Paul Scheuring
Prison Break

Sometimes, the logistical choices of television networks and their scheduling structures at least arouse curiosity. Excellent productions and series, which achieve prime-time success elsewhere in the world, here pass by unnoticed and are scheduled late at night to make way for pure and simple trash, which nevertheless garners significant viewership.

Prison Break is an American action/thriller series created and produced by Paul Scheuring in collaboration with Fox Television and broadcast in the USA from 2005.

The framework through which the twenty-two episodes of the series unfold follows the trend of already successful serials like 24. In other words, there are no "closed" episode structures that conclude on their own (CSI, for example), but an open structure with countless branches, with significant subplots that often converge or are followed by the camera in a parallel and continuous manner.

At the center of the story, there are two brothers Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) and Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), with psychologies and characters almost at opposite poles. Very cerebral, sensitive, honest, available, and altruistic towards others, the first; grumpy, aggressive, prickly, ready to get into trouble and uncomfortable situations, the second.

Lincoln Burrows is accused of murder and subsequently incarcerated at Fox River and sentenced to death for a crime with dark and unsettling implications, from which he distances himself, declaring himself innocent.

His brother, a construction engineer with a good social position, tries to come to his aid by deliberately getting himself locked up in the same prison, with the subsequent aim of executing a successful "break" to free his brother.

They are joined by a large group of main characters, who often come to their aid and more often try to trick them and corner them.

Among these, two female figures have significant importance in developing the main plot: Lincoln's ex-girlfriend, lawyer Veronica Donovan, who will try in every way to investigate and defend Burrows (played by the sensual Robin Tunney, currently in the cast of The Mentalist, on Italia Uno) and the beautiful doctor from the prison infirmary, Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies).

Another important piece of the puzzle is played by Brad Bellick (Wade Williams), head of the Fox River guards. Always very tough and mean towards the inmates. Amaury Nolasco instead plays Fernando Sucre, a Latino character with a sense of humor, and very important for the plans of the two brothers.

The action takes place in the state of Illinois, in Chicago, and the surrounding cities. The main setting is the large penitentiary of Fox River (a fictional name), where the country's most dangerous criminals are incarcerated, including the feared mob boss Joe Abruzzi (Peter Stormare) and the pedophile and rapist Theodore Bagwell, commonly called T-Bag.

The filming took place at the Joliet Prison, Illinois. A real prison closed in 2002, and subsequently used by Fox.

The greatest quality of Prison Break lies in the considerable dose of adrenaline and suspense it generates and the innumerable and shocking twists that follow one another until the last minute of the final episode. Twists that have become the true trademark of PB (those who have seen the last episode of the fourth and final season already know what I am referring to).

Other positive factors that impact the excellent success of the first season are the excellent depth and psychological characterization of the various characters. See the remarkable work done by Robert Knepper on his character, a true "villain" in every sense, T-Bag, who turns out to be even amusing and entertaining at times with his antics, despite the role of antagonist.

Also excellent is the dark, unsettling, and dramatic atmosphere that is breathed inside Fox River, and the soundtrack and sound effects that add spice to it all.

Never have the themes of detention, the death penalty, and jailbreak been better exploited in a television production. Prison Break is pure oxygen and fresh air, which stands out from the uniform and stereotyped mass of various Life and CSI Las Vegas. Those who have loved films like "The Shawshank Redemption" or "The Green Mile" will surely appreciate the product that came out of P. Scheuring's mind.

Indeed, let me tell you more, if you loved the intellectual figure of Andy Dufresne, you will appreciate even more the character played by Wentworth Miller, an ideal successor with many features in common with the former. Psychologically, but not only, even in the friendly relationships with the prison warden, having both a sort of "philosopher" guide inside the walls, the two resemble each other a lot.

He will be the main engine around which all the stories unfold. A very particular character, who will not fail to positively impress the viewer, between ingenious ideas and at times emotional moments.

Political conspiracies, alliances, enemies, betrayals, escapes, the struggle for survival in a bleak and harsh world, where you cannot trust anyone, this and much more is the first season of Prison Break, a masterpiece of thriller serials.

Final note:

I have deliberately left out some characters and not revealed details of the plot's evolution and development, as it is infinitely long in its various parts, and also not to spoil the surprise for those who have never seen P.B.