Episode 9 - Boxed In
30 March 2012
Synopsis: General Zavala arrives to investigate the attack on Sona. He puts Michael in a hot box and the heat from the sun compels him to confess the plot to escape. Whistler gives in under pressure to and the General captures Gretchen. She escapes and kills him though. Lincoln uses Sucre to get information on Gretchen. Mahone returns to Sona determined to go cold turkey. Bellick upsets the wrong man but manages to kill him using bandages drenched in acetone.
The Good: Mahone’s admission that he deserves to be in Sona and his attempt to quit drugs altogether seem to mark this out as a turning point for his character. Will he begin to behave like a real good guy from now on?
Bellick’s desperate move to stay alive is an interesting twist. Doubtless T-Bag will use it to his advantage at some point. Speaking of T-Bag he reminds us all what a scum bag he is by trying to get Mahone to kill Sammy and attempting to force drugs on him for his own gain. Lincoln uses some good cunning in order to trick Gretchen into offering Sucre money. Seeing Lincoln and LJ reunited is another nice moment and is a timely reminder of what he is fighting for. All in all the side plots are strong here and set up these characters stories nicely.
Of course the main plot is Michael and General Zavala. Oh General Zavala. Like a beautiful summer breeze he arrives and blows nothing but truth and justice our way. He is so logical and determined one should have known it couldn’t last. His torture of Michael is simple and effective. Once Michael gives him his story he checks it out and goes straight to Whistler. Once he confesses he grabs Gretchen and tortures her for the truth. It is all logical, ruthless and effective. It feels like the plot is being turned inside out. It feels like there is hope for Michael and that maybe justice will be served here. The General even seduces Michael with the story of how he brought down Lechero, the once feared drug leader. As Michael has dealt with the equally ruthless Lechero, it is an effective story to hear.
The Bad: Which all adds up to make the final twist such a bitter disappointment. The man who rid Panama of it’s most notorious drug baron drives out to an unknown location with one soldier and a potentially dangerous criminal. Once there she kills them both and escapes. In one scene Prison Break manages to ruin not only a great episode but in many ways undermine the whole season. The greatest strength of this season has been how ruthless and efficient Gretchen has been. At all times we have been reminded of the consequences of failure (Michael is reminded by Sucre of Sarah’s death in one scene and the repetition of that news is effective). All of the General’s hard work is undone by this scene. By taking only one guard and taking her word for it he loses all credibility as a character. It renders everything we have just witnessed null and void. Michael and Whistler are returned to Sona and they don’t look at all crushed by the news of the General’s death. We should have at least seen bitter disappointment on Michael’s face but it isn’t there. By returning the story back to where it was at the start of the episode the show basically says to its viewers “this episode is irrelevant and was done to waste time.” It’s a sad, sad moment and could have been avoided.
One has to ask why the General has the authority to abduct a woman from a bar and begin torturing her. The word of two prisoners is surely not enough, even in Panama for him to get away with that.
The Unknown: Whistler seems to know more about the company than he is letting on. He seems to only give Gretchen up because he is confident she will escape.
Best Moment: Gretchen gives in to the torture and offers to take the General to LJ. As Michael leaves he asks her “Was it you? Did you kill Sarah?” She replies “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He looks her dead in the eye and says “I’m coming for you.”
The Verdict: What was shaping up to be the best episode of the season falls a very long way. Those who have feasted on a diet of 24 may be used to this kind of flimsy plot twist. Perhaps I was foolish for believing Prison Break could buck the trend and follow through on eight episodes of competent bad guys. But now the season is tinged with the familiar smell of convenience, which is hard to wash off.
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