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Prison Break Season 4 Episode 22

Killing Your Number

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AIRED: May 15, 2009

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8.5

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Episode Summary

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Michael makes one final attempt to get Scylla and destroy the Company.

FAN RECAP

Fan Episode Reviews (59)

I will miss this show so much. By far the best blend of action, drama, suspense and emotion in any tv series to end this quickly. The 4 best years of my TV exp are over.....moreless

10

By lionsfan0975, Nov 05, 2010

I was so sad to see that Michael was dead. I so did not expect that and was so pissed off. Here it is weeks later and I still shake my head at the idea. My guess is the directors and producers were going for that exact response. Well let me say, it worked. What a fitting ending other than his death. I guess since the series is over, his death makes sense. The only problem is that I for one wanted to see the good guy have a nice ending......

I just want to say thanks to the entire cast from all 4 seasons. You became a part of the fans lives on a weekly basis. Also, thanks to the loyal fans that helped the show go on for 4 seasons. I loved season one but wondered how could it go on. Well, I am so glad that it did. Lets hope the actors go on to do so many more things in hollywood.

I will miss the show but will always have my blurays for the memories....Take care everyone!!!!moreless
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This episode was so perfect, but still so sad.

10

By javnah, Oct 04, 2010

I have loved Prison Break ever since I saw the first episode. And I really didn't want it to end. This show has kept me on the edge so many times, and I just love it. But I guess all good things must come to an end, and what an end! Already when I saw Michael's nose bleeding at the beach, I knew. He was the only one that didn't survive, he never really got to be happy. And that's really a shame, he had deserved some true happiness, and watching his son grow up. But I'll guess Sara would take really good care of him, surrounded by her friends or should I rather say family now. PB forevermoreless
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The Escape Squad makes good

7.0

By entil2001, Aug 04, 2010

The irony of this series finale is that it's technically not the series finale. The upcoming direct-to-DVD release, "Prison Break: Final Break", presents two episodes set in the period before the epilogue in this episode. It's not necessary to see those extra episodes to get the gist of what happens, but it does present a slight disconnect in terms of closure. It would have been better if FOX had agreed to air those two episodes and tack the epilogue onto the very end. (As such, based on the separate nature of the release, those episodes will not be counted as part of the fourth season.)

My biggest problem with this episode was the resolution of the fight against the Company. The entire fourth season has been a reflection of the second season, in that it was about escaping the metaphorical prison of the Company's power over all their lives. As such, there was the logical expectation that Michael would be the one to make it happen, as the troubled genius at the heart of the series.

Instead, Michael is bailed out twice. First, he is saved by Sucre and C-Note when all his other options have evaporated. It makes for a great moment, and it harkens back to Michael's admission that his plans would never succeed without the right people in the right places, but he was completely unaware that they were coming. I can see what the writers were going for, in terms of unexpected twists, but it was disappointing.

But far worse was the decision to have a reformed Paul Kellerman come to Michael's rescue with a deal that came out of nowhere. While it's certainly true, as Michael admits, that there was no other option left, especially with Mahone and Sucre in federal custody, it's a huge deus ex machina solution to the problem. Perhaps worse, this issue could have gone away if the writers had seeded the season with hints that the organization founded by Michael and Lincoln's father was still viable and they were moving in the shadows.

This is unfortunate, because otherwise, the writers did a fairly good job wrapping up the main plot points, particularly in terms of the character arcs. I'm thrilled that Mahone survived and found some measure of happiness, Lincoln gets his freedom, all the villains end up dead or back behind bars where they belong, and Sara and Michael get some short measure of happiness.

The only quibble I have is Michael's fate. The epilogue was very well done, and I love the idea that those particular characters go to Michael's grave every year and pay their respects. I was most gratified by the presence of Mahone, who seems to be on very good terms with the rest of the Escape Squad now. My problem is that his death seems unnecessary out of the context of the struggle to break free of the Company. Why let him survive that, only to kill him (in a supposedly ironic move) with a condition that was supposedly cured?

I can certainly understand that the writers didn't want to go for the 100% happy conclusion when all was said and done, but there were far more elegant ways of making it happen. And while I get the thematic intention of having Michael lose his life after metaphorically giving it up for the sake of his brother in the pilot, it just wasn't satisfying to have it happen in that specific way. But maybe that's the perfect ending for a show that is best remembered for its mixture of wild creativity and inexplicable plot contrivances.moreless
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I would recommend this show to anyone. Once you start you just want to keep watching.

10

By snu-snu, May 05, 2010

The show is about a brother (Michael Scofield) you gets himself in prison to break out his brother (Lincoln Burrows) who was framed for a murder. He has the blueprints of the prison tattooed on him and has a plan to get him out. But once he gets in there everything does not go as planned as it becomes alot harder then he expected, As he develops enemies fast and a guard who is out to get him. While trying to cope with prison life. Scofield only has so long until the execution of his brother. On the outside an FBI agent is trying to speed up the process. I would say this was and still is one of my top 5 shows. It has you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. The suspense is awesome and all the twists in it.moreless
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End of the legend

10

By MertAydemir, Dec 01, 2009

He was up for adventure, but a beautiful ending.Was monitored throughout a series tell you. 4 that the last of the season worthy of the most distressing side Scofield has died. The tape was the best part Sarah leave. In this section gripping as any other. I prefer your follow-up. In this section, a company which is against him with Scofield fights. his mother was in this battle rival in this season matter. The death has changed things. Sarah is a child. Word I learned in this series Ver. If you fail you will be your friend. you always will succeed if the enemy.moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

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Dominic Purcell	Lincoln Burrows
Wentworth Miller	Michael Scofield
Michael Rapaport	Agent Don Self
Amaury Nolasco	Fernando Sucre
Robert Knepper	Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell
Sarah Wayne Callies	Dr. Sara Tancredi

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

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Raphael Sbarge	Ralph Becker	Guest Star
William Mapother	Agent Chris Franco	Guest Star
Reno Wilson	Agent Wilson Wright	Guest Star
Kathleen Quinlan	Christina Scofield	Recurring Role
Leon Russom	General Jonathan Krantz	Recurring Role
Ted King	Downey	Recurring Role

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Episode Photos

Mahone (William Fichtner) tends to a dyi...

