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Prodigal Son

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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61

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 24 Ratings

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8.6

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8.6	Your Score
8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 24 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

Prodigal Son

Series Details & Credits

FOX | Release Date: September 23, 2019

Summary: Criminal psychologist Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) helps solves murders with the NYPD while dealing with his father (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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Recent Episodes

tbd
S2:E13. The Last Weekend
Air Date: May 18, 2021
tbd
S2:E12. Sun and Fun
Air Date: May 11, 2021
tbd
S2:E11. You Can Run...
Air Date: May 4, 2021

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

61

Positive:

6

Mixed:

8

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

85

TV Guide

Amanda Bell

Sep 20, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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

80

Variety

Daniel D'Addario

Sep 20, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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

80

The Independent Sean O'Grady

Jul 29, 2020

Season 1 Review: 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

60

Los Angeles Times

Robert Lloyd

Sep 24, 2019

Season 1 Review: “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

55

Reason.com

Glenn Garvin

Sep 21, 2019

Season 1 Review: So weirdly stupid that it might actually be good. Or, then again, just weird and stupid. Read full review

50

The New York Times

Mike Hale

Sep 23, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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

40

The Hollywood Reporter

Daniel Fienberg

Sep 23, 2019

Season 1 Review: 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

SEE ALL 14 REVIEWS

Write a Review

8.6

User Reviews

10

Cbuchanan1982

Nov 4, 2019

This show is very differently written. I can't wait to see each new episode.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

10

Gia19

Nov 7, 2019

I love this show! The chemistry between Michael Sheen and Tom Payne is off the Charts, not to mention Lou Diamond Phillips, and Bellamy Young! This Cast is Outstanding, and the premise for this show is so unlike what’s out there right now. I love the Hannibal Lecter feel of Sheen. I lookI love this show! The chemistry between Michael Sheen and Tom Payne is off the Charts, not to mention Lou Diamond Phillips, and Bellamy Young! This Cast is Outstanding, and the premise for this show is so unlike what’s out there right now. I love the Hannibal Lecter feel of Sheen. I look forward to Monday nights just to be entertained by this magnificent treat!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

10

Sparklark

Apr 23, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of my FAVORITE shows on TV!
Disturbing and funny (kinda like my fam. - ssshhh...), with great, strong characters.
I followed Tom Payne over to this show from Walking Dead (Jesus, you're missed over there!), but stayed for the family dynamics and backstory.
... One of the episodes' opening scene with a bomb and Malcolm jumping out an upper-floor window... Keep re-watching that! So fun!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

8

Janva

Nov 19, 2019

I have not been so enthusiastic about a TV show since Hannibal. Hope this runs for several seasons, as the characters provide plenty of potential.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

5

YukonSivan

May 23, 2020

I was excited to watch this show because I liked the premise and some of the actors. It was a complete let down. Horrible writing, horrible script, and the worst is the horrible acting! Ainsley reporting the news made me cringe every time. How was she casted? The only good acting is from LouI was excited to watch this show because I liked the premise and some of the actors. It was a complete let down. Horrible writing, horrible script, and the worst is the horrible acting! Ainsley reporting the news made me cringe every time. How was she casted? The only good acting is from Lou D. P. and Sheen. The rest of the main cast is also bad/subpar.

I'm surprised this got renewed for a second season.

UPDATE*
Just finished the series and the last 2 episodes are good enough to change my mind a little. It also made me realize that one of the biggest problem of this show is how long it is. It should be a 10-12 episodes series, not 20. Too much fluff in between. My opinion on the bad acting still stands.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

1

Ddesanto

Jan 20, 2021

Falling to the pressure of a liberal society the show has falsely acussed the NYPD and america of systematic racism. This is a disturbing trend that posions America. Shoddy writing and weak minded work the writer should be ashamed. Spend some time with the NYPD in ride alongs and realizeFalling to the pressure of a liberal society the show has falsely acussed the NYPD and america of systematic racism. This is a disturbing trend that posions America. Shoddy writing and weak minded work the writer should be ashamed. Spend some time with the NYPD in ride alongs and realize what true heroes are… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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Seasons & Episodes

61

Series Overview
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: January 12, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E13. The Last Weekend
  Air Date: May 18, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E12. Sun and Fun
  Air Date: May 11, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E11. You Can Run...
  Air Date: May 4, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E10. Exit Strategy
  Air Date: April 27, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E9. The Killabustas
  Air Date: April 20, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E8. Ouroboros
  Air Date: April 13, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E7. Face Value
  Air Date: March 2, 2021
- tbd
  S2:E6. Head Case
  Air Date: February 16, 2021
Season 1

61
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2019