Allow me to be man enough to admit: I was *completely* wrong! I
originally said I found "Prison Break" to be plodding, boring, and
depressing. (I've posted my first two e-mails on that from a few weeks
back). I wondered if I could get engaged by the show, if the theme
would drag me down. So much for first impressions. Fortunately I almost
always try to give new shows at least two or three viewings before I
make the final judgement. Man am I glad I did so with "Prison Break". I
think the fact that Tracey liked it helped, along with it having been
named a TV Guide Favorite, and growing buzz on the Net, which piqued my
interest. A few weeks ago the FX channel aired a six-hour marathon,
complete with a making-of show and cast interviews. The documentary
impressed me enough to watch the marathon, which I did, hour after hour.
I started seeing a show that was smart, original, gritty, and above all,
suspenseful. I won't spoil any plot devices, but let's just say many
things aren't what you think at first. (Those in the know will remember
the discussion about "taking out" one of three man as an example).
There are amazing twists and turns that keep you guessing. The star's
elaborate plan to break his brother out is wildly convoluted and
detailed, the kind of well-written fiction that's so
incredible-yet-believable, you put your disbelief on hold and just enjoy
the trip. That's good writing. Sub-plots about family, power and
corruption add to the drama. And of course there's the setting of the
prison itself, which is at times about intense as you can get on network
TV. Every week I find myself wondering how the escape plan can possibly
work, how the conspiracy can be revealed, how they'll deal with the
unexpected. It literally keeps on the edge of my seat. You don't *have*
to watch every show to catch up, but it's highly advisable you do. That
I'd commit to staying with another series that makes me stay up-to-date
("Lost" being the other) says a lot.
The last of the new shows aired this week, with more to return in
January. I'm assuming reruns will start next week. Do yourself and favor
and catch 'em.
-----Original Message-----
From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Behalf Of Keith Johnson
Sent: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 9:53 PM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [scifinoir2] Are you watching "Prison Break"?
"Prison Break" isn't moving me. I watched it recently and just couldn't
get engrossed in the whole plot of the man sentenced to death for a
crime he didn't commit. The idea of a guy getting inside the prison to
break said innocent out is intriguing, but I'm not sure if they can
build on it to hold my interest for an entire season. I'm afraid it'll
become laborious slowly sifting through the unraveling mystery week
after week. Takes special skill to pull off the one-theme show,
something shows like "Lost" and "24" have managed to great effect. (I
don't count the "X-Files" because despite its overwhelming theme of
conspiracy and aliens, it had a huge number of standalone shows that
introduced other topics). I'm trying to decide if I'll watch "Prison
Break" again. Dominic Purcell, who plays the guy sentenced to death, is
a good actor. He was very effective in "John Doe", a great show (that
incidentally also had a theme of a mystery slowly unfolding). Sadly
that was cancelled. After that Purcell showed up as a leather pants
wearing vampire in "Blade: Trinity", a role that made me alternately
laugh and groan at his character. I guess "Prison Break" is a step up
from that fiasco of a film.
(Second post)
...
I may be *way* off base, but it put me in mind of a show from a few
years back, "Nowhere Man", starring Bruce Greenwood. I know they're not
the same, but the pacing seemed familiar. I like shows that have a
mystery theme, but sometimes such shows seem to drag and I find them too
plodding and heavy. It's as if they're weighed down with an overwhelming
sense of dread that tires me out. "Nowhere Man" made an impression on
me for that reason, and I didn't really like it overall. Now, that being
said, I've loved other shows with a mystery at their core, such as the
aforementioned "John Doe", "Lost", "The Pretender", etc. Do ya think
it's because those shows, even when glum, have more lighthearted
moments? And I use the term "lighthearted" in a relative sense here.
I'm just trying to figure out why some shows of this structure draw me
in, while others turn me off.
>
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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