No More Breaks

Caution: THIS BLOG ENTRY IS NOT SPOILER FREE.

Prison Break was my favorite TV show. No matter how preposterous the plot had gotten, the non stop action and sudden twists and turns kept me glued to the screen. It was my favorite show--- until it returned last month after a very long mid season hiatus. I don't know why, but somehow, it did not feel the same. Somehow, I no longer found the episodes exciting. I no longer cared for the characters. In truth, during some episodes, i was already rooting for the villains. Maybe it's bad writing. I hated some of the decisions made by the protagonists. I hated the way they acted. Maybe the extended hiatus made me realize how extremely silly the whole season 4 plot was in hindsight. Maybe it made me realize how the show has deteriorated. Yes, season 4 was exciting and action packed, but looking back, the whole storyline seemed forced. All that excitement only served to distract the viewer from that fact. Obviously, the writers have been milking the series for all its worth, up until the point where they can hardly squeeze anything at all. They should have ended the series sooner, back when the whole story arc still made sense. In truth, I was only watching these last few episodes to see how it will all end. These characters have grown on me through the years, and it will be shameful to cop out as we're nearing the end.

As for the two part finale? There were so many twists and turns that it made the two hour finale very convoluted. It wasn't just convoluted, it was downright silly at times. Each scene jumped to another in a very brisk pace, it left very little time for the viewer to absorb just what happened. And whereas before the viewer is often astounded by the ways Scofield and co. maneuvered their ways around every problem they've encountered, the things they did in the finale was just--- blah. boring. routine. mechanical. And bringing back Kellerman at the very end just to provide an easy way out? Man, I've been impressed by the writers of this show since the excellent first season, and this is the first time they've really let me down. They couldn't think of anything else that would make sense? Kellerman was obviously dead, the same way that Sarah was obviously dead--- until they made up that not so believable story on how her death was faked when the contract disputes were already resolved. And as for the ending? I though it was both believable and fitting that Michael died in the end. No violent reactions from me. Sure, a lot of fans are clamoring for the predictable storybook ending, some have been ranting on how Michael deserved a happy ending after all he's been through, but c'mon. The series has never been about fairy tale endings. That's not even how things go in real life. Kudos to the writers for not going through the predictable path. The ending even gave the series a lasting emotional impact, as compared to an ending wherein everyone is riding happily towards the sunset. So yeah, season four a was great ride during the first half, but everything else pretty much sucked. But as a whole, Prison Break still remains as one of my favorite TV shows, thanks to the strengths of the incredible previous seasons.

As for the direct to DVD movie called The Final Break that's intended to tie up all loose ends? I ask--- what loose ends? Man, this is another attempt to cash in on a series that's on its dying breath! Fox is really milking the series for all it's worth. If they could really expound the storyline, then by all means go for it. But if it would only serve to make the ending even more convoluted, then they better leave it as it is.