Prison Break 1.18: "Bluff"
Written by Unavailable
Directed by Unavailable
In which Michael continues to work Haywire to get the missing section of the tattoo while the rest of the Escape Squad must work together to keep Michael’s cell from being auctioned…
This episode started with a set of serious problems for the Escape Squad, and it just continued to get worse. Michael can be damned clever, but making Haywire puke using his fingers? Nice touch! He couldn’t anticipate that the guards would toss up his cell for auction that quickly, though, could he? C-Note pulls together a plan pretty damn fast, and since the writers actually pay attention to continuity, it leads to bad news all around with his old crew.
The closer we get to the actual escape, the more convoluted it gets. Michael’s little scheme to use Haywire (still a fun character!) has its clear disadvantages. Mess with someone who makes connections and force them to remember things, and it’s sure to backfire. And getting a message to Sucre means giving out a piece of information that he didn’t need out in the open.
The best thing about having Michael off on his own, as I said in my review for the previous episode, is the time taken to focus on the rest of the team. T-Bag may be smooth with the cards, but C-Note is much better with the bluff. I’ll say this: televised poker is a lot more interesting than I would usually give credit for, and it’s even better when one’s invested in the stakes.
The writers are clearly making everyone sacrifice something they value for the chance to escape, and it makes it so much better than if they were complicating Michael’s plan to save his brother. But now that they’re becoming more and more invested, even more of the minor players are getting a clue. And frankly, that just adds to the possibility of a high body count before the end, since the minor players become convenient cannon fodder.
It all comes together very nicely in the end, and the Escape Squad seems to be back in the saddle, minor setbacks like Sucre notwithstanding. But then new complications arise. Nick seems to be in with “The Company”, which is once again acting very much unlike the CIA. I’m tossing out my original interpretation: it’s either NSA or something a lot more secretive. The writers did manage to overcome my original misgivings regarding Nick, so I’m impressed!
At this point, it looks like “The Company” has its own reasons for framing Lincoln, and they don’t seem particularly interested in whatever the Vice President had in mind. It would be quite the twist if the Secret Service and VP wound up warring with “The Company”, since it would certainly give Michael and Lincoln some room to maneuver. Assuming, of course, that they aren’t too busy protecting or saving Veronica and LJ from either side!
I said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: when things are planned out well, it shows. This series is building towards a strong finish, and I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store!
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
Directed by Unavailable
In which Michael continues to work Haywire to get the missing section of the tattoo while the rest of the Escape Squad must work together to keep Michael’s cell from being auctioned…
This episode started with a set of serious problems for the Escape Squad, and it just continued to get worse. Michael can be damned clever, but making Haywire puke using his fingers? Nice touch! He couldn’t anticipate that the guards would toss up his cell for auction that quickly, though, could he? C-Note pulls together a plan pretty damn fast, and since the writers actually pay attention to continuity, it leads to bad news all around with his old crew.
The closer we get to the actual escape, the more convoluted it gets. Michael’s little scheme to use Haywire (still a fun character!) has its clear disadvantages. Mess with someone who makes connections and force them to remember things, and it’s sure to backfire. And getting a message to Sucre means giving out a piece of information that he didn’t need out in the open.
The best thing about having Michael off on his own, as I said in my review for the previous episode, is the time taken to focus on the rest of the team. T-Bag may be smooth with the cards, but C-Note is much better with the bluff. I’ll say this: televised poker is a lot more interesting than I would usually give credit for, and it’s even better when one’s invested in the stakes.
The writers are clearly making everyone sacrifice something they value for the chance to escape, and it makes it so much better than if they were complicating Michael’s plan to save his brother. But now that they’re becoming more and more invested, even more of the minor players are getting a clue. And frankly, that just adds to the possibility of a high body count before the end, since the minor players become convenient cannon fodder.
It all comes together very nicely in the end, and the Escape Squad seems to be back in the saddle, minor setbacks like Sucre notwithstanding. But then new complications arise. Nick seems to be in with “The Company”, which is once again acting very much unlike the CIA. I’m tossing out my original interpretation: it’s either NSA or something a lot more secretive. The writers did manage to overcome my original misgivings regarding Nick, so I’m impressed!
At this point, it looks like “The Company” has its own reasons for framing Lincoln, and they don’t seem particularly interested in whatever the Vice President had in mind. It would be quite the twist if the Secret Service and VP wound up warring with “The Company”, since it would certainly give Michael and Lincoln some room to maneuver. Assuming, of course, that they aren’t too busy protecting or saving Veronica and LJ from either side!
I said it before, and I’ll keep saying it: when things are planned out well, it shows. This series is building towards a strong finish, and I can’t wait to see what the writers have in store!
Writing: 2/2
Acting: 2/2
Direction: 2/2
Style: 2/4
Final Rating: 8/10
posted by John Keegan | 18:45
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