Prodigal Son: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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7.6

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7.6	Your Score
7.6	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 27 Ratings

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Prodigal Son: Martin & Malcolm Talk About An Old Friend

Now Playing: Prodigal Son: Martin & Malcolm Talk About An Old Friend

Season Details & Credits

FOX | Season Premiere Date: September 23, 2019

Summary: Criminal psychologist Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) helps solves murders with the NYPD while dealing with his father Martin (Michael Sheen), who was a serial killer and still wants a relationship with his son in this crime drama from Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver.

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E20. The Professionals
Air Date: April 20, 2020
tbd
S1:E20. Like Father...
Air Date: April 27, 2020
tbd
S1:E19. The Professionals
Air Date: April 20, 2020

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

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Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Amanda Bell

Sep 20, 2019

Michael Sheen is dancing with light feet in this role, clearly having a blast playing a serial killer who is at once a duplicitous menace and a charming conversationalist. Read full review

Daniel D'Addario

Sep 20, 2019

Performances carry the day, here: Payne is edgy and hopped-up as a young man in a perpetual state of ultra-anxiety. ... Sheen cleverly carries off a character with all the urbane wit of Hannibal Lecter, but evil buried further under the surface. ... The show, though, is completely in control, deploying Sheen carefully, well, and never too much. It’s a program that provides a creepy jolt while never reveling in darkness for its sake. Read full review

The Independent Sean O'Grady

Jul 29, 2020

Sheen is brilliant as Whitly, combining the face of a Blue Peter presenter with the mind of the Yorkshire Ripper. ... It is ludicrous, but there’s sufficient sadism, psychobabble and Sheen to keep you distracted from the odd confusing plotline. Read full review

Robert Lloyd

Sep 24, 2019

“Prodigal Son,” on Fox, is the Foxiest, an edgy, eccentric, style-forward series. ... It’s all a little overheated and fancy for my taste. ... Still, says Malcolm’s mother (Bellamy Young), “the media loves a charismatic serial killer.” So do TV writers, and so, perhaps, do you. Read full review

Glenn Garvin

Sep 21, 2019

So weirdly stupid that it might actually be good. Or, then again, just weird and stupid. Read full review

Mike Hale

Sep 23, 2019

Through three episodes, Sheen goes very light on psychotic menace, a refreshing choice that also allows for future revelations about Martin’s motives. When the show leaves Martin’s cell, it becomes an unexceptional procedural. Read full review

Dan Fienberg

Sep 23, 2019

This isn't 1995 and there's too much available TV to tune in regularly for a 42-minute broadcast drama of which I love only five minutes. ... Prodigal Son is trapped in that all-too-familiar position that most network dramas find themselves in these days, between wanting to tell cable-style arced stories and satisfying broadcast murder-of-the-week mandates. Read full review

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User Score

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7.6

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User Reviews

Kai5

Nov 16, 2019

The critics giving this a bad rating really would rather go watch Game of Thrones just so they can see naked people and swords. It's really, really sad that people don't appreciate intellectual television anymore. The same as it's always been, I suppose. You give them a smart character, theyThe critics giving this a bad rating really would rather go watch Game of Thrones just so they can see naked people and swords. It's really, really sad that people don't appreciate intellectual television anymore. The same as it's always been, I suppose. You give them a smart character, they give you a cancelled show.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

markcd1234

Oct 14, 2019

I really enjoyed the show so far, it's pretty suspenseful. The acting is good and each story leaves you wondering who did it.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MrFlankster

Nov 13, 2019

This show is nuts. In a great way. It didn't start to pick up steam until episodes 5 or 6, but once it did... nuts! I hope it sticks around.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

youngandgrey

Sep 26, 2019

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Really Good Drama. The mystery and procedural element take a somewhat backseat to the characters. Its a cop show, but, not in the traditional sense. The best parallel I can make to this show is the recently ended Elementary. While in Elementary, Sherlock is tortured by his drug addiction and possibly relapsing into drug addiction. The main character-Malcolm Bright (played by Tom Payne) is tortured by the fact that he found his serial killer father bodies as a child. He is plagued by night terrors, and a fear that he will fall in his fathers footsteps. The father is a horrifically subtle evil character, similar in vein to Hannibal Lecter played to perfection by Michael Sheen. Lou Diamond Phillips is a good addition to the cast as Malcom`s old friend that happens to be saved from being murdered by Malcom`s father by Malcom. I recommend this show for anyone looking to fill their withdrawl from Elementary, and who would like a fresh take on the proceedural formula.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Ededed

Jan 26, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Too weird, and usually I like weird.

