When I heard Prison Break was having a revival I decided to have a Prison Break marathon and to watch all the old episodes before it started. I must admit I was positively surprised by how much I liked it. The producers found (in most episodes) a way to keep us hooked to the story. Always wanting more. Always wanting to watch the next episode as soon as possible.

Here goes a trailer in case you don’t know what I’m talking about or if you aren’t so sure if you watched it or not.

Prison Break – the plot

Basically, the series starts as Michael Scofild tries to break his brother out of prison. His brother Lincoln was accused of killing the vice-president’s brother.Lincoln swears he didn’t do it. And his brother believes him. So we spend all of the first season inside the prison, preparing for the escape. As the plan develops some other inmates get involved in the project. Some of them are not such good people. Or maybe they are.

Season two focuses on  what happens to them right after they escape the prison. The life on the run. Being hunted by the police, FBI and the Company. Some stick together longer, while others go their own ways right after the escape.

Season 3 was a shorter one, as Michael is sent to prison in Panama. Michael and Sara were already on the boat, with the money, readyto go when everything changed. Michael ends up in Sona, which is a prison that is run by its own inmates. There, Michael has to deal with the rescue from a man wanted by the Company. This time he only has a week to do it.

The fourth and final season shows their lives after the escape from Sona. The Company is still after them. But this time they decide to change the game and to attack the Company first. Everyone is after something called Scylla, so Michael decides they are going after it too. They find some strange and unexpected allies along the way. Enemies become friends and friends become enemies.

My thoughts

I loved the way season one started. It had the right amount of adrenaline, drama, love, funny moments. They also managed to find a way to inspire those, who like myself like to ponder about life, to think about some key issues. What are we ready or capable of doing for the people we love? When is time to give up? Is there ever time to give up? Does the end always justify the means? Throughout the series Michael is conflicted with decisions like that. He has to hurt people he cares about to be able to help others, for example. Is that worth it?

For me, seasons 1 and 2 were amazing. Of course, sometimes they pushed it a little too hard. Making Michael face a few too many problems. But disappointing was season 3. Maybe I was not the only one, as the season only had 13 episodes. Not sure if they cut it short because the ratings were bad or if that was the plan all along. In season 4 they picked it up again. They changed things a little, but as with so many series before and after, at some point we get fed up with seeing the same scenario over and over again.  The ending itself was quite surprising, though as one of the main characters died.

One of the things I liked the most about it were the complex and complicated relationships. As friends, like the one between Sucre and Michael or even the one that forms between Michael and Mahone (the FBI agent hunting them in season 2). But also to see how some people like T-Bag try to change.Is it possible to change who we are? How much is the environment responsible for who we become?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_Break

Revival – what to expect

I am not sure what to expect from this Prison Break revival. From what we already know, we will be sent back to prison with the main character. Is this going to leave a sour taste of déjà vu? Maybe. I must admit that I am at the same excited and worried. It feels a lot like we are going to see it all over again, just in a new country. I hope they got creative and changed it up a bit.

Here you can see a video explaining a bit of what to expect from it. It also shows a lot of the actors working on i giving their points of view. Enjoy!