8.7/108,840 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 8/29/2005
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
8.5/106,223 votes#2 - Allen
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 8/29/2005
Michael seeks help of his fellow prison inhabitants to execute his escape plans.
Director: Michael W. Watkins
Writer: Paul T. Scheuring
8.3/105,806 votes#3 - Cell Test
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 9/5/2005
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
8.5/105,612 votes#4 - Cute Poison
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 9/12/2005
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
8.8/105,776 votes#5 - English, Fitz or Percy
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 9/19/2005
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
9.2/107,006 votes#6 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (1)
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 9/26/2005
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.
Director: Vern Gillum, Robert Mandel
Writer: Nick Santora, Karyn Usher
9.1/106,350 votes#7 - Riots, Drills and the Devil (2)
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/3/2005
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
8.6/105,218 votes#8 - The Old Head
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/24/2005
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
8.4/105,109 votes#9 - Tweener
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 10/31/2005
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
8.5/105,031 votes#10 - Sleight of Hand
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 11/7/2005
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
8.5/105,021 votes#11 - And Then There Were 7
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 11/14/2005
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
8.7/105,017 votes#12 - Odd Man Out
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 11/21/2005
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
9.0/105,531 votes#13 - End of the Tunnel
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 11/28/2005
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
8.9/105,310 votes#14 - The Rat
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 3/20/2006
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
8.3/104,884 votes#15 - By the Skin and the Teeth
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 3/27/2006
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.
Director: Kevin Hooks, Fred Gerber
Writer: Nick Santora
8.4/105,120 votes#16 - Brother's Keeper
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 4/3/2006
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
8.5/104,861 votes#17 - J-Cat
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 4/10/2006
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
8.7/104,925 votes#18 - Bluff
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 4/17/2006
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
Writer: Nick Santora, Karyn Usher
8.7/105,053 votes#19 - The Key
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/24/2006
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.
Director: Bobby Roth, Sergio Mimica-Gezzan
Writer: Paul T. Scheuring, Matt Olmstead, Zack Estrin
9.1/105,746 votes#20 - Tonight
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 5/1/2006
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
9.5/108,792 votes#21 - Go
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 5/8/2006
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
9.3/107,641 votes#22 - Flight
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 5/15/2006
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
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!
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...
Genres:Action & AdventureCrimeDrama
Network:FOX
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Prison Break" season 1. It scored 8.7/10 based on 8840 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".