Best TV Shows Where the Main Character is Betrayed

Betrayal can flip a story on its head, and these shows build entire arcs around that turning point. From political backstabbing to criminal double crosses, each series puts its lead in a trap set by allies, mentors, or family. The fallout drives investigations, revenge plans, and hard choices that reshape the whole narrative. Here are standout examples where the protagonist learns the cost of trusting the wrong person.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Ned Stark walks into King’s Landing expecting due process and finds a court that turns on him after a deal with Littlefinger collapses. Jon Snow’s assassination by the Night’s Watch shows how loyalty can fracture under fear and power struggles. Daenerys faces coups inside her own council and is undermined by advisors who hide critical truths. The show uses oaths and alliances to set up betrayals that shift control of the Seven Kingdoms.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Walter White’s partnership with Jesse Pinkman erodes as lies about key deaths and hidden motives come to light. Walt manipulates allies while thinking he is protecting his family, which drives Jesse to cooperate with rivals. Gustavo Fring’s calm mentorship masks a plan to remove both of them once they outlive their usefulness. The chain of double crosses culminates in a final standoff shaped by prior deceit.

‘Homeland’ (2011–2020)

Carrie Mathison pursues terrorist threats while battling leaks and shifting loyalties inside the intelligence community. Saul Berenson and Carrie navigate operations where partners flip under pressure or politics. Missions unravel when assets with personal ties make choices that cut against the plan. The series shows how classified deals and half truths push trust past its breaking point.

‘Prison Break’ (2005–2017)

Michael Scofield stages an elaborate escape only to be sold out by supposed allies inside and outside the prison. Buried files and falsified evidence reveal a larger conspiracy that frames the brothers. Government contractors and insiders trade information that keeps moving the target. Each season resets loyalties as team members switch sides to survive.

‘Sons of Anarchy’ (2008–2014)

Jax Teller digs into club history and uncovers decisions that betrayed his father’s vision. Deals with rival gangs and law enforcement collapse when informants emerge. Family members hide letters and past crimes that change who Jax can trust. Power shifts inside the charter force choices that pit brotherhood against truth.

‘Vikings’ (2013–2020)

Ragnar Lothbrok rises through raids and treaties that rely on fragile promises. Earls and kings switch allegiance when treasure or land is on the table. Family disputes lead to plots that undercut Ragnar’s leadership at home. The series traces how honor oaths give way to political advantage and personal ambition.

‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)

Elizabeth and Philip Jennings run operations where cover identities strain their marriage and handler relationships. Sources turn or vanish after compromised meetings. Their daughter’s involvement triggers new secrecy that divides the family. Spycraft tradecraft shows how one missed signal can turn a partner into a liability.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

Frank Underwood leverages promises for appointments then abandons backers once he gets traction. A journalist relationship becomes a risk when stories aim too close to home. Staff members track secrets that can topple a campaign if they defect. The inner circle becomes a battlefield where favors and threats decide who stays in power.

‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)

Elliot Alderson joins a hacking collective and learns agendas are hidden behind aliases. Corporate enemies are not the only problem as friends conceal identities and histories. Memory gaps force Elliot to question confessions and confide in the wrong people. The plot turns on revelations that recast earlier alliances as traps.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Pablo Escobar’s empire runs on loyalty bought with cash and fear, which breaks when rivals and insiders see an exit. Informants inside the cartel feed details to authorities for protection. Task force members face political pressure that reshapes cooperation on raids. Betrayals come from family, business partners, and officials who weigh survival over allegiance.

‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022)

Tommy Shelby builds a network through bookmakers, politicians, and spies who each demand an angle. Informers slip into the organization and move information to competitors. International deals invite interference from intelligence services that play both sides. Family rifts create openings for enemies to push the gang off balance.

‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)

Dexter Morgan hides his code while working as a forensic analyst among colleagues who notice patterns. Romantic partners and friends learn parts of his secret and use or fear it. Investigations tighten when a rival killer exposes connections to Dexter’s past. Trust in the precinct fractures as suspects and confidants change stories.

‘Lost’ (2004–2010)

Survivors form groups to control supplies and information, which spurs infiltration. The Others move people with promises and lies that split friendships. Flashbacks reveal off island choices that seed mistrust during crises. Leadership rotates after hidden agendas lead to kidnappings and swapped allegiances.

‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

Julius Caesar’s rise depends on alliances that falter when senators see the cost. Soldiers and aristocrats weigh personal gain against loyalty to the Republic. Cleopatra’s partnership recasts political lines and strains former bonds. Betrayals ripple through campaigns and reshape who commands the city.

