"Prison" Rules?

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NO SPOILERS IN YOUR COMMENTS!!!! I'VE ONLY WATCHED THE FIRST 8 EPISODES!!!!!

I’ve been watching Season One of “Prison Break.” When I first heard about the show I wondered if you could sustain a series basically centered around one main plot. So, I didn’t really take the time to watch it when it aired. But now, after watching 7 episodes, I think I might be hooked. I’m fascinated by the way each episode stands as part of a deliberate plan taking place in the midst of so many questionable variables. This means sometimes the potential kinks seem a bit contrived, but isn’t everything in a story really contrived in the end? It heightens the drama, even if the little twists that will put everything back on track seem a little bit predictable. But, so far, I’m interested in why those things are predictable. For example, one of these turned on the question of the warden’s integrity, and because you have a sense of his integrity, you can see it coming. That’s not so bad. Indeed, I find myself seeing under the surface of the narrative certain “rules” coming through. It seems absolutely imperative that even in the chaotic and immoral environment that is the prison, that the two main characters not be guilty of something that would impugn them in the eyes of the audience. So, for example, the success of any part of the plan cannot ride on them deliberately killing someone. When a guard discovers their plan, for example, it is impossible for them to kill him. But if, against their wishes, a character we already know to be depraved does it for them, then we can accept it. And their remorse even convinces us more of their moral worth. I wonder if the writers early on come up with a list of rules—what the main characters can or cannot do in pursuit of their goal. Or maybe it’s a bit more organic to the writing process—one writer says to another “Michael wouldn’t/couldn’t do that!” Maybe our TV writer friend Karen Hall could enlighten us on this?

Anyway, now you know what a nerd I am, when I seem more interested in how the story is written than the story itself! But if you’re thinking of watching, the story is pretty good too—especially with the ensemble cast they’ve created of breakout (no pun intended) actors with seasoned veterans like Stacy Keach and Peter Stormare.