Reviews by Matt

Last night, Fox got the new television season started early. Last night was the season premiere of “Prison Break.” Last season the show was all about escape from prison, this season is about the cons on the run. The big challenge for the show this year, is to keep the show as interesting as it was last year and so far, so good.
Last season Michel Scofield (Wentworth Miller,) robbed a bank and was sent to prison, but it was just the first part of his plan. He requested to be sent to Fox River Penitentiary, where, unknown to the judge, Michael’s older brother Lincoln Burrows was being held. Burrows was on death row for the murder of Terrence Stedman, the vice president’s brother. He didn’t do it (in fact Stedman is still alive), but there is no proof. Michael has a plan to get his brother out. Using his elaborate tattoo and some other convicts he is able to break out him, his brother as well as six others who get involved in the process.
The eight cons that escaped have been split up. “T-Bag” (Robert Knepper,) “Tweener” (Lane Garrison,) and “Haywire” (Silas Wier Mitchell) have been left to fend for themselves. Michael Scofield, Lincoln Burrows, “C-Note” (Rockmand Dunbar,) Fernando Sucre (Amaury Nolasco,) and John Abruzzi (Peter Stormare) are on the run together going through Michael’s Plan B (Plan A was to get on a plane after escaping, but the plane took off as they got to the airfield and that’s why they are on the run.) The new member to the cast is William Fichtner he plays Special Agent Alexander Mahone, who has been assigned by the FBI to track the escapees.
The real challenge for the creators was to keep this show interesting. Last season we saw Michael use his elaborate tattoo to help them escape. Each part of the tattoo had bits of information hidden within it to help them escape. (Ex. The path of pipes under the psych ward, size screw needed to unscrew the toilet so that they can move it and get through the wall of the cell) This season is not going to rely on the tattoo as much (though there was some use last night.) Keeping the show intriguing will be harder.
The first episode of season two was just as riveting as the best episode of season one. The introduction of Agent Mahone was the best thing the show could have done. Mahone is as smart as Michel and has already figured out that he had the map of the prison tattooed on his body. He will be the one this season to match wits with Michael. It was made clear last night that making it out of prison was the easy part, with Mahone looking for them, it’s going to be hard to stay a head of him.
“Escape is only the beginning.” That was the tagline for season one and it was, but now things are just picking up. The challenges of life on the run have the potential to be more interesting then the plan to escape was. I had my doubts when season two began, but if last night was any indication, this should shape up to be a very good season.

Fox Monday’s 8:00/ 7:00 Central
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