Surgeon’s son is a smooth operator
Hannibal-like dynamic between duo
Prodigal Son’s very interesting premise sees a criminal profiler with a serial killer for a father.
Tom Payne plays Malcolm Bright, formerly of the FBI and now working with the NYPD.
Payne is best known for playing Jesus on The Walking Dead and his impressive acting stood out on that show – but he is even better here.
Malcolm is an intriguing character who after discovering as a child that his father was a murderer, turned him in to the police and since that horrific memory he has suffered from violent night terrors and hallucinations.
Michael Sheen plays dad, Dr Martin Whitly, nicknamed The Surgeon for the 23 murders he committed.
He is now in a psychiatric hospital and, in true Hannibal Lector-like style, still consults as a world- renowned doctor.
Bellamy Young, who was excellent as Mellie Grant in Scandal, stars as Malcolm’s mother Jessica.
Both of the actors who play Malcolm’s parents are actually a little too young, but I would struggle to see anyone else in the roles.
Sheen is wide- eyed and calm in equal measure, while Bellamy is a wellmeaning, but often overbearing mother.
Malcolm works closely with Lieutenant Gil Arroyo (Lou Diamond Phillips), who originally arrested his father, as well as detectives JT Tarmel ( Frank Harts) and Dani Powell (Aurora Perrineau) and while initially they are, JT in particular, troubled by his strange ways, he develops a fun rapport with each of them. Added to the mix is Malcolm’s sister, ambitious TV journalist Ainsley (Halston Sage), who often reports on the cases he is profiling.
The series covers a range of crimes as well as Malcolm discovering more about his father’s murders through hidden memories; there are also links between Martin and the still active Junkyard Killer.
Creators Chris Fedak and Sam Sklaver fill out all 20 episodes with oodles of drama and thankfully their show has been renewed for a second run, so if there is a cliffhanger ending then we won’t be forever hanging on to the edge.
● Have you watched Prodigal Son and, if so, what did you think? What is your favourite crime-procedural drama on TV?
Pop me an email at ian.bunting@ reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.