Prodigal Son

Most of you may not know this, but at one point, I wanted to be a Criminal Profiler for the F.B.I. I ended up choosing a different career (and met the amazing co-owners of this website), but something about serial killers fascinated me. I wanted to know how they think, why they do what they do, and how? This stemmed from an obsession with all things Hannibal Lecter, including my falling for the title character.

When “Hannibal” and “Red Dragon” came out, I was in love with Anthony Hopkin’s portrayal of the genius cannibal. He used his wit to string Clarice Starling and Will Graham along while also helping them solve their cases.

Then came the “Hannibal” T.V. show starring Mads Mikkelson as the titular character and Hugh Dancy as Will Graham. It was a beautiful amalgamation of “Hannibal” and “Red Dragon” and gave great insight into what it’s like to be a criminal profiler. Sadly, the show ended a few years ago, leaving a gap for eager minds such as myself.

Then, three weeks ago, “Prodigal Son” premiered. I knew I would already love the series because Michael Sheen is an acting genius. I loved him in the “Underworld”/”Underworld: Rise of the Lycans” duo, but especially loved him in “Good Omens.” However, when I watched some of the trailers, I knew we had found something to fill the hole that “Hannibal” left behind.

The first episode (and the two following) seem familiar: the criminal profiler (Malcolm Bright, played by Tom Payne), who does things a bit differently from everyone else, goes to the very intelligent serial killer (his father Dr. Martin Whitly, played by Sheen) for help solving the case while also learning that they themselves might not be all there. It’s essentially a family-style “Hannibal.” And it’s glorious.

In the pilot episode, there were two quotes that made me fall hard for the show. They’re said by the protagonist, and then by the protagonist and his father. They are:

Bright: “Next time you call someone crazy, ask for their gun first.”

and

Bright: “Dahmer wasn’t that smart. His fridge was so packed with body parts he didn’t even have room for groceries”
Dr. Whitley: “Those were the groceries”

These lines not only made me laugh out loud, but they also endeared me to a show that I was already loving, even a few minutes in. There haven’t been too many more quips like this (minus the one about “taking the fall.” You’ll know what I mean when you watch it), but that doesn’t mean the show isn’t good. On the contrary, it’s not only entertaining, but it’s an informative look into the minds of a psychopath (or, as he puts it, “a predatory sociopath”).

My only issue with the show is that the identity of the second episode’s killer was blatantly obvious, especially if you’ve watched crime dramas before. Still, it did not make the show any less enjoyable.

In conclusion, this is a great show. With heavy influences from “Hannibal,” it is a delicious treat that fans were looking for (pun intended). If you loved (or liked) that show, you will love “Prodigal Son.” Hell, you’ll love it even if you weren’t a “Hannibal” fan. Either way, WATCH THIS SHOW.

“Prodigal Son” airs on FOX Mondays at 9/8c.