Grade: B
If anything,
Alcatraz is solidifying itself as a returned ‘villian’ of the week procedural meaning that it will be very light but at the same time giving on revealing just what happened on the rock all those years ago. In the latest episode we are presented with Cal Sweeney a former bank robber who by the authority of the prison hierarchy is already high up on the food chain & its made only better by the fact that he runs the illegal supply in the prison as well. When we meet him in his past Alcatraz story he is taking a newcomer under his wing & at the same time dealing with the merciless deputy warden E.B. who wants a cut off of Sweeney’s profit.
“Cal Sweeney” presents a great inmate episode as we again see just how damaging the rock has been on their psyches & witness how ruthless Cal has become during his recent return & bank robbing spree.
Through the episode we follow Cal in the flashbacks deal with E.B. & the recent disappearance of a certain little box from his cell. Upon his first private meeting with the deputy warden it is apparent that Sweeney’s reputation is on the downfall & as we witness him squirm & struggle we also get to see just how cutthroat the prison staff are to each other as well. In the present we see that Cal has become more ruthless as he is now unafraid to kill anyone who gets in his way while committing his robberies. What is more surprising is the mentality that Cal takes on with the possesions he takes. There is no real intent to profit off of his thefts in the conventional sense. Cal is dedicated on obtaining the story behind the items he takes & it doesn’t matter what mean he has to go through to get them.
It is clear that
Alcatraz is presenting its story arc as slowly as possible but when it drops a hint as to just what is going on there is no doubt that i lays down a clear bombshell. The series has also presented itself as the closest thing to resemble the type of storyline that
Lost presented to try and achieve the same success. While that following has not occurred yet it is clear that they are not willing to shovel on plot to grab attention like other attempts have. It is still to early to tell if there will be a return for
Alcatraz but with early ratings already blowing
Terra Nova out of the water & easily faster production times it might be a safe bet that
Alcatraz will stick around for a second season of mystery & intrigue.
