The perfect replacement show forPrison Breaknot only lasted six seasons but had its very own Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller).Prison Break’s nail-biting action and twists were, at their heart, facilitated by Michael’s many schemes as he attempted to prove his brother Lincoln’s (Dominic Purcell) innocence.Though the series only got more complex as time went on, the story ultimately came to a close withupdates on aPrison Breakrebootstill being few and far between despite its still strong premise and characters.
Michael’s ability to come up with elaborate plans that, even when things went off the rails, somehow still prevailed was fascinating to witness.However, this kind of quick-thinking is not just reserved for the Fox crime drama. Severalshows likePrison Breakhave at least one character who matches Michael’s mental acuity and propensity to get into trouble. One particularly notablePrison Breakreplacement show had a character who is just as smart as Michael, though his style was largely different: Neal Caffey (Matt Bomer) fromWhite Collar.
12 Harsh Realities Of Rewatching Prison Break, 19 Years After It Premiered
Despite being one of the most iconic series of the 2000s, there are some notable flaws & realities when watching Prison Break nearly 20 years later.
White Collar’s Neal Caffrey Was As Smart Of A Protagonist As Prison Break’s Michael Scofield
Both Characters Could Improvise And Were Largely Empathetic
Neal Caffrey fromWhite Collarwas as smart of a protagonist as Michael Scofield fromPrison Breakas both characters are skilled planners who can improvise while also being empathetic.Though his knowledge laid in classical art over engineering, Neal’s intelligence is largely on Michael’s level as he assists the FBI in several cases, conning his way into and out of bad situations. Much like manyepisodes ofPrison Break,these plans often go awry, forcing Neal to improvise, such as when he helps Peter Burke (Tim DeKay) maintain his disguise with a suspected femme fatale with a well-timed drawing.
Both characters' technical knowledge is also strengthened by their empathy and creativity. Michael’s low latent inhibition gave him an increased sense of empathy, giving him the drive to solve any problem through his sense of morality and justice. In Neal’s case, his empathy allowed him to easily manipulate his targets as he could anticipate their desires.Both characters are also creative, using art in some form to help in their plans, such as Neal’s forgeries and Michael’s tattoos.These similarities not only made Neal a great protagonist but helped makeWhite Collargreat forPrison Breakfans.
Why White Collar Was The Perfect Show For Prison Break Fans (Despite Being So Different)
White Collar,much likePrison Break,had many elaborate mysteries within its narrative despite the series having a lighter tone.Many episodes ofWhite Collarhave a lighter feel toPrison Break,partially due to the subject matter focusing on white-collar crimes over intense prison breaks and large-scale corporate espionage.The gentler disposition of the characters is also a stark contrast toPrison Break,Neal’s sunnier and charming personality a parallel to Michael’s more subdued, intimidating presence. That being said, audiences who loved the Fox series found the elaborate plots ofWhite Collarjust as engaging.
At the time of writing, the first draft of theWhite Collarreboot,White Collar: Renaissance,has been completed.
The mystery ofKate (Alexandra Daddario) inWhite Collarpersists throughout the series' first season, echoing Michael’s mission to save Lincoln as Neal tries to find out what happened to her. That mystery spiraled outward, allowing many aspects of Neal’s past to come to the surface in intriguing ways.Episodes that did not heavily feature these overarching plots still showcased engaging crime-of-the-week stories for the characters to solve.Both types of episodes allowedWhite Collarto explore a storyline thatPrison Breakseason 4 sadly failed to do justice.
White Collar Did Something Prison Break Season 4 Failed To
White Collar Explored The Criminal/Justice System Dynamic Better Than Prison Break
Prison Breakseason 4 failed to truly dig into the criminal/justice system dynamic that was the backbone ofWhite Collar.The fourth season ofPrison Breakhad the group working for the government in order to retrieve a powerful data card known as Scylla.The season also explored Michael’s backstory and Lincoln’s past, but never really got into the finer details of what it was like for a group of criminals to work for the government. Instead, the story focused on the action and dramatic twists, making it one of the weakestseasons ofPrison Break.
This contrast created a complex relationship that acts as the series' backbone and a set of themesPrison Breakwas unable to truly elaborate on in its fourth season.
Conversely, that dynamic was the main narrative ofWhite Collar, with the series focusing heavily on Peter and Neal’s relationship.Neal questioned his identity and desires throughout the series as his desire to settle down and natural empathy clashed with the rush of the con.Peter, meanwhile, was forced to face the imperfections of the justice system while also trying to keep Neal on the right path. This contrast created a complex relationship that acts as the series' backbone and a set of themesPrison Breakwas unable to truly elaborate on in its fourth season.
Prison Break
Cast
Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President’s brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated in order to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body.
