TV Review: Prison Break - "Five the Hard Way" Is Fun, Funny, and Fantastic!

Part of: Weekly Break With Prison Break

After last week's poorly executed and written episode, and humdrum performances from Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell, it was delightful to witness that this week's Prison Break episode, “Five the Hard Way", was fun, funny, and proved an absolutely fantastic piece of television to watch, complete with dazzling performances from the entire cast.

Moving at a nice, brisk pace, this episode sees the gang splitting into two, as Sara (Sarah Wayne Callies), Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), and Roland (James Liao) head off to Vegas in order to get access to the next card holder. Amidst an unexpected twist, Sucre steps up to the plate to try and acquire the Scylla card.

Meanwhile, Scofield (Wentworth Miller), Bellick (Wade Williams), and Mahone (William Fichtner) get a tip regarding T-Bag’s (Robert Knepper) whereabouts and unbeknownst to the gang, Gretchen (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe) has made contact and has teamed up with T-Bag. Through a series of highly engaging turns and captivating scenarios, Scofield and his gang go after T-bag, enabling Scofield to figure out the truth behind the bird book.

Filled with both beguiling and mirthful moments, this episode was thoroughly pleasurable and gratifying. Although the comedic moments seemed somewhat misplaced in a show that has never been this light-hearted before, these little hilarities were very welcome. It was like a dress that you knew didn’t follow the current trend, but that you just for some rhyme or reason loved!

Along with a proficiently written script and well paced and ingenious direction, this week also saw some vast improvements in the acting.

Miller and Purcell were almost phoning in their performances last week, with nary a variant in emotive display or any nuances within their delivery. However, this week, these men have both managed to ignite the small screen with pretty fine depictions, especially Miller, who often oscillates between being a terrific thespian and being just a person reading from a script, and in this episode he was the former.

Miller was just fascinating to watch because he not only held his own next to Robert Knepper who plays T-Bag with such aplomb and credibility, but he also brought a lot of color and nuances into the execution of his portrayal of Michael Scofield as well as in his delivery of the dialogue. In short, where Miller was just pedestrian and banal last week, he was eloquently dramatic and spectacular this week!

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Article Author: Sharmila

Sharmila is a university professor who teaches Communications and Journalism at various universities, and is currently in the midst of completing her Phd in English. Sharmila started writing professionally at 12, becoming a full fledged reporter at …

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  • 1 - Anonymous

    Oct 08, 2008 at 11:46 pm

    This was the first episode of "Prison Break" that I feel had some real consequences. Good job to the Director. Keep it up.

  • 2 - dandy

    Oct 09, 2008 at 3:33 am

    You have got to be kidding all the seven episodes have been over the top with dumbness and just plain silly.The entire season will also just be as stupid no matter how people try to spin it the show doesn't work anymore.

  • 3 - olja

    Oct 11, 2008 at 7:19 pm

    Thank you for great time I spent on watching a wonderful Prison break !!!
    olja

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