Prison Break is a Damn Good Show (Contains Prison Break Spoilers for “The Rat”)

You know how hard it is to type when you’ve been crying for a 1/2 hour straight?  I just finished watching last night’s Prison Break, and I cried like a little baby. Prison Break returned to TV last night after what seemed like years. Fox was smart enough to pair it with 24.  Now that’s some Monday night lineup.  If you missed last night’s episode, here’s the basics.

So when we last left off, Michael Scofield and his band of merry criminals were trapped in the maintenance room after the corroded pipe they planned on using during their escape was replaced.  Without that pipe there plan was foiled.  After realizing defeat, and almost getting caught by a few suspicious guards, the guys darted back through the man made underground tunnel and up through the guards bunker. They arrived above ground just as Bellick entered.  Whew…I forgot how anxious this show gets me.

With no way to break out, Michael must deal with the reality of his brother’s execution at midnight that night.  Meanwhile, a pissed off T-Bag is giving Michael a bit more grief than he needs right now.  Threats are flying every which way.

One person who seems to understand what Michael is going through is DB Cooper.  Recalling tales of past executions, Cooper tells Michael a story in which one of his fellow inmates had to wait an extra three weeks to be executed because there was a malfunction with the electric chair.  Michael was hoping to get a few more details when Tweener interrupted their little chat.  But Michael (and DB Cooper) knew the message being sent.

On the outside, Veronica and Nick are still trying to work the legal side of Linc’s case.  An old law school friend of Nick manages to get Lincoln’s case heard by a judge.  But with no strong evidence, there’s nothing the judge can do. The appeal was denied.

Michael manages a trip to the Dr’s office, not only to see Sarah, but Lincoln, who is in an adjoining room.  Michael pleads with Sarah to ask her father (the Governor) to grant Lincoln clemency.  Sarah said that despite her best efforts, her father just wouldn’t listen to her.  Michael asks that Sarah just hear Nick & Veornica out before making her final decision about  asking her father.

Not wanting to put all his eggs in one basket, Michael manages to escape through his cell tunnel mid-day in an attempt to disrupt the electric chair.  He manages to find a rat which he uses to compromise the fuse leading to the chair.  As DB Cooper mentioned, every death by execution must follow a number of strict protocols.  Something as simple as changing a fuse requires the issuing of paperwork and a stay of execution until the paperwork is completed.  Michael figures the faulty chair would buy Linc at least three more weeks.

What Michael hadn’t counted on was Tweener snitching to Bellick. In order to save his own ass (literaly), Tweener told Bellick that he overheard Cooper and Michael discussing the end result of a faulty electric chair.  Upon receiving this intel, Bellick heads over to inspect the chair himself.  And what do you know…the chair isn’t working right.  Bellick, and the head warden in charge of the death chamber, enlist the services of the maintenance guy who informs them that the fuse shortage was caused by the dead rat.  Bellick asks him to replace the fuse ASAP, but the maintenace guy tells him that he needs to file the appropriate paperwork or get fired.  Billick uses the “Lincoln Burrows is a terrorist” line to convince the guy to change the fuse without filing the paperwork. I mean, it’s not like anyone would know.  The fuse is fixed and the walk of death begins.

After getting his head properly shaved, Lincoln is allowed some time to spend with Michael and Veronica. Veronica tells the guys that Dr. Sarah came by to hear them out, and she’s going to try to talk to her father about a stay. Linc isn’t interested in hearing any more talk of hope.  He wants to get right with himself before he has to head to the chair.  Veronica lets Lincoln know that LJ couldn’t come to the execution as he is still wanted by the police.  She does however call LJ so the father and son could have their last conversation….and let the waterworks begin.

LJ tells his father that he dreamt of the two of the working on a house.  But in his his dream they were both older.  He loves his father and doesn’t want him to die today.  Break my heart.  LJ may be a punk but the kid has been through a lot lately.  You know, with his father on death row, his mother being killed in front of him, being framed for his mother’s murder by the corrupt Secret Service agents who seem to be hunting him down.  Damn, what a week for that kid.

After hanging up with his son, Lincoln loses it a bit all while claiming his innocence.  It’s just about that time that Pope enters and tells Lincoln it’s time to die.  Well not in those words, but you’re picking up what I’m putting down.  During the long walk to the death chamber, the Warden gets a call from the Governor.  Did Sarah’s speech to her Daddy work?  Nope.  See the Governor is much more beholden to the Vice President of the United States, who is standing over his shoulder, than he is his daughter.  The Governor was just calling the Warden to inform him that he reviewed all the facts, but he’s not granting the stay of execution.  That’s it…Lincoln is going to fry.

As he enters the chamber, Lincoln has flashbacks of his life, and all the times those he love told him to keep the faith.  He tries to remain strong, but the final hugs from Veronica and his baby brother, Michael are really hurting the guy. This is breaking my heart, and doing a number on my mascara.  Had I known Prison Break was going to be so emotional tonight, I would have worn the waterproof stuff.

Lincoln is escorted into the chamber and comes face to face with The Chair.  And we come face to face with the end of tonight’s episode of Prison Break.

I’m beyond thrilled that this show is back.  It’s the one show on TV that keeps me on the edge of my seat for the full hour.  The upcoming scenes look good.  I’ve been avoiding spoilers as much as I can.  I’m just not sure I want to know how things are going to playout for Michael, Lincoln, and the rest of Fox River State Penitentiary inmates, but something tells me that we should heed the advice of Lincoln Burrows, (and the 2004 Red Sox)…KEEP THE FAITH.