(S03E11) "Welcome to the coal mine, canary." - T-Bag
And the escape is on! I honestly can't say why I like this season of Prison Break so much. It's far from being the edgy show that it was during its first season and at the same time it's miles ahead of last season's manhunt mess. Maybe it's simply due to the fact that there literally isn't much else on TV right now and as a result, it's good by default. But after tonight's episode, I'm leaning more towards the unpredictability factor.
Let me clarify that though. In season one, there was a cohesive plan from the get go and everything that happened felt logical as Scofield's plan unfolded. I referred to season two as "a mess." It was. However...it was a cohesive mess. As crappy as season two was, everything made sense and it played out pretty much as you expected. After tonight's episode, season three has officially gained "Oh my god, I can't believe it got renewed" status. Not only has this season been all over the map, but I'm starting to get the feeling that I'm not the only one scratching my head. I'm not sure the good folks behind this show have any idea as to where this season is headed. I love it!
Honestly, had Prison Break been canceled after season two there would have been plenty of people angry... but let's be real -- it would have been forgotten pretty fast. But it wasn't canned and suddenly this fading tale needed a new direction. And that's where it all started to fall apart, but in a good way...
So here we are, eleven episodes in (due to the strike, there are only two left) and the escape has begun. There's no real plan other than "dig a hole and run," the conspiracy feels extremely loose at best (and even that's generous), there's a handful of new characters that still haven't really made a mark, and I seriously can't wait to find out what happens next! How is that possible?
First, some catch up. Michael and his merry band of inmates now consists of the usual crowd (Bellick, Mahone, T-Bag) and some newcomers to the art of escaping (Lechero, Whistler, McGrady). Sammy is dead and out of the way, they've re-dug their tunnel, and it's time to leave before the ground caves in and the guards notice a giant sinkhole in Sona's front yard. Hence, the plan I previously mentioned, "dig a hole and run."
Plenty of questions still loom. Most importantly, what does Whistler know? That is, besides the ominous "coordinates." My prediction? He's not who he says he is. For this to pay-off and be marginally interesting before the finale, he has to be far more powerful than we've been led to believe. I'm hoping he actually works for The Company (not just a "for hire" Company fisherman) and ends up being higher on the ladder than Susan -- unknown to her, of course. That'd be a nice turn, especially to see her reaction.
This episode had some fun moments which helped with the absurdity of it all. Seeing Bellick and T-Bag scramble to make alliances was humorous. Like it's going to matter once they get out. They have 30 seconds before those lights flick back on. Someone's gotta get shot...right? Speaking of those lights, how exactly did Sucre get busted for that? Did Susan/Gretchen put out a fake warrant for him? She must have because he's been working for Sona for a while now and nothing happened. You watch...everyone else will get out and he'll be thrown in. Michael's conscience will love that.
More thoughts...
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T-Bag can quote bible verse. Of course...
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I mentioned Michael's conscience, but it's going to be interesting to see if he actually does something to hinder the escape of one of the "real" criminals.
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Are the coordinates Whistler wrote down actually worth anything? Were they real? Does it matter that he ripped them in half?
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Mahone's comment about T-Bag being inbred was great.
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Bellick: "Does anybody know Spanish for 'don't shoot?'"
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Select moments that just made me giggle: Lincoln hijacking a school-bus, Michael calling the 1-800-Generator number, and Bellick smearing honey all over an oil-drum lid.
I really don't know what's going to happen next. At one point, Susan said she wasn't the bad guy, but is The Company's role in this season going to tie into the overarching mythology of the whole show? What do they want? Why Whistler? They seem powerful enough. Why not just send some black-ops team in there to bust him out? Seems a bit more guaranteed than Scofield. Regardless, that's all that matters now with these two final episodes coming up. I don't care about what happens to the other inmates. I don't care about the budding romance between Lincoln and Sofia. I don't care about McGrady's family reunion or Mahone's drug recovery or Bellick's sorry existence. I don't care if Sucre gets tossed in Sona. I'm not even sure that I care if L.J. lives or dies. All I care about is Whistler. What does he know? It better be good.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-04-2008 @ 9:48PM
reb said...
Did I miss seeing what was inside the briefcase? Or is that still a big mystery?
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2-06-2008 @ 6:46AM
james said...
yeah i thought the same thing. they ended the last episode with her opening the brief case and then there was nothing about it in the new episode.
