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The Best Episodes of Prison Break Season 1

Every episode of Prison Break Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Prison Break Season 1!

Binge this in 16h 26m•Peaking at 9.6/10

Due to a political conspiracy, an innocent man is sent to death row and his only hope is his brother, who makes it his mission to deliberately get himself sent to the same prison in

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Prison Break Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    8.7/10(11029 votes)

    #1 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Michael Scofield, a structural engineer, attempts to rob a bank in order to get incarcerated at Fox River State Penitentiary, where his brother Lincoln Burrows, accused of murdering the Vice President's brother, is scheduled to be executed. At Fox River, Michael approaches a number of inmates, all of whom play an important role in his plan to free his brother from the inside. Meanwhile, agents Kellerman and Hale are determined to make sure the execution goes through as planned. Lincoln's son LJ gets into trouble.

    Director:Brett Ratner
    Writer:Paul T. Scheuring

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  2. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 2 - Allen
    8.5/10(7892 votes)

    #2 - Allen

    S1:E2

    Michael seeks help of his fellow prison inhabitants to execute his escape plans.

    Director:Michael W. Watkins
    Writer:Paul T. Scheuring

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  3. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 3 - Cell Test
    8.3/10(7342 votes)

    #3 - Cell Test

    S1:E3

    When Michael reveals his escape plan to Sucre, Sucre chooses to be no part of it, and requests a cell transfer. Michael gets a new cellmate called Haywire.

    Director:Brad Turner
    Writer:Michael Pavone

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  4. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 4 - Cute Poison
    8.5/10(7095 votes)

    #4 - Cute Poison

    S1:E4

    Veronica keeps uncovering new information regarding Lincoln's case and decides she wants to work on the case full-time. When no one wants to help her on the case, Nick Savrinn (an attorney) offers his assistance and the two of them visit Lincoln.

    Director:Matt Earl Beesley
    Writer:Matt Olmstead

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  5. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 5 - English, Fitz or Percy
    8.8/10(7343 votes)

    #5 - English, Fitz or Percy

    S1:E5

    Kellerman and Hale blackmail Warden Pope. Michael finds out he might get out earlier than anticipated. Veronica becomes uncertain of her allies.

    Director:Randall Zisk
    Writer:Zack Estrin

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  6. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 6 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (1)
    9.3/10(8947 votes)

    #6 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (1)

    S1:E6

    Michael creates a lockdown by sabotaging the air conditioning in order to execute his breakout plan properly, and unintentionally causes a riot that gets Sara into huge trouble. Meanwhile, an ex-con is blackmailed into seeing to that Lincoln is killed.

    Directors:Robert Mandel, Vern Gillum
    Writers:Nick Santora, Karyn Usher

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  7. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 7 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (2)
    9.1/10(8142 votes)

    #7 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (2)

    S1:E7

    While the riot intensifies, Abruzzi and Sucre join forces. Michael must decide whether or not to save the life of Dr. Tancredi.

    Director:Vern Gillum
    Writer:Karyn Usher

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  8. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 8 - The Old Head
    8.6/10(6622 votes)

    #8 - The Old Head

    S1:E8

    Michael finds out a storeroom fundamental to his escape plans has been converted into a break room. Veronica and Nick are being threatened.

    Director:Jace Alexander
    Writer:Monica Macer

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  9. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 9 - Tweener
    8.4/10(6471 votes)

    #9 - Tweener

    S1:E9

    Abruzzi's demotion in the prison hierachy puts the entire escape plan at risk. Michael finds himself in the uneviable position of trying to protect T-Bag's new "fish" and facing the threat of T-Bag exposing the plan to the guards. The inmates dig themselves into a hole.

    Director:Matt Earl Beesley
    Writer:Paul T. Scheuring

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  10. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 10 - Sleight of Hand
    8.5/10(6385 votes)

    #10 - Sleight of Hand

    S1:E10

    Michael is forced to give up Fibonacci's location to Philly Falzone, and Kellerman and Hale get a little unwanted help to track down LJ who has gone missing. Veronica and Nick uncover evidence against the man Lincoln was convicted of murdering.

    Director:Dwight H. Little
    Writer:Nick Santora

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  11. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 11 - And Then There Were 7
    8.5/10(6349 votes)

    #11 - And Then There Were 7

    S1:E11

    The escapees and Dr. Tancredi are shocked when they learn the identity of Michael's visitor, who brings with her a very important piece of the escape plan.

