And spoiler alert: They spend the next four seasons (and a revival) breaking in and out of places you’d never expect—a Panamanian prison, a Yemeni jail, even The Company’s headquarters. The escape happens at the end of Season 1, Episode 22. It is a slow burn, but it is arguably the most satisfying prison break in television history.

If you’ve just started watching Prison Break —or you’re revisiting it a decade later—one question burns louder than all the conspiracy theories combined: When do Michael Scofield and Lincoln Burrows actually break out of Fox River State Penitentiary?

If they escaped in episode 10, we wouldn’t care about Sucre’s girlfriend, or C-Note’s family, or why T-Bag is truly broken. The long wait makes the moment in "Flight" feel earned, not lucky. Don’t turn off the TV after the credits roll. The escape is just the beginning. Season 2 ("Manhunt") asks the next logical question: "Great, you’re out. Now where do you run?"

If you’re watching for the first time: Be patient. Enjoy the tattoos. Fear the T-Bag. And when you finally see moonlight hit Michael Scofield’s face outside the fence, you’ll realize the wait was exactly right. What was your favorite moment from the Fox River escape? Drop a comment below—just no spoilers for Season 3!