Prison Break (season 4)

Prison Break season 4

Prison Break season four DVD cover
Country of origin United States
No. of episodes 24
Broadcast
Original channel Fox
Original run September 1, 2008 (2008-09-01) – May 15, 2009 (2009-05-15)
Home video release
DVD release
Region 1 June 2, 2009 (2009-06-02)
Region 2 July 6, 2009 (2009-07-06)
Region 4 July 15, 2009 (2009-07-15)
Season chronology
← Previous
Season 3
Next →
List of Prison Break episodes

The fourth and final season of the serial drama television series Prison Break commenced airing in the United States on September 1, 2008. It consists of 24 episodes (22 television episodes and 2 straight to DVD episodes), 16 of which aired from September to December 2008. After a hiatus, it resumed on April 17, 2009 and concluded on May 15, 2009 with a two episode finale.[1]

Contents

Production

On January 13, 2009, Fox president Kevin Reilly confirmed the series would end at the conclusion of this season. He explained, "Prison Break got to a point where a lot of the stories had been told." At the time, he said there was a possibility of adding two extra episodes, he said "We want to finish strong."[1] These extra two episodes became Prison Break: The Final Break, although they never aired on Fox, and became available only on DVD.

Cast

Main characters

Recurring characters

Episodes

# Title Directed by Written by U.S. viewers
(millions)
Original air date Production
code
58 1 "Scylla" Kevin Hooks Matt Olmstead 6.53[2] September 1, 2008 (2008-09-01) 4AKJ01
After three weeks of searching, Michael finds Gretchen and Whistler in Los Angeles to avenge Sara's death only for them to tell him she escaped and is still alive. He finds her through Bruce Bennett and the two reunite. In Panama, Sucre, Bellick and T-Bag escape from Sona after a riot. T-Bag hitches a ride to the US, though the driver steals his money and leaves him for dead in the Mexican desert. Lincoln is arrested after killing a Company agent. Sucre and Bellick are also caught and Mahone is arrested after he finds out that a Company agent, Wyatt, has murdered his son. The arrested are soon brought together by Homeland Security agent Don Self in an operation to bring down the Company once and for all. 
59 2 "Breaking & Entering" Bobby Roth Zack Estrin 6.53[2] September 1, 2008 (2008-09-01) 4AKJ02
Michael and his gang are brought in to retrieve Scylla, a blackbook for the Company. The only way to do this is to break into the cardholder's home and download the information from a device made by Roland, a computer geek. They get the information by planting the device on a maid, though she brings the device back to the cardholder's house, where Michael and the team retrieve the it by creating a diversion. T-Bag manages to return to the US and, following the clues in Whistler's bird book, finds something concerning Whistler's double life. Wyatt has Gretchen imprisoned. Roland retrieves the information from the device but breaks the news that Scylla is split in six, and they need the other five parts. 
60 3 "Shut Down" Milan Cheylov Nick Santora 6.36[3] September 8, 2008 (2008-09-08) 4AKJ03
With five more cards than anticipated, Homeland Security shuts down the operation and send the group behind bars again. Michael, Lincoln, Mahone and Sara escape to uncover clues about where the other cardholders are. Michael records a meeting of all six cardholders, and with this new development, Self decides to continue the operation. T-Bag uses Whistler's second identity to make a new life for himself. Wyatt captures Bruce Bennett and injects him with truth serum to uncover Sara's whereabouts, before killing him. Lincoln has a change of heart for Mahone after he hears his son has been murdered, and agrees to help find Cameron's killer. 
61 4 "Eagles & Angels" Michael Switzer Karyn Usher 5.79[4] September 15, 2008 (2008-09-15) 4AKJ04
The team find the second cardholder and attend a police benefit by disguising as police officers to obtain the next card. T-Bag starts working at GATE Corporation and also begins reading the information in Whistler's bird book. Meanwhile, Sara hears of Bennett's death, supposedly suicide, and is stricken with grief and guilt. She goes to a bar, where one man steals her credit card, alerting Wyatt to her location, and follows her to find the team. 
62 5 "Safe & Sound" Karen Gaviola Seth Hoffman 5.84[5] September 22, 2008 (2008-09-22) 4AKJ05
The search for the next card key holder brings Michael and Lincoln to the Treasury Department, where they successfully manage to download the third card. The General orders all his cardholders to keep their cards with them at all times. Lincoln becomes concerned for Michael after noticing his nosebleed. Sara manages to evade Wyatt and avoid his learning the team's location. Sucre and Bellick search for T-Bag to get to Whistler's book. Gretchen manages to escape from the Company. After seeing Pam, Mahone starts his mission to avenge his son's death. 
63 6 "Blow Out" Bryan Spicer Kalinda Vazquez 5.28[6] September 29, 2008 (2008-09-29) 4AKJ06
Michael and the team track the next cardholder to a racetrack and get the information from the card. However, in the process Mahone is arrested with the device. Self arranges a deal to retrieve the device, though Mahone is still behind bars. However, Michael and the team manage pull off a sophisticated escape during Mahone's trial, where he narrowly escapes being killed by Wyatt, the man who murdered his son. The Company targets Self after he digs up information of General Krantz. T-Bag's alias, Cole Pfeiffer, is being investigated for fraud by one of GATE's salespeople. In a panic, T-Bag runs home to pack up where he stumbles across Gretchen, demanding to know who he is. 
