Caroline Reynolds is a fictional character from the American television series Prison Break, played by Patricia Wettig. She is a recurring character introduced in the second episode of the series as a mysterious woman (often seen performing culinary work) 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. Reynolds thus becomes more prominent, becoming the main antagonist of the first season.

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,"^[1] 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 voice overs for the second season episodes "The Message" and "Chicago".

Background

Caroline Reynolds was serving her second term on the Illinois School Board in 1992. It was at this time that she met Paul Kellerman, a young former officer in the U.S. Army that had recently become a Secret Service agent. He would become one of her most loyal supporters. She would later become a Senator and was eventually elected in as Vice President of the United States. Deciding to use illegal means to obtain the presidency, she assembled a small group of federal agents and operatives that would be loyal to her cause, Paul Kellerman being by far the most loyal henchman among them. As Vice President, her plans included illegal dealings through her brothers company, Ecofield, that were designed to fraud her way into massive campaign funds, funds that would ensure her victory in the next presidential election. She also begun a partnership with ?The Company?, unknowingly selling her soul to the nefarious organization. When her brother?s role in the fraud was revealed, her loyal henchmen, Kellerman and his partner Daniel Hale, were told to fake his death and frame Lincoln Burrows for the crime (although the choice of Burrows as the fall guy was The Company's). She assured her brother that once Lincoln Burrows was executed, things would begin to return to normal. In the meantime, Reynolds had Steadman hidden in a safe house in Montana.

Appearances

Season 1

Caroline Reynolds appears only sporadically throughout the first half of the first season. She first appears in the second episode "Allen", when Kellerman calls her in Montana to inform her that Veronica Donovan, a lawyer and Burrows' ex-girlfriend, had began to threaten the conspiracy. Reynolds told Kellerman and Hale to stop her at all costs. She made it clear that anyone could be killed for the ultimate cause, and later ordered the two agents to murder several innocent people. Towards Lincoln Burrows' execution date, Reynolds announced her candidacy for President of the United States in her hometown of Montgomery, Illinois.

She returns with a more prominent role for the season's remaining nine episodes. Her relationship with Agent Kellerman is revealed to be peculiar as Reynolds is more than just Kellerman's superior. As shown in the episodes "Brother's Keeper", "J-Cat" and "Go", they know each other's personal history and Kellerman continuously comforts and reassures her that her plans for the 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 only his "dedication" to his country but also to Reynolds herself. He has stayed steadfastly by her side since the start of her political career. However, although he cares for her deeply, she does not appear to share the extent of his feelings. Instead she has taken advantage of them, making Kellerman into her devoted lackey.

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. It was later revealed that she was behind the president's death, having killed him to take office.

Season 2

The character's absence for most of the season is compensated by introducing William Kim as an intermediary between her and Kellerman, explaining that The Company explicitly forbade Kellerman to contact her. It is implied in the episode "The Message" that Kim and The Company had effectively isolated her from the conspiracy operation, including the order to terminate Paul Kellerman.

Reynolds finally returned in the nineteenth episode, "Sweet Caroline". When she visits Chicago. Michael Scofield allows himself to be captured by the Secret Service and informs Reynolds that he and his brother have obtained a tape that not only implicated Reynolds in the conspiracy, but also strongly suggested that she and Steadman were incestuous lovers. Michael then demands a full presidential pardon for him and his brother. Although she initially agrees, she is then threatened by Kim who informs her that The Company knows her secrets too. With no way out, Reynolds announced she has a malignant form of cancer which would force her to resign the presidency.

While testifying at Sara Tancredi's trial, Kellerman revealed her role in the conspiracy to frame Lincoln Burrows. It's assumed that she was arrested since she hasn't been seen or mentioned since the second season.

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 the tie-in 'Reynolds Again' website (http://www.reynolds-again.com/issues.htm), Reynolds appears to be a conservative traditionalist, with views most in line with the Republican Party. The belief she is Republican is further reinforced by an news broadcast which talks about her, then begins to speak about the Democratic side. The website reveals that Reynolds has previously served as a US Senator and as a member of the Illinois School Board.

References

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