Episode Report Card Sobell: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Girl Named Disaster
By Sobell | Season 3 | Episode 9 | Aired on 01.13.2008
Alas, Zavala's more interested in the helicopters -- where they came from, who's flying them, who sent them. Michael has no good answers here, and reiterates that he's telling the truth. He then tries fixing Zavala with the Blue Steel, but the wily general is impervious to its power. He takes Michael for a walk, explaining, "I understand your fears, but the Republic of Panama cannot allow this sort of activity. If you wish to talk, now is the time." Michael replies, "I would, if there was anything left to say." Dude, that is what you say to the boyfriend you're dumping, not to the general of a republic! Anyway, since Michael's not chatting, he's shut in a hot box -- it's a structure that's roughly five feet by five feet, with chicken-wire walls wrapped in plastic. There is a small band of open air at the top and the bottom, but the overall effect is to let the air in the box heat up in the sun and just stay warm. After Michael's locked inside, Zavala continues reasoning with him thusly: "Confess to this escape and face your punishment by law, or face a far greater punishment in the Panama sun." Michael doesn't even bother to protest that he didn't try to escape that time.
Back in the prison, Lechero sighs, "He's done. He's finished." And then we cut to Whistler and Splenda waiting for Michael to explode like a bag of microwave popcorn. Sadly, Whistler is be-shirted again.
As Michael wilts in the hot box, we go to the credits. When we come back, he's busy watching himself sweat. Speaking of credits, this episode was written by Karyn Usher. We've also seen work this season by Christian Trokey; Nick Santora; Paul T. Scheuering; Matt Olmstead; Zack Estrin; Seth Hoffman; and Kalinda Vazquez. Without these folks, there would be no characters and no story, and for all that I love to poke fun at the writers' work, I'm very glad they did it, and I would love it if they could do more of it. I didn't think of a season's worth of Linc-isms for nothing, you know.
And speaking of Linc, here he is walking out of a hospital, muttering to Sofia that he hopes his brother's okay. Linc, the less you know, the better. Sofia lets him know that a few bodies have been identified, but neither Michael nor Whistler are among that number. Linc's all, "Well, I'll see for myself when I visit the prison -- want to join me?" and Sofia waffles, "I don't know. After everything that's happened, I don't know what to think anymore." Linc asks, "What more is there to think about?" Heh -- that's like his personal motto. Well, that or LINCOLN NOT THINK MORE. Sofia says, "James has an answer for everything, and nothing ever makes sense." That might be your first sign that you're dealing with a liar, Sofia. Linc says as much with, "You need to stop asking questions and just look at the facts." Sofia protests that she wants to believe the big liar and, more importantly, she wants him out of prison. So does Linc, although not for the same reasons. Anyway, Sofia finally gets around to thanking Linc for all of his hard work and it's all very sweet, but before the two of them can bask in the novel experience of being treated like human beings, along comes Susan B. to remind them of the dismaying common experience of having someone wreck your day for the sheer fun of it.