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

Barry Berkman tries to leave contract killing and discovers his handler and partners will not let go. Acting class relationships tangle with crimes that need cleanup. Rivals exploit Barry’s double life to force jobs or silence witnesses. The consequences of each broken promise close in through investigations and reprisals.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

Rick Grimes leads survivors who suffer double crosses from other communities and from their own allies when resources run thin. The Governor presents peace offers that mask ambushes and forced takeovers. Negan’s group uses captured insiders to turn information into deadly leverage. Later settlements strike deals that collapse once fear and scarcity shift priorities.

’24’ (2001–2014)

Jack Bauer works inside CTU while uncovering moles who pass mission details to terrorists mid operation. Senior officials authorize covert moves that frame Jack to protect larger political agendas. Partners flip under blackmail, which forces Jack to improvise around compromised intel. Each crisis exposes another insider who reroutes plans at the worst possible moment.

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

Jimmy McGill pursues a legal career while his brother Chuck secretly undermines his applications and cases. A taped confession and a staged disciplinary trap derail Jimmy’s progress. Later, business partners hide critical moves that endanger Kim Wexler’s work and safety. Cartel contacts also redirect deals, placing Jimmy between rival enforcers with no safe exit.

‘Money Heist’ (2017–2021)

The Professor’s carefully timed robberies depend on strict rules that crew members break once pressure rises. Personal relationships inside the group trigger side deals that expose the plan’s weak points. Hostages collaborate with outside negotiators and use planted devices to map the gang’s positions. Police leverage insider knowledge from flipped participants to breach defenses.

‘Spartacus’ (2010–2013)

Spartacus is sold into slavery after a broken promise of freedom from Roman commanders. The ludus owner manipulates fighters with false rewards and secret arrangements. Allies inside the house trade information for status, costing Spartacus key supporters. As the rebellion grows, tribal leaders switch allegiance for land and political advantage.

‘The Blacklist’ (2013–2024)

Raymond Reddington supplies cases to the FBI while concealing identities and motives from Elizabeth Keen. Task force operations are compromised by leaks from rival agencies and criminal syndicates. Former associates feed partial truths to redirect investigations away from their own interests. Family revelations shift loyalties and turn partners into adversaries mid mission.

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

Nucky Thompson’s political machine relies on protégés who negotiate side arrangements with federal agents and rival gangs. Business partners skim shipments or redirect liquor routes to secure their own territories. Trusted enforcers switch sides when prosecution or profit looks more certain elsewhere. Each season’s alliances unravel as court cases and assassinations reset control.

‘Squid Game’ (2021– )

Seong Gi hun enters contests where players form teams that dissolve under rigged rules. Alliances fracture when rounds force direct betrayals to survive. Staff members with masks secretly coordinate with VIP patrons, blocking any chance of fair play. Hidden cameras and enforced secrecy ensure that no promise inside the arena can be trusted.

‘The Last Kingdom’ (2015–2022)

Uhtred navigates Saxon and Dane courts where oaths are negotiated then broken for land and titles. Church leaders and nobles recast treaties once battles tilt the balance. Captors use hostage exchanges that rarely honor agreed terms. Friends become rivals as royal successions and arranged marriages reorder priorities.

‘Killing Eve’ (2018–2022)

Eve Polastri investigates an assassin while handlers withhold files and redirect her fieldwork. The organization known as the Twelve seeds false leads that expose agents to ambush. Villanelle’s shifting loyalties test protection protocols and safe houses. Double agents move between teams, turning joint operations into traps.

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

Dolores and other hosts uncover that their memories were edited to keep them compliant. Park management deploys security failsafes while selling guest data to outside buyers. Developers erase or rewrite personalities to steer rebellions into containment scenarios. Corporate board maneuvers sacrifice staff on the ground to protect proprietary research.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

An ex con assumes a sheriff’s identity and finds that partners from his past cut deals with a local kingpin. Tribal leaders and the criminal syndicate exchange favors that derail investigations. Federal agents exploit his false identity to force cooperation. Allies within the department leak movements that expose him during raids.

‘The Boys’ (2019– )

Hughie Campbell joins a team hunting superheroes while corporations stage PR campaigns that bury evidence. Insiders at the company sanitize incident logs and redirect legal actions. Super team members sign secret contracts that override accountability agreements. Whistleblowers face intimidation that turns cooperation into liability.

