Escape at Dannemora

Patricia Arquette absolutely carried this show. Her performance was gripping she was so believable as an angry sort of spoiled woman who was terrified at work every day surrounded by prisoners. She just wanted to fell in control and alive. Ethan Matt manipulated her into helping with their escape, it was crushing. I was enthralled the whole time, I’m not gonna lie. My love of Paul Dano’s kind demeanor and voice may have something to do with it though too. I wish there was any kind of resemblance of social commentary about the US prison system and race in prisons. Now in 2021 is a topic that needs to be addressed. Also the episode where they showed Ethan torturing his boss was unbearable, then they just gave up on his character and just made him drunk and useless. After reading about the real convicts, David Sweat and Richard Matt, I think a little more context on their background would have gone a long way. They both grew up in foster homes and jumped around from house to house. Even Shawshank a movie three times shorter then this mini series managed to fit in the real experience and lives of prisoners. If this show focused more on the humanity and history of the characters instead of long filler shots and far too many uncomfortable sex scenes this mini series would score 5 stars.