The Finale

[candyrose]

Holy crappers! Wow! Okay, please give me a moment to calm down a bit. Alrighty, I think I’m calm now.

The finale exceeded my expectations, compelled me to keep my eyes glued to the screen, took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and left me mourning the fact that this is the end of the road for Prison Break. It’s difficult to even begin describing its merits because so much was going on in the finale. The writers and the actors did an excellent job of delivering a hard-hitting and memorable conclusion to the story. They managed to create a fine balance between action and drama, giving viewers a healthy dose of adrenaline pumping chases and fights, all while not neglecting the heavy emotional substance of the story. There was so much going on, I began to wonder if all the gaps would be sealed shut by the end of the finale. I wasn’t disappointed because they managed to tie up all the loose ends and ease into the final conclusion of the story.

There have been complaints from fans about what they basically consider to be the neutering of T-bag. I think the finale proved that despite all the different sides of T-bag we have been shown, the T-bag from Fox River is very much alive and kicking. The scene he had with Sara, when he was preparing to have his way with her, was perverse and long overdue at the same time. I cringed when he turned her over and pushed her against the wall, yet I didn’t want her to get away too easily. She delivered a complete blow to his ego when she referenced the childhood abuse he had endured. I sort of felt bad for him when she said those things, but the feeling didn’t last for very long. It was interesting how he mentioned her drug-using days and assumed she must have been some sort of trashy slut that would screw anything with legs. As insulting and offensive as it may have been, there was probably a grain of truth to what he said, just as her comments about his impotency were probably true to a certain degree. I also loved the quick turnaround. As soon as T-bag no longer has the upper hand or any form of leverage, he can become quite pathetic, which is always humorous. Watching him spout his religious nonsense, pleading for mercy because he too wants to be a free man, was priceless. T-bag got such a fitting ending. As much as he didn’t want to go back to prison, especially Fox River, it’s probably the only place he would ever be able to exert and level of power and receive any form of respect.

Mahone, well, he is absolutely awesome! I felt really bad for him because his character has been through so much and has had tremendous losses. He’s done bad things in the past, but he did them out of the love he had for his family. Since he’s been working alongside the brothers, he has been a critical asset to the team. Without Mahone I don’t think they would have been able to survive, much less defeat the company. Early in the season, Michael was not on top of his game. He was distracted, confused, and his health was deteriorating. This is why I almost didn’t want to sit and watch when Michael seemed to be questioning his loyalty. It’s fascinating that Mahone’s relationship with Linc contained more trust and reciprocity, especially when Linc was the brother who initially had the most difficult time refraining from killing Mahone. It was more than apparent he had reached the point where he just wanted it to end and would have done anything to ensure Pam’s safety. I’m glad it worked out for him in the end and they were able to come up with a plan. I would have hated to see Mahone run off and do his own thing at this point in the story. I really, really loved the flash-forward scenes featuring Mahone. I always knew there was something between Mahone and Lang, and I’m really glad the writers decided to incorporate it into the story. It was incredibly sweet, and it was good to see that he didn’t survive and then end up living all alone.

Sucre and C-note—those two are such an incredible team. I love seeing those two together, and it really made me nostalgic for season one. I really missed C-note; he was such a powerful character and always added a unique flavor to the mix. Rockmond is an amazing and powerful actor, whom I believe is grossly underestimated. His performances are always strong and consistent; I don’t think he has ever had one weak performance on Prison Break. I’ll never forget his performance when he was faced with the task of killing himself; it was one of those “wow” moments in Prison Break. It would have been nice to see him with his family because these are the scenes that are really tear-jerkers. His ending, however, completely made up for it.

Sucre, holy crap, I truly love Sucre. I think I am truly, madly, and deeply in love with Sucre. I want to marry him and have 20 or 30 babies with the man. It’s such a shame he isn’t real. No one could ever ask for a better, more loyal friend than Sucre. The guy has such a tremendously warm heart, and he’s always there for his friends when it really matters. In addition to having such a huge heart, he is also extremely brave and willing to make sacrifices. When he jumped into the car and then blocked the road so Michael and the rest of the gang could get away, I literally melted while sitting on my couch. I felt like a huge pile of mushy, squishy stuff; I was nearly liquefied. Seeing him being hauled away in handcuffs was incredibly bothersome. I didn’t know what was going to happen at from that point on. He was guaranteed a clean slate if he helped retrieve Scylla, but in the Prison Break universe, one can never be too sure about who is going to stab whom in the back. And even when it may have had his doubts about the outcome, he still chose to keep his mouth shut when the agents were hounding him about where Michael and Linc were.

