[SPOILERS!!!]
The 4th season series finale of Prison Break ended it’s dying ratings existence in its Friday night slot.
This final season trudged along while everybody was chasing Scylla. The General wanted it, Christina Scofield wanted it. China wanted it. India wanted. Hell, who didn’t want it? I wanted it so I can find some dirt to write about.
I tried to break this down in a chronological order, but my new novel adaptation of Fox’s Prison Break was getting way too long. The closing story became too convoluted with twists, turns and the reappearance of old characters that I felt that maybe I just needed to draw on my emotions about the finale and not try to detail out the episode. We all say it. Right?
There are some SPOILERS included in one way or another, so you have been warned.
The brothers Michael (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) went through a lot through the entire show: from Michael allowing himself to be incarcerated to help free his brother Lincoln for a crime he didn’t commit, to the endless manipulations they were put through to achieve their one true goal: freedom.
General Jonathan Krantz (Leon Russom) was the man who was in control until Michael undermined his entire infrastructure by snagging different parts of Scylla from his control. The General’s only leverage on people was to have his operatives put everyone’s families and friends under the gun. Literally. In the end, his electrical reward was the perfect gift for all his deeds.
Christina Scofield (Kathleen Quinlan) was nasty. The mother of Lincoln Burroughs and Michael Scofield, she was the nasty nail in everything. She was a true “Company” operative that did what was necessary to get her job or goals done. She even gave up her kids to affect her end game. When all was said and done, her demise at the hands of Sara Tanchredi (Sarah Wayne Callies) was perfect.
Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell (Robert Knepper) was the tragic Shakespearean character in this show. Evil by impulse, he had gotten a taste of legitimate work and loved it. An honest job was one of the lures that the General used to manipulate him into doing his bidding.
Yet T-Bag had a keen analytical mind that was wasted on crime. In the end, the General’s biddings seemed to push T-Bag back to his core mode of murdering and “other” things. Knepper made T-Bag incredibly believable and I couldn’t decide to like, hate or feel sorry for him. In the end, his compulsive nature to take the easier path of crime landed him back where this all began, in a prison with some poor fool hanging on to his pocket linen.
Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner) was a catalyst of action when he had sufficient inspiration. I really enjoyed Fichtner’s portrayal of the character. In fact I like most of what William Fichtner does. He proves that men with receding hairlines can get the job done! Though he was forced to become allies with Scofield, things were worked out in the end for him.
Donald Self (Michael Rapaport) was the fed who promised immunity and gave the escapees blank paper for their work. Who then found himself manipulated back into the fold to be part of this ragtag team of non-criminals (mostly) committing criminal deeds. In the end, he was getting what he deserved as he found himself in a hospital.
Rappaport made us believe that Self was there to help, until he turned on the brothers. Then we didn’t know what to think about his loyalties until I decided that Self was loyal to no one but his own end game. In the end when he was put in a corner so to speak, his written defiance to the feds showed his loyalties finally cemented in with the gang and I’m mixed on his ending. In some ways he deserved it for all his manipulations. Then again, who deserves that kind of vegetative state?
Honorable mention though she wasn’t in the finale:
Jodi Lyn O’Keefe as Gretchen Morgan. I can’t remember a time when a character was done so well. O’Keefe played Gretchen so well that A: I hated every scene she was in. B: Every scene she wasn’t in, I was hoping the scene was producing some end-game to Gretchen’s demise. Yea, it was that bad. A kudos to the actress for scarring me for life.
The Finale Of Twists
Everyone had either been kidnapped or had someone they knew kidnapped or was going to be kidnapped. The other angle that kept coming at me was that every 30 minutes or so, someone else had a gun to Michael’s head. And everyone was tricking everyone. At least Michael had dissected that damn Scylla.
All the on-the-sly maneuverings that went on allowed some old faces and other government entities to show up and finally get the upper hand.
