Yet that's overlooking the sheer presence of the fascinating, twisted bunch of characters we got to know, love, hate and jeer at throughout the show's maiden season. And in many ways, the second series of Prison Break evolves into a logical extension. If you've not seen series one, look away now.

With Michael and Lincoln Burroughs, along with the other escapees, now on the run, the focus switches to keeping out of prison rather than trying to break into it (not for nothing does one of the show's creators cite The Fugitive as an influence). That's no easy task though. On top of the media interest in them, there are the political forces behind the scenes that were slowly developed in the maiden season,

Once you add into the cauldron the simmering relationships between the escapees themselves, and the feeling of distrust that underpins them, the second season of Prison Break falls into place. And do you know what? It's genuinely as exciting as it was first time round.

Sure, the show takes the occasional narrative shortcut, and shows willingness to test the boundaries of realism as much as it can. But there's no getting away from it: Prison Break is relentless, exciting television, and when this second season concludes with a logical progression to what'll happen in the third, you can't help but demand more. --Jon Foster