One of the biggest, most pleasant surprises was the return of the K-man, the man I swear I would marry if he were real. Why? The K-man is superbly awesome and always kicks some major ass! Okay, fine, I want to marry two different men, but, hey, they aren’t real, so does it really matter? I can dream, right? Oh, and how could I possibly forget how fantastically sexy he was looking. I’d like to know where he has been the entire time because he came back looking more sexy and delicious than ever. Did he get a makeover? Did he change his hair? He did something, oh yes he did. I loved his phone call with Michael. The look on Michael’s face was priceless, and the K-man, well, he has such a wonderful smile. I do think Michael could have been a little nicer, since the K-man is the one who got Linc exonerated in the first place and finally came clean so he could save Sara from receiving jail time. It was amazing how he was pretty much the one who saved the day. He was able to not only help Michael and the gang find a way out of this mess, away from the dangers of the company, but he was also able to negotiate a way to earn them their freedom. All Michael had to do was trust him, and I’m glad he did. I really loved the scene where they were all sitting at that big table, signing the papers. And, damn, I loved the flash-forward scene featuring the K-man, Congressman Kellerman. I hated how the woman spat in his face, but he handled it well.

Linc’s scenes were, at times, uncomfortable to watch. Dom’s performance was very convincing, and Linc looked completely miserable and like he was experiencing a tremendous amount of weakness and pain. He’s a really talented guy. I hated how Christina resorted to insulting him, pretty much calling him an idiot. She truly is a super bitch, far surpassing any of the females on the show in bitchiness. Poor Linc has always seemed to be a bit underestimated and not appreciated like he should be. He really isn’t an idiot at all; he’s more than capable of coming up with a plan and executing it, as was evident in season three. It’s just that Michael is so darn smart, he seems to outshine almost everyone when it comes to intelligence. I can’t believe Linc managed to survive though it all. Did anyone notice how despite supposedly running out of time, he managed to live? The clock was ticking and Linc didn’t have much time before medical intervention would be rendered useless. When Mahone went to get Linc, he was already running out of time. He had been bleeding out for I don’t know how long, but it seemed long enough for death to be imminent. Somehow, some way, he managed to live through it all, despite all the setbacks and obstacles they faced as they tried to get him medical attention. I loved the moment when they were on the road and Linc started to mention what Christina had told him about them not being brothers. It was good to hear Michael say that even if they were not connected by blood, they were still brothers nonetheless. It was a nice, touching moment. And wasn’t it great to see Linc and Sofia at the end, on the beach, with the shop? It’s what Linc always wanted, and not only was he able to reunite with LJ and be the father he always should have been, but he was also able to find a woman who really loved him. It was nice to see Sofia again; she’s so pretty.

I have to say I loved it when the general said, “I’m just an old man.” I laughed a little, then, for a fraction of a second, felt a tad bit bad for him. Oh, I think he just needed a big hug. I don’t think the general is the type who is used to being hugged. Perhaps if people had hugged him more throughout his life, none of this would have ever happened. LOL. People, hugs save the world, so go hug someone.

Oh, and how could I forget one of the biggest moments of all!? Yes, while I was typing this, I almost neglected to mention the important fact that Michael dies in the end. I’m sorry, people. There were a lot of great, memorable moments in the finale. So much happened, and I nearly forgot all about Michael dying. Oops.

