Warning: This article contains references to murder, sexual assault, and racism.

Prison Break's four seasons, movie, and following reboot, the show became drastically different, with an antagonist comprised of a group of largely interchangeable people rather than one or two terrifying characters.

Prison Break's biggest strength was its well-written characters and the unexpected journeys that they often took. Even the most villainous were generally people that audiences loved to hate, and waiting to see them get their comeuppance was one of the best parts of Prison Break. That said, the show could still surprise viewers, with some of the worst Prison Break characters occasionally finding a conscience and becoming heroes or at least redeeming themselves. However, some characters cannot be redeemed, and Prison Break's biggest mistake was trying to make audiences sympathize with one of its most evil villains.

Evil T-Bag Was The Best Part Of Prison Break

T-Bag Stole The Show

T-Bag is in prison for a list of crimes that range from disturbing to ridiculous, and he steals every scene that he is in with a combination of hilarious one-liners and genuine menace. T-Bag is often underestimated by the other inmates, and yet always ends up at the center of the action. He manages to survive on the run, seducing and conning people, even days after having his hand chopped off by Abruzzi, and though his horrendous crimes prevent him from being a fan-favorite villain like Hannibal Lecter or Dexter Morgan, he is the best part of Prison Break.

T-Bag's first interaction with Michael is short, yet he establishes himself as a predator, a racist, and a serious threat in less than two minutes. T-Bag was such a good villain that he ruined the show, as his scenes were some of the best in Prison Break, and when he took a smaller role, his absence was felt. While Robert Knepper was nominated for both a Satellite and Teen Choice Award for his role as T-Bag, in my opinion, one of the biggest disappointments regarding Prison Break was how the character was handled.

Prison Break Repeatedly Tried To Make T-Bag Sympathetic (& It Didn't Work)

Prison Break Wasted T-Bag's Potential After Season 2

T-Bag has a tragic backstory, having been abused himself. This does not excuse his actions, but his past allowed Robert Knepper to show nuance while playing him, which is partly why the character was so compelling. That said, Prison Break repeatedly gave T-Bag emotionally painful scenes, like when he set his previous girlfriend and her children free after kidnapping them, and when he struggled with the idea of killing a Bible salesman. The scenes appeared to be written to make him sympathetic, but T-Bag was best when he was making your skin crawl, not fighting a conscience.

Prison Break had the potential to give T-Bag a well-deserved punishment.

T-Bag is not physically imposing in Prison Break, but he has charisma and influence, which work in his favor. T-Bag had led a white supremacist group in season 1, a plotpoint that was seemingly ignored in the other seasons, adding to the idea that the series wanted to redeem him. Prison Break had the potential to give T-Bag a well-deserved punishment for his views, but he never seemed to get a comeuppance and was much too comfortable in Sona Prison.

T-Bag's Character Arc Should Have Been Split Between Two Characters

Prison Break Could Have Used A White-Collar Con Man

T-Bag was good at turning on the charm, but when season 4 made him into a white-collar con man, it did not do him justice. T-Bag's best episodes in Prison Break involved his signature combination of sweet-talking and slimyness, like the scene when he distracts a homeowner while Michael's crew dig up her garage floor for Westmoreland's millions, and murders a father after trying to seduce his young daughter. T-Bag could have used elements from his season 4 storyline, but he would have been better suited to a religious cult leader, allowing for more of season 2's creepiness.

Each member of the Fox River Eight was in jail for a different reason, yet although Michael's team could have used a con man, there was none in the group. The best-connected member of the Fox River Eight was John Abruzzi, with his mafia s. That said, Prison Break missed a trick by not including a white-collar con man. As T-Bag was sensitive about his intelligence level and prided himself on his charisma, I could see some very entertaining battles of wits between T-Bag and a con man who wasn't afraid of him.

T-Bag Finally Got A Fitting Ending In Prison Break Season 4

T-Bag Would Still End Up Returning In Season 5

T-Bag might have had some hilarious scenes as an employee of GATE, but Gretchen took over as the main threat. After Prison Break neglected T-Bag for much of season 4, he was back to his menacing self when he tried to assault Sara. This return to form reminded me just how good Robert Knepper had been at playing such a repugnant but multifaceted character, and I was hoping for a fitting end for him. T-Bag had slipped past too many punishments, so when he was finally sent back to prison after experiencing being free, it felt like the right choice.

A Prison Break reboot was announced to be in the works in 2023.

The season 5 Prison Break revival was a bad idea for many reasons, including bringing T-Bag back with yet more attempts to humanize him. The Prison Break writers appear to assume that T-Bag's popularity meant that he must also become "good," while part of his appeal is Robert Knepper's acting and not the character's moral development. The Prison Break reboot may feature cameos from some original characters, but none of them should be T-Bag. After stealing the scene for each of his seasons, T-Bag ended Prison Break season 5 back in Fox River, and he should stay there.