(S03E05) "If we're going to get around these guys, we gotta get to know them." - Michael
Well, I suppose we were due to get an episode like this one. Slow, annoying, and for the most part, filler. Just a way to hash out a story that isn't fully conceived and doesn't depend on guaranteed accuracies. If we've learned one thing from Prison Break, it's that its not meant to be taken seriously. However, and this is just my opinion, that sub-conscious effort to disregard how foolish this show gets sometimes actually makes the bad stuff stick out even more for me.
Case in point? The continued misuse of Mahone, T-Bag, Sucre, and Bellick. These are integral characters and nothing seems to be changing for them. We thought it was... but it's not. Sucre got that job as the new gravedigger and already he's back to being no help. He sprayed the chemicals all over the fence last time we saw him but we never got any proof that the fence had been sufficiently damaged.
Now Sucre has just been reduced to an errand boy for Augusto. While it does seem that Lechero's suspicions about Augusto are right and he's working against him (Sammy, too, since he's the one retrieving whatever Augusto sends), what's the point of getting Sucre involved? Translation? There's nothing else for him to do and I suppose this is better than nothing. It'd be better if he started snooping in the packages to see if they could aid Michael.
Same goes for Bellick, Mahone, and T-Bag. The three of them are just dead weight, wandering around the prison. T-Bag deals whatever sludge in a vial Lechero has him selling and Mahone thinks it's finger lickin' good. Sure, Mahone noticed the guard and his coffee addiction, but how that one little tidbit weighed against a whole episode of nothing isn't doing it for me. Bellick? Big week for him. He has cheese. No... that was it for him. Cheese.
I think the thing that's starting to hurt this season for me is the way they're trying to relieve the tension each week. This time around, Michael was set on breaking out in 24 hours -- we know that ain't happening. In season one, the plan flowed, the tension stayed, and we knew they were getting out in the finale. It's no fun seeing Michael fail week in and week out now. His plan needs to flow better and, more importantly, it needs some longevity. No more of this "we're getting out now" talk when we're only five episodes in. I realize that set backs need to be created, but there's a better way.
All this complaining doesn't mean I didn't like the episode. Little things made it for me. Throwbacks to season one: Michael's MacGyver-ish skills when he made the EMP out of the microwave; the bed sheet hanging over the cell. The new prisoner was a nice touch too. What's he know about Whistler? He called him McFadden. Said he remembered him from Nice in 1997 and there was something about an ambassador. I think the set-up for this was awkward, but it really was the only way to introduce new info on Whistler... if that is his name.
I'll tell you what I didn't like. They're clearly setting up a romance between Linc and Sophia. This is just going to turn into more filler. Michael/Sara is not going to be re-created and there's no sense in wasting our time with some inevitable make-out sessions between Linc and his new co-conspirator. Then again, if Whistler isn't who he says he is... maybe Sophia isn't either?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-22-2007 @ 11:33PM
Jonathan Toomey said...
I forgot to talk about the guards entering the prison after one of them saw Michael with his binoculars. He thought it was a rifle scope... OK, fair enough. But was that really worth it? It was almost 7 or 8 minutes out of the episode and we knew full well that nothing was going to happen. That's what I'm talking about -- setbacks are necessary but don't take up 1/2 the episode just to get a padlock on Michael's cell.
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10-23-2007 @ 8:02AM
julie said...
I don't know if I completely agree with the assessments so far of season 3 - while it may not have the tension and intricacies of the first season, I think it's showcasing how Micheal is the real deal without a plan in place. He keeps managing to improvise and while it's not all quite working out, you can see him really thinking it through. The new character (who apparently escaped and ended up in Cork, Ireland, for Heroes an hour later) could add some interest as well. But please dump the Linc/Sophia storyline. Not good at all. Mahone's drug use is going to come back and bite him in the tush and it's just plain old time to get rid of Bellick - never liked him to begin with. And yes, my husband and I said MacGyver with the microwave too....but that's part of the brilliance of Micheal - the improvisation.
