It needs to be reckoned that the television series, Prison Break, is surely one of the most famous programs ever aired in the history of television shows. Indeed, the immense popularity and critical acclaim of this show makes it a universal hit with its fan base transcending geographical boundaries and differences of cultures. A close scrutiny of the television show would provide an in-depth knowledge of the intricacies of portrayal and the thematic content of the program that have highly contributed to the show’s catapulting popularity and critical acclaim. There have been as many as four seasons of this television show till now, and every episode has been very successful in hogging the attention and interest of the audience as well as the critics all over the world. The thematic content of conflict and leadership makes this show extremely interesting for the audience as it provides them with utmost affective appeal and engagement.
It needs to be noted that the television series in context revolves around the story of two brothers. One of them has been convicted of murdering the brother of the Vice President of the United States of America, and is sentenced to die. However, he has been convicted of a crime that he did not commit. As such, his brother ends up devising a very elaborate plan for aiding his sibling in escaping from the prison and then clearing his name of the crime. The primary appeal of this television series lies in the fact that the narrative shows how one uses the brains instead of physical action to break his brother out of the prison. The action drama also delves into portrayal of the theme of corruption in the government and meshes it perfectly with the actions and the incidents. The violence that is shown in the show is also one of the highlights that intrigue the audience.
It would be correct to comment that this television show is an excellent exploration and portraiture of the duality of human nature and the struggle between good and evil while showing the effects of conscience and morality on the human mind as well. While the first season of the series shows how Michael leaves no stone unturned in scheming to get his brother out of the prison. “Calendars are the preferred motif of Prison Break, providing viewers with a different temporal framework.” (Ames n.p.) The motif represents the continuous struggle of the characters of the show. The audience hardly finds Michael getting nervous in the course of the actions and is resolute enough to brave all the odds. Indeed, the characteristic traits exuded by Michael are heroic as well as that of a true leader. He has the valor to go against the entire legal and administrative system of the nation for the sake of his brother.
He guides his aides to dig the tunnel in the prison so that they can escape and does not get bothered even in the face of imminent danger. In Season 1 Episode 8 titled “The Old Head”, Michael endeavors to Michael tries to have Westmoreland join the escape team. Again in the next episode, Michael tries to save a young prisoner named Tweener from T-Bag, the negative character. In the next season, the audience finds the narrative about escape of Michael and his brother safeguarding them from The Company. The third season show the gritty nature of Michael when he himself becomes a captive in a prison in Panama, while in the fourth season, the audience find Michael focusing on finding Gretchen and Whistler. Thus, the seasons are interlinked, thereby linking the variations in time and space in the chronological portrayal of the same narrative that embodies the struggles of the protagonist. (Knaggs 1)
The narrative of the program in context goes on to follow the character of Michael Scofield who is set on his mission to break his sibling out of the prison. The male protagonist of this television show is very much convinced that Lincoln Burrows, his brother, is not guilty of the murder for which he has been sentenced to death. The story shows how the protagonist’s brother is set for being executed in a month’s time. Hence, Scofield requires making connections on the block in the prison for getting help in making his brother escape. However, his enemies are on the prowl and endeavor to ensure that his plans get foiled. Thus, one can very well comprehend that the very basic essence of this television show is based on the thematic content of conflict. (Avila-Saavedra 157) The conflict is supplemented by the series of plot twists and violence. One of the early examples of the portrayal of conflict is found in Season 1 Episode 2 titled “Allen”, when a riot starts between the black and the white prisoners. Moreover, the characterization by the makers of the show is very close to reality, enhancing the overall appeal of the program.
