Episode 13 - The Art of the Deal
30 March 2012
Synopsis: Michael and Lincoln recapture Whistler and exchange him for LJ and Sofia. Michael cleverly engineers the exchange at the Museum of Antiquities. When the guards search Whistler on the way out, a gun fight breaks out and Sofia is shot. Whistler having admitted that there were no coordinates heads to a bar to pick up Mahone who has agreed to work with him. Michael leaves his family behind and heads off in search of revenge on Gretchen. Meanwhile back at Sona T-bag pulls a con on Lechero to get some cash from him before putting him out of his misery. Sucre suffers a beating and is asked to dig his own grave. But he refuses to give up Michael and ends up being thrown into Sona.
The Good: Considering the writers strike forced the show to produce only half a season, this is a very effective finale. The writers wrap up the story very completely and yet still manage to leave the story intriguingly poised for next season.
Michael’s plans are once more logical and clever and pleasing to see. Both the metal detectors at the museum and then setting off the alarm are so simple and yet brilliant. The use of the paper rose is a nice touch to remind us of Michael’s new quest.
That other clever fellow T-Bag pulls a simple con on Lechero when taking his money (See Best Moment). It’s good to see T-Bag get more attention as he is such a compelling character. For a second you think maybe he has compassion for Lechero until the snake turns and smothers his former patron to death. The use of the prostitute who T-Bag protected (305) is a nice bit of continuity too. T-Bag then manages to pull off a kind of communist coup by telling the inmates of Sona that they are all equal and throwing them Lechero’s money. You get the impression that he will become Sona’s new leader, which would be fascinating to watch.
The other terrific bit of consistency is McGrady arriving home and looking happily up at a real basketball net. It’s a nice moment for the show and despite the ease of his escape, his story is pleasingly complete. At least Michael can know his actions had one positive consequence.
Poor Sucre decides that Michael’s life is worth more than his own which is of course why he is impossible to dislike. He will now doubtless have to make friends in Sona to survive, which similarly will be interesting to see next season.
With all those stories wrapped up nicely or set up for the next chapter, it is Whistler who remains a closed book. We now don’t know what he is really up to at all or why Mahone is with him. There plans seem to revolve around Michael in some way and I guess like the rest we will have to tune in to find out what is going on.
The Bad: Of course in all of the shows big developments there are bound to be moments which have holes in them. Michael and Lincoln leaving LJ outside the museum is a bizarre moment. Having sacrificed so much to save him, they are now going to leave him there? Even with Sofia’s injury it doesn’t ring true. With so many police around she would have been ok.
Similarly McGrady’s celebration back in Colombia looks a bit risky to me. If you tell a hundred people that you escaped from prison, won’t the word get around? I suppose we are meant to assume that the Columbian government aren’t inclined to hand prisoners back to the Panamanians, which is fine for a smaller character. Though I don’t think we ever found out what he did.
The bigger picture of the show is a bit confused. After all the talk of fishing and coordinates, what is Whistler’s real value? Gretchen makes Michael an interesting offer when she tells him he should work for the company. Prison Break is often at its most effective when it keeps things simple but you get the impression that the show will move toward Michael trying to bring down the whole company single-handedly. Season two suffered from this story becoming unwieldy and I hope the writers maintain the discipline they have shown this season.
Mahone’s involvement seems particularly worrying. Having made an eloquent defence of his role last episode and having battled with drug addiction and guilt all season, it seemed like he was headed off to reconcile with his family. Instead from the looks of things he has gone back to work for the company. This seems a bit of a leap from the man who begged in the courtroom to be allowed to go home (308). I hope they have a good explanation for his decision because it would be a disappointment if everything he and Whistler said and did in Sona was a lie.
I also wonder whether Michael ought to be going for revenge in his story. His morality has kept him as a likeable and level headed hero figure throughout the show. He talked Lincoln down from murdering Mahone (who killed his father after all). I suppose he sees Sarah as an innocent, as opposed to those who have died while getting their hands dirty. But still, Michael’s appeal has stemmed from him being unlike Jack Bauer (from 24). Bauer’s relentless adrenalin fuelled rampages give 24 a monotone feeling which Prison Break veered toward in season two. This season has steered away from that toward new ground. I hope the good work done here is not lost in turning Michael into your typical movie action hero.
The Unknown: Who the hell is Whistler? What does he do for the company? Why is Mahone involved? Will the book be of use to T-Bag in the future?
Best Moment: Lechero’s phone rings and T-Bag answers it. He tells Bellick and Lechero that the money will be here soon. When Lechero asks how they will get it to the guard T-Bag raises his eyebrows and smiles as the others realise there is no deal with the guard. “This is business, you of all people should understand” T-Bag purrs. T-Bag asks Bellick to help him kill Lechero and Bellick backs away, scared and shocked. Lechero asks T-Bag, out of respect, to kill him quickly. T-Bag holds a pillow over Lechero’s face and says “Adios, Norman.” Lechero’s muffled anguish and T-Bag’s steely gaze can’t compete with Bellick’s quivering, hand waving look of terror. It’s these wonderful character moments which can set Prison Break apart. Bellick the corrections officer may have seen himself as a tough guy but in the face of such premeditated ruthlessness he shows his true feelings and looks like a frightened child. It is fantastic acting from all concerned.
The Verdict: In terms of wrapping up this season and setting up the next one, this is a great episode. There is lots to be satisfied about on both fronts. Despite my worries about the direction of the show, season three of Prison Break has been a triumph. Producing far more good moments than bad it told a short story in compelling fashion and should have made those who enjoyed it want more.
For me, I think the show could give us more personal touches. Those rare moments when characters show us real emotions are so valuable, especially against the backdrop of fear and brutality.
Considering how different seasons one and two of the show were, season three marries the two together in a new setting. All credit to the writers, Sona provided a marvellous new diversion on the journey of Michael and Lincoln.
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