:
- Do you think that Whistler actually killed the mayor of Panama? He doesn't exactly look too capable of something like that. It definitely feels like a set-up. Almost identical to what happened to Lincoln with the Vice President's brother. Maybe that's The Company connection I'm hoping for? Michael getting under Lechero's good graces and lifting the bounty from Whistler's head was key though. However, it almost certainly made an enemy out of Mahone.
- T-Bag doesn't quite do it for me anymore. Now that he's no longer the most feared inmate, his character is just another sleaze hoping to survive. Robert Knepper really nails this character though. T-Bag is still creepy as hell.
- I felt horrible for Sucre when he said his final good-bye to Maricruz. While he's not in Sona, it wouldn't surprise me if he joins Lincoln on my imaginary churro heist to get in and help out Michael.
- Bellick is still a horrible person and I love how he's at the bottom of the totem pole now.
- I have a hunch that all this trust Michael has given to McGrady is going to come back and bite him in the ass. This kid has been in there for three years. I'm sure he knows much more than he lets on.
- What's the deal with the tiny bird almanac that Sofia got from Whistler's safe-deposit box? It's interesting that neither Whistler nor Sofia seem to know that there's an outside coalition trying to bust him out. Whether he killed the mayor or not, how does that give him value in the outside world? More to come on this I'm sure.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-25-2007 @ 9:57AM
Jim said...
he allegedly killed the mayor's kid, not the mayor.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:54AM
Erica said...
I'm pretty sure "Susan B" is working for the Company.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:55AM
khamel said...
and "the company" mentions sona so they have to be involved with this. and yes, it was the mayors son. suspending disbelief that somehow michael is in jail again, im actually liking the show. i like hardened michael too. before he was a man with a plan, now hes more mcgyver like. whatever, it looks good in hd and as long as they dont have any more scenes with maricruz or LG it can only get better. bellick is sad now, its actually depressing. atleast he got some clothes.
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9-25-2007 @ 12:49AM
Secret Asian Man said...
It's my understanding that The Company planned on setting up Michael's second trip to jail by framing him in Panama and then made sure he was sent to Sona as soon as they found out he and Lincoln were in Panama.
While attempts were made to get to Whistler before, I guess The Company saw the opportunity with Michael and ran with it.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:55AM
eustacia said...
The Michael-Mahone interaction and the glimpses of Michael's genius are the only things keeping this show afloat. Otherwise, it has become beyond absurd and ridiculous. I can only wonder how it fares against better competition (How I Met Your Mother, Chuck) this week.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:55AM
Michael said...
We saw the Company in a car watching the exchange between Lincoln and Whistler's girlfriend outside the bank. And the company directed Michael to Sona at the end of last season so they could have been planning this since sometime after they broke out (ie. the middle of last season or so).
Other than that, looks like a promising season though! I agree that being back in jail gives the show it's natural feel again.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:56AM
jordancda said...
How can one be the "Mayor" of a nation? Wouldn't that make you the Premier, President, Prime Minister, etcetera? Is Panama's elected leader called a Mayor? I thought that a mayor was defined as the elected leader of a city.
From Dictionary.com:
1. the chief executive official, usually elected, of a city, village, or town.
2. the chief magistrate of a city or borough.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:56AM
Bill said...
jordancda: Panama's capital city is Panama City.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:56AM
julie said...
I still like this show - a little violent for the 8 pm "family hour" but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief for a show that's not a crime procedural!
With regard to Lechero running Sona, there was a fascinating article in Vanity Fair magazine several months ago about prisons in Brazil being run in exactly this manner - the inmates have taken over, they have their own "laws" and values, and it's extremely violent. The interesting thing is that, although the prisoners are in charge, no one tries to escape....
I'm in for the rest of the season - I'll record "Chuck" (although my DVR failed me and I'll have to get it from NBC.com) and move straight over to "Heroes"....
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9-25-2007 @ 9:56AM
Gordy said...
I think Whistler was placed in Sona for a reason...but this is all about Schofield. Let's not forget the white coats in the Season 2 finale. I am not sure of the endgame, but Whistler is a pawn. Maybe they are just testing Schofield's prison break skills for a bigger task in Season 4.
I mean, if you can bust a guy out of Sona who is wanted by every inmate within the walls, you're pretty good, right? I think Schofield changed the game by removing the bounty, and I wouldn't be suprised if something else is expected of him next episode.
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9-25-2007 @ 9:57AM
Jim said...
They are replaying Chuck on Saturday, I think. You can record it then!
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9-25-2007 @ 10:53AM
Natalie said...
The actress that is playing Sarah is out on a maternity leave right now. They have a body double sitting in now. But the actress will be back soon. That is why you only ever see the back of Sarah.
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9-25-2007 @ 10:55AM
Jonathan Toomey said...
Natalie --
http://www.tvsquad.com/2007/09/07/one-major-character-leaves-prison-break/
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9-25-2007 @ 11:10AM
Natalie said...
Thanks Jonathan but I'm so upset. I really like Sarah's character. They will definitely kill her off :(
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9-25-2007 @ 12:19PM
david said...
wow very strange read there filled with some even stranger assumptions.
a) why doesnt whistler look like someone who could be a killer? frail? how do you expect to look living off rats and sewer water? He certainly is resourceful/crafty enough to construct that small cell he had been staying in down in the sewers.
b) they had been setting up this whole sona/panama thing for a while in season 2. If i remember correctly the company had convinced tbag to set michael up for that murder.
c) i think until we are shown otherwise we have to assume that SAB is working with the company. To have the producers come in and introduce another hidden "stone cutters" orginization would be just too much.
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9-27-2007 @ 11:25PM
Ali said...
I think Whistler is just like Paul Kellerman. Ex secret service or something like that top secret. The company threw him to sona for betrayal or collect info about sona. But we'll see soon enough. It would've been cooler if Paul Kellerman was in sona with the gang.
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9-25-2007 @ 1:27PM
Suzie said...
Whoever writes this column sounds really HOT.
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9-25-2007 @ 1:29PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
I can't argue with that.
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9-25-2007 @ 3:22PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
You guys are all right -- I was just way off in my interpretation since none of these new mysterious figures have actually been tied to The Company. But it all makes sense from T-Bag setting up Michael's arrest to him being placed in Sona on purpose. I guess the more appropriate way to put it would have been to ask when we get confirmation of what we know to be true anyway. Where's that bald guy Kim used to answer to anyway?
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9-25-2007 @ 4:39PM
Tyler said...
Whistler reminds me of Mahone because he's got "the shakes" like him. Maybe they use the same meds?
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