(S03E02) "I was sent to get you out of here." - Michael

And so the plot unfolds. I'll tell you, two episodes in and this is already infinitely better than season two of Prison Break. You know why? They're back in jail. The one thing that made the show great in the first place has been given new life. Rather than an entire country at his disposal, Michael now has only a few hundred jail cells surround by iron bars, brick, and concrete. It feels tense and more importantly, the eerie feeling of claustrophobia is back as well. The title of the show is applicable once again too.

Why is it better? There's no plan in place for starters. It's humorous to see Michael stuck in those long sleeve shirts while everyone else sweats like crazy as the hot sun beats down on Sona, but it's a constant reminder that the tattoos hidden underneath are completely worthless. He really has nothing to work with and even worse, the three people on the inside that he has a connection with (Mahone, Bellick, and T-Bag) are all willing to sell him out in a second if it means seeing freedom again. It wouldn't be fun if it wasn't a challenge though.

That being said, I feel obligated to lay out why the show is ridiculous at the same time. Again though, that's another factor that adds to the enjoyment. So we're really supposed to believe that in the short time that Michael and everyone got thrown in prison, a giant conspiracy to use Michael's skills to bust someone else out was put together? That was fast. Oh, and it's really likely that a prison with no inside guards runs that smoothly under the leadership of Lechero. Well... I suppose it could happen. If anything, it creates a blueprint for how Prison Break could run for maybe a couple more seasons. Michael freelancing as the Danny Ocean of correctional facility busts. We'll see how this season goes first.

So far? Not too bad. Aside from what I mentioned earlier, there's a lot to like about this season. The switcheroo with Lincoln on the outside while Michael sleeps behind bars was inevitable but it wouldn't surprise me if Lincoln goes and robs a churro stand to get himself into Sona sometime soon. At the heart, the theme is still the same. Break out of prison to save someone you love. This time, the ones you love just happen to be held hostage.

I do find it somewhat annoying that unless Sarah (played by Sarah Wayne Callies) is recast, she's almost guaranteed to be killed. You'll notice we've only seen LJ in those little videos "Susan B. Anthony" is sending to Lincoln. Speaking of "Susan," I'd love to find out if she has any involvement with The Company. I think at this juncture, that it would be a disappointment if The Company didn't have some hand in manipulating Scofield and Burrows. It'd be weird if those who used to call the shots with the late Bill Kim just closed up shop.

Inside of Sona is where it's at though and there's plenty to discuss:

• Do you think that Whistler actually killed the mayor of Panama? He doesn't exactly look too capable of something like that. It definitely feels like a set-up. Almost identical to what happened to Lincoln with the Vice President's brother. Maybe that's The Company connection I'm hoping for? Michael getting under Lechero's good graces and lifting the bounty from Whistler's head was key though. However, it almost certainly made an enemy out of Mahone.
• T-Bag doesn't quite do it for me anymore. Now that he's no longer the most feared inmate, his character is just another sleaze hoping to survive. Robert Knepper really nails this character though. T-Bag is still creepy as hell.
• I felt horrible for Sucre when he said his final good-bye to Maricruz. While he's not in Sona, it wouldn't surprise me if he joins Lincoln on my imaginary churro heist to get in and help out Michael.
• Bellick is still a horrible person and I love how he's at the bottom of the totem pole now.
• I have a hunch that all this trust Michael has given to McGrady is going to come back and bite him in the ass. This kid has been in there for three years. I'm sure he knows much more than he lets on.
• What's the deal with the tiny bird almanac that Sofia got from Whistler's safe-deposit box? It's interesting that neither Whistler nor Sofia seem to know that there's an outside coalition trying to bust him out. Whether he killed the mayor or not, how does that give him value in the outside world? More to come on this I'm sure.