What I'm Watching: Prison Break

Prison Break: Season 3, Episode 12 “Hell or High Water” (D)

This episode is markedly better than its recent predecessors merely because it is such a relief to finally see them get out of prison. Not nearly as exciting as the first time about 20 months ago, but this at least jump-starts the pace of the series. Michael deserves the Humanitarian of the Year Award for his frequent heroics, keeping the bad guys (Lechero and T-Bag) in jail and constantly offering to share his breathing tube with the basketball-playing kid. Lincoln seems like he would fit in better in some comedy here, constantly jumping down Mahone’s throat with taunts of “sucks for you” and “screw you”. Not to mention that he nearly killed him right then and there. The problems facing this show now are its dependence on keeping at least some characters in prison (if it continues to follow the storylines of Sucre, T-Bag, and Bellick rather than abandoning them to their fates) and that L.J. and Sofia are still hostages. There is entirely too much double-crossing, and what is Whistler possibly thinking? It is not like he has a cell phone so he can plan to rendezvous with Michael. How will they communicate and arrange a plan? For the record, Gretchen is wearing quite a bright shade of lipstick which sticks out like a sore thumb. Same goes for the basketball kid’s bright red shirt. Ever heard of discretion? Next week is the season finale, which for the first time comes at the ideal number of episodes – thirteen. If only the season had been just a bit better (or a whole hell of a lot better).