Prison Break 1.2: "Allen"

Written by Paul Scheuring
Directed by Michael Watkins

In which Michael continues to advance his agenda, but when he needs to secure a specific item to move forward, the process of getting it puts him in the middle of a race riot…


Watching and considering the premiere as two separate episodes might have helped me get past some of the basic issues with the plot holes. As far as I could tell, there was only one sticking point, and even that I can explain away through relative reasoning. Now that the character introductions are out of the way, the plot gets to move forward, and the pacing picks up as a result.

First things first…what were the weaknesses? Others have probably mentioned the same thing: it would help for the audience to know what Michael’s short-term objectives are, so that the tension mounts when obstacles are placed in the way. The only thing that the audience knew about Michael’s situation was the reference to the make and part number he was interested in, and that an awful lot of skin was used up to remind him of it. While the audience could certainly assume that it was important to his scheme, it might have been better to know how critical it was.

Getting the bolt, and the process of achieving that goal, drove the whole episode forward rather well, so the complaint is a small one. The main issue is how the bolt was used. Filing down the bolt into the proper size Allan wrench was a clever move, but if the Allan bolt is right there and accessible, what’s the point of comparing the filing-down bolt to a tattoo on his arm? Especially when the tattoo could have been damaged or altered by any number of factors?

I consider this an ongoing flaw in Michael’s plan, but in this case, there is an explanation that I can live with. Basically, Michael might have anticipated that his activities would have to be “quick and dirty”, especially when it comes to messing with prison equipment. There are enough areas of “exposure”; he doesn’t need to be seen fiddling with the toilet. So using the tattoo as a rough guide for the retooling of the bolt is a way to minimize suspicious behavior. (Granted, he’s not at all careful about getting the bolt or keeping it to himself, but I had to try!)

Throughout the episode, Michael runs into difficulties with the people that he had assumed he could manipulate. He clearly wasn’t expecting the level of violence that he’s experienced. When it comes to the technical aspects of his plan, I have little doubt that he’ll be 99% correct about how to handle it. But he seems to assume that his manipulation of the people around him will be equally simple. That’s clearly not the case, and he’s already making concessions to get what he needs for his plan.

This speaks to that psychological aspect of Michael that I mentioned in my review of the pilot. Michael is a fairly complex individual, but he’s got issues. I get the feeling that he’s somewhat detached from reality, and that’s where this is going to get him into trouble. The final scene is a great example of his dedication, but it’s also an example of why his assumptions are so flawed. Did he really think he could stare down a desperate mobster?

Anyway, the conspiracy angle continues to expand. My concerns remain the same: the conspirators have been far too casual in their methods to be effective at keeping the truth buried. That said, they did a very good job of setting Lincoln up, since he supplied a solid motive on his own! There’s a chance for the writers to explore question of guilt and responsibility, and that’s a good thing. I only hope that Robin Tunney’s character becomes a little less annoying.

Whatever the case, I liked this episode better than the pilot. I was impressed at the level of violence that was present, given the network restrictions; it may not be as strong and deep as a series like “Oz”, but as a companion to “24”, it works well enough. If I were the writers, though, I would show more of Michael’s thought process, so the audience could internalize his short-term goals and share in his anxiety.

Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 1/4

Final Rating: 7/10