Prison Break: Complete Season 1

There are enough extras on this excellent six-disc DVD, to keep a solitary confinement inmate happy for weeks.

Many of the 23 episodes have not one, but two commentaries. Some such as the Pilot episode commentary of creator Paul Scheuring and Dominic Purcell (who plays Lincoln) are double-headers, while others, such as one of the alternatives on flashback episode Brother’s Keeper, feature half the cast. That one, for example, has comment from Paul Scheuring, Amaury Nolasco (Sucre), Wade Williams (Bellick), Robert Knepper (T-Bag) and Sarah Wayne Callies (Dr Tancredi) and is one of the best in the set.

As is always the case with commentary tracks some are stronger than others. It’s odd that Wentworth Miller (Michael) isn’t involved on any of them – though Dominic Purcell brings his dry sense of humour to several – but that’s a small gripe. It’s also slightly strange that they have chosen to include two commentary tracks for some episodes, yet none for others. This does occasionally result in the duplicating of anecdotes but, more often, just means you get a very rounded impression of that particular instalment.

There is also a handful of deleted scenes and one alternative ending, though by and large it’s easy to see why they were cut. Sadly, despite X Men director Brett Ratner – who shot the pilot – insisting he shot an alternative ‘enter the prison’ scene featuring all the cons with no boxer shorts on, it doesn’t make it into the deleted scene clippings – shame on you Fox, you could have made a lot of ladies very happy.

The cream of the extras, however, lies in the excellent features which accompany the discs.

The meatiest of these is a 30-minute Making of Prison Break documentary. The actors introduce their characters in turn but if you wanted to watch this, say midway through the run of episodes, you could do so without spoiling too much of the plot. The actors are interviewed on set and in costume which gives the show an immediacy and there is an emphasis on sharing information with the audience about the show rather than simply being a love-in, although the last ten minutes does descend into that.

If These Walls Could Speak: Profile of Joliet Correctional Center is a 10-minute documentary on the prison itself. A working prison until 2002, members of its staff – including the wonderfully named Chuck Gobble – talk about its former inmates and how it came to be built the way it is.

Beyond The Ink is an engaging 15 minute featurette on the unsung hero of the show – Michael’s tattoo. The artist who designed it – and who was also responsible for tattoo work on Red Dragon - explains how he really did incorporate the prison plans into the finished product and takes you through a series of sketches showing how he realised the creator’s dream.

There is also a more-gloss-than-glory Fox Movie Channel Presents Making A Scene: Prison Break. There are a few interesting remarks but this is mostly a shiny version of what has gone before, adding little in terms of content.

Also included are the six US TV spots, which should come with a slice of cheddar, it’s a shame they didn’t choose to include the far superior UK spots shown on Five, which featured a fantastic Johnny Cash number amongst others.

Small gripes aside, this is an excellent DVD set. Tattoo ‘must buy’ on your arm so you don’t forget it.

Episode Extras are as follows:

1. Pilot: Commentary by Paul Scheuring and Dominic Purcell (Lincoln); commentary by director Brett Ratner and Editor Mark Helfrich 2. Allen: Deleted scene 3. Cell Test 4. Cute Poison: Commentary by Paul Scheuring, Dominic Purcell and Wade Williams (Bellick); commentary by writer Matt Olmstead and Silas Weir Mitchell (Haywire) 5. English, Fitz Or Percy 6. Riots, Drills And The Devil Pt 1: Commentary by Paul Scheuring, Dominic Purcell, Amaury Nolasco (Sucre), Wade Williams, Robert Knepper (T-Bag) and Sarah Wayne Callies (Dr Sara Tancredi); commentary by writer Dominic Santora and director Robert Mandel. 7. Riots, Drills And The Devil Pt 2: Commentary by Paul Scheuring, Dominic Purcell, Peter Stormare (Abruzzi), Amaury Nolasco and Wade Williams. 8. Behind The Walls 9. The Old Head 10. Tweener 11. Sleight Of Hand 12. And Then There Were 7: Michael Thinks About Sarah deleted scene 13. Odd Man Out: Commentary by Producer Garry Brown, writer Karyn Usher and director Bobby Roth 14. End Of The Tunnel: Alternative ending 15. The Rat 16. By The Skin And The Teeth 17. Brother's Keeper: Commentary by Paul Scheuring, Amaury Nolasco, Wade Williams, Sarah Wayne Callies and Robert Knepper; commentary by writer Greg Yaitanes and director Zack Estin; Deleted scene Sucre And Maricruz In Court. 18. J-Cat: Deleted scene Michael Goes Crazy 19. Bluff 20. The Key 21. Tonight 22. Go 23.. Flight