Prison Break kept viewers on edge with its twists and cliffhangers, but one character’s redemption arc was the most surprising of all. Prison Break has four official seasons, a movie, and a later reboot, all containing powerful villains. The main Prison Break antagonist is The Company, but the show also features various dangerous, antagonistic individuals. Though The Company is in charge of the false accusation against Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), it is the relentless FBI agent Alex Mahone (William Fichtner) who presents the biggest threat to him and Michael (Wentworth Miller).

The constant threat from many sides makes Prison Break tense and compelling. While the later seasons lose their way, season 2 is one of the best, featuring a manhunt with a very high kill count. The hunt for Prison Break‘s Fox River Eight is the central storyline for season 2, with the FBI tracking the escaped Fox River prisoners. Mahone figures out that the key to the escape is tattooed on Michael and quickly starts to close in. That said, Prison Break gave viewers a surprising twist when Mahone changed sides after killing some major characters within just one season.

Alex Mahone Killed All Of The Dead Fox River Eight Members

Mahone’s Intelligence & Manipulative Character Made Him A Formidable Antagonist

Abruzzi being shot in Prison Break season 2 Mahone and the FBI in Prison Break Mahone in Prison Break Haywire in Prison Break Tweener standing by a phone in Prison Break.

Of all the Prison Break characters, Alex Mahone has one of the highest kill counts, killing all three of the dead Fox River Eight members in season 2. The mafia boss, John Abruzzi (Peter Stormare), is shot by several FBI agents at once, led by Mahone. As Abruzzi was dangerous, this may be understandable. However, Tweener (Lane Garrison) is relatively harmless, not intelligent, and yet Mahone shoots him and then stages the death to look like self-defense. Finally, Mahone uses Haywire’s (Silas Weir Mitchell) fragile mental state to manipulate him into jumping to his death from a high building.

Mahone is an excellent antagonist because he plays dirty to get results.

Mahone is not the most physically imposing character in Prison Break, but he is stronger than he looks, able to fight, and is an excellent shot. This, combined with his FBI connections and the power of The Company, makes him one of the most dangerous characters on the show. That said, there is more to Mahone than fighting skill. Mahone is an excellent antagonist because he plays dirty to get results, making him responsible for some of Prison Break‘s most tragic moments. Yet while Prison Break villains often seem irredeemable, this was not the case with Mahone.

Why Alex Mahone Switched Sides In Prison Break

Mahone’s Painful Backstory & Impressive Skills Made Him A Fan Favorite

roland glenn and the other guys using a laptop in prison break

Mahone finds himself in the same prison as Michael during Prison Break season 3 and begins to sympathize with him. Still, he relies on The Company to break him out and to keep his family safe. While suffering from withdrawal symptoms due to his addiction, Mahone feels abandoned by The Company and begins to rebel. When The Company then kills Mahone’s son in Prison Break season 4 as a punishment, this is the final push that drives him to switch sides and seek revenge. The storyline was extremely unpopular with viewers, as Mahone had become a fan favorite by season 4.

Unlike most villains in Prison Break, viewers see Mahone’s backstory and motivations, which make him easier to sympathize with. Mahone secretly kills a murderer, and his guilt over this causes him to self-medicate. When Mahone changes sides, he becomes an asset to Michael’s team. Mahone caused significant pain to Michael and Lincoln, but his surprising redemption arc made him such a popular character that when Mahone was not in Prison Break season 5, his absence was felt by audiences. Still, it is possible that Mahone could appear in the upcoming Prison Break reboot.