WRITER: Karyn Usher DIRECTOR: Dwight Little
CAST: Wentworth Miller (Michael Scofield), Dominic Purcell (Lincoln Burrows), William Fichtner (Agent Mahone), Robert Knepper (T-Bag), Paul Adelstein (Agent Kellerman), Sarah Wayne Callies (Dr Sara Tancredi), Marshall Allman (L.J), Wade Williams (Bellick), Matt DeCaro (Roy), Kurt Caceres (Hector), Reggie Lee (Bill Kim), Barbara Eve Harris (Lang), Melissa Marsala (Maricruz Delgado), Anthony Denison (Aldo Burrows), Rachel Leora (Theresa Delgado) & Kristin Lehman (Jane Phillips)
Michael finally meets with Sara at their rendezvous, unaware that Agent Mahone has decyphered their messages. Meanwhile, Bellick takes drastic measures with T-Bag and Lincoln's father returns...We're racing towards the mid-season climax and Rendezvous finally sees Michael and Sara back together again for the first time in season 2. Their meeting is unfortunately cut short by the presence of Agent Mahone, now inches away from his prey and growing increasingly desperate to kill Michael.
Elsewhere, a slight plot contrivance results in Lincoln and L.J's rescue from the police by a group working for Lincoln's father Aldo (Denison), who says he has been collecting new evidence to get his son exonnerated. The series certainly needed a shot in the arm regarding Lincoln's attempt to clear his name, as last year's investigative subplot has been excised in favour of a more simple cat-and-mouse chase. Hopefully Aldo's presence will mean Lincoln has a viable chance to try and blow the conspiracy plot that cements Prison Break together, and start giving the protagonists some light at the end of the tunnel.
The only other plot of consequence (Sucre's interminable search for Maricruz is beginning to grate) is T-Bag's torture at the hands of Bellick and Roy, who are trying to uncover where the slippery paedophile has stashed the $5 million loot. It all amounts to some eye-watering moments with a dash of black comedy (a swallowed key and a sieve placed over a toilet bowl) that is certainly dramatic, although a late twist is perhaps one twist too far.
Rendezvous is a lot of fun and certainly a more essential episode than most. Prison Break is rarely boring, but some episodes are basically exciting ways to tread water for 45 minutes. Rendezvous has its fair share of dramatic moments but also furthers the plot regarding the Michael/Sarah relationship and the government conspiracy.
All of the actors are working to their usual high standard, but it's particularly good to see Wentworth Miller getting something more emotional and personal to sink his teeth into. Last year the steely-eyed determination to free his brother provided the heart of the story, but season 2 has been more of a general mania about evading capture. It's good to see a human element return, however shortlived.
Overall, with mid-season beckoning, the show needs to readjust itself. So far the escape, treasure hunting and FBI manhunt has provided the season with plenty of impetus, but it certainly can't continue in this manner for much longer. Rendezvous suggests the game is about to change and I'm excited to see where the series goes from here...