2-05-2008 @ 7:09AM
bruce said...
The coordinates lead to the location of an underwater UFO. CGB Spender (William B. Davis), still smoking Morleys, is the real head of "The Company" and wants to locate that UFO at the bottom of the ocean. Mulder and Scully, however, are no longer in the picture.
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2-05-2008 @ 7:09AM
jordancda said...
I voted for Mahone because they'll definitely kill off someone that we will be sad about losing. McGrady is too easy, and no one would miss T-Bag or Bellick. Maybe they'd kill Lechero, but I doubt it. Definitely not Michael or Whistler. That leaves Mahone. He's become more sympathetic and likable so that should mean he's a goner. Too bad. I like him.
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2-05-2008 @ 10:40AM
John Howard said...
"it's miles ahead of last season's manhunt mess."
I couldn't disagree with this more. Last season was far better than this crap. The only reason I even watch anymore is because there's nothing else on. The worst part of the first season was the way they would always try to misdirect you about when the escape would actually happen, and this season they do that repeatedly in each episode. It's ridiculous.
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2-05-2008 @ 11:03AM
Gordy said...
I enjoy Season 3 a lot better than I though I would. I think the kid will take the bullet, just for drama's sake, but all will not make it out.
I had closed captioning on when Sucre was taken in (damned phone call!) but I though he was brought in because of his fugitive status. However, I am bugged by the directing of his scenes at Sona. Can no one see him? Is security so lax at a maximum security prison? Really?
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2-05-2008 @ 12:38PM
Pete said...
Wow, you are so wrong. Yes, the thing that makes this series so good is that it is unpredictable but it has been that way since day one. Season two was not a mess at all it was a completely DIFFERENT show but with the same characters ... that made it unpredictable. IT has been the most unpredictable show on TV for three years now.
Season three is good because it is yet another DIFFERENT show but with the same characters and similar aspects to the first two seasons. Plus, Susan B. is a deliously evil villian, they have this exotic flair to the show (although it may be filmed in Dallas) and strong characters.
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2-05-2008 @ 1:36PM
v said...
I thought the guy said Sucre had to pick up his first paycheck today, so if they hold back your first weeks paycheck & you only get paid every 2 weeks then you might wait a month for your first paycheck.
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2-05-2008 @ 3:41PM
jay sanchez said...
isnt susan/gretchen wanted in panama/sona for killing a general?but she could still visit in sona?
plothole?
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2-05-2008 @ 4:17PM
jayman1085 said...
well judging from the previews for the next episode i think mike totally scammed lechero, bellick, and t-bag. what it looked like was after those three leave michael holds everyone else back, which i think means hes gonna let those three get caught after the lights come back on and in the ensuing chaos the other escapees will get out through the hole in the fence, just a theory
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2-05-2008 @ 4:17PM
J Rock said...
well judging from the previews for the next episode i think mike totally scammed lechero, bellick, and t-bag. what it looked like was after those three leave michael holds everyone else back, which i think means hes gonna let those three get caught after the lights come back on and in the ensuing chaos the other escapees will get out through the hole in the fence, just a theory
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2-06-2008 @ 9:24PM
Peku said...
"and no one would miss T-Bag or Bellick". Are you high?
And by the way, thanks for the spoiler jayman1085/J Rock...
Words can't describe how much it would suck if that does in fact happen. The rest of the season/show wouldn't be the same without T-Bag wreaking havoc.
T-Bag has been so great for a couple of years now that I think he deserves a better ending, especially when so far this season he's done pretty much nothing. I guess it's too much to ask that they would just let this guy ride happily to the sunset after the escape. It looks like they're going to give that part to Mahone.
The show does have some incredible plot holes (like Gretchen coming back to Sona in this episode), but I think T-Bag should have learned by now that Michael would try to screw "the real bad guys". He's said it himself all the time and still he's about to walk in to this trap?
I think it would be pretty cruel of Michael to just let Bellick go out there to be shot to help him escape. Bellick is just a sad momma's boy who deserves better. I mean what really evil has he done? At Fox River he was following the law trying to keep criminals inside. Sure, he was cruel at times (times I can't remember), but inside a prison, I would imagine, you had to be cruel. And on the run he was hunting the same criminals down. He never killed anyone (unlike Mahone, who now seems to be a "super good guy") and in my eyes he's the most innocent guy of the entire group. Hopefully T-Bag, Mahone and Bellick all make it out in the next episode. McGrady, Lechero and Sucre can die for all I care.
