Scripted series · FOX
Prodigal Son
Enter the mind of a serial killer.
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Tom Payne
Malcolm Bright
33 eps
Michael Sheen
Dr. Martin Whitly
33 eps
Bellamy Young
Jessica Whitly
33 eps
Lou Diamond Phillips
Gil Arroyo
33 eps
Halston Sage
Ainsley Whitly
33 eps
Aurora Perrineau
Dani Powell
33 eps
Frank Harts
JT Tarmel
33 eps
Keiko Agena
Dr. Edrisa Tanaka
33 eps
Sakina Jaffrey
Dr. Elaine Brown
1 eps
Jeb Brown
County Sheriff
1 eps
Michael Cerveris
Carter Berkhead
1 eps
Michael Esper
Jon Littman
1 eps
Zachary Booth
Liam
1 eps
Frank Wood
Dr. Carl Mitchell
1 eps
Shawn Andrew
Joey
1 eps
Julian Elijah Martinez
Axel X
1 eps
Hampton Fluker
Estime
1 eps
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut
Islande
1 eps
Pascale Armand
Trini
1 eps
Robert Montano
Saulo
1 eps
Clark Furlong
Isaac
1 eps
William Hill
Salesman Steve
1 eps
Charlie Semine
Jake
1 eps
Katie Kreisler
Crystal
1 eps
Raymond Lee
Jin
3 eps
Matthew Maher
Tevin
2 eps
Matt Servitto
Father Leo
1 eps
James Cusati-Moyer
Nico Stavros
2 eps
Kristen Connolly
Beth Saverstein
1 eps
Carra Patterson
Tally
1 eps
Jeremy Shamos
David Saverstein
1 eps
Meagan Good
Colette Swanson
3 eps
Charlayne Woodard
Dr. Gabrielle Le Deux
5 eps
Meredith Garretson
Kimberly
2 eps
Marylouise Burke
Matilda Watkins
2 eps
Hettienne Park
Leslie
2 eps
Molly Griggs
Eve Blanchard
8 eps
Brian Stokes Mitchell
Everett Sterling
2 eps
Anna Eilinsfeld
Sophie Sanders
6 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Prodigal Son actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Prodigal Son reads strongest on Tension, Character Depth and Cliffhanger Intensity.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
The son of a notorious serial killer becomes an acclaimed criminal psychologist who uses his unique insight into how killers think to help the NYPD.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E20
Like Father...
Malcolm continues to unravel as the mystery of the girl in the box comes to a head. As Nicholas Endicott's (guest star Dermot Mulroney) true colors continue to show, the Whitlys must decide to what lengths they are willing to go in order to take him down
- Directed by Adam Kane
- Written by Sam Sklaver, Chris Fedak
S02E08
Ouroboros
When world-famous Europol profiler Simon Hoxley shows up in New York and claims that Major Crimes' current case is connected to the discovery of Endicott's body overseas, Bright fears he and Ainsley's secret is about to be exposed. Meanwhile, Martin gets to know Dr. Vivian Capshaw.
- Directed by Chris Grismer
- Written by Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman
S02E04
Take Your Father to Work Day
Martin is delighted when a murder at Claremont Psychiatric brings the NYPD into his territory, allowing him direct involvement with one of Malcolm's cases. While working the same job, Ainsley's suspicion grows when she feels Malcolm may be hiding something from her. All the while, Malcolm and Ainsley must dodge their mother, who's wondering why they got rid of her favorite rug.
- Directed by Omar Madha
- Written by Elizabeth Peterson
S02E06
Head Case
The team investigates the murder of an architect who was tasked with renovating a supposedly haunted hotel.
- Directed by Lisa Robinson
- Written by Wyatt Cain
S02E07
Face Value
Malcolm focuses on a case in which a famous plastic surgeon is murdered; Martin gets a new job working in the infirmary with Dr. Vivian Capshaw; Jessica is surprised to learn her younger sister is in town.
- Directed by Lou Diamond Phillips
- Written by Lauriel Harte Marger
S02E12
Sun and Fun
As the search intensifies for a serial killer on the run, so does Malcolm's tenacity, causing U.S. Marshal Emily Ruiz to kick him off the case. However, Malcolm doesn't back down that easily.
- Directed by Chris Grismer
- Written by Lisa Randolph
Recently aired
Latest Episodes
S02E13
The Last Weekend
S02E11
You Can Run...
S02E10
Exit Strategy
S02E09
The Killabustas
- Directed by Dermott Downs
- Written by Sabrina Deana-Roga
S02E08
Ouroboros
- Directed by Chris Grismer
- Written by Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
Sam Sklaver
Creator
Chris Fedak
Showrunner
Lee Toland Krieger
Executive producer
Greg Berlanti
Executive producer
Sarah Schechter
Executive producer
Nora Zuckerman
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Alexis Siegel
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Lisa Randolph
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Marcus Dalzine
Writer
Wendy Calhoun
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Justin W. Lo
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Lauriel Harte Marger
Writer
Jeremy Carver
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Eileen Jones
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Sabrina Deana-Roga
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Wyatt Cain
Writer
- Photo unavailable
Elizabeth Peterson
Writer
Lilla Zuckerman
Writer
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Lee Toland KriegerExecutive Producer
- Jennifer LenceProducer
- Greg BerlantiExecutive Producer
- Sam SklaverExecutive Producer
- Chris FedakExecutive Producer
- Sarah SchechterExecutive Producer
Writing
- Nora ZuckermanWriter
- Alexis SiegelWriter
- Lisa RandolphWriter
- Marcus DalzineWriter
- Wendy CalhounWriter
- Justin W. LoWriter
Direction
- Lisa RobinsonDirector
- Rob HardyDirector
- Antonio NegretDirector
- Lee Toland KriegerDirector
- Valerie WeissDirector
- David S. TuttmanDirector
Music
- Nathaniel BlumeOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Amazon VideoBuy
- Apple TV StoreBuy
- HBO Max Amazon ChannelStreaming
- Google Play MoviesBuy
- Fandango At HomeBuy
- YouTube TVStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
- HBO MaxStreaming
If you liked this
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Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
The Mentalist
2008
Another morally complex epic for anyone who wanted more grey.
Criminal Minds
2005
Watch this next if you like protagonists you can't quite defend.
The Blacklist
2013
A crime story told with the patience of a novel.
S.W.A.T.
2017
Another morally complex epic for anyone who wanted more grey.
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
A natural next watch: same ambition, different world.
NCIS
2003
A crime story told with the patience of a novel.
Never stop watching
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