There were a few fresh faces of old in the mix. Fernando Sucre (Amaury Nolasco) and Benjamin Miles “C-Note” Franklin (Rockmond Dunbar). Sucre and C-Note show up as C-Note has a way for everyone to get himself or herself out of this endless spiral of legal trouble they keep finding themselves in and they work their way toward finding Michael and Lincoln.
And suddenly there’s Paul Kellerman, (Paul Adelstein) offering a legal way out of this whole debacle, as it seems he’s backed by the United Nations. Man, everyone was in on this.
In the end, Kellerman had the power to exonerate everyone. Sucre keeps the pen he used to sign his freedom. Everyone bids farewell. Everyone’s loved ones are safe.
The End Let A Steam Out Of My Bag
As everyone is settling into normalcy, Michael’s nose starts to bleed again. You’ve got to be kidding me. Then we jump to four years later and Michael is dead.
It’s four years later and we watch Sara and Michael Jr. gather together with Sucre, Mahone and Lincoln to pay a remembrance visit to Michael’s grave. Lincoln leaves the ever-iconic origami crane on top of the tombstone.
My Quick Take
This finale had to pack a lot into two hours.
Quick nit: Did you notice the Verizon commercial showing off their streaming video in the first hour? They were showing scenes that weren’t going to happen for another 45 minutes? Just brilliant.
I think the show took a ton of extra turns and twists and steps to get where they were in the finale.
It felt like the writers never had an end game, but they let the writing take them wherever it did. That works for some, but then in the end, it feels like writers are scrambling to account for things they hadn’t fully explored or finalized.
Even though I enjoyed watching the finale, there were so many different twists and turns in it that it got old for me. At one point, we were just waiting for the close. It felt like an over-hyped James Bond action flick. Sometimes there’s so much action that it is no longer exciting to see yet one more explosion. Whoopee.
Michael’s death almost seemed to suck the emotion out of me. It distracted from the entire journey of these four years. It disappointed me that after all that work and effort, his only real reward was his own death. Does that mean he’s truly escaped and is free now? I don’t know.
I was hanging out on Twitter before and during the show and Twitter was aflame with frustration and anger toward the ending. It seemed anti-climatic after all was said and done.
For me, the image I can’t get out of my head, when all is said and done, is Lincoln putting the origami crane on Michael’s tombstone. For me, that sad and touching scene will probably be my memory of this whole series.
At least my emotions were invoked one last time and they managed to engage my imaginative depression one last time before closing credits.
I thought the first two years were fantastic.
After that, I know that Fox wanted to keep a ratings winner in their pocket, but the stretching of the feasibility started after the gang got manipulated into helping Self and then everyone else and their mother (literally) after that. If I stick to the first two years, I say fantastic. The third year, well, yea, OK, it was still good. But then this last season I was on-board solely out of sheer loyalty. Loyalty and the hope for a great end game kept me watching. I could not abandon Michael. I needed to see how he came out of all this.
How did you feel about the finale of Prison Break, the season as a whole or the entire 4-year run? Let us know.
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I diagnose Michele with Benjamin button’s disease !!
How about this? If they get enough people to call, email and write in to bring it back, they could bring back Michael, since we never really seen the 4 years that past. Another agency or entity could have staged his death and Michael could very well be working on the inside? Who knows what the writers, producers, Fox might do… Just a thought…
I am angry that the series is finished, why not season 5? since we didn’t see how michael died, so there is a chance of saying he faked his death. bring him back and make Kellerman’s freedom papers fake. We all loved prison break but the ending was unfair to michael. Why nose bleed since the company treated him with the best medical instruments? it doesnt make sense. Please bring it back… Fox please bring season 5.. it was my life.
I think the fact that michael died in the end from his illness showed that he would have died anyway even he had never got involved in the whole thing, but he lived long enough to ensure the freedom of his friends and the world. i thought it was a good ending but the series as a whole did take to many twists and turns to the point where it got old.
WOW! So after additional research, I see that Prison Break is NOT over. On July 21, we are suppose to get one more break-out, as Michael and Linc (and friends) get to save Sarah. And yes, you better believe that there are MORE surprises! I can’t wait!
