WRITER: Zack Estrin DIRECTOR: Bobby Roth
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), Amaury Nolasco (Sucre), Reggie Lee (Bill Kim), Jason David (Agent Wheeler), Phillips Edward Van Lear (CO Patterson), Dylan Minette (Young Michael), Daniel Allar (Avocado), Max Kirsch (Young Lincoln), Ron Gonzalez (Facility Guard), Angie Boiling (Judge), Justin Meeks (Pilot), Bruce Dubose (Greg Nagel), Brandon Smith (Warden Pavleka), Kelly Jackson (Transport Guard), Sylvia Kelegian (Denise)
Michael and Lincoln are captured, awaiting transport back to Fox River State Penitentiary by the authorities, but Agent Mahone can't let that happen...The mid-season arrives with another blistering example of why Prison Break is so addictive. While the government conspiracy remains difficult to get excited about (24 does this stuff so much better and clearer), the effects it has on the characters are just a joy to watch.
The Killing Box focuses on the capture of Michael and Lincoln, but with the twist that Agent Mahone (and his shadowy cohorts) don't want the pair back in custody -- they need them dead. It makes for an interesting episode of reversal, as Mahone is forced to give his prey the opportunity to escape...
The characters of Prison Break are mostly painted in broad strokes, but each is charismatic and interesting to watch in their own way. The fun of the show is seeing how these disparate bunch deal with the problems they're presented with. The Killing Box, from writer Zack Estrin, is a great example of characters being forced to make decisions that could cost them their lives, or facing situations beyond their control.
One character facing such hardship is Bellick, the excellent Wade Williams, who has been framed for Roy's murder by T-Bag and is sent to Fox River. There's a perverse pleasure in seeing Bellick reduced to a lowly prisoner in the facility he used to run with an iron fist, but also a degree of sympathy.
The brilliant Robert Knepper gets a decent storyline here, as T-Bag woos a postal worker called Denise, with a view to getting the new address of his ex-girlfriend. Knepper is great fun to watch in this role, although the likelihood of T-Bag managing to flirt with anyone (given his slacker look, dirty clothes and general weirdness) is too much to swallow!
It's also an interesting episode for Agent Kellerman (Paul Adelstein), who manages to secure a late reprieve for his job with handler Kim (Reggie Lee), by devising a full-proof plan to kill Michael and Lincoln. Of course, the show is never that clean cut and both face dirty tricks along the way...
There's a wonderful sense of urgency and excitement that builds up throughout the episode. Zack Estrin doesn't put a foot wrong with the script as it provides a great adrenaline rush. There are some strong developments to a number of subplots and the episode ends with a stunning moment that I didn't see coming, and one that will ensure your devotion to this exciting series.
