Arse about Face (Prison Break)

Member Name: rocknro11

Product:	Prison Break
Date:	11/09/06 (694 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Slightly different approach, compulsive viewing

Disadvantages: You wont want to wait to see what happens next

Prison Break hit the UK screens in January 2006, courtesy of channel 5, following in the footsteps of the widely acclaimed ‘24’ and ‘Lost’. This is Season 1, 22 one-hour episodes that quite frankly did not capture my imagination when first advertised. This was probably because I had given up the will to live whilst watching ‘Lost’, which I consider was dragged and stretched out in all directions and too slow paced for my liking but somehow they made it last 24 episodes.

I heard several people comment about Prison Break and the term compulsive viewing was mentioned many times but when I heard one chap say it’s as addictive as ‘24’, I thought it was time for me to judge for myself.

Borrowing the full series from a colleague who had taped each episode, the wife and I sat down after the kids were in bed and by the end of episode 2 were well and truly pulled into yet another TV show that had crossed the waters from the US.

Whilst I’ve entitled this opinion ‘arse about face’, it is and it isn’t. The main character is Michael Scofield, played by Wentworth Miller, who intentionally gets himself arrested during an armed bank robbery in order to gain access to the maximum-security prison where his brother Lincoln Burrows awaits execution on death row. Burrows played by Dominic Purcell has been committed for the murder of the vice presidents brother and Michael believing in his brothers innocence cleverly devises an elaborate plan to free his brother, which starts with his own incarceration. If you thought this was going to be 22 episodes about escaped convicts on the run, you couldn’t be further from the truth, much of the series is based on how the escape will take place and overcoming the difficulties that lie ahead of them in reaching their goal.

Much of Michael’s plan relies on certain events that need to take place and at times this stretches the imagination but this is TV land where anything can happen, just ask Jack Bauer from ‘24’ what is and what isn’t plausible. Michael plans well in advance of his own incarceration making sure no small detail is missed from the inmates and prison staff he will meet, the layout of the prison itself and possible allies he could encounter. Being a structural engineer and having access to the renovation plans to Fox River where his brother is imprisoned is an advantage, the layouts are confusing but with the aid of an intricate body tattoo it becomes possible.

The writers dip back into the past of the characters to explain or allow the viewer to understand certain events or how some of the inmates came to be incarcerated. This in my opinion worked really well as each scene portrayed in the past was relevant to the storyline. Anyone who has seen ‘Lost’ will know all about dipping back into the characters past, I consider Prison Break found the balance when doing this that enhanced the plot and added to the addictive nature of the show, whereas ‘Lost’ in my opinion failed as the plot was far to drawn out especially with whole episodes devoted to a characters past that sometimes had nothing to do with the actual story itself.

Whilst the fresh faced actor Wentworth Miller dominates most scenes and some viewers may find this oppressive, he plays Michael with conviction and I was very impressed with his performance even though there were a couple of ‘cringe’ tough man lines towards the end. From the ladies point of view, I would have to say his poster will adorn some teenagers bedroom walls. We watched the first five episodes in one sitting and whilst I was watching, munching on a packet of crisps with the dog drooling in front of me, I occasionally glanced at the ‘Mrs’ who was drooling at Wentworth I’m sure, so much so I could have swum back to our bedroom that evening.

Throughout the series you are introduced to some colourful characters, like Theodore Bagwell nick named T-Bag played by Robert Knepper, a homicidal paedophile and racist leader of one of the gangs within the prison. Charles Westmoreland played by Muse Watson, is the ‘old timer’, who Michael believes to be a legendary plane hijacker, DB Cooper who netted nearly $1.5 million, money which Michael is relying upon to aid his escape and Peter Stormare, who is wonderful at playing John Abruzzi, a character with mafia connections and would appear to be a few slices short of a full loaf. Most of the characters figure prominently in Michael’s escape plan and each one seems to immerse the viewer deeper into the plot, a few even bring a small amount of humour to the show.

Another character that stood out for me was the warden, Henry Pope played by Stacy Keach. He plays fair and by the book and is not corrupt in any way. He, in a way befriends Michael and unknowingly forms part of the eventual escape plan. Many of you may remember him as Mike Hammer, in Mike Hammer, Private Eye, he’s been acting now for some 40 years and puts in a cracking performance in this.

There are several sub plots running alongside the main escape and these also work very well, another family member of the two brothers is introduced, as well as a corrupt secret services agents, the latter will I’m sure continue forth into series 2.

The writers end each episode on a cliff hanger, in the hope that the viewer will tune in to watch the next episode and they do a very good job, as we watched the whole series in five evenings, sometimes going to bed way past the witching hour and knackered for work the following morning because we just wanted to see what happened next.

Prison Break is executive-produced by Brett Ratner (“X Men: The Last Stand,” and “Rush Hour”), Paul Scheuring, Matt Olmstead, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse and Neal Moritz.

--- Conclusion ---

You’ve probably guessed I really enjoyed Prison Break, its action packed with twists and turns that keep you wondering and has an ending to each episode that makes you want more. Now some will like it and others will detest this type of show. To make comparisons, if you like ‘24’ or ‘Lost’, this show rivals ‘24’ for its addictiveness and in my opinion beats ‘Lost’ hands down.

The first half of this series is available on DVD now priced £27.99 on Amazon, if you do fancy giving it a go you may want to wait a week as the complete season 1 is due for release next Monday (18th September 2006) and is priced at £42.97.

Season 2 has just begun across the waters and I’m not sure as to the date we can expect it in the UK but in anticipation I’ve already purchased a bib for the wife.

Thanks for reading.

Summary: Excellent storyline and not a dull moment