The world of television has long been captivated by anti-heroes – complex, contradictory individuals who are willing to cross moral and legal boundaries to achieve their ends. We’ve cheered for Walter White as he built his drug empire, watched in suspense as the Roy family waged a power struggle steeped in crime in Succession, and shivered at the Byrde family’s chilling money-laundering schemes in Ozark. But have we been ignoring a stark, chilling truth: that many of these beloved characters arguably deserve severe punishment for their actions?

It was Kevin Costner himself, portraying John Dutton – the heart and soul of the Yellowstone empire – who shattered the silence, delivering a shocking yet undeniable assessment: “All the characters [in Yellowstone] should probably ‘be in prison’.” This wasn’t a jest. This was a direct slap in the face to audiences and a raw admission of the true nature of the characters we’ve spent countless hours following. And Costner is absolutely right. Yellowstone, alongside four other television blockbusters, has pushed moral boundaries to their extreme, forcing viewers to confront questions of justice and the true cost of freedom.

Yellowstone: The Dutton Family – Criminal Masterminds In Cowboy Attire?

From 2018 to 2024, the Dutton family held audiences spellbound with their brutal struggles to protect their ranch. But let’s face the grim truth: they are ruthless, uncompromising individuals who employ every tactic imaginable – including murder and political manipulation – to achieve their desires. Costner’s remark rings chillingly true: “Most of Yellowstone’s characters belong in prison, as they lean into criminal activities to get what they want. They also prove repeatedly throughout the series that they aren’t good people.”

The mysterious deaths and criminal investigations that constantly plague the Duttons leave viewers pondering: how on Earth do they remain free? Their manipulative prowess and vast network of connections have allowed them to evade consequences that should have undoubtedly led to life sentences. Even as John Dutton faces a grim fate in Yellowstone Season 5, and Beth is arrested in the finale, with news of Beth and Rip’s own spinoff, we can assume her punishment will be short-lived. This not only undermines the notion of justice within the show’s universe but also reflects a terrifying reality: sometimes, power and wealth can indeed stand above the law.

Breaking Bad: From Schoolteacher To Drug Lord – And A Shocking Escape From Justice

Breaking Bad stands as a prime example of audiences falling for a character as he descends deeper into criminality. Walter White, transforming from an ordinary chemistry teacher into a ruthless drug kingpin, dragged along a cast of characters steeped in illegal activities. Yet, surprisingly, very few of the main characters end up in prison by the series’ conclusion.

Instead, a more sinister fate awaited many: death. While this might be considered more believable given the nature of their trade, it’s still striking how few are held legally accountable for the vast array of crimes committed throughout the show. Jesse Pinkman escapes justice by changing his identity, and Skyler White is largely unincriminated for her role. Only Saul Goodman ultimately faces a life sentence – but that’s a story told in Better Call Saul. This illustrates that, regardless of the tragic ends, the legal system can, at times, be remarkably evaded.