Prison Break - Season 4 (plus Final Break) [DVD]

In retrospect, it’s amazing that Prison Break got this far. The original concept of the show surely demanded just a single season, but such was the success that it enjoyed, that further runs followed. It’s to the credit of the show’s creators that it managed to make this work, too, right down to the agreeable fourth and final season.

Thus, this final season of Prison Break sees Wentworth Miller’s Michael Scofield attempting to hunt down The Company, the organisation that’s been behind the various events that have befallen him over the course of the show’s run. As you’d expect, this quest is laden with some dramatic twists and turns, in keeping with the spirit of the show, and it’s also got some major surprises up its sleeve.

Determined to bring things to a proper close, this final season of Prison Break does indeed bring things to an appropriate conclusion. It’s a fairly bumpy ride in comparison to the more confident earlier seasons, and it’s clear throughout that this is a show coming to the end of its lifespan. Yet it’s still very slick, and very enjoyable television drama. It’s also willing to take a few chances, which is certainly appreciated.

With 24 episodes in all, this final season of Prison Break is a fine denouement for one of the most exciting TV shows of recent times. It might not be vintage quality by the standards that the programme has set itself, but it’s still proven to be a far tastier dish than many of the pretenders to its throne. And it will be missed. --Jon Foster