But, eventually, they stopped their delay tactics and actually broke out of prison to end the first season, ending on an exciting high note. Suddenly, a series drama that seemed like the anti- Lost, where it was almost fully plot-driven and operated under the confines of a set due date (the execution of Dominic Purcell‘s Lincoln Burrows) started stalling for time, pushing back Linc’s execution, throwing in more hiccups to Michael’s ( Wentworth Miller) master plan, and, worst of all, had a flashback episode. It slipped up a bit after its first season midseason hiatus, when it got picked up for a full slate of episodes and suddenly had to adjust the rigid time frame it had set for itself. The show was at its best when it was rushing along headfirst into achieving the premise promised by its title. It’s often pretty easy to let things go by with a quick eye roll, because the frenetic pacing and charismatic performances will usually rush you into the next scene (unless a scene involves some of the charisma-free characters to have popped in the show, like the now-departed Veronica or the annoying LJ, then you just have to grit your teeth and hope the scene will end soon). I recognise that you have to take this show and some of its ridiculous premises with a grain of salt, and I usually do. Basically, the sophistication of this show can best be summed up in the following four words: Executive Producer Brett Ratner. It’s not sophisticated it’s not nuanced, but it’s a lot of fun. But, I don’t know if I’ve ever watched a show that requires audiences to make so many leaps of faith and to forgive so many obvious contrivances as this show does. Delivering the type of excitement and thrills it manages week in and week out requires some real skill, and the high concept nature of the show requires some brains to make it work. Now, I’m not saying it’s completely devoid of intelligence, like some shows I’ve been known to watch. It’s tonnes of fun and as exciting as anything you’ll watch on television, delivering a rollercoaster ride of thrills more often than not, but… you have to accept that it’s not very smart or you’re never going to enjoy it. Here’s the thing: Prison Break is not a very smart show. Starring: Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Sarah Wayne Callies, Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Rockmond Dunbar, Wade Williams, Paul Adelstein, Marshall Allman, William Fichtner

Index of prison break s02