Prison Break

I mentioned a couple weeks ago (on Online Onslaught) that I'm giving Prison Break a shot on Netflix, since I wanted to see it when it originally came out and never had the chance. As I also mentioned, I had heard that it went completely off the rails during Season 2, which is part of the reason it only lasted four seasons total. And... well... man, I cannot think of a better description.

Rick had said in editor's comment that he thought it got pretty stupid during the first season, let alone the second, and I agree. Now, I researched the show (since I'm a lonely 30-year-old and that's the kind of thing I do), and it turns out the original season was intended to only be a half-season, only 13 episodes. Instead, FOX extended it because it's run by idiots, and it went to a full 26 episodes. If the original jail break was done with around 13 episodes, I think it would have greatly helped. Instead, the show's pace absolutely slogged.

It got much worse and even more ridiculously contrived in Season 2, and that's coming from a guy who generally enjoys professional wrestling storylines. Then Season 3 rolled around, the main character got tossed back into a prison, and suddenly the show became significantly better... when related only to his second prison break. All the ancillary storylines got more stupid, but Season 3 lasted only 13 episodes, so it didn't feel nearly as bad. Was that around the writers' strike? I can't imagine why else they would just stick a half-season in there for no reason.

So now I'm a couple episodes into Season 4, and I'm totally confused. Apparently between Seasons 3 and 4, they showed a bunch of "background" episodes, and since I didn't know that (nor care), there's just a massive plot jump with no discernable continuity. It's somewhat painful, and I'm tempted to "walk away" from the series, but Season 4 is the last one, and I want to get through it.

Still, Prison Break isn't all bad... It's taught me that I really, really like staring at Jodi Lyn O'Keefe. She can break into my prison anytime, or something.