(FOX)
Prison Break is one of the rare shows that I can watch and accept on its surface. Sure, there are times when a given scene left me questioning a plot point's believability, as my furrowed brow will no doubt attest. But on the whole, FOX's Prison Break somehow allowed me to throw plausibility to the wind with blissful glee.
In May, Prison Break called it quits after four years of escapes, conspiracies, and a body count too large to recall. At the end of the final episode, however, the prison-rooted drama jumped ahead four years and showed the audience where each main character was in their life. One vital character was not present, however (I won't spoil here if you have yet to see season four), and Prison Break: The Final Break aims to fill in the gaps as to what transpired during that multi-year flash forward.
Final Break picks up where the finale left off. Michael Scofield and the gang have been cleared of all charges due to an unlikely ally--Agent Paul Kellerman. With their newfound freedom, Michael and Sara opt to jump the broom in a modest ceremony. While celebrating their nuptials, Sara is abruptly arrested and charged with the murder of Michael's (evil) mother and major Company player, Christina (as witnessed in the series finale).
While the premise is simple, the execution is vintage Prison Break. After realizing Sara is facing a sentence of 25 years to life prison, Michael, Lincoln, and Sucre hatch a plan to free the former Fox River Penitentiary doctor.
Almost everyone returns in Final Break, excluding Michael Raport's Don Self and Rockmond Dunbar's C-Note. Lincoln's son, LJ (Marshall Allman), is also absent.
Those who do return, however, are major players. General Jonathan Krantz, played with exhausted, sinful relish by Leon Russom, and Robert Knepper's deliciously creepy T-Bag, play significant roles in the main plot involving Sara's attempted prison break.
But it's the main cast that works well here. We see Michael's devotion towards his new wife when he visits her in prison, unable to touch the woman he loves who sits just a few feet away. We see the clever side of Michael, too, as he’s forced to reach out to his wife in prison via unconventional methods. And when relentless FBI Agent Wheatley (Chris Bruno) catches onto Michael's plan and confronts him at his own residence without a warrant, Michael uses his rarely seen wit to de-escalate the situation.
Throughout Final Break, too, the audience is left to wonder where Alex Mahone’s (the great William Fichtner) loyalties really lie.
It may be the actual prison scenes, though, where Final Break shines. When a pregnant Sara first enters the jail-prison combo complex (“budget cuts,” a guard reveals), she not only gets verbally accosted by fellow inmates, she gets physically assaulted by the guards. Bruised and battered, Sara latches onto a boss-like character called Daddy (played by the ironically sweet-voiced Lori Petty). With hesitation (and a painful initiation), Sara joins Daddy's "family" for protection, until a former character and current inmate is revealed that forces her to switch loyalties.
Sarah Wayne Callies' Sara Tancredi is the heart of this production. Callies' Sara is far too rare female seen on television. With no weapons and a feeble frame, Sara embodies the inner strength and determination that many characters--male or female--never have. At one point, Sara is confronted by Daddy in an unguarded area of the prison. Concerned, Sara stoically states, "I don't know what you want, but I promise you, I will go down fighting." Those words alone will make you wish FOX had greenlit the Prison Break spin off which would have revolved around this female prison.
There are, of course, some hiccups regarding Final Break. With a straight-to-DVD release comes some condensed plotting. In season one, we saw Michael, Sucre, Lincoln, T-Bag and others plan their escape from Fox River over the course of 20+ episodes. In Final Break, it seems that Michael concocts his plan within 20+ minutes. And while this episode will reveal, in no uncertain terms, the fate that befell Michael Scofield, some fans may still be unsatisfied by not only what transpires, but how.
Despite all of this, Prison Break: The Final Break is an exciting conclusion to a thrilling series. It is known that there are some who do not want to watch this 90-minute episode, choosing to have the four year flash forward stand on its own. I would recommend renting Final Break, however, because beyond the mere explanation of what happened during that time jump, the prison sequences and memorable characters are well worth your time.
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Comments
Love sarah <3!! She's such a great actress and defintely my favorite one!! I think the Final Break was a really good movie only a little bit short.
Sarah Wayne Callies excelled herself in this film, an amazing piece of acting from Sarah. Her and Wentworth Miller for me made this film spine chilling. The prison visit broke my heart and also the infirmary talk with the doctor, Sarah really took Dr Sara's journey much further and again her acting hade me in tears feeling her pain that her baby would be removed. The wedding scene was great, it was NOT long enough far too rushed. It wouldn't have hurt the writers to give us some Michael and Sara love seeing as they were torn apart as newly weds. Just wish this film was made into a Season 5 with the introduction of the female prison but hey ho!!!! Loved it while it lasted but cheated by Michaels death and Sara a single parent and widowed. That was not an ending that I wanted. :(
it s so sad Mic is died and Sara prison oh no
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