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| “ | The problem I find with being "on a trail" is that by definition, you’ll always be behind your prey. | „ |
| ~ Alexander Mahone's most famous quote. |
| “ | I'd like to talk about John Wilkes Booth for a moment if I could. Abraham Lincoln's killer. Twelve days. That's how long it took to find him. In his journal during this period he wrote that the shadow was his friend, the night his domain. He acknowledged that whatever neuroses drove the criminal to commit the original crime is compounded. Magnified by flight. By the sounds of dogs at his heels. Fear becomes paranoia. Paranoia, ultimately psychosis. I bring this up because in 140 years the fundamental mind of the escaped man has not changed. The escaped man is still human, he is still afraid and he will stop at nothing in his attempted flight. Fortunately for us while our quarry has shadow and night as his ally we have something far greater. Television. I would encourage everyone who is watching, everyone in this country, to take a good look at these faces. These men right here are now the eight most wanted men in America. | „ |
| ~ Mahone beginning his hunt for the Fox River Eight. |
Alexander "Alex" Mahone is a major character in the TV series Prison Break.
An FBI Agent with an incredibly sharp mind, Mahone was tasked with hunting down the Fox River Eight following their prison escape while secretly being blackmailed by The Company to kill all the escaped convicts no matter the cost. Quickly becoming the nemesis of Michael Scofield, Mahone was unable to complete his task as he was framed and imprisoned in the Sona Federal Penitentiary in Panama. Ultimately allying himself with Scofield, Mahone was able to escape from Sona and later help Michael take down the Company.
He was portrayed by William Fichtner who also played The Accountant in Drive Angry, Roger van Zant in Heat, the Bank Manager in The Dark Knight, Butch Cavendish in The Lone Ranger and Eric Sacks in the 2014 TMNT film, and also voiced Ken Rosenberg in the Grand Theft Auto series.
Biography[]
Past[]
After a troubled childhood marked by abuse, the young Alex enlisted in the military and joined the special forces during the Gulf War. Later, he left military life to become a special agent with the FBI. His personal history was uncovered by Michael Scofield in the second season, when Michael, posing as a federal agent, interrogated Alex’s ex-wife, Pam. Michael discovered that Alex was not always the cold agent he was now, but once a loving husband. His life changed after the escape of Oscar Shales, a prisoner accused of raping and murdering several women. Alex pursued Shales across America for a long time, but Shales kept eluding capture, continuing to claim victims. When Alex finally caught him, he couldn’t bear to send Shales to prison and killed him, burying his body in his own garden. To avoid being caught, Alex ordered his wife and son, Cameron, to leave their home, even though he still loved them deeply. His obsession with Shales led to substance abuse and brought him to the attention of "The Company." The Company blackmailed Alex into capturing and killing the "Fox River Eight" in exchange for keeping his secret and providing a new life for his family.
After the Fox River 8 Escape[]
In the second season, Alex held a press conference about his strategy for capturing the fugitives, focusing on Michael Scofield as the mastermind behind the escape. Alex figured out that Michael's tattoos were key to the escape plan and began deciphering them. He learned that the fugitives’ first move would be to go to Utah to retrieve five million dollars buried by Charles Westmoreland. Meanwhile, Alex set a trap for and killed mafia boss John Abruzzi. In Utah, the prisoners managed to escape, but Alex tracked down and killed David Apolskis.
By the eighth episode, it was revealed that Alex was working for The Company when he was blackmailed by Paul Kellerman, who threatened his family if he didn’t complete his mission. Alex managed to capture the Scofield brothers but was shot by Kellerman, who betrayed The Company and saved them. Back in Chicago, Alex called William "Bill" Kim from The Company, telling him he didn’t want to continue the job, even if it meant being imprisoned for Shales’ murder. However, when his son Cameron was hit by a car, and The Company took responsibility, Alex was forced to continue the pursuit of the fugitives. He enlisted Brad Bellick to do the dirty work, and Bellick quickly captured Haywire, who was pushed to suicide by Alex. Later, C-Note contacted Alex, offering to turn himself in exchange for the safety of his family. Alex then received orders to eliminate C-Note when The Company no longer needed him, but he manipulated the situation by sending C-Note a noose, hinting that he would be better off dead. As C-Note attempted suicide, he was stopped and interrogated. The FBI then opened an investigation into Alex. Meanwhile, Alex discovered that the brothers were in Panama and, knowing his arrest was imminent, captured Lincoln and proposed a trade to Michael: he would hand over Lincoln in exchange for Michael’s boat, "Christina Rose," and the five million dollars. Michael accepted, but cunningly filled the boat with cocaine, leading to Alex’s discovery and arrest by Panamanian police. By the end of the season, Alex was imprisoned in the Sona Penitentiary alongside Michael, Bellick, and T-Bag.
