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James Devlin is one of the main antagonists in the HBO series Oz. He is a right-wing politician who proposes several anti-prisoner legislation acts throughout his campaign.
He was portrayed by Željko Ivanek, who also played Andre Drazen in 24, Mark Jennings in Tex, Phillip Swann in Law & Order, Everett Drake in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Arthur Grable in The X-Files, and Cordell Doemling in Hannibal.
Biography[]
James Devlin is the governor of an unspecified U.S. state. His draconian legislation, designed to emphasize punishment in the correctional system, makes him a figure hated by Oz's inmate population and several staff members. He is frequently shown as opportunistic and morally dubious, using his strict laws to deflect attention from his political corruption. Devlin is shown as a hypocrite who is only out for himself, an image he doesn't bother to hide in private. He knows that the public dislikes him as a person, but will vote for him because he gets the results they want.
Season 1[]
Devlin takes away several basic human rights from the prisoners such as banning conjugal visits and taking away their ability to smoke. For his actions Devlin is openly despised by Tim McManus, unit manager of Emerald City at the Oswald Correctional state facility, and Kareem Said, leader of the Muslim inmates,
Devlin reinstates the death penalty leading to the executions of Jefferson Keane, Richard L'Italien and Donald Groves.
The inmates of Oz are infuriated by all the anti-prisoner legislation leading to a riot led by Simon Adebisi, Miguel Alvarez, Said, Scott Ross and Ryan O'Reily who send a list of demands in exchange for releasing the hostages they've taken. Warden Glynn and McManus both see the demands as perfectly reasonable requests but Devlin refuses to negotiate and orders the SORT team to regain Emerald City by any means needed. Two guards and six inmates die as a result.
Season 2[]
During this season, McManus begins a GED program for inmates who have not finished high school. Devlin has decided that the state should cut funding for the prison education system and intends to announce it after the ceremony. McManus turns the table on Devlin and humiliates him by announcing it before anticipated. Though angered by this Devlin tells McManus that will ultimately make no difference to what the voters think of him.
When Said is told that inmate Jiggy Walker bought drugs from the governor he urges Walker to accuse him publicly which he does. However Devlin is actually innocent and holds a press conference where he sucscessfully discredits Walker.
Glynn asks if Devlin payed Walker to accuse him. Devlin says he did not and simply exploited the sitiation to make himself look good and cast doubts over the actually true accusations that have been levied against him.
Devlin then offers a pardon to Said in an effort to increase his popularity with African-American and Muslim voters. However Said humiliates him by refusing his pardon at a press conference.
Season 3[]
Dr. Gloria Nathan has probems with the weigart corporation led by Frederick Garvey who wants to privatize the healthcare system within Oz. This is caused when Garvey takes Miguel Alvarez off of his medication despite him having a history of depession and suicidal tendancies. Garvey tries to fire Nathan but Devlin finds out Garvey used to perform illegal abortions and forces him to rehire Nathan in an effort to make himself look compassionate to the voters.
Season 4[]
Devlin offers Glynn an opportunity to run as his Lieutenant Governor. Glynn realises that Devlin's offer is to make himself look good to the black community but accepts anyway. Devlin pushes Glynn to fire McManus. While Glynn initially refuses he does so after McManus acts in an insensitive and racially inappropriate manner at the funeral of Officer Joe Howard.
Devlin tells Glynn that if he outs the fact his daughter was raped he will make himself look more relatable to the voters. Glynn although initially reluctant does so at a press conference.
Devlin asks Glynn to talk to Clayton Hughes and get him to stop making negative speeches about him as he knows the two have a close relationship. Glynn talks to Clayton but he refuses to stop speaking out against Devlin. Hughes later makes an unsucscessful attempt on Devlin's life but all he achieves is giving him the sympathy card needed to stay in office.
Season 5[]
Devlin appoints Eleanor O'Connor, McManus' ex-wife, as a state liaison to address political concerns from Oz's staff. Devlin reaffirms his support for the death penalty during the sentencing of Oz inmate Cyril O'Reily for the murder of another prisoner, Li Chen. As O'Reily has a low IQ, his execution causes several liberal groups to call for an appeal against his sentence. Devlin's public image then diminishes, although efforts to stop O'Reily's execution fail.
Season 6[]
Mayor Wilson Lowen, who helped get Devlin elected into office is sent to Oz. Due to their friendship Devlin has Lowen put into Unit.J for his own safety. Lowen demands a pardon or he will reveal Devlin's crimes. Devlin then arranges his death through Officer Adrian Johnson.
Glynn investigates Lowen's murder, prompting Devlin to have Johnson arrange for Glynn to be murdered. Glynn's death provokes a quick investigation from McManus, who deduces Devlin ordered the hit. Devlin then tells Glynn's replacement Martin Querns to fire McManus. However, McManus' continued employment implies that Devlin was brought to legal charges.
Personality[]
Devlin is greedy, amoral, and self-serving. By his own admission, he doesn't care about any of his voters' interests or his politics, only seeing it as a means to an end to get power. Devlin is callous to the extreme, willingly putting the prison at risk of a riot and ordering Jefferson Keane's execution simply for the sake of good publicity. He also willingly makes life worse for the inmates of Oz by limiting prisoner's rights for the sake of appearing tough on crime. Devlin similarly cuts off avenues for the prisoners to reform, as it means he'll have more chance to profit from any potential crimes they commit after their release.
Devlin is similarly petty, taking great joy in belittling those below him. He particularly enjoys tormenting McManus whenever he can. At one point, Devlin shuts down a prison GED program simply for the sake of spiting McManus, cutting off a real chance for inmates to reform.
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 Villains
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