Back to ‘Prison’
Fox reunites gang for reboot
In our cubic zirconia age of TV reboots, Fox has been leading the way in exhuming its past in hopes of a current hit. “The XFiles” and “24” were resurrected with mixed results, and now the network relaunches “Prison Break” (2005-2009) with most of the original crew and cast. That right there be this show’s biggest problem.
The nostalgia works against the show.
We’ve already seen stars Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell work their magic on CW’s “Legends of Tomorrow” as snarky hoods Captain Cold and Heatwave.
Watching them reprise their roles of serious-asgranite brothers Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows seems anticlimatic.
There’s the slight problem that “Prison Break” killed off Michael in the 2009 direct-to-DVD release “Prison Break: The Final Break,” which now needs to be retitled “Penultimate Break.”
In the years that passed since the show ended, Lincoln has resumed his life of crime. Michael’s notexactlySara (Sarah Wayne Callies) has married nice guy economist Jacob (Mark Feuerstein, “Royal Pains”) and together they are raising Sara and Michael’s son.
T-Bag (Robert Knepper), of all people, is the one to upend their world.
Upon his parole from prison, T-Bag receives a mysterious photo that indicates Michael is alive and imprisoned in Yemen.
How did he get there? Why is he being held? Who wants his loved ones to know now? All good questions that will be answered in a fashion as the nineepisode season unspools.
Lincoln, of course, sets out to reunite the old gang. He recruits C-Note (Rockmond Dunbar) to go to the wartorn country because the Muslim convert has contacts there, particularly Sheba (Inbar Lavi, “The Last Ship”), who can help them navigate the treacherous territory.
But when Lincoln finally sees Michael behind bars, Michael denies knowing him and says his name is Kaniel Outis, one of the world’s most notorious terrorists.
Michael is sporting new tattoos, naturally, and remains the master of origami, smuggling several messages to those around the world.
His co-conspirators in his new jail include a gay man sentenced to 20 years because of his sexuality and under imminent threat from the other, radicalized inmates, and a Korean drug addict and Queen fan who might have Freddie Mercury’s ashes stashed back home. (I have no idea what that’s about.)
The opener features a couple of gripping action sequences. In one bit that might swear you off smart cars, Lincoln’s vehicle is hacked and jets him down a busy highway. Across town, a female assassin stalks Sara.
Next week, the odious Paul Kellerman (Paul Adelstein) pops up to vex Sara, who wonders hilariously, “How did I end up with you again?”
Through the course of “Prison Break,” first Lincoln, then Michael and finally Sara were falsely imprisoned and endangered. At this point, jail fatigue is setting in.
If the ratings hold, Fox is open to more installments. What’s left for the show? Michael’s son seems to be a chip off the old block. In a few years, he’d be old enough to get inked and incarcerated. Then again, I shouldn’t be giving Fox any ideas.