A couple of weeks ago, when Prison Break screened its final episodes (“Rate of Exchange“/“Killing Your Number“), I questioned if the series had a further story to tell in its encore extra episodes, “The Old Ball and Chain” and “Free”, collectively known as “The Final Break”. Having caught “The Final Break” in the UK, the answer is a startling YES!
“The Final Break” is a standalone double episode of Prison Break that aims to explain what actually happened to Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and how he died. In essence these encore episodes fill in the gap that episode 22 “Killing Your Number” might have left unanswered. “The Final Break” focuses on a completely different storyline, as The Company was already taken down in the previously aired episodes. Hence this extra episode sets up an entirely new storyline and plot, with a whole new motivation for the hero thrown in.
“The Final Break” starts off with Michael Scofield and Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies) getting married, but at their reception, Sara is arrested for the murder of Christina Scofield (known as Christina Hampton in the real world) because there is video footage of her shooting Scofield’s mother. Strangely enough, the cameras don’t show Scofield being shot at by his mother before Sara defends him. Also strange is the fact that Sara was given immunity and we saw her sign the papers in “Killing Your Number” and yet no explanation was given as to why she was arrested.
Nonetheless, this leads to a whole new setup, the Miami Dade Women’s Penitentiary which, due to budget cuts and overcrowding, also houses the jail for alleged criminals awaiting trial such as Sara. It’s in this new setting that “The Final Break” spends some time establishing the cold and corrupt ambiance that seems to permeate the prisons of America, according to this show. Just as it did with Fox River in season one, we see the cruelty and crooked shenanigans that go on in this prison through an inmate‘s eyes, but this time the inmate is Sarah and it’s through her eyes that we experience this new prison.
Sara gets punched and slapped around by the guards who recognize that she was the doctor from Fox River who left the door open for Scofield, and apparently that caused a lot of their fellow prison guards to be fired or put on probation. Just like Scofield, Sara finds out that in prison you need “protection” and she decides to get branded by Daddy (Lori Petty), who runs a “family” at this prison and who takes care of all her charges. However, the General, who resides in the male penitentiary next door, reads in the papers that Sara is in custody, and he sends word to Gretchen (Jodi Lyn O’Keefe), who is in the same prison as Sara, to kill her. Sara ends up being poisoned but survives.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - poor effort
I couldnt be more dissapointed with an ending like this. After watching many series, Prison Break was oe of the greatest written. The intelligence of the writers was reflected through the brilliant characters, specifically Michael, it was Genius. In saying this i give no credit to a show completely ruined at the unnessesary death of Michael.
2 - mad
I disagree with your comments about SWC her acting was sheer brilliance you tell me you didn't feel her pain when she was told they would take her baby away from her when she delivered, wow that was for me one of the most powerful scenes that pulled at your heart and felt the pain she was going through. SWC played a terrific role, I feel she was held back a lot giving Wentworth his time during season 4 but the last few episodes when the pregnancy story came to light and SWC had a purpose and some gritty scenes thats what kept me gripped. The chemistry was electric pardon the pun between them but the writers should have given them more time for the emotional connection scenes they were too hurried, hell they gave us 1 minute of a wedding and not even a vow or a kiss which left me feeling short changed as a viewer, I wanted to see the love but no as per usual the writers didnt want us having that they stole that from us for pain and suffering, now if killing Michael in the way they did was the right thing to do I disagree, he should have had that happy life after all the fight to get to where they were and have that magical family they both sorely missed and desired. I loved Prison Break I loved the casting I loved the Michael and Sara connection very much I just wish it ended on a high, good happy endings do not mean a bad ending at all.
3 - Ashley
I agree with most of your review, but overall I think SWC did an amazing job in this finale. The scenes of her in jail and definitely when Michael came to visit her, SWC did a great job.
4 - mel
Sarah Wayne Callies was amazing but the writing really sucks the last two seasons.
5 - Mary
I hate the finale!!!!
Michael deserves a happy end with Sara and his little son.
I never buy any DVD!!!!
6 - Nova
I think all the actors were on top of their game, and most of all Sarah Wayne Callies. I have to disagree that she did not have range or versatility through out the movie. Like another poster said, when she was told she would only have 30 minutes to hold her baby, you could see the anguish she was feeling in her eyes, and it was portrayed very expressively. When she said "bye" to Michael after seeing him in the visitation room, it almost broke my heart. And the scene where Michael sees her for the first time with her bruises was very moving and I thought it was portrayed very convincingly by both actors. You could see that they were in pain not being able to be together. I have to say the wedding scene, although far too short was adorable, and if they were given more time, the two actors could have shown more affection. You only have to see the final episodes of the series- 21 and 22 to see that these two actors could deliver great performances together if only they are given more time. I have to say the same thing about the final scene. It was far too rushed, (although I loved the scene where he touches her belly and tells her that he is coming with her).
