Show Review - Prison Break

[the premiere of Season 3, aired Sep. 17 on Global TV]

Back when Prison Break debuted two years ago, I was an avid watcher. The storylines and characters were well-written (the character of Michael Scofield in particular) and the theme was considerably original for a television show. However, halfway through the first season I quit watching, despite having gotten both my brothers addicted by taping the earlier episodes and making them watch them. The plot had gotten redundant for me as I wondered if I would be stuck watching Michael, Lincoln and the rest of them in that prison for years to come. I had no idea they'd actually get to escape by the end of the season. If I had known an escape would come so quickly, I would have stayed an avid viewer. As it was, I abandoned Prison Break halfway through Season 1, something I now regret just a little bit.

Upon reading a preview for tonight's episode I was intrigued by the thought of Michael being stuck in a Panamanian prison called Sona where there were no guards within (just on watch towers outside) where every man was for himself. I'm glad that I tuned in. While I don't understand many of the references to people or groups outside the prison since I haven't watched the last season and a half, this season is a whole new fresh ballgame. People who haven't tuned into the show in the past, can tune in now and understand everything that's going on. The world within the prison walls is foreign territory to Michael Scofield (played by the always incredible Wentworth Miller) and to us so we can see things through his eyes. And with the new setting comes new characters, including one powerful character named Lechero (played by Robert Wisdom who proves to be a wise casting decision on the show's part) who essentially runs the prison as a type of king who other prisoners fear for good reason.

Prison Break is known as one of the most action-packed dramas on television today, and tonight's episode stayed true to that reputation. This episode included a hostage-taking, a man-verses-man fight to the death, a visit to a morgue, a denied extradition and several other big moments that makes me want to consider watching Prison Break again full time. I'll definitely tune in next week and then I'll see how I still like it from there.