'Prison Break' Has the Makings of a Season Leader

The fall season lacks the promise of a new "Desperate Housewives" or "Lost."

Fortunately, a handful of shows stand out for originality, and one of them is "Prison Break."

Wentworth Miller stars as Michael Scofield, who is determined to rescue his brother, death-row inmate Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell of Fox's "John Doe"). To do so, Michael deliberately commits a crime so that he's sent to his brother's maximum-security prison.

The rare case of someone's breaking into prison begins with a two-hour premiere at 8 p.m., EDT/PDT, Monday on Fox. "Prison Break" moves to its 9 p.m. Monday time slot the following week.

Michael, a structural engineer, brings certain talents to his plans to escape with his brother. More importantly, he seems to be a quiet, unassuming Robin Hood trying to fight the good fight and make sure justice prevails. In this case, that means making certain his brother isn't executed for a murder he didn't commit. Apparently he might have been imprisoned because of a conspiracy that goes far beyond the prison walls.

"Prison Break" works because it's a puzzle viewers will feel compelled to solve. And the actors keep everything realistic.

Miller avoids any melodramatic twists. Instead, he makes Michael genuine; his concise dialogue speak volumes.

The cast also includes Robin Tunney as Veronica Donovan, Michael's lawyer, longtime friend and ex-girlfriend. And Marshall Allman plays LJ, Lincoln's 15-year-old son. Without his father or uncle around, LJ faces the temptations of the streets.

Standing out is special guest star Stacy Keach, who brings just the right edge to playing the almost fatherly Warden Pope. Keach is a pro at balancing toughness and sensitivity.

The warden and Michael forge a connection, but Michael, of course, can't let the warden know his plans.

The puzzle of "Prison Break" has many pieces. How and why was Michael's brother convicted of murder, and how can Michael get his brother and himself out of prison?

At one point, he even contacts Charles Westmoreland, an inmate who just might be skyjacker D.B. Cooper (Muse Watson).

Hey, nobody said the pieces of this unpredictable puzzle would fit together easily. And that's the intrigue of "Prison Break."