Prison Break ****

[Old and In the Way]

Just finished watching the entire series (80 shows) over about an 8 week period. I really enjoy these Netflix series that allow you to keep the continuity of the storyline without commercial interruption and having to wait a week to watch the next episode.

As far as this series went, I have to say it wasn't my favorite series, but also have to admit that I got invested in the characters. The show revolves around 2 brothers, one framed for murder by 'The Company' and the other determined to break him out, by first getting himself convicted so they can reunite in prison. Along the way, the brothers enlist a bunch of cons to help make the escape possible. Season 1 is about the prison life and the plan to break out...season 2 is focused on the escape, season 3 shifts gears and starts to see the protagonists working to bring down The Company, a shadowy organization that apparently is bent on world domination, but, unfortunately, they end up in a South American prison which is quite a bit nastier than their original prison home. Back to square and the effort to escape. The story continues through season 4 when our hero's get out of prison, then bring down the heads of The Company. A very strange ending in that the season ends very unsettling....4 years later... but the final, final show explains what really happened 4 years earlier.

If you like character development, action, and good production values, I can recommend this series. I got pulled in by the brother Mike, the successful engineer turned convict who tattooed his escape plan on his body before entering prison. Forward planning or what? I thought it would be a high tech adventure, but it turned out to be more formulaic and predictable....double-cross, capture, escape!, run, double-cross, escape!, turn the tables, run, tables turned again, capture, tables overturned, double-cross..,and on and on. I think the storyline could have been cut to 60 episodes and probably wouldn't have missed a beat. The usual suspension of belief for these guys to get through 4 seasons in one piece, too. All in all, a good B/B+ effort.

[William769]

1. I loved this series!

Could not wait to watch it when it was on tv.

I was very saddened at the ending though.