Prodigal Son

Prodigal Son follows Malcolm Bright, a brilliant criminal psychologist whose father is infamous serial killer Dr. Martin Whitly. Years after escaping his father's shadow, Malcolm teams up with the NYPD to profile and catch violent offenders, using instincts and knowledge most detectives lack. He balances casework with therapy sessions that force him to examine his own moral limits, while a tense, manipulative relationship with his father complicates everything. The show alternates case-of-the-week mysteries with serialized threads about Malcolm's past, and it foregrounds strained family ties, including his complicated bonds with mother Jessica Whitly and sister Ainsley. Colleagues such as Detective Gil Arroyo push Malcolm to translate theory into usable leads. He often clashes with Detective Gil Arroyo over methods.

Premiering in 2019, the American series was created by Sam Sklaver and Chris Fedak. It stars Tom Payne as Malcolm Bright alongside Michael Sheen, Bellamy Young, Lou Diamond Phillips and Halston Sage, who round out the central cast and more.

The show's intense exchanges between Malcolm and his father, plus Whitly's unsettling charisma, prompted online analysis, fan discussion and speculation about moral ambiguity in crime fiction. Its mix of dark humor and psychological probing made it a reference point when TV writers shifted tone in later procedurals.

With a fan rating of 8.102 out of 10 from 445 votes, the series earned praise for its leads and for balancing procedural puzzles with character work. Recurring themes include family trauma, how personal history skews judgment, and the uneasy ethics of using a criminal's mind as an investigative tool.

Prodigal Son didn't collect major industry awards, but it developed a devoted audience and steady critical attention for its performances and tonal mix. Reviewers and genre outlets often singled out Tom Payne's emotional range and Michael Sheen's unsettling charm as highlights, generating enduring fan interest.