[PRB] Dead Fall

TV Programme: Prison Break
Season: 2
Episode: 8
Date I watched this episode: 24/02/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 2 days.

The brilliance of the last couple of episodes was just not sustainable in the long run, and I knew that eventually we'd get back to a standard episode. This episode was fairly boring to be honest. A lot of time was spent with Michael and Sucre trapped in a river, with no real surroundings and very repetitive attempts to get out. While I lauded the writers last week for throwing their characters into close quarters, we've had a huge amount of time with Michael and Sucre together (perhaps too much) and this entire sequence didn't serve much of a purpose, except perhaps to time-fill at low budget (and it didn't escape my attention that the bit where Michael drives the motorbike down the river bank was shot in a very amateurish fashion).

I also don't like the twist that Mahone now works for The Company. Over the course of this season the writers have developed a very dark, complex character in Alexander Mahone, and now they have seemingly blown all that away by giving some reasonable explanation to his actions. The Company is a great segment to the show's universe, and I really enjoy that element (although I think the fact that we hardly ever see Caroline anymore is a real shame); I think it would have been better if Mahone had enlisted The Company's help in working toward a common goal. It's no longer about a battle of the intellects, and more about hidden agendas and high risks, and that's not really what this season has been about. Nevertheless, the writing recently has been so top-notch that I'm prepared to give them a bit of leeway here to see what they can do with this storyline.

I'm also not best pleased to see Brad Bellick back again. Brad's character doesn't seem to serve any real purpose anymore. I don't like the character, the thug villain is not often used in stories for a very good reason. It was good to see him back for a few episodes, but now going on a wild goose chase - I'm not so sure I'm liking where this is going.

There were some good parts to this episode though. It started off well - the T-Bag quadruple-cross (or something) was unforeseen, and it was kept fresh by happening quite quickly, otherwise it would have seemed a bit ridiculous. Also I thought it was great the way Lincoln got in to see LJ. This reminds me of the episode "Otis" earlier this season. It's great when no one has a clue where the guys are and then they just turn up at the last minute, like performers coming into a show, or like in the beginning of V for Vendetta. So I'll hope to see more of that.

The Sara Tancredi storyline is getting interesting too. She is starting to work out where Michael is, and I'm sure there'll be a reunion at some point this season, though it's bound to be short-lived. I do think she was completely stupid not to immediately realise that that guy from her dad's office was a mole though. I hope Paul Kellerman gets fed up with The Company soon and turns against them. He'd work well on Michael's side, and this would be a good conduit to get Sara and Michael back together, as Kellerman has the final piece of the puzzle.

We got a couple of teasers this episode on what is going to happen in the next episode. Most majorly, Maricruz is back in the picture. This is great news - and could make for a very emotional reunion at some point. Also T-Bag is off to see his ex; but he seems to be in a good mood, so perhaps he will renounce his killing streak.

I think this episode had some good ideas and elements, but there was just too much filler packed in there that it was hard to follow the important points.