I really think that the first two seasons were by far the best. I still loved watching the show. I don’t know if I could have taken 7 or 8 years of them trying to win back their freedom. I was glad to see that past character’s came back for the last show. However I don’t think it was necessary to kill off Michael. I didn’t like how him and Sarah were walking on the beach talking about their future and how happy they were and she even says that she is really happy and then him dying was just a huge let down. I agree that they could have just made it where everyone gets together to see each other at the beach. I was left feeling depressed not happy about the ending. I feel that each character got what they deserved, except for Michael and Sarah.
can anybody tell me if there is a website i can go watch the finale of prison break? unfortunately i missed it that night.
BooBoo:
http://tinyurl.com/ratlv2
Check out this link to Hulu… have fun.
Booboo all episodes here:
http://www.alloshowtv.com/series/details_s.php?cat=S&id=7
i just want to say that it was wrong for u guys to kill micheal and then end the show me and my mom watch it like clock work and if we wasnt home we put it on record thought our cable but i hope u guys put it back on the air
havent watched the finale yet but from the comments,i feel like i have.the whole show is just realistic,michael’s death notwithstanding.who else loves Linc’s character like i do?that was fantabulous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m hoping the writer’s are smart enough to make a quick recovery for the 2 hour DVD prequel. I’m sure they can find a cleaver way to have faked Michael’s death. If not, I would like the last 4 years of my life back and I would never put myself thru the agony of watching the show ever again. If It had a HAPPY CLOSURE people could watch it over and over. They say that Michael is responsible for all the death and destruction of many people’s lives. EXCUSE ME?. I believe the company was responsible for that. BRING MICHAEL BACK or the WHOLE SERIES will be DEAD in peoples minds.
Bruce Simmons,
Thank you soo very much for the link. It was perfect!!! I was disappointed it ended like that but thanks again.
Wow…what a run! In the 4+ years that Prison Break was on, I never missed one episode. It was well written and the cast was incredible. So sad to see it all end, however, all good things must end at some point. I’m gonna miss PB baaaad!
If there was a reason for killing Michael I would love to know what it is. Four seasons we have watched this very different and exciting show and our pay off is to have Michael die. What purpose did that serve? There are shows where that kind of ending is very fitting but prison break is not one of them. It sours the whole series
For the life of me I cannot understand why writer’s have to kill off a character we spend four seasons rooting on. We are aware that reality is not always happy endings. Prison Break was far fetched from the start but it was a good story.
As far as I am concerned Michael’s death left viewers with a very bad taste in their mouths for the entire show. Some shows are right to end with a death, but this is not one of them.
Don’t forget Sharon, that there’s still a 2 hour Final Break episode.
Who knows what really happened to Michael… If he is dead I it doesn’t sour the series for me. That’s what happens sometimes. I wasn’t expecting a totally happy ending from the this show. I thank the writers for having the nads to do it.
If u all wanna see michael alive and the show back please send in ur compalaints to fox via email at : askfox@fox.com
I can’t bear to have the show end this way .. If it ended with michael and sara living happily with their son then it wud’ve been ok .. I mean we don’t expect a fairytale ending rite ?? All we expect is to see michael alive and living as normal a life as can be lived after all those miserable experiences !
We must get PB back !! I knw that we can do it !
Its not over untill the fans say its over!!
We the fans kept the show going and we will continue to do so … This show has been known to listen to its fans requests ( we brought sara back didn’t we ?) And I believe that they will continue to listen to us as long as we make ourselves heard …
They must know how we feel about the show ending this way …
Michael and sara deserve a better ending , a happy ending !
I knw it , u knw it and soon the whole world will knw it , when the show is revived !
So let’s do this ! Together we can do it !
yo! im so glad dat prison break has ended becoz it had started to lose the plot. ther was no prison to break out of.
now we just need to kill the role of jack bauer in 24
I haven’t felt like this from a TV show in a long, long time. I can’t believe how upset I am at the death of the character of Michael Schofield. It was totally unexpected and so sad that after going through what he went though that his son will grow up without a father. I also feel so bad for Sarah who lost so many important people in her life, then went through hell with Michael only to lose him too. I don’t remember being this upset after any series finale and this after thinking the show had run its course after season 2.