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10-23-2007 @ 10:40AM
h8rain said...
I did not watch much of Star Trek Enterprise, but it is nice seeing that one guy getting work (on Heroes and now Prison Break).
Thought the episode was ok, but I hope it does not turn into season 2.
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10-23-2007 @ 1:27PM
johnnymac said...
at least now I know what those two red lights I was seeing are for, I was starting to think I was going crazy.
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10-23-2007 @ 1:27PM
Gordy said...
Hmm, did everyone miss T-Bag getting some nookie from the Nun/Prostitute? I mean, he didn't give her that money for cab fare, folks...there were hundreds in there.
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10-23-2007 @ 1:27PM
Gordy said...
Oh, and I hope you all are not expecting the Prison Break to be the season 3 finale...wouldn't that be a bit trite? I expecteded the breakout to happen early in the season, since there are still several items to deal with.
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10-23-2007 @ 1:27PM
Gordy said...
One more and I'll stop...I promise.
Screw Bellick, Sucre, Mahone, and T-Bag. Give me 45 minutes of Linc, Mike, their partners in crime, their antagonists, and I'm cool. I've always hated how the other characters seemed to distract from the main story. I mean, F%ck Maricruse, T-Bag's girlfriend, C-Note's wife, Mahone's kid, Bellick's mom, etc. I'm glad the writers agree.
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10-23-2007 @ 5:09PM
Jazzie said...
I love Michael, but I am not enjoying Season 3! It is just too awful and gruesome. I hate when the new prisoners come in and people immediately start fighting them and taking their clothes. It is just awful. I don't like this prison because there is no structure and no order. I don't like Bellick walking around with his underwear or nearly underwear. I would like for them to get out, be on the run, and do clever things.
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10-24-2007 @ 12:59PM
ral said...
THANK YOU Johnnymac!!!!!
For weeks, those red lights have been making me go absolutely nuts. What the hell are they, I'd ask. FOX brainwashing technique? glitch in the dvr? professional editing sabotage?
Last night, I had to stifle a scream that would've gone something like this: ADVERTISING???!!! It's FRIGGIN ADVERTISING?!!!!!!
Just like Gabbo coming to down. Sigh.
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10-24-2007 @ 1:00PM
heyroll said...
Oops..meant Gabbo coming to Town, not Down. sorry.
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10-24-2007 @ 4:49PM
Chris.B. said...
As far as T-Bag getting some "nookie" from the prostitute, I don't think he got any. He wanted to, but couldn't because of the time & place. Also, I thought the prostitute stole the money from the cash box, after she noticed the cash box in the open drawer. I don't think T-Bag gave the money to her. When the roll of money fell from her, T-Bag jumped to her defense, knowing where she got the money. T-Bag is showing this woman kindness so that when the opportunity presents itself, she will show him some kindness in return.... I also sensed that the writers may be planning to have Linc & Sophia get romantically involved. Personally, I don't think that would be an interesting storyline to follow.
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11-26-2007 @ 6:35PM
TeaBag said...
The show is definitely getting weaker as it goes on. I also think whoever plays Michael is one of the worst actors I've seen - always overacting, all his lines are said in that overdramatic whisper of his. Actually Sophia is about the only thing spicing up the last few episodes. Maybe the writers need to resort to some cheap sex to keep it going. I suggest having Sophia get into a lesbian affair with the evil chick while also getting it on with Linc. When Michael & Whistler break out, she can dump Linc for a 3-way with Whistler and Whisperer. The season finale can be all 3 guys plus evil chick trying to kill each other over her but of course, they fail and all get thrown in jail together so they can break out in season 4. With the writers stike, maybe I can start writing the new episodes.
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1-18-2008 @ 10:54AM
rollz said...
I don't care... as long as Scofield's out there, i'm watching this show.
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