64 7 "Five the Hard Way" Garry A. Brown Christian Trokey 5.37[7] October 6, 2008 (2008-10-06) 4AKJ07
Lincoln takes members of the team to Las Vegas to track down the fifth card. They learn that the cardholder needs a male member of the team to get close to the card. Sucre is to take part, where he learns that the cardholder needs someone to be a one-time bedmate for his wife. Sucre is able to get the fifth card, however Roland has his device confiscated when he is caught gambling. Sara learns that Michael has a brain tumor, like his mother. Meanwhile, T-Bag works with Gretchen as she kills the man investigating him and kidnaps both Michael and Bellick to get Michael to find Scylla by using the bird book. They make it to GATE finding a room that could lead them to it. Mahone is able to rescue Michael and Bellick and capture T-Bag, though Michael gets a phonecall from Gretchen. 
65 8 "The Price" Bobby Roth Graham Roland 5.45[8] October 20, 2008 (2008-10-20) 4AKJ08
Michael is forced to form an alliance with Gretchen and, with the device gone, the team targets the General to get the final card, though Wyatt is tipped off and stops it. The General organizes Scylla to be moved as Michael works out a route from GATE to the Company building where Scylla is being held. It is soon revealed that Roland is the traitor, and arranges a meet with Wyatt for the whereabouts of the team in exchange for money. However, Wyatt tortures him instead, and after he learns of their location, he shoots him in the abdomen. However, the team tracks them and captures Wyatt. Michael stays with Roland until he dies. 
66 9 "Greatness Achieved" Jesse Bochco Nick Santora 5.23[9] November 3, 2008 (2008-11-03) 4AKJ09
Wyatt is captured, where the team forges his voice, convincing the General that the team is dead. Afterward, Mahone tortures him, and forces him to apologize to Pam, before killing him by drowning. Gretchen makes her own plan to get the final card by enticing the General. In order to get to the Company headquarters, the team shuts down a water pipe to make a hole and break into the Company. However, in the process, Michael suffers a seizure from his condition. They manage to put a pipe through to safely go through the water main. It slips and Bellick risks his life to put it back up. Just as they succeed, the water returns, and Bellick drowns. 
67 10 "The Legend" Dwight H. Little Karyn Usher 5.38[10] November 10, 2008 (2008-11-10) 4AKJ10
While the team, including T-Bag, mourn the loss of Bellick, they continue the break-in into the Company. Mahone visits the architect behind the security of the vault Scylla is in, only to find he is taken by Company agents. It is revealed that GATE secretary, Trishanne, works with Self. Michael and Sara visit a hospital to check on his condition. They learn that Michael has to have surgery the next day. Michael refuses as the General is moving Scylla and their window of opportunity is closing quickly. 
68 11 "Quiet Riot" Kevin Hooks Seth Hoffman 5.52[11] November 17, 2008 (2008-11-17) 4AKJ11
Gretchen tries to get the last card by luring the General to her, but he finds out her intentions and threatens to kill her if he sees her again. Self and Trishanne find a lead on Feng Huan, the intended buyer for Scylla should T-Bag and Gretchen get there, but the two are captured by Huan and his men. The rest of the team break into the vault, which has sensitive noise, pressure and temperature alarms. The team successfully manages to get to Scylla. However, the General sees this through CCTV and is sending his men to stop them. 
69 12 "Selfless" Michael Switzer Kalinda Vazquez 5.25[12] November 24, 2008 (2008-11-24) 4AKJ12
Michael, Lincoln, Mahone and Sucre anticipate that the General is coming and manages to subdue his guards, as well as get the General's card to get Scylla. Although they are stuck in the Company headquarters, their freedom is secured after Sara holds Lisa Tabak, the General's daughter, hostage. They are able to leave the headquarters alive and with Scylla. Self and Trishanne manage to escape from Huan and kills him and his men. While T-Bag and Gretchen wait for Scofield, the boss of GATE notices their machine guns and the two are forced to hold everyone hostage, though Trishanne is eventually able to apprehend T-Bag. With Scylla, Self takes it and organizes the team's releases. However, the celebration is cut short when Self has sent the team empty pieces of paper rather than their release, and he kills Trishanne to sell Scylla himself. 
70 13 "Deal or No Deal" Bobby Roth Christian Trokey 5.84[13] December 1, 2008 (2008-12-01) 4AKJ13
Self tricks Homeland Security into believing that Michael and Burrows has killed him, where he proceeds to get Gretchen and T-Bag into finding a buyer for Scylla, by holding Gretchen's sister and daughter hostage. Michael and the team are again on the run, from both Homeland and the Company. However, Homeland is convinced of Self's double-cross and intends on killing Michael and Lincoln to prevent any fallout, though the brothers are saved by a Company agent, only to get killed by Lincoln. Gretchen finds a conduit, the man who can arrange a buyer. However, Self notices a piece of Scylla is missing, and Michael has it, when Self calls Michael concerning this, Michael merely tells him to "come and get it". 
71 14 "Just Business" Mark Helfrich Graham Roland 5.40[14] December 8, 2008 (2008-12-08) 4AKJ14