Feels like the writers try to insert every weird twist into the plot they come up with without a real long term storyline in mind. We know having a convicted serial killer in the family is bound to create some mental health issues, but this is too extreme to be watchable. Mommy dearest obviously has deep and hidden issues and I would not be surprised if she is somehow involved in the killings her husband was convicted for. Oops, spoiler alert!

Gave up on this. Couldn’t keep my attention.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sjskydiver

Mar 28, 2020

Absolutely one of the worst shows I've ever wasted my brain on this year. I'm so disappointed because it had so much potential. It's so stupidly predictable, it's laughable. "My Boy!" Really? Who believes this? Ugh.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 7 REVIEWS

More From Prodigal Son

2:02 0

Prodigal Son: Martin & Malcolm Talk About An Old Friend

1:36 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & Jessica Want Martin To Make A Statement To Police

2:34 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Runs Into An Old Friend At The Crime Scene

1:57 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Calls Eve On Malcolm's Behalf

2:06 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Arrives At The Sip-N-See Crime Scene

1:25 0

Prodigal Son: Stranger Beside You

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm Thinks Eve Is Keeping Something From Him

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Like Father, Like Son?

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Prodigal Son: First Look: From The Killer's Perspective

1:10 0

Prodigal Son: Season 1

1:02 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Needs Martin's Insight

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: The Job

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: Death's Door

2:16 0

Prodigal Son: Bright Asks His Father How He Would Kill Him

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: Eye Of The Needle

1:51 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Activates A Bomb

1:37 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica And Bright Discover A Gruesome Murder On A Carousel

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Prodigal Son: The Carousel Killer Calls Ainsley Live On The News

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Prodigal Son: Tilda Describes Her Relationship With The Murder Victim

2:04 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Takes The Fall For Bright

1:43 0

Prodigal Son: Edrisa's Info Sends Bright & Gil To A Funeral Directors Convention

1:31 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Asks Malcolm About His Love Life

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: Scheherazade

2:33 0

Prodigal Son: Gil & Malcolm Find The Killer's Secret Hideaway

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Family Friend

2:01 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Interviews Dr. Whitly

1:18 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Has Concerns About Ainsley's Interview

2:18 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Talks To An Ominous Stranger

1:49 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Apologizes To Eve For Being Out Of Sorts

1:26 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Bright Has A Nightmare

1:27 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Meets With His Father For The First Time In Ten Years

0:59 0

Prodigal Son: Gil & Bright Talk About The Quartet

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Pied-A-Terre

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: An Exciting New Murder

1:56 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & Gil Realize There's A New Serial Killer

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Episode 19

2:04 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Questions Nicholas About The Evening

1:26 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Takes Eve To Meet Martin

1:06 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & The Team Arrive At The Crime Scene

1:35 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Runs Into An Old Friend At An Event

0:14 0

Prodigal Son: The Best Is Yet To Come

2:27 0

Prodigal Son: The Team Finds A Dead Body In The Junkyard

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: A Bright-Mare Before X-Mas

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Season 2

1:36 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Has A Dream Where Malcolm Visits Him In Prison

1:06 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Agrees To Take Malcolm To The Crime Scene

0:29 0

Prodigal Son: The Trip

1:52 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Analyzes The Crime Scene

1:38 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Brings Malcolm To The Crime Scene

2:23 0

Prodigal Son

1:24 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Forbids Ainsley From Interviewing Dr. Whitly

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: My Father Is A Psychopath

0:29 0

Prodigal Son: Q & A

1:38 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Goes Undercover

1:32 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Needs Homicides To Solve To Feel Calm

1:49 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Has A Hallucination Of His Father

