Roush on Prison Break
Question: I know you're not really a fan of
Prison Break these days (been growing a little weary of it myself). However, now that the boys are out of Sona, I was looking forward to seeing the three-seasons-in-the-making takedown of The Company. At this point, I don't think the show's expected to come back in the spring, and I don't think I can sit through (or Fox will order) a full 22-episode Season 4. So my question is: Will Fox consider shooting the remaining nine episodes as an abbreviated final run, or even a wrap-up movie if all else fails? I feel like I've put up with a lot, and while I didn't hate Season 3 as much as most people, I was increasingly looking forward to what I suspect would have been a bad-ass series-ending arc of the brothers taking down the people who've made their lives a nightmare. Any info you can find out (even insider rumors) about the fate of the show would be
much appreciated.
— Mike
Matt Roush: As preposterous as I
feel the show has become,
Prison Break still has enough of a following that I'd be shocked if Fox didn't at least give it a shortened order for next season to (please God) wrap up some elements of the story. Actually, telling the next (let it be final) chapter in 13 or fewer installments might work even better for this show. It certainly helped keep this season tight, not unlike
Jericho making do with only seven episodes this season. But where this season's
Prison Break finale is concerned, since it was far from a sure thing that it would be coming back, I think the producers did fans a disservice by leaving so many things hanging. At the very least, they should have given us the satisfaction of letting Michael (or someone) blow the ridiculous Susan B. Anthony away. I've rarely seen a less convincing TV villainess, and the thought that she'd be around next season (if there is one) gives me even less incentive to check in to see what comes next.
But because I know you've come to expect me to print a rebuttal to my more negative reviews, here's this from Christine: "I read your comments about
Prison Break, and I am writing to let you know that I am a fan who still loves it, and I have enjoyed this season. Yes, there are moments when it isn't at all realistic, but we have to remember that 99 percent of television shows are not realistic. The shows are made to entertain us, not give us a glimpse of reality. We live in reality day in and day out. After a long day at the office, the last thing I want to do is turn on a television show that reminds me of my day at work. At home, I want to watch something entertaining. And yes, I still find
Prison Break entertaining. I can't wait to see how the writers are going to twist and turn every situation. I for one am hoping for a Season 4."
And this, my friends, is one of the reasons why
Friday Night Lights struggled to find an audience. Look, I'm all for escapism, and I enjoyed most of Season 1 of
Prison Break for that very reason. But there's a point at which a show like this just becomes too silly and strained to sustain critical interest in its increasingly cartoonish characters.
Prison Break passed that juncture long ago. If all a show has to recommend it are increasingly outlandish twists (see current season of
Nip/Tuck as well), it's just not enough.