Self's search for the missing piece gets him captured by the group. While T-Bag holds Gretchen's family hostage, a Company agent disguised as a bible salesman arrives. T-Bag lets the family go, before he is captured by the agent. Mahone meets with Lang and Wheeler to arrange a meeting with the Attorney General, but realizes this is a ruse and is taken away. Michael is able to get Scylla from Self but as he escapes, he collapses from his condition and is taken away by the Company, though Self escapes with Scylla again. Lincoln decides to join the Company, where they promise to take care of Michael in exchange for the safe return of Scylla. 
72 15 "Going Under" Karen Gaviola Zack Estrin 5.37[15] December 15, 2008 (2008-12-15) 4AKJ15
While Lincoln works with Sucre to get Scylla back, Self kills the conduit and arranges the meet with the buyer, who plans on killing Self and Gretchen, though Sucre and Lincoln find them both and takes them into Company custody, but Scylla is gone. Meanwhile, Michael gets his surgery, where he has visions of Charles Westmoreland and uncovers what Scylla actually is. After the surgery is a success, Michael tells Sara that he thinks Scylla is a formula for a means of harnessing the full potential of solar energy. Mahone manages to escape from Lang and Wheeler. In the end, Michael learns that not only does Lincoln now work for the Company, but his mother did also. 
73 16 "The Sunshine State" Kevin Hooks Matt Olmstead & Nicholas Wootton 4.98[16] December 22, 2008 (2008-12-22) 4AKJ16
Lincoln, Gretchen, Self and T-Bag travel to Miami, Florida to look for Scylla. Mahone soon joins in. Gretchen is suspicious that the buyer is from the Company and decides to betray the team to get to Scylla, but double crosses them and gets shot. The rest of the team abandon her to the cops but Scylla is gone. Meanwhile, Tabak tells Sara where the Company is holding Michael, since they attempt to brainwash him to work for them. He learns that his mother may still be alive. With Sara's help, Michael manages to escape. In the end, Lincoln gets a phone call from the person who has bought Scylla, where he tells the buyer that he is coming after him, not knowing that the buyer is actually his mother, alive and well. 
74 17 "The Mother Lode" Jonathan Glassner Seth Hoffman 3.34[17] April 17, 2009 (2009-04-17) 4AKJ17
Christina Scofield attempts to assassinate the General with a car bomb but he survives. In Miami, Lincoln eventually learns that his mother is alive, and makes contact with her. She urges him to stand down so she can stop the Company herself. Meanwhile, Michael and Sara travel to Miami, where they are chased by what they believe are Company agents. They end up hiding in the back of a big rig truck and are stuck there. Before evading them for good, Michael learns that the General didn't try to kidnap them. In fact, it was his mother. This becomes apparent when she orders the hit on Lincoln when he continues investigating. 
75 18 "VS." Dwight H. Little Christian Trokey & Kalinda Vazquez 3.06[18] April 24, 2009 (2009-04-24) 4AKJ18
Michael and Lincoln square-off with each other over Scylla as Christina orders a kill shot on Lincoln and sets her secret plan in motion. Sara receives some unexpected news, T-Bag causes a scene at the Indian Embassy and Pad Man's paranoia leads to a death. 
76 19 "S.O.B." Garry A. Brown Karyn Usher 3.20[19] May 1, 2009 (2009-05-01) 4AKJ19
Michael has an uneasy reunion with Christina, who drops a bombshell regarding the fact that Lincoln is not his biological brother. While Lincoln runs into Christina's deadly trap, which involves him getting set up for assassinating the Indian Prime Minister's son. Meanwhile, T-Bag sets out to prove he can become a Company man. 
77 20 "Cowboys & Indians" Milan Cheylov Nick Santora 2.99[20] May 8, 2009 (2009-05-08) 4AKJ20
Pandemonium erupts at the hotel following the assassination at the global energy conference, and after finally obtaining the Scylla device, Michael is soon forced to choose between saving either Sara, who's held by the General or Lincoln, who's held by their mother. 
78 21 "Rate of Exchange" Bobby Roth Zack Estrin 3.32[21] May 15, 2009 (2009-05-15) 4AKJ21
Michael must choose once and for all between saving Sara's life or saving Linc's. Sucre helps C-Note and Kellerman locate Michael so that they can finally be free. Lincoln learns that he and Michael are not really brothers and Michael learns that Sara is pregnant. 
79 22 "Killing Your Number" Kevin Hooks Matt Olmstead & Nicholas Wootton 3.32[21] May 15, 2009 (2009-05-15) 4AKJ22
Christina is killed, the General and Bagwell are each arrested and Michael and the others hand Scylla over to the UN, allowing them all to be exonerated and live normal lives. Michael, however, becomes ill again. Four years later, the exonerated characters gather to pay their respects to Michael. 
80 23 "The Old Ball and Chain" Brad Turner Teleplay: Nick Santora & Seth Hoffman
Story: Christian Trokey
N/A May 27, 2009 (2009-05-27) (UK) 4AKJ23
Michael and Sara wed but happiness is short lived when Sara is arrested for the murder of Christina Scofield. 
81 24 "Free" Kevin Hooks Teleplay: Zack Estrin & Karyn Usher
Story: Kalinda Vazquez
N/A May 27, 2009 (2009-05-27) (UK) 4AKJ24
Michael, Lincoln, Sucre, and Alex reunite to break out Sara, who is ordered by the General to be killed. Michael sacrifices himself to help Sara escape. In the last scene of the series, Lincoln and Sara watch the CD Michael left them explaining why he did what he did. 

