Prison Break
Cast & Key People
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Our Review
Cast & Key People
▶
Our Review
Prison Break (2005) is a drama and crime series from FOX. It has built a run of 88 episodes at roughly 60 minutes each. It premiered on August 29, 2005. Viewers rate it 8.2 out of 10. It is currently ended. It runs 5 seasons.
What Prison Break Is About
Lincoln Burrows is currently on death row and scheduled to die in a few months for an assassination his younger brother Michael is convinced he did not commit. With no other options and time winding down, Michael takes drastic measures to get himself incarcerated alongside his brother in Fox River State Penitentiary. Once he’s inside, Michael – a structural engineer with the blueprints for the prison – begins to execute an elaborate plan to break Lincoln out and prove him innocent. When Michael arrives at Fox River State Penitentiary, he meets the prison denizens who will, unknowingly, help in his escape plans – his cellmate, the lovelorn Sucre; beautiful prison doctor Dr. Sara Tancredi, who happens to be the governor’s daughter; former mob boss John Abruzzi; and Warden Henry Pope. Meanwhile, outside the prison walls, the brothers’ childhood friend and Lincoln’s lost love, attorney Veronica Donovan, works within the law to free them; Lincoln’s teenage son LJ may be going down a path similar to his convicted father’s; and Secret Service Agent Paul Kellerman’s investigation into Lincoln’s case proves that there may be a national conspiracy.
What to Expect When You Watch
Episodes run about 60 minutes, which keeps the pace tight, the full run covers 88 episodes, spread across 5 seasons and it leans into its drama/crime roots while leaving room for the quieter character beats.
Performance-wise the series leans on Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller and Robert Knepper to carry the emotional weight, with the rest of the ensemble filling out the world around them.
Cast and Creative Team
Dominic Purcell, Wentworth Miller, Robert Knepper, Amaury Nolasco, Sarah Wayne Callies and Wade Williams lead the cast.
Key roles include Dominic Purcell as Lincoln "Linc" Burrows; Wentworth Miller as Michael Scofield; Robert Knepper as Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell; Amaury Nolasco as Fernando Sucre; Sarah Wayne Callies as Sara Tancredi.
Why It Stands Out
Fans of drama, crime and thriller have a clear reason to give this one a shot. It sits comfortably alongside FOX’s other originals, a 8.2/10 audience score puts it in steady company and it commits to its premise instead of hedging between tones.
Released in 2005 and carried by FOX with the series still ended, it lands hardest with drama and crime viewers.
How Prison Break Compares
If Prison Break lands for you, the next stops are Breaking Bad, Firefly and The Wire, which share its drama/crime lean.
Each of those sits at a different point on the same spectrum, so they make a natural follow-up once you finish the run here.
Where to Stream
Prison Break comes from FOX. Check your preferred platform for current availability, since regional rights move around.
Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you sign up for a streaming service through links on this page. This helps support our independent reviews.
On the whole Prison Break is the kind of series that rewards a patient watch, with Dominic Purcell and Wentworth Miller doing the heaviest lifting, a tone that stays true to its drama/crime roots, It has held up since 2005 and so if the premise sounds like your lane, the execution holds up.
The Bottom Line
Prison Break is a safe bet for anyone already inside the drama and crime lane, at 88 episodes it is an easy run to work through, the audience score holds around 8.2/10 and so there is little risk in starting it tonight.
Verdict: 8.2/10. Watch it if you want drama/crime you can settle into.