1:31 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Asks Dr. Whitly For An Interview

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Father & Son Solving Crimes

2:05 0

Prodigal Son: Every Killer Has Their Signature

1:44 0

Prodigal Son: Dani Takes Care Of Malcolm

2:00 0

Prodigal Son: Annihilator

1:30 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Finds Out Bright Has Been Seeing His Father

1:20 0

Prodigal Son: Bright Receives A Phone Call From Martin

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Prodigal Son: Having A Serial Killer As A Father

1:59 0

Prodigal Son: Bright Talks About His Night Terrors

1:00 0

Prodigal Son: He Will Destroy You

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: The Surgeon

1:09 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Realizes Malcolm Shouldn't Be Working

1:50 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Asks If His Mother Knew His Father Was A Serial Killer

2:19 0

Prodigal Son: Silent Night

1:45 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Hires A Nurse For Malcolm

2:16 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Has Been Taken By The Junkyard Killer

1:50 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Throws Himself Out The Window

2:06 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & The Team Investigate The Crime Scene

3:11 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Asks Martin To Help Find Malcolm

1:59 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & The Team Confer With Dr. Whitly

0:55 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Visits Malcolm Before He Leaves

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Wait & Hope

0:29 0

Prodigal Son: Alone Time

1:47 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Finds Out The Girl In The Box Was Real

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Fear Response

1:33 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Suspects Jessica Was Complicit With The Murders

1:16 0

Prodigal Son: Internal Affairs

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Designer Complicity

1:50 0

Prodigal Son: The Fbi Sends In A Team To Work The Junkyard Killer Case

2:00 0

Prodigal Son: The Junkyard Killer Wants To Work With Malcolm

0:39 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Bright: He's One Of Us

1:41 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Berates Ainsley For The Interview

1:46 0

Prodigal Son: Dr. Whitly Gives His Son A Call

1:19 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Wakes Up Chained In A Basement

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Prodigal Son: Gil Brings Bright To The Crime Scene

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Prodigal Son: Jessica Breaks Into Malcolm's Place

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm & The Team Scout Grand Central Station

1:19 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Plans To Take Nicholas Endicott Down

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm Tells Ainsley About His Break Up With Eve

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: Like Father

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Prodigal Son: Nothing Will Ever Be The Same

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Ouroboros

2:15 0

Prodigal Son: Finally Give Up All This Murder Nonsense

0:56 0

Prodigal Son: We Need To Stabilize The Patient

2:00 0

Prodigal Son: I Once Was A Doctor Like You

1:23 0

Prodigal Son: A Hell Of An Alibi

1:57 0

Prodigal Son: Nicholas Endicott Calls Martin

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Prodigal Son: Gil Checks In On Jessica

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Prodigal Son: Gil & Malcolm Talk Killer Theories

1:40 0

Prodigal Son: Mid-Season Teaser

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Face Value

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm & Dani Talk In The Elevator

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Prodigal Son: Martin Has A New Job

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Prodigal Son: Martin Meets Dr. Capshaw At His New Job

2:12 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Has A Dream He's In Prison

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm Can't Figure Out How He Was Framed

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm Wants Ainsley To Stay At The Loft

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Prodigal Son: Nice Digs

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Prodigal Son: Exit Strategy

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Prodigal Son: You Buying This

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Prodigal Son: The Last Weekend

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Prodigal Son: That's TMI Bro

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Prodigal Son: Can I Go Now?

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Prodigal Son: That Dreams As Dead As Your 23 Victims

1:06 0

Prodigal Son: Like Father Like Son?

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Prodigal Son: You Look Ridiculous

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: Are You Ready For The Finale?

2:49 0

Prodigal Son: There Is One Thing I've Been Dying To Ask

1:11 0

Prodigal Son: I Bet It Didn't Work

2:00 0

Prodigal Son: A Unique Look At The Final Episodes

1:40 0

Prodigal Son: Where's Vivian Capshaw?

0:20 0

Prodigal Son: You Can Run

1:28 0

Prodigal Son: Do You Need To Talk?

1:10 0

Prodigal Son: How Could I Have Not Seen This Coming?

