WRITER: Matt Olmstead DIRECTOR: Bobby Roth
CAST: Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofield), Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows), Marshall Allman (L.J Burrows), William Fichtner (Agent Mahone), Lane Garrison (Tweener), Peter Stormare (Abruzzi), Stacy Keach (Warden Pope), Ranjit Chowdhry (Dr Gudat), Amaury Nolasco (Sucre), Rockmond Dunbar (C-Note), Wade Williams (Bellick), Robert Knepper (T-Bag), Matt DeCaro (C.O Geary), Winston West (Cop #1), Jack O'Donnell (Upscale Man), Julius Washington (C.O #1), Chamblee Ferguson (Roy), Michele Renee (Ticket Agent), Mike Trevino (Alley Cop), Dave Maldonado (Bailiff), Darius Safavi (College Student), Kristin Malko (Debra Jean), Kelly Jackson (Courthouse C.O) & Caroline Wickwire (Bellick's Mom)
The fugitives prepare to each go their own way, Lincoln spots an opportunity to break his son L.J out of police custody, while Warden Pope faces the repercussions of the escape...Watching Prison Break last year was an exercise in patience, each episode carefully nudging along Michael Scofield's escape plan amidst penal system politics and criminal backbiting. The show had focus and a goal that the writers used to squeeze tension from every outrageous situation.
Those prison-based days may be gone, but the opening up of a world beyond Fox River's walls, is just as exciting and tense... just in a different way. It was a smart idea to create a television show based on a prison break, and even though the series has had to evolve into a more unoriginal form (see The Fugitive), its preposterously addictive personality remains intact.
We're still in a period of adjustment, but I'm concerned there might already be too many fracturing storylines -- will each fugitive get their own showcase episode Lost-style? It was simpler when we were focusing on the escape plan and the government conspiracy, but with the characters splitting after their "Last Supper" together, can the show cope under the strain of so many sub-plots? We'll see.
For now such questions remain unanswered, as Otis focuses on Michael and Linc's attempt to free L.J (Linc's son, who became embroiled in the conspiracy against his father last year). Marshall Allman returns as L.J and does a good job, making the teenager's situation believable and painful, while holding his own against William Fichtner in a good interrogation scene.
Ah yes, William Fichtner: fantastic to watch without even saying a word. His casting will prove to be the season's saving grace if things get too silly, as he's such a great presence and solid antagonist. This episode marks the first time Fichtner's Mahone, Scofield and Lincoln share the screen together, and it certainly wets the appetite for future, more explosive, interactions.
Otis is almost a reversal of every episode last year, with Michael and Lincoln trying to break in to a court building, again using secretive codewords to execute their plan (although the eventual rescue isn't nearly as complex as anything last year!)
There are three main sub-plots in Otis, the first involving another escapee's attempt to get to Utah -- with Tweener (Lane Garrison) infiltrating a college for a lift. It's actually quite funny that one of the show's dopiest characters seems to be having much more luck than everyone else in his escape!
Elsewhere, slippery T-Bag (Robert Knepper; terrific) has his hand reattached by an Indian vet. That last sentence is indicative of how gleefully silly the show is, but it keeps such a straight face you can't help but accept every ridiculous trick it comes up with. It's second only to 24 in its ability to stretch plausibility and get away with it. However, of all the returning characters, T-Bag is the one most likely to fall into the trap Anthony Hopkins faced with Hannibal Lecter -- some villains are more entertaining when caged.
Finally, Warden Pope (Stacy Keach; excellent) feels the heat along with Captain Bellick (Wade Williams) over the escape. These scenes unfortunately spell the end for one of the characters, while a late scene revealing bullish Bellick still lives at home with his mother is absolute bliss.
Otis is another 45-minutes of tension from what will hopefully become a season of high stakes cat-and-mouse. There are a few areas of concern for the longevity of the show, but this episode succeeds on its own merits and provides another enjoyable ride.
