Season 4 consists of in total, though distribution platforms often count them differently:

Season 4 had a fragmented release schedule due to the 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike impacting production timelines and network scheduling decisions.

One of the most confusing aspects of Season 4’s release is the finale. When the season originally aired, Episode 22 served as the series finale. However, there are actually two additional episodes titled

The story picks up several years after the events of the third season. Michael Scofield (played by Wentworth Miller) is presumed dead, but he's actually alive and in a Bolivian prison. The season follows Michael as he tries to escape and reunite with his brother Lincoln (Dominic Purcell), who is now a Senator.

While the season aired episodically over several months, knowing the specific timeline helps understand the production break the series took.

If you are watching Season 4 for the first time, ensure you locate the episodes titled "The Final Break" (often listed as Episodes 23 and 24). Without watching these, the jump between the final moments of Episode 22 and the flash-forward ending can be confusing and emotionally jarring.