S03E01: 'Orientación'

Prison Break returns for its third season with a clever subversion of where the story all began - with an innocent man trapped in prison and his brother on the outside trying to free him. The difference here is that it's now Schofield, not Lincoln Burrows, incarcerated amongst the human race's lowest of the low.

The fact that Schofield is holed up in Panama alongside the likes of former government agent Mahone, rapist T-Bag and one-time prison guard Brad Bellick is obviously a ridiculous plot contrivance. But the show is renowned for pulling stunts like that in its pursuit to entertain the viewer, so it's best to have your disbelief utterly eradicated and sit back and enjoy the fun.

It's fascinating seeing the wonderful Mahone, superbly played by William Fichtner, and Schofield both fighting for survival, but not quite on the same team yet. Mahone's desperation for Schofield to live, another example of the plot quickly turning on its head, also heightened our interest in the action.

Poor Bellick. It's always a great time for some serious Schadenfreude when his corrupt and arrogant self is given its comeuppance. Clearing up the faecal matter of his fellow inmates could be the most acute example yet. But with such a humbling experience, could he ever be given the chance for redemption and become a good guy?

The season debut spends a fair amount of time re-establishing the premise and setting a few intrigues in motion, so it may seem less exciting than previous instalments. However, the episode very much lays the foundations for future narrative and plot twists. It'll be interesting to see just what lies behind the messages Bellick is sending to the outside world and see how the relationship between Schofield, Mahone and Luchero - the Big Cheese of the lawless and cutthroat prison world - develops.