    Director:Jesús Salvador Treviño
    Writer:Zack Estrin

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  12. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 12 - Odd Man Out
    8.7/10(6371 votes)

    #12 - Odd Man Out

    S1:E12

    Michael sees proof his plan is working, so he begins to overcome the last obstacle. As the escape draws near, the group tries to reduce its number by one and targets T-Bag.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Karyn Usher

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  13. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 13 - End of the Tunnel
    9.0/10(7060 votes)

    #13 - End of the Tunnel

    S1:E13

    With Lincoln's execution scheduled for the following day, Veronica comes out of hiding to contact him and gains an ally. Kellerman makes the ultimate sacrifice to preserve the conspiracy. Michael looks for a way to get Lincoln out of solitary confinement in time for the escape that evening. The inmates risk everything as they attempt their escape.

    Director:Sanford Bookstaver
    Writer:Paul T. Scheuring

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  14. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 14 - The Rat
    8.9/10(6780 votes)

    #14 - The Rat

    S1:E14

    Veronica and Nick request a judge to postpone Lincoln's execution. A C.O. becomes suspicious about a broken door.

    Director:Kevin Hooks
    Writer:Matt Olmstead

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  15. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 15 - By the Skin and the Teeth
    8.3/10(6190 votes)

    #15 - By the Skin and the Teeth

    S1:E15

    As Lincoln is about to be executed, he briefly sees his father in the viewing room. A phone call from judge Kessler delays the execution. After reviewing the newly surfaced evidence, the judge orders the exhumation of Steadman's body. Michael creates a new, more dangerous, break-out plan, involving going through the prison yard. An accident puts Michael's new plan in danger.

    Directors:Kevin Hooks, Fred Gerber
    Writer:Nick Santora

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  16. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 16 - Brother's Keeper
    8.4/10(6482 votes)

    #16 - Brother's Keeper

    S1:E16

    Flashbacks shed light on the past actions that led to the incarceration of Lincoln, Sucre, T-Bag and C-Note. Basis of Michael's ingenious break-out plan are revealed. Dr. Tancredi memorizes how she ended up in Fox River State Penitentiary.

    Director:Greg Yaitanes
    Writer:Zack Estrin

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  17. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 17 - J-Cat
    8.5/10(6171 votes)

    #17 - J-Cat

    S1:E17

    Lincoln is worried about Michael's sanity while Michael has trouble remembering some parts of the prison schematics. Sucre has to conceal the hole in the guard's break room. Warden Pope transfers Michael to solitary after he declines his request.

    Director:Guy Ferland
    Writer:Karyn Usher

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  18. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 18 - Bluff
    8.7/10(6262 votes)

    #18 - Bluff

    S1:E18

    In an effort to recreate the missing piece of the tattoo, Michael gets transferred to the psych ward, seeking the help of Haywire. T-Bag and C-Note have to join forces.

    Director:Jace Alexander
    Writers:Nick Santora, Karyn Usher

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  19. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 19 - The Key
    8.7/10(6425 votes)

    #19 - The Key

    S1:E19

    Michael must get the key to the infirmary and enlist the help of an old face, while Lincoln learns the identity of his kidnapper and another inmate learns of the escape.

    Directors:Sergio Mimica-Gezzan, Bobby Roth
    Writers:Matt Olmstead, Zack Estrin, Paul T. Scheuring

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  20. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 20 - Tonight
    9.1/10(7407 votes)

    #20 - Tonight

    S1:E20

    Westmoreland wants Michael to speed up the planned escape, and gets Bellick one step closer to unraveling it. Michael has to decide whether to involve Sara in the breakout plan. Tweener's devotion is put to a test. Veronica finds out that her ally unexpectedly has a connection to an inmate serving time at Fox River.

    Director:Bobby Roth
    Writer:Zack Estrin

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  21. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 21 - Go
    9.6/10(11639 votes)

    #21 - Go

    S1:E21

    Everyone's ready to make their escapes across the high wire. Veronica and Nick realize they may be in over their heads. And Agent Kellerman helps Vice President Reynolds calm down before her debate.

    Director:Dean White
    Writer:Matt Olmstead

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  22. Prison Break Season 1 Episode 22 - Flight
    9.4/10(9955 votes)

    #22 - Flight

    S1:E22

    As the escape is in progress, Warden Pope and Captain Bellick begin a search to detain the escapees. Michael and co. have to reach the aircraft fast as the police is hot on their heels. Veronica discovers a major piece of evidence that could prove Lincoln's innocence. The Vice President is worried about losing her authority.

    Director:Kevin Hooks
    Writer:Paul T. Scheuring

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Prison Break" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 11029 votes. Directed by Brett Ratner and written by Paul T. Scheuring, it aired on 8/29/2005. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Allen".