“I don’t have time, my mind is wandering elsewhere.” If you have watched the TV series Prison Break at least once, then you have already heard the song performed by Puff Larage in the credits.
After adding Lost to its entire catalog a few weeks ago, Netflix is once again playing the nostalgia card with Prison Break. Broadcast 19 years ago on Fox and in France on M6, this is one of the must-see series of the early 2000s.
A great start
Prison Break may never have seen the light of day. When its creator Paul Scheuring offered the script to various television channels, nothing came of it. Until a certain Steven Spielberg showed up as a wild Pokemon.
The filmmaker had an idea to make a movie, but he was too busy with War of the Worlds. In the end, it’s Fox who will make the first move after initially rejecting the project. But Lost’s recent success on rival channel and its network 24 will be a balance.
And they did well. The first episode of Prison Break, broadcast on August 29, 2005, attracted more than 10 million viewers. A great success that will continue throughout the season. The series arrives in France on the M6 a few months later and will also be a huge success, averaging 7 million curious kids a week.
It must be said that the first season of Prison Break is a real success: the pitch is original, the interpreter of Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) is as charming as it is touching, the suspense is there (will they manage to leave this prison. ?!) and the secondary characters left their mark (T -Bag!). Not to mention the political intrigue that will shape the plot of other seasons…
wasted potential
Unfortunately for the channel and us viewers, Prison Break is one of those concept series that has been losing steam over the years. If the second season makes sense because it’s focused on escaping prisoners, the next one doesn’t make sense, with script inconsistencies (we can’t get over Plot twist Sarah on Tancredi).
‘One of the actors spat in my face’: Prison Break was a toxic shoot for Sarah Wayne Callies (Sarah)
Some characters end up in prison in Panama, then in Yemen and have to escape again… Yes, the series is not called Prison Break for nothing. Then there’s nothing original about it anymore, and it’s just a rehash of its first season, it’ll never surpass it.
In terms of audience, the disinterest of viewers over the years is evidenced by the sharp drop between seasons 2 and 3. Let’s not even talk about the next two, which some fans completely erased from memory. Like a TV movie that isn’t really a sequel, but a prequel of sorts.
In anticipation of the remake, which is currently in production, Netflix subscribers will be able to rewatch the series today. And we recommend stopping at the first season.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
