WTH, Prison Break?

[Via]

I know this is an old series, but I have to vent.

I watched the first two seasons a few years ago. Season one is fantastic, as long as you're able to suspend disbelief a bit (it's not that hard). The second season can't quite live up to it's promise, and I stalled at the beginning of season 3 (according to Netflix I watched 1 1/2 episodes).

A few weeks ago I decided to rewatch it, and maybe try to continue on to the end. Even though I could remember most of what was coming the first season still stands out. It' s a one-trick pony, but what a pony. They work the tension/release cycle almost to perfection over and over again.

Season 2 wasn't nearly as bad as I remember. I think going in with lowered expectations helps.

Which brings me to season 3: WTF? It begins with an interesting premise, and after a few episodes I figured it had settled on a tone of hardcore, cartoonish images, still floating in fantasyland above any sort of grim reality. Then, around episode 5, an event so ugly and awful and unnecessary and tasteless happens that I could barely believe what I was seeing. To make matters worse, it's an event that we've seen all to frequently in real news the past decade or more. I don't know who at FOX thought that this was even remotely passable.

I don't know if I'm going to continue. I think I've had enough. It is what it is - a potentially great series that lost it's way completely and dove straight for the bottom. You have to tread lightly if you're going to reside down there, and PB jumps into a bucket of concrete.

/rant

 

[RaistlinZ]

Season 1 was a masterpiece. I didn't watch past season 2 though.

 

[smackababy]

Well, thanks for being extremely vague about what happened in season 3. You could have at least said what it was and used spoiler tags for those of us that have no intention of ever watching Prison Break.

 

[Via]

Well, thanks for being extremely vague about what happened in season 3. You could have at least said what it was and used spoiler tags for those of us that have no intention of ever watching Prison Break.

Spoiler

Sarah Wayne Callies (of Walking Dead fame), who was the lead character's love interest for the first two seasons (very well done with great chemistry) gets kidnapped, beheaded, and her head gets sent back to the lead character's brother in a bloody box.

.

It's very sudden and shocking.

 

[smackababy]

Spoiler

Sarah Wayne Callies (of Walking Dead fame), who was the lead character's love interest for the first two seasons (very well done with great chemistry) gets kidnapped, beheaded, and her head gets sent back to the lead character's brother in a bloody box.

.

It's very sudden and shocking.

Spoiler

Well, I am glad that happened; only because I hated her in Walking Dead.

 

[abj13]

Spoiler

Sarah Wayne Callies (of Walking Dead fame), who was the lead character's love interest for the first two seasons (very well done with great chemistry) gets kidnapped, beheaded, and her head gets sent back to the lead character's brother in a bloody box.

.

It's very sudden and shocking.

If you didn't like that, wouldn't keep watching, since the absurdity goes off the charts by season 4.

Only hover over if you want to be spoiled about what I'm getting at:

Spoiler

Sara isn't dead, she comes back to star in season 4

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Spoiler

Sarah Wayne Callies (of Walking Dead fame), who was the lead character's love interest for the first two seasons (very well done with great chemistry) gets kidnapped, beheaded, and her head gets sent back to the lead character's brother in a bloody box.

.

Bigger spoiler:

Spoiler

It's faked, she's alive

 

[Clinkster]

Didn't the writer's strike happen during Season 3?

 

[Via]

Didn't the writer's strike happen during Season 3?

I guess that would make sense, but they obviously brought in some sick puppies to write those scripts.

 

[MetalMat]

Prison Break was a dumb concept. What they finally break out of prison season 1 and then....? They go back to prison? Doomed to one good season

 

[Via]

Prison Break was a dumb concept. What they finally break out of prison season 1 and then....? They go back to prison? Doomed to one good season

I think it maybe was planned as a possible one-season show, and when it became popular they had to keep it going.

They may have hired some soap-opera level scribes to flesh out season 2. Some of the subplots regarding various escapees are really hard to watch.

Spoiler

WTF was up with Tea-bag wanting to "be a family" with the woman that turned him in and her kids? That was so queer.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Prison Break was a dumb concept. What they finally break out of prison season 1 and then....? They go back to prison? Doomed to one good season

It's not that it was a dumb concept, it's that it was a dumb concept for a 5-season series.

Back before networks got so greedy for syndication money, they would make something called a "mini series" that was intended to only last one season. Because it was planned that way, it had something called a "real ending" instead of following the JJ Abrahms school of "making it up as you go" then "painting yourself into a corner".

"Mini series": good times, good times.

Now get off my lawn.

 

[Sea Moose]

This is the difference between American and British tv series.

I think that the American ones one to go forever and dont know when to quit. British ones go for a couple of seasons and are of higher quality... There are exceptions.

Game of Thrones is Brilliant... I am just starting s3 and it hasnt jumped the shark yet

 

[Via]

I did look up the reason for the event that I posted. It seems there was a vitriolic contract dispute, but of course info is sketchy, and many public statements sugar-coat it.

If you dig deep enough it's plain to see that the affected character was not happy about what happened.

 

[deadlyapp]

This is the difference between American and British tv series.

I think that the American ones one to go forever and dont know when to quit. British ones go for a couple of seasons and are of higher quality... There are exceptions.

Game of Thrones is Brilliant... I am just starting s3 and it hasnt jumped the shark yet

Game of thrones isn't even in the same league - that series is based on a few books and a fixed (although not yet completed) end. With the imagery that is in the books, it's no wonder that the show continually succeeds.

 

[Printer Bandit]

prison break was great all the way up to the end. kept me entertained. what more can you ask for in a tv show?

 

[dr150]

It's not that it was a dumb concept, it's that it was a dumb concept for a 5-season series.

Back before networks got so greedy for syndication money, they would make something called a "mini series" that was intended to only last one season. Because it was planned that way, it had something called a "real ending" instead of following the JJ Abrahms school of "making it up as you go" then "painting yourself into a corner".

"Mini series": good times, good times.

Now get off my lawn.

Spot on comments.