Michael Scofield, the protagonist of this show, is portrayed to be the positive character in the face of all the opposition and conspiracy. In the course of the narrative of this show, the audience finds him doing the correct things as per the judgment of his moral fiber. Apart from this, he is almost always loyal and honorable in his actions and disposition. As such, the makers ensure that this character is imbibed with all the needed traits so as to make him appeal to the avid audience who can relate to him readily while watching the television series. Scofield is someone who refuses to kill anyone to achieve his target, and even finds ways around hurting other people. In Season 2 Episode 16 titled “Chicago”, when Sara attempts to kill after knowing about Kellerman, but she is stopped by Michael. He is shown to be heroic in nature with all the valor and moral judgment. Likewise, in Season 1 Episode 7 titled “Riots, Drills and the Devil (Part 2)”, the audience sees how Michael saves Sara from the robust prisoners in the sickbay. Sara succeeds in escaping from their cultch as the courage and strength of the character of Michael also gets established. It is through the actions of the character of Scofield, that the makers also endeavor to establish the fact that his brother must be innocent for which he is willing to brave all odds.
There can be no doubt that the television program goes on to illustrate the moral friction within the mind of the male protagonist. This makes him comes across as a very human character, and also works to enhance his affective appeal to the audience. Michael is understandably bothered by the fact that his actions went on to have negative impacts on the lives of certain people as he tried to free his brother from the prison. All through the show, the audience can understand that Michael takes on himself for the wrong that had been done in the course of actions. The thematic content of conflict between the good and the evil is also very much conspicuous in the course of the show in context. This friction is not just portrayed via the characters of the show, but the entire plot in general that shows corruption and wrongful conviction driving the narrative forward.
This conflict is further explored via the detailed characterization in this series as one can understand how even the antagonist character of Theodore “T-Bag” Bagwell who has murdered recklessly and was even convicted of being a sex offender is not totally negative in his traits. The makers of the show make sure that the audience comes across certain vulnerable moments of the antagonist so as to evoke the affective reaction of the audience. Now, this stands in juxtaposition to botheration of Michael about the morality of his acts. All of these show how the makers of this show endeavor to explore the gray areas of life and human psyche. It is all this intricate portrayal that makes the television show very popular among the audience who can relate to the dichotomies, vulnerabilities and struggles of the characters who exude human traits so as to be very much credulous in their respective actions and roles in the show.
Even Michael is shown in his vulnerable moments. In Season 3 Episode 9 titled “Boxer”, Michael is shown to be kept in a very harsh solitary confinement so that he confesses about his attempt of escaping the prison. Finally, he fails to take the torture anymore and breaks to tell everything to Zavala. Previously, in Season 3 Episode 4, Lincoln, Michael’s brother, had found the head of Sara in the box, but decided not to tell his brother anticipating his cathartic response after finding out that his love is no more. But, the character of Michael is very strong from inside, and has the capacity of pulling himself back together. In the course of the narrative, the theme of leadership and conflict get embodied through the character of Michael who leaves a lasting impression on the minds of the audience with his characterization. As such, it is in Season 4 Episode 24 titled “Free”, where Michael sacrifices his own life just like a leader would do to save his followers or loved ones. His self-sacrifice helps Sara to escape.
Hence, it would be correct to conclude by commenting that Michael shines all through the seasons of the television series as a leader and more importantly a character with all human traits. As such, the show has come to be etched in the memories of the avid audience who were left to ponder about the subtleties of emotions, duality of the human mind, struggle of human life, and importance of decisions in life that are all highlighted in the course of the narrative of the television series. The thematic content of the show in context makes it extremely intriguing having made the room for the incorporation of the violence, plot twists, portrayal of inter-personal relationships, and the grit of man in the face of danger and challenges. As such, Prison Break can surely be deemed as one of the best television shows ever made in the entire world.
Works Cited
Ames, Melissa, ed. Time in Television Narrative: Exploring Temporality in Twenty-First
Century. University Press of Mississippi, 2012. Print.
Avila-Saavedra, Guillermo. The Latino Trend: Identity, Influence and Transformations in
U.S. Television. Diss. Temple U, 2008. MI: ProQuest LLC., 2008. Print.
Knaggs, Angie. “Prison Break General Gabbery: Extra-Hyperdiegetic Spaces, Power, and
Identity in Prison Break.” Television New Media 2010.
doi: 10.1177/1527476410374966
Prison Break. Dir. Paul Scheuring. Perf. Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller. Original
Film, Adelstein/Parouse Productions, 20th Century, Fox Television, 2005-2009. Web.
