WRITERS: Nick Santora & Karyn Usher DIRECTOR: Karen Gaviola
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), Wade Williams (Bellick), Reggie Lee (Bill Kim), Anthony Denison (Aldo Burrows), Helena Kievorn (Dede Franklin), Jose Zuniga (Coyote), Amy Levin (Pharmacist), Justin Meeks (Pilot), Greg Dorchak (Cop #1), Dylan Minnette (Young Michael), Jack Watkins (Officer Grady), Romy Rosemont (Det. Kathryn Slattery) & Cynthia Kaye McWilliams (Kacee Franklin)
Michael, Lincoln and Aldo head off to catch their plane to freedom. Meanwhile, Bellick is questioned over Roy's murder, C-Note's daughter needs urgent medicine and Sara fights for her life...Disconnect is quite a pivotal episode in terms of motivation. Michael and Lincoln both make a decision that immediately changes the dynamic of the season from reactive to proactive. It will be interesting to see how the second half of season 2 progresses with their new mind-set.
Michael's backstory is also expanded upon with some interesting flashbacks to his childhood, where he was beaten and locked in darkened rooms by his foster family. There's even a sly wink at Michael's early prison-breaking skills that should produce a chuckle.
The unstoppable Agent Mahone also becomes increasingly phantom-like in his tracking of the felons. It's always a joy to watch William Fichtner's incisive and enjoyable performances in this role.
Elsewhere, the subplots are tedious at the moment: Bellick (Williams) is questioned over Roy's murder by a sympathetic detective (Romy Rosemont; great), while family life with C-Note takes a worrying turn when Kacee requires medication. C-Note's story is particularly tiresome, as he was never a main player in season 1 and the attempts to make us care about his family aren't working.
His plot to smuggle his family away from the Feds was entertaining, but there's no real investment in him as a character and his storyline is the most directionless.
Agent Kellerrman's torture of Sara continues (amazing what you can do with an iron and a bath tub, eh!), providing the show with some dramatic and tense moments. Paul Adelstein is great fun as Kellerman and his constant incompetence finally meets with an intriguing punishment by handler Bill Kim (Reggie Lee; superb).
There's a fast and loose mentality creeping into Prison Break at the moment. The earlier episodes in the season were written tighter, with a clearer plan, whereas recent episodes seem like streams of consciousness. It makes for a fun and unpredictable ride (most of the time) so I'm not going to complain, but the number of contrivances and errors in recent weeks has been noticeably higher (Sucre somehow decyphering BOLSHOI BOOZE, for instance).
Overall, Disconnect is another fun 43-minutes of drama and tension. The Michael/Lincoln/Aldo plot is the one that takes the biggest leap forward and the groundwork for a change in direction is effectively laid by the characters. I can smell a shake-up in the air and it's going to be great fun seeing what Michael and Lincoln do now they've stopped running...
