The brilliance of Season 2 lies in its shift in geometry. In Season 1, the obstacles were physical walls and iron bars. In Season 2, the obstacles are distance and time. The "Fox River Eight" are scattered across the country, each driven by different motivations: Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows seek the truth and exoneration; T-Bag hunts for lost money and revenge; and C-Pote or Sucre simply want to reunite with their families.

Unlike Season 1, where silence was used for tension (drilling through pipes), Season 2 relies on rapid-fire exposition.