Prison Break’s Michael Scofield was rarely called by his name, with his fellow inmates calling him “Fish,” and there’s a reason why. Michael might not always have been the most likable character inPrison Break, but he was one of the most interesting characters on TV.Michael was on a mission to break his brother off of death row, using only his knowledge of the prison and a map he had hidden within an enormous tattoo.Michael Scofield’s tattoo was full of hidden messagesand sometimes felt like an extra character as it became the focus of several key episodes.
Prison Breakwas one of the most complex and addictive shows of its time, withfivePrison Breakseries and a movie. Season 1 was highly praised for its acting and plot, as the stakes rose every time a new character found out about Michael’s planned escape.Prison Break’s “Fox River Eight"had an uneasy partnership throughout the series, but while many of them grew to trust Michael, their nickname for him showed his status as an outsider. For Michael Scofield, he spent most of the first season ofPrison Breakbeing called “Fish.”
“Fish” Is A Common Nickname For A New Inmate Like Michael
Most Of The Other Inmates' Nicknames Are More Personalized
Many ofPrison Break’s Fox River Eight were originally in jailfor significant crimes. This means that they are often serving long or life sentences and have seen many new faces come and go. The longest-serving inmates have a nickname for the new faces in Fox River State Penitentiary: “Fresh Fish.“As Michael was one of the new faces at the beginning ofPrison Break, he gets this nickname, which is usually shortened to “Fish.” While many of Michael’s fellow inmates also have nicknames, these are usually based on their own names.
Michael should have gained a new nickname when more inmates arrived.
Most of the otherPrison Breakcharacters' nicknames are more personalizedthan the younger Scofield. Michael’s brother, Lincoln Burrows, is called “The Sink.” This is partly because it rhymes with his name and partly because, as Sucre explained, he is tough and will fight with “everything, including the kitchen sink.” T-Bag is short for his full name, which is Theodore Bagwell. Benjamin Miles Franklin is often called C-Note because it is another word for a 100-dollar bill, which has Benjamin Franklin’s face on it. Michael should have gained a new nickname when more inmates arrived. However, his nickname has stuck.
Michael’s Prison Break Nickname Sticks With Him For A Reason
Michael’s Nickname Reflects His Life Outside Prison Too
When a bus full of new inmates arrives at Fox River, some of Michael’s crew joke that he won’t be the newest fish in the tank anymore. However, while this is technically true, the nickname “Fish” has stuck with him, when it has not been used as much by newer inmates.Of all the Fox River Eight, Michael is the only character who has deliberately got himself sent to prison, and he clearly doesn’t fit in with the others. Michael is a fish out of water, and the nickname describes him well, highlighting his status as an outsider.
The Real-Life Mystery Behind Prison Break’s Most Tragic Character Is Even Wilder Than The Show
Westmoreland is the only Prison Break character to be based directly on a real person. Westmoreland is secretly the plane hijacker D.B. Cooper
Michael Scofield is an analytical engineering genius, and he can spot puzzles that others don’t. That said, he also has “low latent inhibition,” giving him an increased sense of empathy. There are manytragic moments inPrison Break, andMichael’s extreme empathy means he processes every aspect and detail of these situations. Breaking Lincoln out of Fox River uses Michael’s strengths, but this combination of traits makes him a very unusual person. As Michael feels like a fish out of water in most situations, hisPrison Breaknickname reflects his life even before the events of the show.
Prison Break
Cast
Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President’s brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated in order to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body.
