Netflix has delivered every episode of the iconic thriller series Yes, "Prison Break" is back on Netflix after a seven-year absence

As of today, Monday, July 29, all five seasons of "Prison Break" are available for streaming on Netflix US (sorry, international subscribers) Including the TV movie "Prison Break," the total is 90 episodes: "Prison Break: The Final Break" was originally the series finale, but was revived for a fifth season in 2017 (there are rumors of a sixth season)

While enthusiastic viewers of "Prison Break" may well devour the entire run of "Prison Break" in the coming weeks, I would like to pay special tribute to the show's first season, which I believe is arguably the best debut season in television history It does a great job of introducing viewers to some impressive characters, setting up some pretty big stakes, building a lot of mystery, and ending with a satisfying finale

If you're looking for a new Netflix series with enough episodes to keep you watching for a while, here's why you need to binge "Prison Break," now back on the streaming service

"Prison Break" opens with a literal jolt when engineer Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) commits an armed robbery and is subsequently imprisoned at Fox River State Prison Michael, however, is not a raw criminal who has been dragged down by the failures of his work

It soon becomes clear that Michael had carefully planned to help his brother Lincoln (Dominic Purcell) escape from prison so that he could be put behind bars Lincoln was on death row for a crime he did not commit, and Michael had meticulously planned to get his brother out of the top-secret prison and clear his name

As Michael puts his meticulous plan into action, the brothers must quickly adapt to the rapidly changing circumstances and the ticking clock

Along the way, Michael's cellmate Sucre (Amaury Nolasco), psychotic prisoner Theodore "T-Bag" Bagwell (Robert Knepper), kind-hearted doctor Sara Tancredi (Sarah Wayne Callies), sadistic prison guard Brad Bellick ( Wade Williams), and other memorable supporting characters

There are major problems with the later seasons of Prison Break The fourth season is uneven in tone, and the third season feels half-hearted due to the 2007 writers' union strike However, "Prison Break" Season 1 is unquestionably the strongest season in television history [I vividly remember the first time I watched it on my portable DVD player during a family vacation about 15 years ago, and the quality of the show is evidenced by the fact that I was more engrossed in watching the next episode than in splashing around in the sun or at the pool

What makes "Prison Break" so engaging from the start is that each episode adds a new piece to the puzzle Throughout the 22 episodes of the season, viewers see Michael's elaborate plan slowly come together And, without spoiling anything, the finale, in which all the carefully placed dominoes begin to fall, provides a fittingly rewarding conclusion

"Prison Break" Season 1 is a master class in how to engage viewers Nearly every episode ends with a dramatic cliffhanger, and I don't envy those who watched it live and had to wait an entire week between each episode Fortunately, by watching on Netflix, you can avoid the torturous gaps after each episode and enjoy it at your own pace

Season 1 of Netflix's "Prison Break" is definitely worth watching However, I'm not sure if you should watch it all the way through Season 2 manages to mostly maintain the show's momentum, and the switch from the prison setting is refreshing The subsequent seasons, however, range from flawed but entertaining to quite awful

Nevertheless, if you're looking for something with a high episode count to keep you busy over the summer, "Prison Break" is a fine candidate Even if you only watched the first couple of seasons, you'll quickly see why it was considered "appointment TV" for millions of viewers in the late 2000s Just don't expect subsequent seasons to maintain the quality of the first one

And if you're looking for another binge-watching show to consider on Netflix, Netflix added the entire series of "Lost" earlier this month If you're looking for something a little fresher Here's a roundup of shiny new shows you can watch this week

"Prison Break" seasons 1-5 are now available on Netflix