Just two more episodes 'till the midseason break. And who knows how long it will take for us to get to see the 14th episode. Damn, that sucks. Hopefully they'll whack either Michael or Lincoln before the break...
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2-07-2008 @ 6:57PM
J Rock said...
well its not really a spoiler if im not totally sure if thats gonna happen, just a theory, everyone else saw the same previews I did. Even if t-bag, bellick and lechero dont escape sona I have a feeling we will still be seeing them and sona again next season, especially if Sucre gets put in Sona then michael feels guilty and trys to get him out from the outside (again just a theory, not a spoiler). and yeah it would kind of suck for bellick not to make it out i actually have grown used to him. I really could care less about lechero or mcgrady. i would want t-bag to get out so i could see what kind of crazy stuff he would do when he got out. I want whistler to get out just to see what he's all about, and im indifferent about Mahone, i just dont see a real story for him on the outside.
2-07-2008 @ 10:26PM
hugeliver said...
"My prediction? He's not who he says he is."
Wow. Bravo. PURE Genius.
You get paid for these little nuggets do you Captain Obvious?
Well welcome your sidekick...SARCASMO!
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2-10-2008 @ 12:58AM
Stacy said...
So much of Prison Break has been far-fetched, implausible, unbelievable, "you've-got-to-be-kidding", since day one, the acting certainly isn't Emmy-caliber, yet it is STILL the best series on TV. It's never boring, it still has a lot of edge-of-your-seat moments--in short, despite all the shortcomings, it somehow WORKS and works perfectly.
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2-10-2008 @ 2:56AM
Dottie said...
I still think Michael will get shot - but not killed - which may prevent him from escaping. Or perhaps even Whistler. Altho, I do like the idea about letting the first 3 go first and get shot with the rest escaping while all that is going on.
Otherwise, who could they afford to lose? I suppose it would have to be Mahone. Belichek and T-Bag offer 2 strong characters. T-Bag is the one you love to hate!!
Now I can't wait until Monday night.
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2-10-2008 @ 7:48PM
Benjy said...
"He's not who he says he is..."
Are you serious? We already know this! We know Whistler gave the order for Sara's death. He probably knew that Sofia was going to be tortured by Gretchen -- hell, he probably planned it -- and is working up the alligator tears just to win Michael and Linc's sympathies. Hopefully, Michael will see through this. I can't wait for Michael to finally pull the trigger on Gretchen.
As far as who survives the escape, I predict that Lechero and Mahone are the most expendable. Killing the kid would be too obvious. Whistler is too important to the plot. T-Bag and Bellick will be kept around to throw the usual monkey wrenches into everything.
Other outside predictions: Sofia gets killed. Sucre ends up in Sona. Linc gets LJ back and ends up on the run from The Company. And... Michael finds out about Sucre's arrest and surrenders in order to get Sucre out of Sona! However, he can't use the same escape plan because Sona is now wise about the tunnel.
I've said it before. I'll say it again. This show has never jumped the shark. (Okay... maybe a little when they killed Sara!).
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2-10-2008 @ 7:49PM
Dottie said...
I think Sucre got busted only because he was the last one that guy saw at the scene & the guy realized Sucre scammed him by having him paged. And, I think Whistler tore the paper in half suggesting she would get the 2nd half when LJ was free. Part of me wants Linc to get together with Sofia, but the other part of me feels sorry for Michael having lost Sarah.
I LOVE the show, even last season when you could predict every move. If you allow yourself just to be drawn in & overlook the dumb stuff, it really is an exciting show....but not at good as Season 1. I just wonder where they can take it if they go for another season.
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2-12-2008 @ 11:48AM
brack said...
I don't think this season is as good as 1 or 2 (c'mon OP, every episode of season 2 was exciting, not so much this season until the it came back from the break), but it's finally getting back in form.
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2-23-2008 @ 8:02PM
Dave said...
The last thing i saw was micheal and linc chasing whistler , and also thay have found some evidence that can lead them to whistler. and micheal has definetly decided to revenge.
tell me some more of the next episode. please.
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