Wentworth Miller stars as Michael Scofield in
My wife and I tuned in Monday to the fourth season premiere of “Prison Break” on Fox. Originally about a man who intentionally got incarcerated so he could bust his brother out of death row, the show has transformed more times than Optimus Prime and now resembles the first season only by the few remaining characters from that year.
Yet, it’s still good.
After spending last week getting caught up on season three, we tuned in Monday to see Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows apprehended in Los Angeles and Panama, respectively, after Scofield broke himself and a handful of others out of a Panamanian prison (which they got into after a season-long pursuit in season two, which followed the first breakout in season one). Six of the characters took different paths but all ended up in government custody, with one rogue agent using them to bring down The Company, a secret agency that was behind Burrows’ original incarceration (he was innocent) and can find anyone anywhere at any time.
There’s no more prisons to break out of at this point, so the title might not make much sense, but whatever you want to call the show it’s still gripping drama. The season premiere Monday set it up so that the convicts will spend the year trying to piece together the complex string of information needed to bring The Company down, all while trying to avoid The Company’s evil grip and being seen by the public (they are criminals, after all). There’s also the vile Theodore Bagwell, a serial killer who escaped with the gang during season one and found his way into the Panamanian prison, then was double-crossed by Scofield upon their escape there; he’s crossing the continent in pursuit of Scofield during season four for revenge.
Oh yeah, did I mention Scofield’s girlfriend, whom it was thought was decapitated last season but is actually OK and is now part of the gang?
It probably shouldn’t be good anymore, but it is. They were able to get creative with “Prison Break” to still make the show somehow relevant even years after the prison was broken out of. I don’t get it, but maybe I should just put my head down and enjoy the ride rather than worrying about semantics.
The show airs at 9 p.m. Mondays on Fox.
