The hit TV show Prison Break first debuted on August 29, 2005, and it completed its fifth season on May 30th, 2017. This Fox series was produced by Paul Scheuring, Brett Ratner, Kevin Hooks, and multiple others, and you can stream it now on Netflix and Hulu.
Prison Break is a perfect mix of mystery, action, and drama. The main storyline is so captivating, making you want to binge-watch the entire show. The action is great, especially between the former captain of the prison guards, Brad Bellick (Wade Williams), and FBI agent Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner). Wentworth Miller is a great actor, but his role as the brilliant Michael Scofield seemed to boost his acting career.
Season 1 starts with Michael being arrested for robbing a bank, and we discover that his reason for doing so is to be sent to Fox River Penitentiary. This is the prison where his brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), is set to be executed via electric chair for the shooting death of Terrance Steadman, the brother of the U.S. Vice President, Caroline Reynolds. Michael has covered his arms and torso with a series of intricate tattoos, and each marking is a clue to help them break out of the penitentiary.
Season 1 is a terrific beginning for the series, because so many things occur during that one season, and Michael and Lincoln always experience some kind of setback or problem with their escape plan. Every time something goes wrong for the two brothers, it adds so much to the storyline, so that the whole season doesn’t feel repetitive. One of the most interesting aspects of the series is that the other inmates either blackmail their way into the plan for escape, or they are invited into the plan by Michael, because they will serve a specific benefit for him at a later time.
Season 2 begins with our antagonist for this season, FBI agent Alexander Mahone, giving a televised warning to the public that eight people have escaped from Fox River. Michael later discovers that Mahone has killed Oscar Shales, a serial killer who Mahone couldn’t catch and is buried in his backyard.
When I first watched Prison Break, I was captivated by the drama, the suspense, and the mystery, which all blend perfectly together. One of the most iconic lines from this series is “These are now the eight most wanted men in America,” which Agent Mahone says about Michael and his cohorts in the first episode of the second season. This line is important to the show, because it is the moment they stop being simple fugitives but become the subjects of a massive manhunt.
What I enjoy most about this series is the characters. The best ones are Agent Mahone, Michael, Lincoln, and Theodore Bagwell, a prisoner who is serving a life sentence for six counts of murder, rape and kidnapping. Bagwell is a true villain, but his manipulative personality makes him so interesting to watch.
The relationships between the characters is also a great addition to the show. For example, the connection between Michael and Sara (played by Sarah Wayne Callies) is a perfect addition to the series, because it adds so much more to the story. Because Sara ultimately helps Michael escape from Fox River, the mysterious Company adds her to their list of targets.
If you enjoy Prison Break, I suggest you also watch Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, as they are two of the greatest shows of all time. All of these show’s storylines will keep you captivated for days.
