Finalewatch: 'Prison Break'

As Prison Break wraps up the season, I'll give Michael this: The man can improvise. He's the MacGyver of on-the-fly plots and plans. Just this week, he had to deal with escapes, double-crosses and the reminder of lost, beheaded love. He managed it all with style. But does he even know about some of the loose ends out there?

Cry-y-y-y-ing... over spoilers.

When we last saw the Brothers Scofield/Burrows, they were at something of a loss. Their leverage had just scampered away, the ex-Fed they don't trust had made his escape, and all their plans seemed to be unraveling. You think that would stop Michael? Hah!.

It helps that they got to get out their frustrations with a spiffy car chase, and Linc (who has a lot of frustrations, evidently) got to vent some more by pummeling the person of Whistler. Ah, Whistler -- you're not going anywhere. Not until Linc gets his son.

Michael breaks out the jazz hands of furious improvisation, directing Gretchen to meet them at a busy plaza, then revealing he was just doing that to make sure LJ and Sofia still had all their limbs and appendages. Hey, it's a valid concern when Gretchen is around. He then directs them to a crowded museum, which just happens to have metal detectors. No guns for Gretchen! This makes her testy, and she directs her minions to cover all the exits with massive firepower.

In an out-of-the-way corner of the museum, the antagonists make the exchange. Red Rover sends LJ over, Michael releases Whistler, and everything should be hunky dory -- except Sofia decides she doesn't want to play along anymore. Where are the coordinates? she asks. Whistler begs her not to worry her pretty little head about it, but Gretchen has finally had enough. There are no coordinates! We just wanted Whistler, who isn't some poor patsy -- he's part of our great, murderous conspiracy to take over the world! Sofia is shocked, and she goes over to the Good Guys' side. Whistler is heartbroken.

Michael breaks an exhibit case, triggering the alarms. Now the whole museum will be exiting together, which presumably makes the hail of gunfire Gretchen had waiting for them less likely. One of the guards looks suspiciously at Michael, but he's distracted when another guard finds an arrowhead on Whistler. He's the thief! Except it's plastic, and from the gift shop. Heh. Nice little parting gift there, Michael.

When one of the guards starts questioning Whistler too closely, Gretchen gets impatient and motions one of her minions to take the impertinent guard out. Cue the shootout, which has but one victim: the virtuous Sofia. Linc loses it, and LJ barely convinces him to scarper before the place is swarming with even more cops. Michael, meanwhile, is stalking Gretchen with his own pistol, but doesn't get around to shooting her before another guard takes a shot and Gretchen and Co. flee.

The brothers end the episode contemplating various love interests -- Linc stays with Sofia in the hospital, while Michael, mourning Sarah, vows to track down Gretchen with the help of documents Sofia stole from Whistler.

But what of all the other players? Mahone ends up hanging out in a bar in Panama City until he's met by his new best bud -- Whistler. Mahone agrees to join up with Whistler (and, presumably, the Company and their plot to take over the world), and warns Whistler that Michael will be coming for Gretchen. Perhaps another double cross is in the works? It couldn't happen to a nastier girl.

Back at Sona, T-Bag proves to be the only person willing to stand up for Lechero, who is getting the crap kicked out of him by the entire prison population. He tells Lechero a guard is willing to get them out for $50,000, and Lechero, although at first skeptical, agrees to raise the cash, having his sweet little nun bring it in. But T-Bag is really just cementing his own position -- he smothers Lechero (which, I suppose, is a kinder way for him to die than being ripped apart by convicts), allies with the (creepy) nun, then takes his position as the new King of Sona (while claiming it's a republic of equals). Sona's about to get a whole lot freakier.

And then there's Sucre. Oh, Sucre -- you poor bastard. He gets beaten, brutalized, buried alive, and still won't give up Michael. When Michael calls, Sucre makes sure everyone's ok, tells Michael that he's peachy, then crushes the phone so the guards. He'd rather die than give up Michael. The guards, of course, have something worse in store -- they throw him in Sona. Let's hope Michael remembers to come looking for Sucre at some point, because the poor guy doesn't deserve this!

Highlights, thoughts and odds and ends

• Once again, Wade Williams does a great job illustrating just how out of his league Bellick is. He hides, he skulks, he blathers and weeps. My favorite? It kind of looked like Bellick was clutching his metaphorical pearls when T-Bag smothered Lechero. He's in hell, and he knows it.
• Oh, hey, I completely forgot about McGrady -- he hides in a hidden compartment under a pile of fertilizer, and then gets a surprise "Congrats on escaping from jail" party in some courtyard. Actually, it's pretty forgettable.
• Again: Poor, poor Sucre. He's entirely too noble, and I have a feeling he's going to be left to rot.
• I love how Michael stands out in broad daylight, gun fully extended, and the cops don't even notice him.
• Gretchen, frustrated with all the running around Michael is making her do, offers some advice: "You're overthinking things. I've seen it to many times before. The first plan goes to hell and then you start tap-dancing. And trust me, it always ends badly." Awww -- but Michael is such a good tap-dancer!
• Gretchen is having a very, very bad day. First, she's jerk around by Michael, then she gets shot at, and finally, she discovers that Whistler doesn't even have the damn bird book they were so interested in. Bummer.
• T-Bag does have some sort of plan -- he tells the creepy nun to hold on to his money for a few days. Interesting.
• LJ tells the guys that Sofia's Whistler evidence is under her bed. So why is Linc going through her closet? Was he hoping to find a frock that suited him?
• Imponderables: Why does every con in Sona apparently understand English -- and get Shakespeare references? Why are all the official announcements in Panama City in English? How can Gretchen walk around a steamy tropical locale in skin-tight black clothing and boots without dying of heat stroke?

What did you think? Was it a satisfying conclusion? Is Sucre doomed, or will Michael figure it out and try to break him out? Is Mahone evil? Will you be back for more if the show comes back next season?

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