S03E10: 'Dirt Nap'

Ardent Prison Break fans have been sweating more than Scofield over the show heading towards a seemingly terminal decline during its third season. Fortunately, 'Dirt Nap' is a vast improvement over recent instalments and contains the right balance of clever plotting, surprises and murderous intrigue.

There's finally a sense of narrative progression as the escape tunnel reaches completion, although the episode's real joy lies with the renaissance of the support characters. Alexander Mahone has regained his mojo with some style after his recent Amy Winehouse impersonation and is back to his neck-snapping best form, tempered with a nice slice of pathos due to his desire to see his son. Bellick's quick transition from hero to zero was hilarious, as his boasts that he is a better fighter than Chuck Norris descended into pitiful begging to Sammy once he realised the acetone was no more. T-Bag was also back to his menacing, duplicitous best.

Scofield's clever plan to dispatch Sammy in the cellar harked back to the early days of the show, with viewers scratching their heads wondering how he accomplished such a feat - until the flashback explained it all. There's also a sense of community and camaraderie amongst the select few inmates who plan to escape together, which has been lacking for a long time.

Whether 'Dirt Nap' is one last burst of life before the life support machine is switched off remains to be seen. It's just good to know that Prison Break is still capable of mustering compelling drama.

> Click here for our recap of this episode