Why do you make it so hard for me to love you?

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18 September 2007 @ 01:38 pm

So, Season 3 of Prison Break premiered last night...

I want to love this show again. I really do. I was in breathless anticipation every Monday during Season 1, and spent a lot of Season 2 watching out of the corner of my eye to avoid being struck with the WTF head on.

So it's not just the continuing ridiculousness of the Michael/Sara and their story of one-true-love-despite-the-betrayal-and-the-fact-that-I-hardly-know-you. That's bad enough, and if they work Sarah Wayne Callies' pregnancy into the story as Michael/Sara's baby, I might seriously hurl from the preciousness. Urk. Please don't.

No, it's the "little" things. Like half the cast being in Sona prison now (ow! The WTF hit me right in the head!) Like Bellick even still being around. Or T-Bag, intriguing as I find him. It's Michael's "Oh-my-god, my innocence" stare which was classic in Season 1, but adds to the feeling of a big S1 repeat all over again.

It's LJ as Kim Bauer...

It's the continued Conspiracy BS, though they brought in pretty woman for the male viewers in Season 3 (I'm just guessing). For the female viewers, Wentworth is looking very pretty this season, Mahone had some damn fine hair going on (he looked edible), and for god knows what reason (contractual "Must not be sexier than Wentworth" obligations?), Lincoln's head and face are shaved again. Which makes him look like a big goober instead of a sexass, and I don't know what Dominic Purcell or the producers were thinking there.

It's the way Lincoln visits Michael through the bars of Sona, and doesn't even try to touch him, even his hands. It's like he's there because owes Michael something, but otherwise really doesn't care. Gah! Takes me back to that horrible scene on the ship in S2, where Michael's all beaten up and Lincoln is going, "Huh. Oh well, back to the plan."

The relationship between the brothers is the core emotional part of this show, and it's been fading since early S2.

I'll hang in there for awhile and hope (like I always do), but between the everyone-in-Sona, the conspiracy, the OMG Sara and LJ are kidnapped, I feel like I'm watching a soap opera instead of Prison Break. And I never did have much tolerance for those... :(

*heavy sigh*

Tell me something good.

Tags: pb_post_ep

20 comments | Say what you feel

20 comments —

( 20 comments — Say what you feel )

thelana on September 18th, 2007 09:05 pm (UTC)

Depends on your definition of good I guess. I did read somewhere that DP said that he would let his hair grow out middle of the season or so? Or was he just saying he hopes he will? Either way, it was a topic somewhere.

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halfshellvenus on September 18th, 2007 09:24 pm (UTC)

Oh, let's hope he does. Like, "John Doe" hot-ass long.

Though really, even the "Blade"-like stubble at the end of S2 was hot, because it gave his face such definition. Rowr.

But the man needs hair. And the back of his head is shaped funny. And I don't want to see it. :{

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thelana on September 18th, 2007 09:28 pm (UTC)

LOL, poor suffering you :)

I'm not really sure how I feel about the show yet. Part of me wants to run away screaming out of fear of being sucked back in again. Or out of "why am I doing this to myself" feeling.

Part of me remembers that back in season one I also wasn't impressed by the pilot and it took me a few episodes to get sucked in. So I keep trying to decide how many episodes I should give them.

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halfshellvenus on September 18th, 2007 09:41 pm (UTC)

Part of me remembers that back in season one I also wasn't impressed by the pilot and it took me a few episodes to get sucked in. So I keep trying to decide how many episodes I should give them.

Yes! *is hopeful*

I remember not getting hooked right away too, now that you mention it. I think it was the brocest vibes that finally did me in, way back when. Suddenly, I was intrigued. ;)

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thelana on September 18th, 2007 09:50 pm (UTC)

Yeah, I remember I didn't get sucked in till other people on my list started talking about (I had already seen the first two episodes) and I though, hey, maybe I should try it again.

I remember episode three (the one where Kellerman and Hale kill that black woman who was a witness to something) particularly repulsed me, but once I made it passed that I grew to care for it, as you know.

That said, you might enjoy it as long as it lasts, because even if you don't enjoy the abducted Sara plot, this is probably going to be as Sara free as you are going to get. SWC had he baby in August I think? Around the time when they started shooting for the season. So again, consider how much worse it might be if she was actively running around with them and it was her instead of Lincoln having those prison visits.

I miss C-Note :(

Ironically, Sucre/Maricruz (no matter how much most people dislike her) is the main pairing I'm actually invested in at the moment. It makes me sad to see Sucre acting stupid in the previews.

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lissa_bear on September 18th, 2007 09:16 pm (UTC)

Now I want terribly angsty fic where Lincoln is only going because he feels like he owes it to Michael.

I watched and will probably watch the next episode (because it entertained me more than any of the season 2 episodes I happened to catch--even if I was rolling my eyes at the TV half the time), but I'm not sure I'll be able to hang through the entire season if it keeps going like it's going.

Something good? Jensen doesn't have this hair anymore!

