Storytime: Prison Break 0308: Bang and Burn

You know, tonight's episode of Prison Break made me ponder the usefulness of Schofield. I mean, if I was the Company, why would I bother go through all the trouble of manhandling Schofield to do my dirty work? Especially when helicopters and generic baddies are far easier to come by than mopey tattooed dudes (assuming you're looking at the right kind of concert). For that matter, why did the Helicopter aided escape attempt fail? I mean, the damn thing just stood there looking like it had been asked to prom by the cutest boy in school. In I could sit in my Armchair General…armchair for a moment; may I suggest that it would have a good idea to get the fuck out of dodge? Maybe worry about Schofield later?
Apart from (the now dormant) writers screwing us out of yet another escape (this one seems much more rational) it was an episode that didn't really give us anything to chew on or (for myself) complain about. As I discussed (at excessive) length last week Prison Break seems increasingly intent on diluting it's original formula with plot points up the wazoo. The first (and event the second) season relied on tension, but it was a kind of corny tension, the objectives and characters where nearly always predictable, but that was the reason that it was so enjoyable.
Maybe it's my control issues running rampant again, but I feel like this tension has been traded in for a kind of cheap twist that makes the show not only worse, but also perversely predictable (but in a bad way this time).

But enough harping on, it's perhaps time to actually talk about Bake and Burn (or is that my mother's cooking? ZING!), which was an okay episode, at least in the context of this season.
The whole 'hidden tunnel' was at the same time a feasible development and an example of dues ex machinma. As I suggested last week, Lechero's knowledge of the Prison hierarchy and layout would be a beneficial addition. I say this not only towards to the actual escape plan, but also to the show in general. It was interesting seeing Lechero in this episode being torn between his duties inside the prison and the suddenly clear realization that he may be able to get out of there of there one his back his new found white boy. It was also nice to have a new Sona-confined antagonist, considering that the writers seem to be avoiding T-Bag and Bellick like they're, well, T-Bag and Bellick.
I understand the shunning stance on Bellick, but why T-Bag? His rise up the Sona drug ladder would at least be more interesting then seeing Schofield and Whistler dutifully cling to a rope one to waste time.
Whistler turned out to the surprise during this episode, even though he never made a move on Schofield (no, not that kind of move) the fact that he had a little plan of his own is going to make things very different between the pair (ooh, what about a split and an Amazing Race type competition to get out of Sona First).
This is of course assuming that Schofield ever comes back to Sona, although I get the feeling that his hiatus is going to be short lived. After all, wasn't it about this time in season one that he went into Solitary (okay, so maybe a bit later), but it seems like a temporary way of getting Schofield out of Sona.
On the other hand, Mahone is someone whom I'd be very surprised to see back in Sona. his inquiry (is that the right word?) going badly I think we've seen the last of him inside the Prison Walls. It just feels like the whole drug addict storyline has reached its apex, and seeing anymore would be kind of tedious.
Meanwhile in the outside world, Linc and Sucre are up to something. Something that could turn out to be rather interesting, although I have no idea what it is (am I really stupid or has that not been explained yet?). Speaking of speaking, and having no idea, did the whole litany of telephone calls seem horribly convoluted? Also, call me a sexist, but the women where downright boring this episode.


Despite all my objections, I'm still going to watch Prison Break (although not until January now). Firstly because I'm an idiot, and secondly because I need to see how it ends, no matter how disenfranchised I become. I've never been able to turn my back on a TV show, and it's not going to start now. I'm like a bear, I mate for life baby*.





*I have no idea if bears actually make for life, but I assume they would. If a spouse bear committed adultery then the other bear could kick it's ass. Would you want to be on the receiving end of those claws? No, I didn't think so.