© 2009 Fox Broadcasting Company
C-Note (Rockmund Dunbar) and Sucre (Amau...

© 2009 Fox Broadcasting Company
Mahone (William Fichtner) confronts Chri...

© 2009 Fox Broadcasting Company
Michael (Wentworth Miller) dreams of a h...

© 2009 Fox Broadcasting Company

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (5)
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- Goof: On Michael's headstone it says he was born in '74, but in a previous episode (Mother Lode) Lincoln says Michael was born in '76.
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- Goof: Michael's gravestone states that he died in 2005. This contradicts Prison Break being set in the future as Caroline Reynolds became the 46th president in season 1. In real life, the president in 2005 was George W. Bush and he was the 43rd president.
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- The scene where C-Note and Sucre break into the loft Amaury Nolasco has hair. In the very next scene, he has a completely shaved head.
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- Michael's grave:
  
  MICHAEL J. SCOFIELD
  10.8.1974 - 11.4.2005
  Husband, Father, Brother, Uncle, Friend
  Be the change you want to see in the world
  
  The last line was Sara's senior quote.
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- C-Note takes Lincoln's phone and presses a button to speed dial Kellerman's number. Lincoln would not have Kellerman's number on speed dial.
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QUOTES (23)
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- T-Bag: My destiny is to be a respected gentleman.
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- T-Bag: (to C-Note and Sucre) We should get together and pool our resources.
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- Michael: I want you to know, I'm totally going to be a hands-on dad.
  Sara: Okay.
  Michael: Like, if the baby needs a bottle in the middle of the night, I will totally keep your side of the bed warm until you get back.
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- Michael: (to Kellerman) I heard you were dead.
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- Ralph: (to the General) There's no shame in retreating to regroup, sir.
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- Michael: Some day, weeks will go by, maybe even years, when it won't even cross our minds.
  Sara: We'll come home and talk about work. And what we want for dinner, movies...
  Michael: Nursery schools.
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- Michael: (to Kellerman) Why should I trust a word that's coming out of your mouth?
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- Sucre: We're a long way from Fox River, T-Bag.
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- Christina: (to Downey about Mahone) Kill the junkie.
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- Ralph: Mind if I drive?
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- Michael: (to Kellerman) You'd better come through for us in the end.
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- Michael: We better get some baby books, because I plan on being the most overinformed dad in Chicago.
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- Christina: You can't kill your mother, Michael.
  Michael: You were never my mother. And I'm no longer your son.
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- Kellerman: (to Michael) I've been telling everyone what a genius you are. Don't get stupid on me now.
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- T-Bag: You are a sight for sore eyes, my friend.
  Sucre: Can the reunion.
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- General: (to T-Bag) Men in my employ anticipate, they cover their bases. They refuse to fail, which you seem to be doing with unyielding consistency.
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- T-Bag: You're backing the wrong horse. Scofield cannot pull this out.
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- Lincoln: We took a vote; you're in luck. (digs in pocket) What we voted on was whether or not you got a stick of gum on the van ride back to prison. (stuffs a piece of gum in T-Bag's mouth)
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- C-Note: (holding gun on T-Bag) What's up, Jethro?
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- T-Bag: Let's forgive each other, Michael, Lincoln. In God's name, 'cause there's too much pain. There's too much hate in our hearts.
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- Kellerman: Hello, Michael. You're a tough man to get a hold of.
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- Lincoln: If you have to leave, Michael you should.
  Michael: I'm not leaving you, Linc. You're my brother.
  Lincoln: Not according to Christina.
  Michael: Don't let her mess with your head.
  Lincoln: Well, maybe it's true. I keep... I keep playing things over in my head from, from our childhood.
  Michael: Doesn't matter what she said. It doesn't change anything. You're stuck with me, whether you like it or not.
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- Cristina: You were born a Scofield, but you'll die a Burrows.
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NOTES (8)
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- The DVD has an extended cut version of this episode which includes an alternate opening scene as well as other additional scenes and has about 7 extra minutes of footage.
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- Original International Airdates:
  Turkey: July 5, 2009 on CNBC-e
  Latin America: July 7, 2009 on Canal FX
  Spain: July 10, 2009 on La Sexta
  Australia: July 15, 2009 on Channel 7
  Sweden: August 10, 2009 on TV3
  Norway: September 10, 2009 on TV3
  Finland: April 20, 2010 on MTV3
  Poland: May 9, 2010 on Polsat
  Slovakia: August 26, 2010 on JOJ
  Czech Republic: November 3, 2012 on FANDA
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- First appearance by Paul Adelstein (Kellerman) since the season 2 finale "Sona".
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- Although credited, Jodi Lyn O'Keefe (Gretchen) doesn't appear in this episode. This was the only season finale that didn't feature all the regular characters.
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- The last word spoken on the show (as a Fox series) is "goodness".
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- Featured Music:
  "Lay It Down Slow" by Spiritualized
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- Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell are the only cast members to appear in every episode of the series.
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- Wentworth Miller, Dominic Purcell, Wade Williams, Marshall Allman, Robert Knepper, and Amaury Nolasco are the only cast members to appear in every season of the series.
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ALLUSIONS (0)
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- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.