Prison Break Season 5: The Remarkable Comeback That Kept Fans Begging for More

Summary

Prison Break season 5 undid the emotional death of Michael Scofield in season 4, ruining the closure it provided and making the revival series a mistake.

The excessive inclusion of complex conspiracies and plot twists alienated fans and caused disagreements among critics, resulting in season 5 being regarded as the weakest installment of the entire series.

Despite previous intentions for a sixth season, recent statements from the show's creator and Wentworth Miller indicate that there are currently no plans to revive Prison Break, effectively ending any possibility of its continuation.

Prison Break season 5 may have provided a satisfying conclusion for Michael Scofield and Lincoln, but for many, the revival series was seen as a misstep. The initial season of the show was a gripping and entertaining thriller, offering a fresh perspective on prison dramas with well-developed characters. However, from the start, there was a fundamental flaw – the concept itself. The show's premise required the Scofields to escape in season 1, only to end up back in prison again in subsequent seasons, leading to a repetitive and tiresome pattern.

The series initially concluded with season 4, which revealed that Michael Scofield had died from his terminal brain cancer. A TV movie called Prison Break: The Final Break later showed that he had sacrificed himself to save his loved ones. With his definitive death, Prison Break season 5, released in 2017, had to resort to implausible retcons to explain his survival. This ultimately made the fifth season a major misstep.

Why Prison Break Season 5 Was The Worst Season

Prison Break season 5 is widely regarded as the weakest among the show's five seasons. It follows the unfortunate trend of introducing unnecessary conspiracies to prolong the story, while also undermining the meaningful conclusion of Michael Scofield's death in Prison Break: The Final Break. Taking place seven years after the previous season, season 5 reveals that Michael was actually alive in a Yemen prison, negating the emotional impact of his supposed demise.

In this season, the main characters including Burrows, Sara, T-Bag, and C-Note, must once again aid Michael in escaping prison and uncovering yet another implausible conspiracy behind his recent incarceration. The inclusion of these convoluted elements only serve to reinforce the argument that Prison Break season 5 was a regrettable mistake, tarnishing the overall series.

Why Prison Break Was Canceled

Despite a decline in ratings during its unrealistic fourth season, Prison Break was ultimately canceled in 2009 for a different reason. The lack of creativity among the show's writers led to its demise, as revealed by former Fox media executive Kevin Reilly. This left many questioning the decision to greenlight Prison Break season 5. As reported by E! Online, Reilly explained, "The show has reached its end. Creatively, we have exhausted all the storylines and it's time to conclude it on a high note." However, this initial insight would prove temporary, as Prison Break season 5 was later confirmed in 2015.

Why The Prison Break Revival Series Was A Mistake

Prior to resurrecting Michael Scofield, Prison Break had a tendency to undo major character deaths. Sarah Wayne Callies, who played a leading role, departed the show during season 3 due to a contract dispute. Her character's severed head in a box was discovered by Lincoln (Dominic Purcell). However, in Prison Break season 4, the show brushed off her death as a clever deception orchestrated by the villains. As the series increasingly relied on ludicrous plot twists, fans gradually lost interest.

Michael's death in season 4 provided some closure, but in season 5 of Prison Break, that closure was undone. The lack of fresh ideas for the central concept resulted in another convoluted conspiracy to bring all the main characters together again. The requirement for even the most loyal of audiences to suspend their disbelief and search for hidden messages divided critics and alienated fans. As a result, the Prison Break revival series has been widely regarded as a mistake.

Will There Be Prison Break Season 6?

As a way to bring closure to the series, Prison Break season 5 aimed to reunite the brothers once and for all. However, this fifth season also serves as a setup for Prison Break season 6. In this upcoming season, Michael is offered a government job that allows him to utilize his unique skills. Additionally, actor Wentworth Miller shared an endearingly quirky idea for season 6. In this concept, the brothers find themselves imprisoned by their previously undisclosed, mentally unstable brother named Tag. They are then compelled to relive their past escapes within a new prison setting.

Series creator Paul Scheuring, however, seems satisfied with the definitive conclusion of Prison Break season 5. Confirming Scheuring's sentiments, Fox's most recent statement in August 2019 stated that there are currently no plans to revive Prison Break. The final blow to the show's future came in February 2021 when Wentworth Miller, previously enthusiastic about the possibility, changed his mind and announced that there would be no further plans for Prison Break featuring Michael Wentworth. This effectively closed the book on the series' already uncertain future once and for all.

What The Prison Break Cast Have Done Since

Despite the surprise of Prison Break season 5 happening, it's even more surprising that the cast agreed to return while their careers were flourishing. Dominic Purcell, known for his role as Lincoln Burrows, has taken on the character of Mick Rory/Heat Wave in the Arrowverse. He has appeared as this character in various shows, including Arrow, Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, and most notably, DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Additionally, he has showcased his acting skills in the British-German horror movie Blood Red Sky, portraying the character of Berg. Wentworth Miller, who portrayed Michael Scofield, has also ventured into the Arrowverse, playing Leonard Snart/Captain Cold in The Flash and DC's Legends of Tomorrow.

Other members of the Prison Break cast have moved on since the original ending of the series. Robin Tunney (Veronica Donovan) is mostly recognized for her roles in '90s cult classics like Empire Records and The Craft. However, after Prison Break, she also had a stint on The Mentalist and appeared in the 2020 psychological drama film Horse Girl. Peter Stormare (John Abruzzi) has primarily ventured into voiceover work, lending his voice to popular television series and videogames such as Castlevania, Elder Scrolls Online, and Destiny. Amaury Nolasco (Fernando Sucre) can currently be seen as Frankie Cuevas Sr. in Hightown, while Sarah Wayne Callies (Sara Tancredi) is most likely remembered for her portrayal of Lori on The Walking Dead.

Revival Series Are Always A Mixed Bag

The reception for Prison Break season 5, like many revival series, has been mixed to negative. This trend is not unique to Prison Break, as other shows such as Arrested Development and Heroes Reborn have also faced criticism. Arrested Development experienced a troubled season 4 development, resulting in disappointment when the beloved cast had limited scenes together. Similarly, Heroes Reborn took away the elements that made the original show popular. Surprisingly, even the Frasier revival series received negative reviews, despite the original series being highly acclaimed.

Regrettably, the likelihood of a revival series truly satisfying fans' desires to see their beloved characters from concluded shows on the screen is incredibly low. Prison Break, along with other rebooted series like The X-Files, Fuller House, and Gilmore Girls, disappointingly adds to the list of lackluster TV revivals. Nevertheless, there have been a handful of successful examples, with Twin Peaks: The Return setting the bar high as the epitome of revival shows. Veronica Mars and Justified: City Primeval also serve as noteworthy instances of TV series revivals done correctly.