Speaking of Jensen's hair, are you participating in the SPN remix challenge? Like my awesome segue?

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halfshellvenus on September 18th, 2007 09:26 pm (UTC)

That's true-- it was still more interesting than most of S2, even if I didn't like the hugely contrived feeling to it (to SO many parts of it).

Oh, Jensen. Even you can look dorky, with the wrong hairdo.

I've never done the remix challenge. Should I? Are you doing it? Sometimes I fear what would happen if people get ahold of one of my 'verses (like, ruin it or make the flip better than the original story). :0

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(Anonymous) on September 18th, 2007 09:55 pm (UTC)

I signed up for this round, but I'm kicking myself for it. The due date is 11 days from now and I still haven't chosen the piece I want to remix.

I'm not protective of any of my SPN stuff, so I wasn't worried, but I can see how you might be worried about 'verses.

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lissa_bear on September 18th, 2007 09:56 pm (UTC)

Yeah, that was me up there. ;p

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halfshellvenus on September 19th, 2007 12:20 am (UTC)

The due date is 11 days from now and I still haven't chosen the piece I want to remix.

Ack! That pretty much spells out my whole writing life these days. There was that

60_minute_fics challenge where I tried on three different songs, and finally got the third one to become something... on the closing day of the challenge. I'd been flailing over the other two for about 6 weeks at that point. :0

*crosses fingers for you* *throws dart at available fics *

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badboy_fangirl on September 18th, 2007 10:01 pm (UTC)

Karen, your (and your husband's) constant critique of Dom's head just makes me laugh. Honestly. How often do we even have to look at the back of it? Not that often. LOL. But I do miss the facial hair.

I just love him no matter what, so don't pay any attention to that.^^

I did want to say psychology-wise, I think Linc's non-touching of Michael is in character...other than the hug during the riots, he's never really initiated any kind of contact like that. His back patting when Sara didn't make the freighter always reminds me that Linc doesn't want to think Michael cares so much about Sara, almost like he's trying to dismiss it quietly. Michael was always the one touching him. I don't even think it's a matter of not wanting to, so much as it just isn't the way he is. But that's just me.

Additionally, Michael's obsession with Sara--to me that is totally because he doesn't have Linc to obsess about, or getting the money, or whatever. He's an obsessor. She's his current obsession.

Anyway, that's what your thoughts made me think, so I thought I'd share them with you, and it's just my opinion, so feel free to rip it apart. You know me, I'm not a slasher, so even though I'm not a shipper, I don't really see anything too out of the ordinary in their behavior towards each other. So much is in their expressions.

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halfshellvenus on September 19th, 2007 04:16 am (UTC)

Honestly. How often do we even have to look at the back of it?
Actually, it's when he's in profile that the weirdness of its shape is most evident. I didn't want to know that! Kind of like how I feel about Bellick in tighty-whities-- brain bleach!

Michael was always the one touching him. I don't even think it's a matter of not wanting to, so much as it just isn't the way he is. But that's just me.
It may very well be typical for Lincoln. I guess I just don't like it-- I've never felt that the writers showed us sufficient motivation for Michael's intense devotion to Lincoln, and this doesn't help. I'd liked to see more coming from Lincoln's side, even though I've always thought that Michael loved him more.

Additionally, Michael's obsession with Sara--to me that is totally because he doesn't have Linc to obsess about, or getting the money, or whatever. He's an obsessor. She's his current obsession.
This might be true also-- interesting though. Unfortunately, I don't like to see Michael being portrayed in quite that way. I like the occasional neurotic character, but I'd like to see more strength from him (and again, better motivation) than just, "Michael's screwed up like that." Argh to the writers again.

Well, I think I'm just in kind of a negative mood, so I'll stop raining on everyone's parade. Mainly, there were some things I really hated about S2, and I'd kind of hoped they'd fade off in S3...

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badboy_fangirl on September 19th, 2007 09:29 pm (UTC)

Lincoln is all Michael had; in my mind that was motivation enough. [Whether or not Lincoln is worthy of that level of devotion is moot, because in Michael's mind it isn't even about worthiness, it's about guilt and *You're telling me he is where he is BECAUSE OF ME*] In fact, if you watch Brothers Keeper, I think that sums up the moment when Michael decides to do it. He knows he can get access to the plans, and it's his *fault* Linc is in there, and Linc is all he has in the world, so he does it.

Now, he's got Linc and Sara. Paul Adelstein asks the question on the Sona commentary, "Doesn't it seem like Michael wants to be punished?" when he gives himself up in Sara's place.

