Anyone who watches a single episode of Prodigal Son knows this show is a unique blend of the classic crime procedural and a family drama with unpredictable twists every step of the way. We never quite know what Malcolm is going to do and he, in fact, often does the opposite of what any normal, sane human being would do. It’s tense, it’s dramatic, it’s addictive. As the winter hiatus sets in and we wait for our next fix, we have compiled the biggest shocks so far, what questions we are dying to have answered, and what we want to see more of ASAP.
Warning: There are spoilers in this article!
Biggest Shocking Moments:
What better way to start this list than by highlighting the very unique and highly shocking ways every episode of Prodigal Son begins. Watching the show is intense and unpredictable, which is a breath of fresh air for those who love crime dramas. Malcolm literally jumps out of his apartment window following a night terror in the first two minutes of an episode. Viewers are definitely kept on their toes from start to finish.
So far, it’s rare to see a tender moment on Prodigal Son, which made Malcolm watching his mother’s original interview all the more surprising. It’s a beautifully filmed moment where Malcolm is utterly overwhelmed to find out Jessica truly didn’t know about Martin’s murders. He breaks down as he watches the footage, and the moment is raw with emotion.
The show is not lacking in creepy moments and surprising reveals. There was something very sinister in hearing the phone ringing behind the sealed wall in Jessica’s basement. It’s even more shocking when Malcolm tears down the wall to get to the phone, answers, and discovers he is talking to the his father’s possible accomplice, the Junkyard Killer.
Thanks to Martin, much of Malcolm’s childhood is a foggy mystery, even to him. So when Martin reveals that Malcolm was more involved with his murders than previously believed, fans were understandably shocked at the twist. Martin’s sinister “be careful Malcolm” warning left us with chills!
It’s hard to pick just one moment from episode seven. “Q&A” had some of the biggest twists shy of the midseason finale. First, Malcolm, Ainsley, and her boyfriend/camera man Jin are caught in a lockdown when there is a security breach. This leads to Jin getting stabbed in the chest. Ainsley’s seemingly cold, calculating mind makes sure to catch Martin’s life saving surgery on Jin to further her story. Just when we thought we knew it all, it’s revealed that Martin himself actually orchestrated the breach and Jin’s stabbing. Who needs rollercoasters when you have a show like this to watch?
The midseason finale as a whole was utterly brilliant, but the reveal of the Junkyard Killer is one of the best baddie reveals we’ve ever seen. The episode shows us his beginnings, while keeping him a mystery, and when we finally learn his identity there is no doubt about this man being every bit as deadly now as he was in the past.
Questions!
We have so many questions following the midseason finale.
How much does Malcolm know about his father’s killing spree? We now know that Malcolm, at the very least, saw one of the women that was later murdered. However there are many hints that he might have been even more involved. It’s understandably driving him (and us) a little crazy. We have to know, is it all buried in his mind or was he largely kept from it?
How did the Junkyard Killer and Martin meet? We know they worked together, we know they were both prolific killers, but we don’t know how they started working together in the first place.
What is Malcolm’s personal connection to the Junkyard Killer? Why did Martin let his son get so close to his activities? Did he know Malcolm had that connection?
How much did Jessica know about what Martin was doing with Malcolm? Jessica’s side of the story leaves us wondering. We know she didn’t know about the murders, but Martin was drugging Malcolm with chloroform. Did she intentionally ignore the signs or did she truly not notice?
How does Martin have the cell that he has? Okay, hear us out. Books? A TV? A cozy little working desk? We know he is still consulting on medical cases, but how exactly did a serial killer get a 5-star prison cell like this?
Is there something special about the “girl in the box,” other than the fact that Malcolm saw her? We now know she is real, but is there more to Malcolm’s involvement than just an accidental glimpse?
We Need More!
Edrisa. Her onscreen time has been short so far, but she won us over with his dorky yet lovable nature in episode one. Now we need to see more of her; what’s her story? Dear writers, there’s no such thing as too much Edrisa.
Jessica/Gil scenes. They share such an interesting dynamic in their scenes together. Their lives have been tangled together first by Martin, and now by Malcolm; plus, we love the drama these scenes often produce.
Speaking of duos, we really need more of the Malcolm/Dani friendship that has started to show following their drug dealer fiasco. Both admit to not making friends easily, and they seem to have found a kindred spirit in each other.
Ainsley’s cold reporter side. We’ve seen Martin and Malcolm’s drive, but we definitely want to see more of how that Whitly determination has manifested in her — and she always has the best dirt on people.
More Michael Sheen. His performance as Martin is so creepy yet charming, and we can’t get enough of it. As viewers, it’s easy to understand why people trusted him and let their guard down. Watching Sheen switch between the cool Dr. Whitly exterior to the murderer within is an ode to his talent as an actor, and one we want to see for seasons to come!
More JT please. JT has been a fairly mysterious character so far, but often has some some killer one-liners. His “so done with this” attitude toward Malcolm is a light spot in the intense drama, and we are here for it.
Of course we also need more of Malcolm’s profiler side as he consults on various unusual murders. He is very Sherlock-esque in his ability to assess a crime scene and know 99% of the time what has happened within five minutes. His blatant disregard for basic life rules 101 is concerning, but comical to watch. In just 10 episodes he has followed a suspected serial killer into an underground tunnel, held a loaded gun to his own head when recreating a crime, never follows standard cop procedure on anything, and ran off with an ex-cop to a serial killer’s old home without telling anyone where he was going. Sigh; if he manages to survive season one, we can’t wait to watch what else Malcolm and crew get up to.
Prodigal Son will return on January 20, 2020 to Fox. Did we miss any of your burning questions or biggest shocks? Let us know in the comments below!
