BREAKOUT KINGS
MARCH 6, 2011-APRIL 29, 2012
FOX sold off the rights to "Breakout Kings" and A&E was more than happy to pick it up, having used primarily British shows to build their cable network during the early days of broadcasting. For the past several years, as with most other cable networks , they have relied on the reality television genre to fill their schedule.
Nick Santora and Matt Olmstead, the creators of the series, have taken "Prison Break" and incorporated some of the lighter moments from "Leverage" to package "Breakout Kings." Both were a part of "Prison Break" and the viewer will find that characters from the show either appear or get mentioned in this new series. Violence is the name of the game that drives the escaped prisoners to seek revenge while being pursued by a team of officers and cons. The cons are specifically targeted for their skills of escape with the ability to survive a life on the run.
Ray Zancanelli (Domenick Lonbardozzi ) developed the idea to use convicts to hunt and capture escapees. His own past haunts him every day from when he was caught stealing money from a crime scene. Having witnessed cops repeatedly pocketing funds for their own personal gain, he decides to only take enough cash to purchase a car for his daughter. His daughter's step dad repeatedly rubs it in that he can do more for her financially than Ray can. Now, living in a halfway house, he is appointed a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal. His understanding for the criminals he has made to serve time puts him in the middle of the prisoners and the law.
Charlie Duchamp (Laz Alonso ) is a Deputy U.S. Marshal and is heading up the new task force. He is looking to get off his desk job duties since being diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. If his latest assignment does not produce results, it could put him back on desk duty permanently.
Julianne Simms (Brooke Nevin ) was a student at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. She was top of her class with the future shining bright, but due to her assorted psychological disorders she was expelled. Now she has another chance to prove she is capable of being an asset with the encouragement from Ray who requested this assignment on her behalf. Her job consists of analyzing the research she collects for each case that the team is appointed. She spends little time in the field, often instead staying at the team's headquarters surrounded by computers. Her investigative skills are essential to the group's dynamic.
Sean Daniels (Malcolm Goodwin ), never on the right side of the law, a former gang leader whose endeavors include but are not exclusive to weapons and drugs that left a trail of his presence from the east to west coast. His street smarts are invaluable to the team, along with knowledge of how criminals think and move underground. He is credited with coming up with the task force's name, "Breakout Kings."
Dr Lloyd Lowery (Jimmi Simpson ) is a child prodigy, and his work in the field of behavior analysis with a bachelors degree and M.D. from Harvard provides psychological evaluations of the escaped targets. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison for selling prescriptions to fellow college students to help cover the cost of his addiction to gambling. Lowery lost his license to practice medicine when a young girl committed suicide by using the pills he prescribed.
Philly Rotchliffer (Nicole Steinwedell ) has been hiding huge amounts of cash in bank accounts and because of the agreement to be a part of the team, she is sent back to prison.
Erica Reed (Serinda Swan ) is an expert bounty hunter who tracked down the men who tortured and killed her father before she was 20 years old. Her conviction was limited to weapons charges because she so meticulously disposed of the bodies. Her father, also a bounty hunter, was killed because he hunted and captured a member of the gang that eventually took his life. Her only child, a daughter, is in the custody of her father and Reed has little to no contact with her. Due to all that has happened in her life, she has the tendency to become physically violent when anyone confronts Reed concerning her past.
The series is peppered in acts of devastating assaults that reflect "Breaking Bad" with small moments on a lighter side emulating "Leverage". They do not sugarcoat what happens when convicts escape with intent to never return to confinement, which keeps the stories real. The background of each character is revealed in depth as each episode airs. The cold open captures the viewer's attention immediately, bringing them up to speed on how the escape actually happened. This is followed by the opening sequence that documents each team member's status. The music set behind it is catchy and fits in well with the visual elements.
This show has potential, but the quick release of Philly's character when her money trail could give way to future episodes is a step away from getting better. It does, however, set the standard for the the rest of the team to take notice that if they do not follow the rules it is back to prison with more time to serve. Now, with each closed case they acquire a month off of their sentence while having free time away from confinement.
RUSTY
3/6/11