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Prodigal Son: This Is All You, Vivian

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Prodigal Son: Sun And Fun

2:17 0

Prodigal Son: You Are Here To Takeover?

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Prodigal Son: Never Had A Friend Like You

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Prodigal Son: The Killabustas

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Prodigal Son: This Is Erratic And Overly Excited

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Prodigal Son: Malcolm Arrives At A Hotel Crime Scene

2:35 0

Prodigal Son: Head Case

2:59 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Meets A Man About To Commit Suicide

1:17 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Interviews Jt

3:40 0

Prodigal Son: Hold On To Your Hats

0:44 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Has A New Cellmate

1:26 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica & Malcolm Discuss Endicott's Body

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: Catching Killers Keeps Him Sane

1:44 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Crosses The Line

1:11 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Wants Jessica To Talk To Gil

2:39 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Gets Help From Martin

1:00 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Tells Malcolm Gil Is Worried

0:58 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Tells Malcolm He's Being Transferred

0:30 0

Progial Son: Speak Of The Devil

1:19 0

Prodigal Son: First Look: A More Twisted New Season

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: A Psycho Rollercoaster

1:47 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Learns That Malcolm Is With The NYPD

1:04 0

Prodigal Son: Pilot

0:30 0

Prodigal Son: It's All In The Execution

0:48 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Feels Under Appreciated

4:20 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm's Strange Encounter With An Imprisoned Victim

0:40 0

Prodigal Son: Let The Bad Angels Fall

0:59 0

Prodigal Son: Catching Killers Keeps Him Sane

1:59 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley & Malcolm Tease Jessica About Gil

3:16 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Visits A Grueling Crime Scene

2:10 0

Prodigal Son: Bad Manners

2:56 0

Prodigal Son: Dani & Malcolm Visit The Women's Ward

2:01 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Wants To Be Part Of The Team

2:02 0

Prodigal Son: Take Your Father To Work Day

1:46 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm & Martin Discuss The Dead Debutantes

0:46 0

Prodigal Son: Ainsley Gives Malcolm A Lead

1:40 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Tells Ainsley What Happened

1:56 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Tries To Get Information From Miss. Windsor

2:01 0

Prodigal Son: Jessica Visits Martin In Prison

2:02 0

Prodigal Son: Martin Does Group Therapy

1:32 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Lies About The Carpet Stain

0:53 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Has Trauma From His Old School

3:06 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Questions The Students

3:37 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Squares Off With A Suspect

1:08 0

Prodigal Son: Jt Must Protect His Family

1:44 0

Prodigal Son: Gil Needs Malcolm On A Case At Malcolm's Old School

3:11 0

Prodigal Son: Underwater Victim

3:11 0

Prodigal Son: Malcolm Talks To His Father's Fellow Inmates

0:54 0

Prodigal Son: Has Martin Escaped From Prison?

1:06 0

Prodigal Son: Alma Mater

1:41 0

Prodigal Son: You Have Made Me Become Him Again

SEE ALL TRAILERS

Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 2021
Season 1

61
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E20. The Professionals
  Air Date: April 20, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E20. Like Father...
  Air Date: April 27, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E19. The Professionals
  Air Date: April 20, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E18. Scheherazade
  Air Date: March 30, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E17. Stranger Beside You
  Air Date: March 23, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E16. The Job
  Air Date: March 16, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E15. Death's Door
  Air Date: February 17, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E14. Eye of the Needle
  Air Date: February 10, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E13. Wait & Hope
  Air Date: February 3, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E12. Internal Affairs
  Air Date: January 27, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E11. Alone Time
  Air Date: January 20, 2020
- tbd
  S1:E10. Silent Night
  Air Date: December 2, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E9. Pied-A-Terre
  Air Date: November 25, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Family Friend
  Air Date: November 11, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. Q&A
  Air Date: November 4, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. All Souls and Sadists
  Air Date: October 28, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Trip
  Air Date: October 21, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Designer Complicity
  Air Date: October 14, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. Fear Response
  Air Date: October 7, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. Annihilator
  Air Date: September 30, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 23, 2019