That’s why u have to complain to fox !
Hello guys, I live in the uk and YES, I have seen not only the finale but the 2 hour dvd a lot of you are debating, which is only 83 minutes long so not quite the 2 hours everyone is expecting.. So yes, I can confirm that there is more Prison Break to watch, however in answer to most of your thoughts, Michael is NOT suddenly brought back to life. The FINAL BREAK, as it is called, focuses on the 4 year gap between when they are exonerated and the final scene of the season 4 finale. I agree with a lot of people that PB was great but that was only for the first 2 seasons. The whole idea of putting Michael in Sona to break James Whistler out of prison was just a dead end from the start and look what happened, Whistler died without really being a major part of the third season, which is what it was really all about. The fourth season was just a money making scheme with no real plot, just everyone, chasing everyone, round everywhere, completely pointless especially when you think of what happened to Michael in the end anyway. I think someone mentioned the book that T-Bag commented on in the finale, the book, I think, had the word freedom in it and as T-Bag had it and then lost it by going back to fox river he just said he didnt want to see the book again because of that reason.
I can confirm also that Danny WAS Kellermans partner and he was the one that Kellerman shot in season 1 in the back alley when Danny was going to blow the lid on the whole thing to lincolns ex (Michaels lawyer in season 1)
A message for Adil, I agree my friend, i am glad PB has ended because it was just grinding along like a train slapping its breaks on at full speed, having said that the show was good in its first 2 seasons. But your comment about there being no more prison to break out of………hmmmmm watch this space mate.
Some of you agree with killing Michael off, however I agree with the majority of comments I have read (not just on here)that killing michael off was the most ridiculous idea, true this is not disney but it just goes to show that PB was fading miserably in the ratings and really shows that the writers had no clue for an ending so kill off the main character. It keeps people watching as these plots slip out somehow and therefore keeps people viewing to see if it is true, but poeple who have watched this for 4 years now just feel robbed.
One more thing, im not telling you how (unless you want to know) but michael does not die of the tuma. Those of you waiting for the FINAL BREAK, it really is not that special so please don’t get your hopes up. Anyone wanting more info on the FINAL BREAK let me know ill try and let you know without spoiling it for others.
Take it easy guys. Laters
Hey guys me again
Someone said they thought Kellerman was dead, well he was being taken to prison, because he came to Tancredis rescue in her trial (season 2) and backed up her story. When he was in the van being transported, another van ambushed it and some men in masks got out opened up the back of the van that Kellerman was in, Kellerman smiled and said “You took your time” then the camera panned away from the van showing the side of it and several shots were fired but you never saw Kellerman being shot but that was the twist to make you think Kellerman had been shot, when in actual fact it was his people that came to rescue him. It was thought he was shot because he had spilled everything in the court room and these guys had been sent to kill him.
Whoa. Liverpool thanks for the heads up, but next time consider putting up a little “Spoiler Warning” at the beginning.
I had to skip past your comments,,,
Apologies 790. But is what ive said about the FINAL BREAK true, or have i just said this for more suspense for you guys. If you want dude I can let you know where you can view the FINAL BREAK online. Take it easy and let me know.
Ive just been reading Marcs comments from the 18 May 2009, fair enough, people could have stopped watching it but let me ask you a question, why? They have already dedicated their lives to 3 seasons so why should they not see it through to the end and see what happens. After all, this is somewhere, where people can post their comments and have their say just like you have. As I said, I personally think it was dragged out. Each to their own.
I have just watched the final break and have to say that was the most pointless and disappointing thing i’ve watched in a while.I felt that it sent prison break out in a whimper and not a bang that i’ve come to expect from one of my fave series for a long time.
arsenal:
We feel your pain!
@Arsenal, sounds like its still better then Terminator Salvation,,,?