Caroline Reynolds

Template:Prison Break character Caroline Reynolds, played by Patricia Wettig, is a fictional character from the American television series Prison Break. She is a recurring character introduced in the second episode of the series as a mysterious woman whose face was not shown until the eighth episode of the series, where she was revealed to be the Vice President of the United States. Her brother, Terrence Steadman, is the man whom Lincoln Burrows was convicted of killing.

In the first season, Reynolds is affiliated with a covert organization known as "The Company" with whom she shares the same goal - to make sure that Lincoln Burrows is executed for her brother's "murder." Due to Patricia Wettig's commitment to another television series, Brothers & Sisters, the character's first appearance in the second season was in the nineteenth episode, "Sweet Caroline," for which Wettig was credited as a "Special Guest Star." Despite Reynolds's extended absence prior to this episode, the plot continued to develop around her, and Wettig provided voiceovers for the second season episodes "The Message" and "Chicago". Template:Spoiler

Appearances

Season 1

Lincoln Burrows was convicted of the crime but it was later revealed that Steadman is still alive, and Burrows had been chosen to go down for his fake murder for a reason. Burrows was chosen by the company. Reynolds worked with "The Company" in assuring Burrows would not escape from his death sentence. She, however, did not know the real reason behind it. Due to her extensive power as the vice president, "The Company" included her in their schemes for two main reasons: the energy bill and Lincoln Burrows' father. Reynolds only wanted to further her plans in running for President.

Towards Lincoln Burrows' execution date, Reynolds announced her candidacy for President of the United States in her hometown of Montgomery, Illinois. Her strategy does not execute according to plan when "The Company" threatens to abandon her and the president thinks that she is unsuited for the vice-presidency. After the President was poisoned, Reynolds was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. She would later nearly nominate Illinois Governor Frank Tancredi as the new Vice-President, but withdrew the nomination at the last minute.

Her relationship with Agent Paul Kellerman is peculiar as Reynolds is more than just Kellerman's superior. They know each other's personal history and Kellerman continuously comforts and reassures her that her plans for presidency will succeed. He also addresses her (in private, at least) by her first name, rather than "Madam Vice-President" or "Madam President", which would normally be the appropriate way for her to be addressed by a Secret Service agent. Furthermore, Kellerman's actions in the conspiracy projects not his "dedication" to his country but to Reynolds herself. He has stayed steadfastly by her side since the start of her political career.

Season 2

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Caroline Reynolds in Season Two

The character's absence for most of the season is compensated by introducing Agent Kim as an intermediary between her and Kellerman (with Reynolds being too busy to see him anymore, being the President now. Although the actress does not make any appearances in the episodes "The Message" and "Chicago", she provides the voice-overs off camera for both of the episodes. After Kellerman betrays her and Agent Kim and joins forces with Lincoln and Michael, he receives a call from an agent for the Company whom he believes to be Caroline, in an attempt by Kim to capture the brothers. Kellerman realizes later that the person on the phone is not actually the President when she fails to answer his question regarding what they did together on his 35th birthday.

Reynolds finally returned in the nineteenth episode, "Sweet Caroline". When she visits Chicago, Michael slips her a note which says "We have the tape" - referring to a tape Lincoln and Michael have obtained of Reynolds talking to Steadman two weeks after his supposed murder. The content of the tape, in addition to implicating Reynolds in the conspiracy, strongly suggests that Reynolds and Steadman were incestuous lovers. Reynolds intervenes on Agent Kim's interrogation of Michael to talk to him personally. After Lincoln plays the tape to Reynolds over the phone, Michael demands a full presidential pardon for him and his brother, and Reynolds reluctantly agrees. Just before she is about to announce the pardon, however, Kim confronts her and reminds her that The Company can expose her secrets just as easily as Lincoln and Michael. Reynolds then announces she has a malignant form of cancer which forced her to resign the presidency.

Production details

In her first appearance in "Allen", President Reynolds is shown as having grandchildren who are staying with her at Terrence Steadman's hideout. She is credited as simply "Garlic Cutter" in the episode, and the children are credited as "Garlic Cutter's Grandchildren".

At the campaign rally in "Sweet Caroline", banners can be seen promoting Reynolds's campaign website, Reynolds-Again.com. This website, much like Europeangoldfinch.net, exists in the real world and can accordingly be viewed as an Easter egg.

While Reynolds political party is never stated, based on her policies seen on the show, and her 're-election website', Reynolds appears to be a conservative traditionalist, with views most in line with the Republican Party. [1]

External links

• Maloney, M, "Brothers & Sisters' Patricia Wettig Plots a Prison Break", TV Guide. January 26, 2007. Retrieved on February 16, 2007.