TV Review: Prison Break - “The Final Break” Had One More Story to Tell After All - Page 3

Part of: Weekly Break With Prison Break

Scofield explains that he expected T-Bag to rat on them and so was counting on the authorities shutting off the alarm instead (the reverse of what T-Bag was supposed to do), which was what Scofield needed so that he could use a flaming device to pry open a sealed door. Together, the couple manage to go underground to the one sealed doorway that leads to the outside. However, Scofield’s makeshift card that he had put together earlier doesn’t work in unlocking this door, leaving him the only choice of pulling on live wires and connecting them. Knowing that this act would end in himself being electrocuted, the lovers bid a fast farewell and Scofield tells Sara to run as soon as he connects the two wires. Scofield does the deed, and Sara runs out to a waiting Lincoln, Mahone, and Sucre.

Lincoln is perplexed as to where his brother is, and Mahone, who knew what Scofield had intended to do all along, tells Lincoln that his brother is never coming back, and is gone. The gang then flee in disbelief.

Mahone, whom Scofield had entrusted with some paperwork and a DVD, gives what turns out to be a copy of Scofield’s blood work to Sara, and it’s discovered that Scofield’s tumour had returned. Meanwhile, Sophia manages to arrange for passage to Costa Rica where Sara is able to live with her baby and Lincoln freely. Sucre gives the money that he had stolen from the General’s henchman to Sara, and Mahone gives the DVD to Lincoln, and with that, both Sucre and Mahone say their goodbyes and leave.

The final scene is of Lincoln and Sara on a boat, heading to freedom, watching the DVD of Scofield explaining to them that he didn’t have much time because of the tumour returning, and that he doesn’t regret sacrificing his life for his wife and child. He also advises them to take care of each other, and asks them to tell his child that they are all now truly free. The series ends on this note.

After the barrage of nonsensical, over-stretched, and thin episodes that made up much of season four, one would not have held their breath expecting this encore of double episodes to be any better. Surprisingly, “The Final Break” was exciting and well paced, taking into consideration that it was Sara who was in prison this time, and not Scofield, thereby limiting how much he could do from the outside and so the tactics and maneuvers were somewhat restricted. For that reason, whilst “The Final Break” was a lot like the brilliant first season of Prison Break, it was a slower and more laid back version. However, a lot of things happened in the combined 80-plus minutes that held one’s attention, and provided for some intrigue and twists too.

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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 - poor effort

    May 28, 2009 at 6:45 pm

    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

    May 28, 2009 at 7:03 pm

    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

    May 28, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    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

    May 29, 2009 at 4:35 am

    Sarah Wayne Callies was amazing but the writing really sucks the last two seasons.

  • 5 - Mary

    May 29, 2009 at 3:48 pm

    I hate the finale!!!!
    Michael deserves a happy end with Sara and his little son.
    I never buy any DVD!!!!

  • 6 - Nova

    May 29, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    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

    May 29, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    SARAH WAYNE CALLIES ROCKS!!! Ya hear me!?

  • 8 - Lilly

    May 30, 2009 at 7:30 am

    Michael deserves to live. I wrote an angry email to FOX.

  • 9 - Moody

    May 30, 2009 at 11:03 am

    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

    May 30, 2009 at 1:52 pm

    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

    May 30, 2009 at 3:35 pm

    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

    May 30, 2009 at 11:50 pm

    Sarah Wayne Callies was amazing.. and she very talented.

  • 13 - komo

    Jun 01, 2009 at 3:45 am

    poor story end. thank God Michael is dead now we can watch better series like 24!!!!!!!

  • 14 - mayor

    Jun 01, 2009 at 4:03 am

    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

    Jun 02, 2009 at 6:54 am

    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

    Jun 02, 2009 at 7:09 am

    sarah is the winner.................

  • 17 - scylla

    Jun 04, 2009 at 6:41 am

    they shouldnt of killed michael off

  • 18 - scylla

    Jun 04, 2009 at 6:42 am

    sara rocks

  • 19 - sucre

    Jun 06, 2009 at 6:42 am

    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

    Jun 08, 2009 at 2:25 am

    Again I'M telling you that Michael and Sara deserves to live with freedom.

  • 21 - jacqui

    Jun 09, 2009 at 7:46 am

    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

    Jun 12, 2009 at 4:27 am

    I Love prsion break finalle I appreciate the writer very much

  • 23 - ei ei phyo

    Jun 16, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    i love michael scofield he heee

  • 24 - thulim1814

    Jun 18, 2009 at 7:15 am

    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

    Jun 24, 2009 at 9:01 am

    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

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