The Final Break, as usual, spent too much time on gritty action, bloody fights and useless planning and not enough on the emotional scenes that all these characters really needed in order to portray the heartbreak they felt when parting ways.
7 - Lisa
SARAH WAYNE CALLIES ROCKS!!! Ya hear me!?
8 - Lilly
Michael deserves to live. I wrote an angry email to FOX.
9 - Moody
You writing was biggest bullshit I ever read,You really should get your self new profession cos you really suck, 8 page pooring writing from someone who never understand MiSa or a show..or good acting..You really should just read books and keep your thoughts to your self.[Edited]
10 - Stella
Oh cmon!! Sarah Wayne Callies was amazing!! How can't you see that? She was the only thing good in the whole episode!
11 - Badell
Sarah Wayne Callies performance in this film for me deserves an award. Very emotional and expressive that words were not required her acting abilities shone through making this her strongest and best performance to date.
12 - Runner
Sarah Wayne Callies was amazing.. and she very talented.
13 - komo
poor story end. thank God Michael is dead now we can watch better series like 24!!!!!!!
14 - mayor
i think u are confuse on how to end story that was why you end it like that. next time make it short but what while
15 - nakirwadde hawah
oh my God, come on, not being shown passionate scenes of michael and sarah doesn't mean they were not in love...these guys have gone through alot together, they have always been risking their lives for each other that enough can explain to you the chemistry...dah sarah is pregnant or you wanted t be shown how they fathered the baby? so michael sacrificing himself for her and the baby was indeed right besides he was never going to live for long. ok maybe take it like he died so that the baby could live. Hawah. (uganda)
16 - munye h
sarah is the winner.................
17 - scylla
they shouldnt of killed michael off
18 - scylla
sara rocks
19 - sucre
New Prison break: next generation will be michael's son who has to break out Lincoln old and grey who gets his ass back in jail somehow!
20 - Tsige Biru
Again I'M telling you that Michael and Sara deserves to live with freedom.
21 - jacqui
okay iv watched prison break religiously and only because iv been waiting for the happy ending but after finding out micheal dies i dont want to now. wot a waste
22 - hiwot
I Love prsion break finalle I appreciate the writer very much
23 - ei ei phyo
i love michael scofield he heee
24 - thulim1814
This has definitely been an interesting read. I have to say this... Firstly Prison Break for all its virtues and sins is not a love story (Wentworth Miller said this in an interview he did) it's an action/adventure/drama with a love story weaved through it. I don't ever think the intention of the story was for it to be this big romantic love story between Sara and Michael, and think that this is why we never saw long emotional scenes between the 2 of them and that's perhaps why they always felt rushed. They scenes I think were designed in such away to constantly remind the viewer that while this relationship was taking place and these 2 people were falling in love it was happening in the midst of all this drama and danger and therefore constantly being interrupted. The couple never really had the opportunity to establish this true connection as though in a love story. This is also what make the story work because you feel that as much they try and want to spend precious moments together they can't because there is a possibility that around the next corner someone is trying to kill them.
Secondly...I must be the only person who believes this (and I know i will get slated for this) but I do believe that Michael needed to die, the entire story is based on the idea that we will do whatever we have to, to save the ones we love. Michael started all of this by entering prison to save his brother, of course it should end with his death to save his wife and family. If he was willing to risk everything for Lincoln why not Sara (mother to his unborn child)
Thirdly...Through out the entire collection of seasons of Prison Break Sara was Micheal's moral compass (When Michael thought Sara died he ended up being involved in the death of another person and was pre-paired to kill to avenge Sara) so for me Sara is Michael's redemption in the final episodes. He redeems himself for all the wrong doing (despite being for a good cause they were still wrong) Sara was the one good thing in Michael's life the person that stopped him from crossing over to a side where there was no return.
Finally, I agree Wentworth Miller was not the best actor in the series and was definitely out done by some of his cast mates, he definitely lacked range in his acting ability, it always felt as though he was trying just to hard. I do however disagree that SWC was bad, i think her acting ability was limited by mostly Wentworths lack of acting ability, SWC is very talented and has a great future ahead of her given the right scripts and the right direction.
25 - EVA
I FEEL THAT THE END SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER ENDING LIKE SARAH HAVING HER HONNEYMOON AND MICHAEL STILL ALIVE,
I FEEL THAT WHEN SPENT THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE HAVE SPENT INCLUDING ME WHE ARE EXPECTING A BETTER ENDING THEN THIS ONE