I’m sure there are probably people who hate the ending because all they can do is focus on the fact Michael died. I’m almost afraid to mention this because the last thing I want is to attract people to the thread so they can bash the writers and resort to name calling. If someone feels tempted to resort to being rude and hateful, please go somewhere else. I think the writers did an excellent job, and they managed to kill Michael, without dragging it out and forcing fans to sit and watch every agonizing moment preceding his death. They could have opted for a scene, where we see a dying Michael, bleeding and suffering, feeling defeated by everyone and everything, as Sara reaches out to him, screaming his name. It would have been a beautiful piece of drama if they had chosen this route, and it would have given Wentworth a really good scene where he could show off his acting abilities and impress everyone with his talent. However, this didn’t happen, and I would say the writers spared fans from the torture of watching Michael suffer. They gave us just enough to know that he wouldn’t have long to leave, then they flash-forwarded in the future, where they show everyone reunited at Michael’s grave. It was truly beautiful the way this was done, and I absolutely loved how they showed the happy endings—and how the bad guys got what they deserved—before cutting to the scene where everyone is at his grave. From my perspective, the way that this was done explicitly shows that all of Michael’s hard work paid off. Michael didn’t just sacrifice himself for the people he had been side by side with throughout the seasons; he changed the lives of many people, and it was all for the better. It wasn’t just about Linc, C-note, and Sucre being free. Michael also saved their families and gave them a chance to be with the men they loved. Sucre’s baby didn’t have to grow up without a father, a father the child would have never known and possibly would have never even known existed. C-note’s little girl didn’t have to watch her father, once again, being taken from her. She didn’t have to live on the run and in hiding, unable to get access to proper medical care for her condition. Linc was given a second chance, a chance to be a good father and reform a relationship with his son. He was given a chance to live the life he never had, a life he never had because he sacrificed himself for Michael. Most of Linc’s problems in life were due to all he had done to protect his brother. And, out of everything that happened, Sara was given a son. Her son gives her a reason to live, a reason to be strong and not relapse and resume using drugs. With everything that has happened, not even including Michael’s death, I would be inclined to believe it would be really tempting for her to give in and start using drugs. This, of course, can be dangerous and possibly lead to her demise. She has a habit of using drugs when things get too stressful for her, but having a son who depends on her, helps her stay strong and maintain her focus on what really matters. Michael succeeded in everything he set out to do. He exposed the company and dismantled all of its operations permanently. The people responsible either died or were put behind bars. He freed his brother, giving him a second chance at life. He gave Sucre the chance to be with the woman he loves and be a father. He gave Sara a son and a purpose in life. He gave Mahone the opportunity to redeem himself for all the things he had done and protect what was left of his family, even if he didn’t end up getting back together with her. C-note was given some peace, never having to worry about hiding or running; he was also able to be there for his family. He even changed Kellerman. That’s right, he made a new man out of Kellerman, or, at the very least, set things in motion that led to his change of heart. By being such a formidable foe, the corruptness of the company and the administration became more clear to Kellerman. He realized the lengths he had gone, only to be doing nothing more than serving a corrupt system and betraying what he once was. If people are still upset about his death, all I can say is that no matter what happened, he was going to die anyway. If Michael had never gotten involved in this mess, the tumor would have been discovered, and he would have died anyway. Even if he had never helped Linc escape from prison, Michael still would have died, assuming that he died of a tumor. At least Michael was able to make a real difference and his death meant something. He helped a lot of people, and I don’t think they will ever forget all the man he was and all the sacrifices that he made.



I want to thank the writers and everyone involved for giving us fans a great finale. Sure, not everything has always been so welcomed and well-received, but there have been a few of us who have been hanging in there, despite however or whatever we felt about certain decisions. It was a great way to end the show, and it was good to see some old, yet familiar faces again. Elements from the previous seasons were beautifully woven into the finale, and it was an appropriate way of reminding us fans of the journey the characters have been on. I'm going to miss these characters. Prison Break was what really got me into watching television again, when I didn't have motivation to pick up the remote, mainly because of all the reality crap and other mindless shows and cliche shows that plagued television. So, thank you again and I wish everyone the best of luck.

[SMaK]

Wow, I'm totally speechless... Fortunately, Candyrose managed to convey my feelings through her " exposure "... It would take me hours to think of a way expressing myself in the most convenient yet entirely terse manner, and perhaps, a few additional hours to choose what to begin with... I thank you for that.

Also, I'd like to thank all of you for such a great time I've had here, on these forums... You're wonderful. Cheers!

Ooh, and one last thought of the show... Finally, I feel " complete "... It was so worth of my time.

[candyrose]

The ending was definitely worth the long wait--I loved it. I'm so happy the show didn't get canceled mid-season, preventing fans from getting a true ending to the story.

[Lagash]

Awesome post, candyrose. It's such a thorough comment on the finale! Just what I was looking for from another fan. Thanks for the comments. Specially about Michael's death. It's less sad when one thinks about all the good things he's done... plus that fact that he probably would still have died even if he didn't get into all that trouble.

A thought, couldn't they get the Company doctors to fix him again? I mean, the technology and people involved must've been discovered by the public. Just a little thought.

Also, did you notice they played Kellerman's sound when he appeared in the car? I don't remember if they used it again after that, but it was so classic! It's that strange sound that used to play whenever he appeared on the scene in the first and second season, and the one played when those guys open the van he's in before shooting. I always thought of it as Kellerman's sound, since Prison Break has such an intense use of leitmotifs, like the General used to get three characteristic chords... But then they used the sound on any generic Company assassin, that I thought it wasn't his sound really. xD It's both, apparently, since he's no longer with them, and they still played it. Wow, such a long paragraph about a sound. xD

I'd comment some more on the rest, but I have to go right now. Maybe I'll continue later. Again, great post!

[killershrimp]

Wow, fantastic review. I agree with everything you said!

All I wanted to see was someone kill Christina.
That in itself made me happy

It was a little confusing though, did the whole series take place in one year? According to his grave, Michael died in 2005 (the year Prison Break started). Did he ever get to see his baby?



