Corruption and dirty scoundrels. Sound interesting?

Prison Break was originally aired on Fox. Since the writers have been on strike it has given my husband and I the chance to catch up on TV series that we missed. I think watching the season in its entirety on DVD without commercials is so much more enjoyable than one hour episodes.

With a title like Prison Break it should be obvious that the majority of this story line has to do with prison. This story takes place in Fox River State Penitentiary. At the beginning of the story we learn that Lincoln Burrows is on death row for a crime that he may or may not have committed.

As the story plays out, we will get to know Lincoln's friends and family members. Guilty or not, his brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) does not want his brother to die in prison so he dedicates his time and possibly his future to get Lincoln off death row in a rather unconventional way.

In disc one we see Michael Scofield's calculated preparations for breaking his brother out of jail. Sure, it's believable that a prisoner could escape from prison if the moment of opportunity presents itself, but how realistic is it for a prisoner, or more than one for that matter, to actually plan and pull off a successful escape from prison.

This story slowly but surely unfolds. Very little factual information is given at the beginning of the show. The viewer is spoon fed information just enough to be able to follow the story without really knowing what is going on in the character's mind. As the story unfolds the plan becomes more realistic to the viewer.

There is an episode in disc 4 that ties up all the loose ends in the story. All of the generalized assumptions are either validated or blown. If the show ended with that episode I would have been tickled. But it didn't.

I started to get bored in disc 5. Either you're out free and clear or your not. Who goes, who stays. Can the character be trusted, or not. As a viewer I was getting tired of the back and forth and at one point I didn't even care anymore. You can only ride suspense so long before it's just annoying.

Some of the episodes feel like they're just stretching ideas to the point where it just wasn't believable anymore. With the revelation in disc 4 the character's are revisited and personalities change. Character's emotions are being displayed and desperation sets in.

What's unique about this show is that we see everything that the character plans. In a traditional show the characters are normally successful with the unknowing characters being blind sided or oblivious to their plan. It's not the case in this story. Every move that every character makes is being watched by other participants, guards and other inmates. This makes a very unique and suspenseful plot. Everything that can go wrong will, and every thing that goes right is because of a huge calculated risk.

There's good inmates and there's bad inmates. Sometimes the really bad inmates are really likable. There are innocent Correctional Officers and corrupt Correctional Officers. Do you side up with the Latinos, the Mafia, the Whites or the Blacks? Who's side are you on anyway?

The writers spend most of the time focusing on the planning and challenges related to getting out of the prison. It's assumed that being in prison is bad. They don't go into detail about sex and violence either. There is a code for sex, and when you see the code you make a mental note and quickly move on which is effective and works out better for the viewer, I think. When a violent scene happens the stage is set completely with weapon in hand. The action is completely missing and the story picks up with the result of the action such as the victim bleeding. The viewer can do the math. There is a lot of creative violence and murder in the show. It's not suitable for young impressionable minds.

In addition to the inside prison break story line we also have to suffer through the lawyer story with hit man and conspiracy theory. This part of the storyline happens outside of prison . All of the parts that have to do with the lawyer are over done and stupid, in my opinion.

I think the season finale was good. I felt enough closure that I wouldn't have lost any sleep if there wasn't a season 2. The story still has interest so if I had season 2 disc in hand I would have immediately put it in the DVD player.

All of the acting was really good but I do have two favorites. My favorite actor in the show is Michael Scofield. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe for his Prison Break performance in 2006. The other favorite is the bad guy, Theodore ‘T-Bag’ Bagwell, played by Robert Knepper.

Overall
I think this was a very unique and original storyline. The actors are very involved in their character's. Personality if probably more interesting in this story than the character's actions. It's interesting to see how inmates get what they want when normally it's every man for himself.

This is a very compelling drama with extraordinary suspense. I would recommend this season to anyone who is looking for a unique storyline and that can handle the more conniving and violent aspects of people.

I want to give this show 5 stars but can't. There are too many situations that are unbelievable, even by the stretch of the imagination. Some areas were boring, particularly the lawyer plot. Sometimes I felt like the writers were adding unnecessary padding to make the show longer. As a viewer, I have difficulty deciding who, if anyone, is the good guy is. I'm wondering how satisfied I'm going to be with season two with no clear good guy?

Overall, it was a unique and eventful show. I am eager to get started on Prison Break Season 2.