‘Severance’ (2022– )

Mark Scout works at a firm that splits employees’ memories so management can run experiments without oversight. Supervisors manipulate wellness sessions and audits to extract private information. Security rewrites access privileges to isolate workers attempting to compare notes. The program’s architects use false promotions to bait employees into revealing contacts.

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Marty Byrde launders money while partners siphon funds and leak meeting locations to rivals. Cartel intermediaries change terms without warning, forcing the family to rebuild networks overnight. Political allies take donations then abandon development plans once investigations start. Internal family decisions create side agreements that cut against Marty’s negotiations.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

The Roy siblings float alliances that collapse the moment a better deal appears. Logan promises succession paths then pivots after late night strategy calls. Board votes flip when confidential information leaks to rival factions. Marriages and friendships become bargaining chips that leave the heir apparent exposed at crucial signings.

‘Alias’ (2001–2006)

Sydney Bristow discovers her employer is the enemy she thought she was fighting. Handler briefings omit key facts that put her in lethal traps during fieldwork. Double agents plant counter missions that sabotage extractions. Family revelations undermine her trust in both her team and her own past.

‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)

Vic Mackey’s strike team fractures after secret cash heists and hidden murders surface. An ally records conversations that turn into leverage with internal affairs. Rival crews exploit these cracks by flipping lower level members. The resulting deals force betrayals that bring the unit to the brink.

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

Human survivors discover infiltrators who look and act like trusted crew. Shipboard elections and military decisions are steered by hidden agendas. Captured leaders make compromises that their own people later reject. Every jump introduces new tests of loyalty that reshape command and policy.

‘The Expanse’ (2015–2022)

James Holden’s crew pursues a conspiracy while partner organizations conceal experiments. Diplomatic backchannels reroute rescue missions without warning. Corporate contractors trade science data for protection, exposing the Rocinante to ambushes. Treaties between planets shift mid negotiation and strand allies in contested space.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

Olivia Pope manages crises while clients and power brokers bury evidence she needs. Campaign teams plant false narratives that flip opinion overnight. Intelligence contacts feed partial files that send her to the wrong targets. Internal rifts inside the White House turn confidences into liabilities.

‘The Mandalorian’ (2019– )

Din Djarin accepts bounties that come with hidden conditions from guild leaders. A seemingly simple delivery turns into a pursuit when contractors change terms. Towns and outposts offer help that masks surveillance for higher bidders. Former partners return with deals that risk the safety of his ward.

‘Attack on Titan’ (2013–2023)

Eren Yeager trains within a military structure that conceals critical truths about the enemy. Trusted teammates reveal identities that upend every battle plan. Command decisions are withheld to manage panic, which breaks unit cohesion. Walls and districts hide histories that recast who is considered an ally.

‘Death Note’ (2006–2007)

Light Yagami operates under a secret identity while classmates and investigators close in. An unexpected partner enters the task force and quietly redirects the hunt. Corporate rivalries and internal protocols create openings for traps. Confiscations and surveillance measures force Light to improvise around betrayals he cannot predict.

‘Power’ (2014–2020)

James St. Patrick juggles nightclub investments with a criminal past that refuses to stay buried. Associates court prosecutors to cut time off pending charges. Family and partners conceal moves that derail expansion plans. Wiretaps and flipped insiders turn every meeting into a risk.

‘Black Sails’ (2014–2017)

Captain Flint builds coalitions that fracture over treasure routes and politics. Quartermasters and governors trade prisoners to secure their own positions. Personal vendettas shift naval support at decisive moments. Letters and maps move between hands, undoing carefully laid strategies.

‘The Witcher’ (2019– )

Geralt accepts contracts from clients who hide the true nature of monsters and curses. Royal courts offer sanctuary while planning to exploit his ward. Mages with competing schools reroute portals and assignments. Promises of neutrality collapse when factions demand allegiance.

‘Bodyguard’ (2018)

David Budd protects a high profile official while colleagues question his reliability. Security details are altered without full briefings that he should receive. Intelligence units obscure links between attacks to steer investigations. Leaked texts and planted devices turn protective protocols against him.

‘The Night Agent’ (2023– )

Peter Sutherland answers a distress call that exposes a conspiracy inside government. Superiors restrict access to files that would corroborate his claims. Kill teams move based on leaked safe house locations. Each lead results in a trap set by insiders with direct control over operations.

‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)

A group of ordinary people chase a manuscript while an organization targets them one by one. A supposed ally turns interrogator after gaining their trust. Public health cover stories mask a program that needs them silenced. Encryption keys and meeting points are swapped to isolate and capture the team.

Which TV betrayal floored you the most—share your picks and any shows we missed in the comments.