Review of PRISON BREAK (1st 3 episodes)

PRISON BREAK (First three episodes).

MICHAEL SCOFIELD is getting his first tattoo, and it's huge, covering his entire chest and back. Then he goes into a bank, takes money from cashiers, and fires a gun into the air. No surprise that the police arrest him. He's tried, sentenced to the maximum security prison at Fox River, and refuses to appeal. His lawyer, VERONICA DONOVAN, an old friend, is bewildered. Michael has always been an honest, law-abiding citizen. What happened?

The answer is soon to arrive.  Michael's brother, LINCOLN BURROWS (maybe a half-brother) is in that same jail, and is to be executed in a month for a murder he did not commit. Michael has gotten himself into in Fox River to rescue his brother Lincoln.

Since the infirmary is the least secure area in the prison, Michael's first step is to befriend the doctor, SARA TANCREDI, an attractive young woman. He feigns diabetes, requiring daily trips to her to get insulin shots. But these lower his blood sugar and give him symptoms. Also, how can he fake the blood tests that will she he isn't diabetic? Then he must convince his cell mate, FERNANDO SUCRE, to not to tell the guards about the plot. But Sucre is royally pissed at him and won't cooperate. In addition, Michael must deal with T-BAG, a psychopathic racist who considers him a traitor, ABRUZZI, a mob boss who wants information from Michael and won't take no for an answer, corrupt guards, schizophrenic inmates, and various other unpleasant individuals.

Seems like insurmountable tasks, but Michael has several talents. He's smart, brave and tolerates pain. He doesn't complain even other cons cut off one of his toes. Moreover, he worked for the company that recently overhauled the prison, so he knows all the passageways. That huge tattoo he got before robbing the bank contains a hidden blueprint of the prison. Plus, he's cute, which you can be sure helps with the pretty doctor.

Lots of plot flaws, first of which is the unlikelihood of having a pretty woman physician at a maximum security prison, having her wait before getting blood tests to prove Michael is really a diabetic, and her giving the shots instead of an aide. Michael himself is just too flawless to be credible. No matter what the hardship, he has a smile on his face and radiates confidence that he'll succeed.

There are no deep insights or intellectual stimulation in this series, but it is exciting.  I like highly-capable protagonists like Michael. For working out, I rate this at ++++ - it will get you pulse up to a run.