James Whistler (Prison Break character)

James Whistler is a fictional character from the American television series Prison Break. He is played by Chris Vance. The character was introduced to the series as a regular in the premiere episode of the third season of the series.

Background

Whistler is allegedly a fisherman from Kalbarri^[1] (which he pronounces wrong as he introduces his character in the show), Western Australia who ran charters between Panama and the Pacific North West^[2]. Whistler was incarcerated at SONA for killing the son of the mayor of Panama City in a bar fight. The mayor offered to free (via a corrupt judge) any inmate who would kill Whistler, forcing Whistler to go into hiding in the sewers.^[3]

Appearances

Season 3

He is first seen in Orientación hiding within a crawlspace below the room of Lechero, the de facto leader of the prison. When he first saw Brad Bellick, he offered him food in return for a favor. When a fight broke out between two inmates (one of whom was Michael Scofield) Bellick was to place a note on each of the two inmates. He was apparently attempting to send a message to Sofia Lugo. Sofia found the note, which read "VERSAILLES 1989 V MADRID", and lead her to a bank lock-box containing what appeared to be a bird guide. The book was then stolen by Lincoln. The Company seems to have an interest in Whistler for and was apparently the reason Michael's incarceration in Sona was arranged in the first place. Initially, Whistler is seemingly unaware of why The Company wants him. One of the Company's operatives, Elliott Pike, approached Michael and offered their support if he breaks Whistler out. When he refused, another operative, who called herself only by the obviously false name Susan B. Anthony, approached Michael's brother Lincoln Burrows and informed them that Lincoln's son L.J. Burrows and Michael's girlfriend Sara Tancredi were being held hostage by the Company and would be killed if Michael didn't break Whistler out within a week. In Fire/Water after the bounty on his head and his location is discovered by both Michael and Mahone, Mahone delivers him to prison boss Lechero. Fortunately, Lechero chooses to remove the bounty on Whistler at Michael's request, after Michael restores water to the prison. In Call Waiting Whistler tries to befriend Mahone in an effort to get information on Scofield. Later he reveals why the Company is interested in him. They want to know where Whistler took a certain naturalist to during one of his charters. But he needs the bird guide, which is actually his trip log to retrace his steps and take the company to that location. In Good Fences the bird guide is returned to him with the warning that he is running out of time. Meanwhile he asks Sofia to look into Scofield and Burrows because he doesn't trust any of them. Also he tells Sofia the Company is interested in him because of a charter he did in Seattle. In Interference Michael instructs Whistler to spy on one of the tower guards to learn their behavior. Whistler observes a window of 6 minutes where the sun's glare forces the guard to look away. When it is revealed he covers for Michael by claiming to be a bird lover. Meanwhile a new inmate, Tyge claims to know him, calling him by the name McFadden and seeing him in 1997 in Nice at the Ambassador hotel, thus casting doubt on his story on Michael's eyes. In Photo Finish Tyge is murdered and Whistler is suspected after McGrady tips off Lechero that the two had an argument. His life is in danger until Michael manages to intervene. In Vamonos it is later revealed that Whistler has been deceitful with Michael, and has actually been working with Gretchen (Susan B. Anthony), and that it is he who is orchestrating his break from Sona. In Bang & Burn Susan aka Gretchen tells him the plan Bang and Burn is in effect, which both dismissed as suicide until Pad Man says it is the only option after Michael failed to take James out of Sona. While James gets to the roof of Sona during a military helicopter rescue of him, Michael Scofield, knowing his position is dead without him, stops the prison break.

References