I hate to say it, but I miss Prison Break’s T-Bag. It’s not like he’s dead. No, he’s not dead. Theodore Bagwell still lives on at Sona Prison on Fox’s “Prison Break.” The problem is that T-Bag’s character has been severely marginalized.
Now you may wonder how can anyone like a character as depraved as T-Bag: he’s a murderer, a pedophile, a womanizer, and a down right scumbag. But you know what, as a character on Prison Break, he’s downright outstanding. He’s the perfect contrast to Michael Scofield. Though they both end up in the same prison they represent an endless battle of good vs. evil: yin and yang.
Though the struggle between the two isn’t always the focal point of the Prison Break saga, the silent rage between the two has been a linchpin to the story. Though I love Prison Break, I must say that season 3 hasn’t had the same spark as seasons 1 and 2. Although there may be several causes for this, the lack of a strong and resonant T-Bag/Anti-Scofield character definitely takes away the power of Prison Break. Michael Scofield just lacks the motivation he did before.
In season 1, he fought for family and against other inmates to save his brother. No matter where he turned there were obstacles. It was a war on all fronts. Now it just seems to be a fight to break out of prison with the occasional threat from the outside. The strong emotional antagonists are missing.
Now you may think that T-Bag was marginalized due to his missing hand. But we all saw the havok he reaped in Season 2. He was even more vile in his maimed state. T-Bag as a lacky seems to go against the grain of his personality.
Since the third season of prison break will be cut short due to the scribe strike, it’s doubtful that T-Bag will return to his glorious villainy. But I for one will continue to hope. If not T-Bag, then maybe another antagonist will rise from his ashes who is even more repulsive.
Prison Break returns Jan. 14th on Fox.