Sona prison arc[]
In the third season, Alex tried to convince Michael to cooperate with him, but Michael refused. The two were guided by Lechero, a prisoner who controlled the facility. When Alex learned that a bounty was on the head of James Whistler, he found him and handed him over to Lechero. As Alex suffered withdrawal symptoms from benzodiazepines, he reluctantly took heroin from T-Bag to calm his nerves. An FBI agent, Lang, visited Alex and offered him a deal: eight years in a St. Louis prison in exchange for testimony against the government’s conspiracy. Alex eventually agreed, confessing to Lang that he killed Oscar Shales and that his guilt had driven him to drugs. But his testimony was rejected due to his inability to stay calm, and Lang had to return Alex to Sona, where he resumed contact with Michael and Whistler. The escape tunnel was almost complete, and they were set to break out that night. Alex, Michael, Whistler, and McGrady escaped, but Lechero, T-Bag, and Bellick were caught. Once out of Sona, Lincoln considered shooting Alex in revenge for killing his father, Aldo Burrows, but Whistler escaped custody, forcing Lincoln to chase him. Alex took advantage of the situation and hid in a bar, where Whistler approached him, offering him a position with The Company alongside Gretchen Morgan. Alex warned Whistler that Gretchen was the "weak link" and that Michael would come after them if she had indeed killed Sara Tancredi.
Personality[]
Alexander is a complex character, whose personality evolves through his experiences and choices. Growing up in an environment of abuse and violence, he learned from a young age to trust only himself, developing a sharp and strategic mind. His early military career and subsequent entry into the FBI are reflections of his discipline and his ability to deal with high-pressure situations. However, his nature is marked by a sense of obsession and a deep internal conflict, which emerges when his life is overwhelmed by the hunt for the criminal Oscar Shales. His transformation from an ideal agent to a man consumed by remorse and anger highlights his vulnerability, despite the facade of a strong and determined man he tries to maintain.
His behavior becomes increasingly ambiguous as his choices distance him from the law and morality, going from FBI agent to collaborator of "The Company", a dark power that exploits his abilities. His drug addiction is the symptom of a self-destructive spiral that consumes him, making him lose control over many of his actions. However, behind this facade of hardness and cynicism, there is a part of him that has never stopped struggling with his own sense of guilt and the need to atone for his crimes, in particular the murder of Oscar Shales. His redemption is neither immediate nor perfect, but manifests itself when, after suffering the losses and consequences of his actions, he begins to reflect on his choices. Although he cannot completely escape his dark past, his awareness of the pain he has caused, both to others and to himself, suggests that, in some way, he wants to find a way out of his destructive existence.
Alexander's journey, therefore, is a constant struggle between his ambition, his desire for power and the need to find a form of redemption, even if this always seems to elude him. He is the figure of a man who, unfortunately, has remained trapped in a web of bad choices and manipulations, but who, deep down, desperately seeks a way to redeem himself, even if he often falls back into his old patterns.
Apparence[]
Alexander often presents himself as a man of strong presence, someone who exudes power and determination through his appearance. He is tall and well-built, carrying an air of authority that cannot go unnoticed. His face, marked by a difficult life and weighty decisions, shows features that reflect both the coldness of a man used to living on the edge of the law and the inner suffering of someone fully aware of their dark past. His eyes, often intense and scrutinizing, are a focal point of his appearance, capturing the attention of anyone who stands before him. There is something unsettling about his gaze, which may appear calculating and detached, yet at the same time betrays a hidden vulnerability, as if he is constantly searching for a way to free himself from his inner demons.
His clothing reflects his personality, a mix of practicality and discretion. On many occasions, Alexander opts for dark, sober clothing that doesn’t attract too much attention but exudes a sense of authority. A sharp, well-fitted suit, typically in black or dark gray, is his main choice when in official contexts or when he needs to give an impression of seriousness and power. His shirt, usually neutral or white, is always neatly pressed, and the tie, if present, is always precisely positioned. His attire is always immaculate but never ostentatious, as if he wants to conceal his true nature beneath a facade of control and discipline. In more informal situations or when operating in the field, Alexander prefers to wear practical clothing, like leather jackets or black coats, that allow him to move freely and not draw too much attention. Even in these cases, his choice of dark colors remains a distinctive feature, a symbol of his reserved nature and his constant struggle with his past.
Quotes[]
| “ | There's one big difference between you and I, Michael. And you just proved it. You can't kill. And that's what it's gonna take to stop me. Because I don't have the same reservations. I can't. So whether it's today in Gila or tomorrow in Albuquerque or two months from now in Panama... I will get you. | „ |
| ~ Mahone confronting Michael. |
| “ | You are breathing only by my grace, Michael. Now, you remember the next time that you're gonna send me on a goose chase, okay? [...] No, no, you did. You think you can manipulate me just like you did Sucre and Tweener and Haywire. I'm not your errand boy. I'm gonna go with you when you escape. And if you think, in any way that you'll leave me, I will put this piece of metal... right in that very small space right between your eyes. I will. | „ |
| ~ Mahone threatening Michael during their time in Sona. |
| “ | If there was any justice left in this world. You’d be dead in an unmarked grave with the rest of your inbred family. | „ |
| ~ Alex to T-Bag |
| “ | Looks like you need to work on your clearance level, Dick. | „ |
| ~ Alexander Mahone |
| “ | God help the agent who goes behind my back and talks to the press. | „ |
| ~ Alexander Mahone |
| “ | Get her a donut, get her a dozen donuts. | „ |
| ~ Alex |
| “ | Like a dead man talking. | „ |
| ~ Alex |
| “ | Sometimes things happen that are just out of your control. | „ |
| ~ Alex |
Trivia[]
- William Edward portayed a very similiar role The Accountant, an FBI agent who hunts down fuggitives like Mahone.
External Links[]
- Alexander Mahone on the Heroes Wiki
- Alexander Mahone on the Prison Break Wiki
[]
 Villains
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Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 The Company | ||