When Kevin Costner opened up about Yellowstone’s ending, he admitted that most of the characters “should probably be in prison” — a statement that could just as easily apply to the casts of several other hit TV series.
While noble heroes often give audiences someone to cheer for, many television shows thrive by embracing morally complex — even outright corrupt — main characters instead.
This is especially true of Yellowstone, where the Dutton family routinely crosses moral and legal lines to protect their land and way of life. The same can be said for numerous other hit TV shows that center on characters involved in shady or outright criminal pursuits.
There’s a clear reason why the best crime dramas captivate audiences — viewers are fascinated by what drives people to make such dangerous and morally fraught choices.
Sometimes, this dynamic leads audiences to root for characters who hardly deserve sympathy. Take the overwhelming fascination with Breaking Bad’s Walter White, for example — his steady descent into crime and moral decay became part of the show’s allure. Viewers couldn’t look away as he drifted further from the law and his original sense of purpose.
In some series, nearly every major character is complicit in wrongdoing, making it all the more shocking when they don’t end up behind bars.
While it’s easy to justify the actions of certain characters pushed to their limits, others clearly cross lines that demand accountability. This is especially true in shows where nearly everyone operates in shades of legal and moral corruption.
1. Your Honor
The ending of Your Honor sees Bryan Cranston’s disgraced judge, Michael Desiato, heading back to prison — while nearly everyone else walks free. Some of these outcomes are easier to accept than others. Eugene, for instance, is a young and traumatized teen who never intended to shoot Adam in the season 1 finale, though his actions still broke the law.
Meanwhile, Big Mo and the Desire street gang commit plenty of crimes worthy of prison time, yet they remain oddly sympathetic compared to the ruthless Baxter family or corrupt politician Charlie Figaro. In truth, nearly every major player in Your Honor is compromised in some way, from gang leaders to crooked cops and politicians.
The fact that most of them escape justice adds an unsettling layer to the finale — but it may also be intentional. By leaving figures like the Baxters free, the show keeps the door open for a potential Your Honor season 3, should the story ever continue.
2. Ozark (2017–2022)
Netflix’s Breaking Bad successor, Ozark, follows another morally bankrupt family — the Byrdes — who somehow walk away from the series finale without facing any real consequences. While the show features its fair share of brutal deaths, these moments only highlight the dangers of money laundering and entanglement with the cartel, rather than delivering justice.
Despite repeatedly breaking the law, Marty and Wendy Byrde manage to escape punishment entirely. In fact, most of the characters who face consequences in Ozark meet their end through violence, not the justice system. Only a handful of supporting players ever see the inside of a jail cell, while others are simply killed off or allowed to disappear.
What makes this outcome even darker is that the Byrdes’ crimes aren’t minor infractions — they’re deeply involved in murder, corruption, and organized crime. Watching them walk away free at the end underscores just how morally bleak the series truly is.
Even their children, though too young for prison, play active roles in sustaining the family’s criminal empire. Taken as a whole, Ozark leaves behind a chilling message: in the pursuit of power and survival, nearly everyone is guilty — and few ever pay the price.
3. Succession (2018–2023)
One of Succession’s most prominent storylines revolves around the Roy family debating who should take the fall — and possibly go to prison — for the company’s crimes. Yet, in true-to-life fashion, nothing ever comes of it. The series offers a biting reflection on how wealth and influence often shield powerful people from accountability. In truth, nearly every major character in Succession breaks the law at some point.
Waystar Royco’s shady business practices alone could have landed several executives behind bars. Tom and Greg’s decision to destroy crucial evidence should have sealed their fate, yet both end up among the most successful survivors by the series’ end. Their moral compromises are rewarded rather than punished, underscoring the show’s cynicism about power and privilege.
To make matters worse, the Roys also manipulate an election — perhaps their most egregious offense in the entire series. None of them possess a functioning moral compass, and each is willing to bend or break the law to maintain status and control. By all logic, nearly every member of the Roy family should have been in prison by the final season’s close.
4. Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
Breaking Bad follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who turns to cooking meth after being diagnosed with cancer — setting off a chain of criminal activity that ensnares nearly every major character. Most of Walt’s friends, foes, and associates are tied to the drug trade in some way, yet remarkably, almost none of them end up in prison by the show’s end.
Instead, most characters meet darker fates. Death comes for nearly everyone in Walt’s orbit, with many paying the ultimate price for their moral compromises rather than facing legal consequences. Given the violent nature of their world, it’s somewhat believable that few survive long enough to be held accountable — but it’s still surprising how little real justice is served.
Those who do escape the chaos fare unevenly. Jesse Pinkman manages to start over with a new identity in El Camino, while Walt ensures Skyler avoids suspicion for her part in his crimes. A few characters, like Hank and Walt Jr., remain blameless, though even supporting figures such as Marie engage in questionable behavior. By the end, it’s clear that almost everyone in Breaking Bad operates in a moral gray zone — and few truly pay for it.
5. Yellowstone (2018–2024)
Kevin Costner isn’t wrong — most of Yellowstone’s characters deserve to be behind bars. Nearly everyone in the Dutton family engages in criminal activity to protect their land, power, or pride, proving time and again that morality takes a backseat to survival. While they occasionally display redeeming traits, they’re also quick to betray anyone — even each other — when it serves their own interests.
This moral ambiguity is part of what makes Yellowstone so compelling. The Duttons’ manipulation and influence extend far beyond the borders of their ranch, allowing them to evade justice through connections, intimidation, and sheer ruthlessness. With so many deaths, cover-ups, and crimes tied to the family, it’s almost unbelievable that they’ve managed to avoid serious repercussions for so long.
By season 5, John Dutton finally faces a reckoning of sorts, and Beth’s arrest in the finale suggests a brief moment of accountability. Still, given that Beth and Rip are set to headline their own spinoff, it’s safe to assume her punishment won’t last long — ensuring the Dutton legacy of corruption and survival continues to ride on.
Trailer Yellowstone season 5
Also Read: Kevin Costner Reveals The REAL Reason Why He’s NEVER Returning to Yellowstone!