References

  1. ^ a b Mitovich, Matt (January 13, 2009). "Fox Boss Announces Prison Break's Return ... and Finale". TV Guide. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Prison-Break-final-1001583.aspx. Retrieved February 1, 2011. 
  2. ^ a b Gorman, Bill (September 10, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, September 1-7". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/10/top-fox-primetime-shows-september-1-7. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  3. ^ Gorman, Bill (September 17, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, September 8-14". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/17/top-fox-primetime-shows-september-8-14/5139. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  4. ^ Gorman, Bill (September 23, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, September 15-21". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/23/top-fox-primetime-shows-september-15-21/5291. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  5. ^ Gorman, Bill (September 30, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, September 22-28". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/09/30/top-fox-primetime-shows-september-22-28/5421. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  6. ^ Gorman, Bill (October 7, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, September 29 – October 5". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/10/07/top-fox-primetime-shows-september-29-october-5/5916. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  7. ^ Gorman, Bill (October 14, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, October 6-12". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/10/14/top-fox-primetime-shows-october-6-12/6261. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  8. ^ Seidman, Robert (October 29, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, October 20-26". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/10/29/top-fox-primetime-shows-october-20-26/7126. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  9. ^ Seidman, Robert (November 11, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, November 3-9". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/11/11/top-fox-primetime-shows-november-3-9/7951. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  10. ^ Seidman, Robert (November 18, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, November 10-16". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/11/18/top-fox-primetime-shows-november-10-16-2008/8363. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  11. ^ Seidman, Robert (November 25, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, November 17-23". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/11/25/top-fox-primetime-shows-november-17-23/8769. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  12. ^ Seidman, Robert (December 3, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, November 24-30". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/12/03/top-fox-primetime-shows-november-24-30-2008/9120. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  13. ^ Seidman, Robert (December 9, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, December 1-7". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/12/09/top-fox-primetime-shows-december-1-7-2008/9378. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  14. ^ Seidman, Robert (December 16, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, December 8-14". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/12/16/top-fox-primetime-shows-december-8-14-2008. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  15. ^ Seidman, Robert (December 23, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, December 15-21". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/12/23/top-fox-primetime-shows-december-15-21/9976. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  16. ^ Seidman, Robert (December 30, 2008). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, December 22-28". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2008/12/30/top-fox-primetime-shows-december-22-28/10075. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  17. ^ Seidman, Robert (April 21, 2009). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, April 13-19". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/04/21/top-fox-primetime-shows-april-13-19-2009/17141. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  18. ^ Seidman, Robert (April 28, 2009). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, April 20-26". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/04/28/top-fox-primetime-shows-april-20-26-2009/17582. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  19. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 6, 2009). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, April 27-May 3". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/05/06/top-fox-primetime-shows-april-27-may-3-2009/18176. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  20. ^ Seidman, Robert (May 12, 2009). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, May 4-10". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/05/12/top-fox-primetime-shows-may-4-10-2009/18553. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 
  21. ^ a b Seidman, Robert (May 19, 2009). "Top Fox Primetime Shows, May 11-17". TV by the Numbers. http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2009/05/19/top-fox-primetime-shows-may-11-17-2009/19089. Retrieved January 26, 2010. 

External links