Unfortunately, I don't like to see Michael being portrayed in quite that way. I like the occasional neurotic character, but I'd like to see more strength from him (and again, better motivation) than just, "Michael's screwed up like that." Argh to the writers again.
That's the other thing: Michael would be crazy if he weren't so smart, Dr. Brighton says in S1. Michael has been able to use his *craziness* as a strength thus far, but I think with the unleashing of it to full capacity as well as what he's been through since entering and leaving FR, it's all very questionable. What happens to him in Sona could drive him JCAT crazy in a heartbeat, I think. I don't see Michael as insane or anything, but he is NOT normal, and his eccentricies do not always make him the most stable person. The fact that he generally can control himself shows me that usually he tries to operate above the *noise* in his head, but he can't always do that, especially when he's getting desperate. I just see him clinging to the idea of Sara, even though, as you've pointed out so beautifully before, their relationship is ludicrous. It's the entity of what she represents (happiness, a family, whatever) not who she really is, as was the case with Lincoln (it's not who Linc is *my brother* it's what Linc represents, Michael's *only family*. Remember his crying when Aldo died? He was all mad at his father what five minutes earlier, but suddenly it was *I only had one day with him*. Again, not who is father really was, but what he represented.

*shines up amateur psycho-analysis badge* Maybe it's me that's crazy, not Michael, eh? ;-)

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aeroport_art on September 19th, 2007 03:48 am (UTC)

Thanks for suffering through the season premiere so I didn't have to T_T It sounds like... as bad as S2. *hangs head* And Sarah being pregnant? Oh my god, I want to throw up. How sad, I'm so over PB :(

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thelana on September 19th, 2007 04:51 am (UTC)

Well, the pregnancy of the actress is already over. And the writers always said that there was no way they could ever write it into the plot because PB's seasons always cover only a handful of weeks (like season one was like two months and season two was like four weeks or so).

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halfshellvenus on September 19th, 2007 04:03 pm (UTC)

I'm hoping S3 won't be as bad as S2 was. The whole Conspiracy thing was honestly kind of a problem for me, and it just continues. And the Michael/Sara pains me-- sometimes I feel like it's a bone they threw to the female audience, and it wasn't necessary. Lots of female fans love it, but it weakens the show in my book.

Sarah the actress was pregnant (no mention of the character so far), and

thelana says she's had her baby and the timeline of the show is too condensed to work it in, so thank goodness for that. I honestly could never figure out how long S2 was supposed to have taken, and after awhile I just didn't care.

S2: we brought you Kellerman, but we trashed everybody else. Whoo!

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missyjack on September 19th, 2007 11:09 am (UTC)

It's LJ as Kim Bauer...

Oh you kill me!!!! I've just watched it, and like I had hopes that being back in prison might somehow bring the focus back to the characters and what hooked up in S1.

but i agree with everything you said. Honestly Michael and Linc might as well have been discussing who was going to put out the garbage, there was so little connection bw them. And you are spot on with Michael's "Oh-my-god, my innocence" stare which was classic in Season 1, but adds to the feeling of a big S1 repeat all over again.

I just kept thinking Wentworth needs to watch a scenes of Jensen, to get how to portray emotional pain.

And you've no idea how much I was hoping that was Sara in the morgue!

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halfshellvenus on September 19th, 2007 04:11 pm (UTC)

Oh you kill me!!!!
Oh, god. Kim Bauer was just deadly-- one of the weakest parts of "24." I used to call her the "Perils of Pauline" character. I had this vision of the male audience watching and going, "Ooh, bouncy-bouncy boobies," and the female and/or discriminating audience going, "Die! Die-die-die-die-die! Or was that too psycho?" (*checks mirror for froth*)

Not that Marshall Altman is doing much anyway, but can you imagine your agent calling and saying, "Yeah, you're still in season 3. You'll be the Damsel in Distress." Yippee...

Honestly Michael and Linc might as well have been discussing who was going to put out the garbage, there was so little connection bw them.
Yes, exactly! It was killing me-- I found myself wanting Dominic to extend himself a little further there. Must Lincoln be such a lump at times like that? Show you care, you big moron. Have some emotional intensity, for crying out loud!

And you've no idea how much I was hoping that was Sara in the morgue!
I had a brief flicker of hope, and what I hate is that I actually like the character of Sara, I just don't like her with Michael (which makes her into a complete idiot). I want her to meet someone nice and stable and forget alll about him. But if the morgue is what it takes...

Also... chicken feet! Ewwwwww!

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faithinfaith on September 21st, 2007 05:48 pm (UTC)

You know, I have always liked you a lot, but now I think I love you! :) You just expressed every single thought I have ever had about this mess!

So, very well spoken! And thank you, you just made me feel better when I realized I wasn't alone! :D

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halfshellvenus on September 21st, 2007 06:43 pm (UTC)

I know that lots of people are all a-squee over it, and I don't want to rain on their parade. If they love it, more power to them!

But I continue to see all the things I loved about S1 being screwed up, and it's as if the producers/writers don't have a clue about the show's stronger points (the emotion, the devotion, the cleverness amidst thwarting) and are just in reactionary mode (plot twist! More villains! Weepy!Michael!).

So frustrating, when I know the show has the capability to be better *sigh*

Plus, a "Kim Bauer" character on one Fox network TV show was enough. ;)

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