Why it feels SO good to Love Prison Break again! (PB 4.03)
So last week I was a little lukewarm about some aspects of PB 4.02 & 4.02 as it reinvents itself yet again... but a lot of that, I think, was just the fact that so much had to be explained in such a short amount of time that there wasn't as much room for show stealing moments (well except certain *wink* stuff that had to be done). Anyway, I think you know what I mean :) However, this was so not the case this week with "Shutdown" - 4.03 - where they seemed to really hit the ground running. If this is a preview of what the rest of the season is going to be like, I'd just like to say, "baby I'm lovin' it!"
1. Lincoln! If Dom isn't one of the greatest untapped resources of this show (most of the time), I don't know who else is. I loved all the little details they added that were so "Linc" to this episode - from bossing nerd boy around - to the sensitivity with which he handled Mahone - and oh, yeah, who could forget the way he went for the axe! He was awesome! When you get right down to it, character-wise, he's such a good opposition to most of Michael's intense brainiac behavior, and amusing too, I don't know why the writers don't make more of an effort ALL THE TIME to feature his bearish gentility. I loved every moment of it. Here's the funny part too, I've gotten an older friend of ours to lurve PB (she's my mom's age) and she texted me mid-episode to say "Linc is sooo cool!" How great is that?
2. Loved the way the "team" seemed to really gel in this episode. Everyone always has something going on, plus there were agendas within agendas (like the way Linc was catching onto Mahone), or Bellick wanting to get the frak out of dodge, that in the end it all just seemed to click beautifully. The Chemistry of the entire group was spot on!
3. I laughed out loud multiple times, which just amped up the enjoyment that much more. I mean, "Dr. Feel Good?" Seriously? I love you PB!
4. I already said that everyone always has something going on, but more than that not one character (except maybe T-bag at this point) seems superfluous. I mean, one can see how say Bellick and Sucre are less of a necessity with regards to bringing something to the team, but since everyone is in their respective niche character-wise, it doesn't matter a bit. In the end, believability is all about characters and the way they interact with each other and this episode is a great testament to that truth. IMO, the rest of the show can just coast on that success alone.
5. Mahone showing up out of nowhere and decoding things. Mahone. Period. I love how he seems to "intuit" that the shut down is coming and how that throws him even more out of whack. I still can't believe they killed his son. But I do love the additional layers that it adds to the storyline with Lincoln.
6. I love love love that Sara catches on to Michael's deceptive behavior in the beginning. This is actually great continuity imo. I mean, granted, S1 was totally different when it comes to him deceiving her, but still she sees right through him no matter what. Plus, I love the no BS way she asks him what is going on. Sometimes the writers scare me on this show, but this time, they are spot on.
7. Sara noticing Michael's *headache*... This actually has been really bothering me. I feel like I can see the future with this one, and at some point she's going to be too wrapped up in her own stuff to notice what is going on with him - which I feel is totally out of character for both of them. So the scene in the tunnel set me at ease, she might not be thinking it is medical yet, but at least he's got her attention. I love that she is calm under pressure, still the voice of reason. She seems to ground him which, imo, adds another layer to their relationship. We haven't seen them like this much, running, stressed, etc, AND talking. I feel, very much, a call back to the Sara we saw in the infirmary with these two scenes which just generally makes me so so happy about the entire 4th season.
8. Okay, so a bit cheesy here, but I loved the part at the end where Self was letting everyone go. I loved the drama unfolding between Michael and Sara, but also the way that Linc was all 'get your hands off me" with his body language. I was half laughing, half tearing up at the same time. I thought the little Michael/Sara moment was almost over the top, but at the same time, I really loved how they were looking at each other - and coming together- across the sea of people. It really was a sweet moment and well earned if you ask me.
Okay gotta run to work. Hopefully more later