Sidenote: the only thing they were missing was Abruzzi! Hahah he was freaking amazing. Shoulda brought him back from the dead just for kicks

[steph4015]

The scene he had with Sara, when he was preparing to have his way with her, was perverse and long overdue at the same time. I cringed when he turned her over and pushed her against the wall, yet I didn’t want her to get away too easily.


That was my favorite scene from all the two episode. It was sooo great. And when he pushed her against the wall and was behind her, god i was so thrilled. I know these two wanted to work together for so long and i'm glad they did find a way to show us those scene. It was perfect.

[candyrose]

A thought, couldn't they get the Company [COLOR=blue ! important][COLOR=blue ! important]doctors[/color][/color] to fix him again? I mean, the technology and people involved must've been discovered by the public. Just a little thought.

That may have been difficult because the company was in the process of being dismantled. The important important point worth mentioning is that although their technology was highly advanced, it can only do such much. They aren't miracles workers, and if his conditioned had worsened substantially, there may have been little they could do. When they performed on him earlier in the season, they had a few really close calls. It was already a complex procedure, so if it came back or his condition was worse, then there really would be only one option.

Nice comments about the music.

Killer Shrimp, every time I see one of your posts, I always catch myself staring at your name. I am compelled to star at it; the name really sticks out. Please tell me why you call yourself Killer Shrimp and where the inspiration for the name came from.

[Diane8]

Candyrose you said it all so well!! I agree with it all. Two other times during the show that I loved was when Linc told Michael that Sara was pregant and when Michael told Kellerman he was tired of running. I'm sad the show is over but kudos to the writers and producers of the show!!!

[Calena]

First I agree with everyone that you gave a great, eloquent, detailed analysis of the finale, candyrose.

Now down to business.

I have been emotionally detached from PB ever since my initial outrage about bringing back Sara and thus making S3, which I liked very much contrary to many other people, obsolete. I continued watching S4 out of loyalty and a little bit curiousity, not because I felt withdrawal sypmtoms when not watching it, like I do with certain other shows.
Thus I didn't expect much from the finale, even feared cheesy MiSa scenes would prevail. So I can say that the finale positively suprised me and I overall liked it much more than I thought I would. I'm even a little bit sad that it's over now for good.

candy, I agree with pretty much everything you said about T-Bag. They made his character a clown, but this got considerably better the last few eps, and Teddy found back to all the glory of his black soul. It was very fitting that he ended up in prison again, and it was doing him a favour putting him into Fox River, where he certainly is a legend for breaking out once.

I loved seeing Sucre again, although I woudln't want to marry him. I love the puppy, but I just don't fancy him. I could have done without C-Note though. I was under the impression that he was living a happy life with his family somewhere and it wasn't essential to bring him in again. At times the Sucre-C-Note combo was a bit clown like.
But I get that they wanted to show the fans beloved characters again and probably added C-Note because of that.

The K-Man, though now that's something different! I had little doubt in my mind that Kellerman was indeed alive. I love him! I'm not sure if I'd marry him, though. If you'd force me to marry one of the PB characters I'd very likely pick Mahone.

Oh, and how could I possibly forget how fantastically sexy he was looking. I’d like to know where he has been the entire time because he came back looking more sexy and delicious than ever.

I can tell you that: At a Private Practise. I agree, he looked unbelievably hot. I haven't watched Private Practise so far, but I think I will give it a shot now.
I was almost entirely sure that Kellerman was legit and didn't want to trick our gang. I love them for bringing him into the finale, although one could critisize, if one really wanted to, that his showing up from a storytelling POV of was a deus ex machina solution. But screw it, I love Kellerman and I'm very happy about his apperance.

I'm ok with Michael being dead, I'm a little bit disappointed that he didn't go out in a blaze of glory but died of the brain tumor. I don't see how Michael dying of cancer fits in with what spoilers I've heard about those mysterious extra 2 eps that take place before the flashforward.
For what crime could they possibly throw Sara into prison when she has been exonerated with the rest of them? Surely killing Christina in defense of Michael can't be it.
I agree that the final scene beautifully summed up everything Michael set out to accomplish.

Prison Break was what really got me into watching television again, when I didn't have motivation to pick up the remote, mainly because of all the reality crap and other mindless shows and cliche shows that plagued television.

Are you aware PB and SPN started in the same year?

In conclusion, despite some points I made above, I want to thank the creators and writers and actors and guest stars of PB for giving us a great finale and many incredibly suspenseful and entertaining hours of television before that.

[anti-pb]

Right, hello there. Im a non prison break fan but anyway listen to this. I cant honestly believe that you have took the time to write a probably 1 hour and a half long post. You seriously need to think where your going in life, and get a grip of your life. You stupid sad cow. Grow up , its a bloody tv programme and stop taking it to heart.

Absolute clown. x