After four seasons of jail, torture, perilous escapes, stabbings, and death, Michael Scofield’s saga has come to an end. Tonight’s Prison Break series finale solved many of the drama’s ongoing storylines and then, we were treated with a montage that shows our “heroes” four years down the road. And then, the unthinkable happened. While fans have all been expecting a big finish, few expected it would truly end this way.
Prison Break follows architect Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) whose half-brother Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) has been jailed for a murder he didn’t commit. To save his brother’s life, Michael concocts a detailed plan to have himself imprisoned and then to free both of them. Along the way, they realize they’re involved in a far-reaching conspiracy with dire consequences for all around them.
The show’s massive cast has included Amaury Nolasco, Robert Knepper, Wade Williams, Sarah Wayne Callies, William Fichtner, Paul Adelstein, Marshall Allman, Rockmond Dunbar, Jodi Lyn O’Keefe, Robin Tunney, Stacy Keach, Leon Russom, Phillip Edward Van Lear, Peter Stormare, Muse Watson, and Patricia Wettig.
The FOX drama debuted to solid ratings in 2005 but, over time, the audience’s interest has dwindled. In January it was announced that the show had been cancelled and that the story would soon come to a close.
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As difficult as it is to take, Michael’s final fate does makes some sense. Executive producer Matt Olmstead told the LA Times, “When we got to the end, the only real, noble thing for Michael is to have it be that what he did — the initial act and the ramifications — were not in vain and weren’t selfish,” Olmstead said. “So, good comes out of it, but he himself would also have to pay a sacrifice.”
Olmstead tells EW that, “It just felt a little weird for us to have Michael and Sara holding hands on the beach walking away — though that would be gratifying in the moment. Knowing that there was pretty much a scorched path behind them in terms of what happened, [having him die] balanced the books for us. He also paid the ultimate sacrifice and, in doing so, everyone else close to him was able to live, including his child.”
Thankfully for fans, the story’s not over just yet. There’s a two-hour made-for-DVD movie that will be released on July 28th. It’s a self-contained story that takes place during the four year fast-forward; soon after the characters are exonerated but before Michael’s death. We’ll learn the details about Michael’s big sacrifice and whether it’s directly tied to his condition.
Olmstead explains the premise this way, “Sara is on the hook for [killing] Michael’s mother and she gets locked up while pregnant. The tables are turned… once a doctor in prison now imprisoned, and Michael’s on the outside. The majority of the cast is back. It’s Michael, Lincoln, Sara, Sucre, T-Bag, Mahone… all the heavy-hitters.”
While Olmstead is sorry that Marshall Allman (Linc’s son) wasn’t available to return for the finale, he doesn’t have any regrets about how they’ve ended the Scofield story. He says, “Every story was exhausted. Every creative juice wrung out. It was a completely worthwhile experience, and I know the other writers [agree]. It was a difficult show to pull off, and we did it.”
What do you think? A fitting end or a disappointment? Either way, will you be buying the DVD in July?
Image courtesy FOX.
I just finished watching the finale, and it left me feeling quite content with the ending. I think that the writers did an amazing job of tying up loose ends. I think that it couldn’t have ended any better. Sarah is left to raise their child who is honored with his fathers name. Mahone plagued by the guilt and loss of his son cannot return to the wife he loves but finds some comfort in the arms of Felcia (the only soul who believed him in his darkest hour). Bagwell betrays the brothers and we find him reverted back to… Read more »
Michaels not dead you absolute retards, the show has not yet ended and michael faked his own death to protect everyone else the show resumes in september 2009 and you find out that gretchan is back in panama and escapes. Then hunts down the others.
watched this show every week and very disappointed in the last few minutes of the finale. (Michael dying, t-bag not dying, etc.) Thought since the writers had done such a great job the last 4 years they would have been able to put together a finale that would have a great/satisfying/happy ending, guess I was wrong…….
That last episode sucked. Let’s randomly bring back to life everyone you thought was dead, and have all your enemies act like complete morons. Perhaps the most exemplary bit was when Christina’s henchmen decided to have a firefight with multiple opponents standing in plain view for all of them to shoot him while they took cover. Yeah.
It saddens me to see a show I once enjoyed end so poorly. But at least it’s obvious why it needed to be put to rest.
I am terribly upset and disappointed with the ending of Prison Break. I grew to adore Michael and why after so many agonizing years on the run did he have to be killed off? What’s happened to “living happily ever after”? In todays world where there are so many ubhappy endings it would have been nice to give American fans a good old fashion happy ending.
I am a very big fan of the show and am sad that it is over now. Man I was so sad when Michael had died.
At least he didn’t die in vain.
I felt,very sad,when a i saw,michael died
I have watched Prison Break for the entire series. A great show. All is silent when this show is on the air.
Question: I saw the box, I know the procedure, but, exactly was Sila or Cilla. Many mentions of this devise and the final resting place but do not recall where this fit into the total sceam of things. Thanks.
“I cried when I saw Michael
I cried when I saw Michael’s name on the tombstone. I was, however, confused about the date of his death in 2005?!? I didn’t know Prison Break took place in the past. What’s up with that?
I loved the show. I will miss it. I was sad to see Michael die in the end. :o(
Iknow its just a story but it was the only show I would not miss weekly. i didnt like the finalbut how can a show continue like its name state. michael shouldnt have died????
of course it was the best show in ages, but you gotta say, the screws on the big board of not-insane possibilities were getting loose. I think they even had problems during the last few episodes. I’ve been placing question marks with Lincolns potential assassination, why would Christina go and kill him when she needs him to stage an assassination?
four seasons – how many hours is that? its the longest movie and the greatest movie of all time. viva michael scofield and family.
I can’t believe you’re cancelling this show, it’s one of the best in a long time.