Prison Break Season Four Review
Schofield And Burrows' Journey Comes To An End
When a great television series comes to an end, there is always a certain degree of analysis that accompanies its final moments. When The Sopranos ended recently, much controversy surrounded its so-called 'cold ending'; when Friends ended several years ago, longtime fans spent weeks analysing its conclusion after a ten-year run, debating whether or not the show achieved an emotionally satisfying finale.
With Prison Break, however, the case was somewhat different. Fans only expected emotional satisfaction or storyline resolution up to a point; the main selling point of the show throughout its four years had been its rip-roaring, non-stop sense of action.
It is this sense of action that viewers had hoped would be sustained throughout Season Four, and once the show's cancellation was announced six episodes prior to the season's end, it was expected that the action level would be truly ramped up in time for the conclusion.
A New Beginning For Schofield And Friends
The early episodes of the season see the outlaying of a new format for the show. This year, instead of the simple formula used in Seasons One and Three that saw Michael Schofield (Wentworth Miller), Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) and others fleeing from a variety of pursuers, or Season Two's 'on the run' scenario, the tables were turned - Schofield, Burrows, and several more characters see themselves recruited by Homeland Security agent Don Self (Michael Rapaport), as he attempted to take down the insidious 'Company'.
Self is a welcome addition to the show - his blunt, businesslike attitude is an important tool in keeping the story moving, with Schofield and co. never given a moment's rest in their quest to recover the mysterious data bank named 'Scylla'.
His intervention into the characters' lives also places many of them in unfamiliar roles - seeing the likes of the ever-fascinating Brad Bellick (Wade Williams) struggle to adapt to the newfound pressure placed upon them is an early season highlight.
The Hunt For Scylla
The mid-season action stepped up once the group made progress in their search for the six component parts of 'Scylla', the device that would bring the Company down once and for all, and secure the freedom of Michael, Lincoln, and their associates.
Storyline waters become slightly murky when it emerges that Michael has developed a brain tumour, however, and this development leads Lincoln into an uneasy alliance with the Company in order to save Michael's life.
Filled with betrayals, deal-making and moral ambiguity rather than the mounting tension and heart-stopping set-pieces of earlier seasons, the central portion of Season Four represents another departure from the norm for the show.
While entertainment levels remain high throughout the season, it is not difficult to see how many fans of the show's storytelling style throughout Seasons One and Two in particular were turned off by this new and more character-based approach.
The End Of The Line
As the season draws to a close, the emergence of Cristina Rose Scofield (Kathleen Quinlan), Michael's mother - but not Lincoln's, as it turns out - as the mastermind behind the Company's plans brings a new dimension to the show. Michael is led into an intense yet somewhat stunted personal arc, while Lincoln struggles to reconcile his deal with General Jonathan Krantz (Leon Russom) with his brother's desire to exact revenge on the Company for ruining their lives.
With Michael facing difficult choices between the people he cares about and the revenge he so craves, the season's action kicks into gear in the two-part finale - however, the need to shoehorn the ending of the show into six episodes at short notice clearly hampers the narrative, as past characters are clumsily brought back in slightly tenuous ways.
Some closure is nevertheless achieved - the brothers eventually succeed in handing over 'Scylla' to the United Nations, and those responsible for the Company's dealings get their comeuppance. It is on a sad note that the season ends, however - despite most of the characters appearing at peace in a flash-forward to four years on, it is revealed that Michael has since died, presumably of the brain tumour that plagued him earlier in the season.
A Difficult Conclusion
While many would agree that Prison Break never quite replicated the heights of innovation and sheer quality it reached during its first season, it remained one of television's most popular shows throughout its run. The shortening of Season Three due to the writers' strike of 2007-08 did not help the show's already flagging ratings, and a recovery from a loss of interest among many fans was always going to be difficult.
Nevertheless, the show succeeded admirably in providing a distinctly watchable fourth season - despite the many nuanced changes in narrative style, the race-against-the-clock set-pieces of earlier seasons were still present often enough to keep the viewer interested. The addition of new characters such as Cristina Scofield and Don Self provided new dynamics, while Wentworth Miller's performances as Michael improved as the season went on.
Overall, Prison Break's conclusion will have left many fans disappointed - however, when the dust settles, Prison Break must be remembered for its triumphs rather than its failings. As a show that broke extensive new ground during its first two seasons, both thematically and cinematically, it will remain an important influence on the television industry for years to come, regardless of how satisfied fans may or may not be by news of the apparent death of Michael Scofield.
Prison Break - a satisfying ending?
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