WRITER: Zack Estrin DIRECTOR: Vincent Misiano
CAST: Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofield), Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows), William Fichtner (Agent Mahone), Amaury Nolasco (Sucre), Rockmond Dunbar (C-Note), Robert Knepper (T-Bag), Paul Adelstein (Agent Kellerman), Sarah Wayne Callies (Dr Sara Tancredi), Marshall Allman (L.J), Wade Williams (Bellick), Reggie Lee (Bill Kim), Matt DeCaro (Roy), Alexandra Lydon (Anna), Diana Scarwid (Jeanette Owens), Bruce Bennett (Wilbur Fitzgerald) & David Jason (Agent Wheeler)
Sucre steals the $5 million, L.J is released and put under surveillance in an attempt to lure his father out of hiding, and Sarah is forced to go on the run...
Dead Fall marks another strong installment for Prison Break, finally pulling away from the treasure hunt of recent weeks and continuing its on-the-run mentality. At this stage, most episodes are satisfying enough and it's surprising how well the show is doing to keep your interest.
Wade Williams make a welcome return as Bellick after a prolonged absence from the show, back on the trail of the fugitives who cost him his job, while Marshall Allman re-enters the mix as L.J, with the authorities letting him go to lure Lincoln into the open. Allman is believable and good value as L.J, making him a more realistic teenager than some.
The standout sequence in Dead Fall is the trapping of Sucre's leg between two underwater logs while trying to traverse a lake with Michael. Prison Break has always excelled at miniature dilemmas and they work best when set against the threat of capture (be it prison guards last year, or police this year).
Most notable for fans is the continuing exploration of Agent Mahone, played with steely perfection by William Fichtner. Following the revelation last week over Mahone's shaky ethics (killing Tweener) it's becoming increasingly clear there's more to Mahone than a determined lawman. Also watch out for the final scene, as it gives a tantalizing glimpse into Mahone's true nature.
Sarah Wayne Callies' subplot takes a leap forward as she decrypts the origami messages Michael has been sending her, while realizing her life could be in danger. Callies is a beautiful and talented actress who's always a pleasure to watch, and it's nice to see her own story hotting up finally.
Overall, Dead Fall exhibits all the traits that make Prison Break so enjoyable and addictive: quick thrills, deepening mystery, subversion of characters and a few twists along the way. Zack Estrin's script progresses the story in a number of key areas and provides an efficient and exciting 40-odd minutes...
