Prodigal Son is a dark crime drama about Malcolm Bright, a gifted profiler whose understanding of murder is inseparable from his childhood as the son of an imprisoned serial killer. Working with the NYPD’s Major Crimes team, Malcolm investigates disturbing cases while contending with his father’s influence and the secrets binding his family together.
Malcolm Bright has built a career from his unusual ability to understand how killers think, but the source of that insight is deeply personal. His father, Dr Martin Whitly, is the notorious murderer known as “the Surgeon”, whose arrest shattered the Whitly family when Malcolm was a child. After losing his position with the FBI, Malcolm is brought into the NYPD’s Major Crimes unit by Lieutenant Gil Arroyo, the officer who arrested Martin and helped protect Malcolm in the aftermath.
The investigations give Prodigal Son the shape of a police procedural, while its continuing story follows Malcolm’s troubled relationship with Martin, his ambitious sister Ainsley and their mother Jessica. Cases frequently echo the characters’ private fears, forcing Malcolm to decide how much of his father’s darkness he can use without allowing it to define him. Tom Payne leads the series as Malcolm, with Michael Sheen as Martin and Bellamy Young as Jessica.
Broadcast by Fox from 2019 to 2021, the series ran for two seasons. Lou Diamond Phillips is part of the principal cast throughout as Gil Arroyo, leader of the Major Crimes team and one of the few dependable figures in Malcolm’s life.
Lou’s performance
Lou as Gil Arroyo
As NYPD Lieutenant Gil Arroyo, Phillips plays both Malcolm’s commanding officer and his long-standing mentor. Gil was the policeman who arrested Martin Whitly and became a surrogate father to Malcolm after recognising what the child had endured. His calm authority steadies the investigative team, while his history with the Whitly family gives the procedural cases a strong personal connection.
Behind the camera
Lou’s Direction
Lou Diamond Phillips directed 1 episode of Prodigal Son — “Face Value”.
Series guide
Episodes
2 seasons · 33 episodes
01Season 120 episodes · 2019–2020
S01 E01
Gil Arroyo
Pilot
Directed by Lee Toland KriegerWritten by Chris Fedak
Bright deals with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years.
S01 E02
Gil Arroyo
Annihilator
Directed by Adam KaneWritten by Chris Fedak
As Bright slips into the mind of a serial killer, he must deal with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years.
S01 E03
Gil Arroyo
Fear Response
Directed by Rob BaileyWritten by Lisa Randolph
A drug-induced homicide forces Malcolm to rethink his fears. Gil, Jessica and Ainsley catch wind that Malcolm has been seeing his father again.
S01 E04
Gil Arroyo
Designer Complicity
Directed by Leon IchasoWritten by Wendy Calhoun
As Malcolm's childhood memories surface, he realizes his father's killing spree may not have been a surprise to everyone in the family. Malcolm, Gil, Dani and JT hunt for a stalker with a creepy eye for design.
S01 E05
Gil Arroyo
The Trip
Directed by Omar MadhaWritten by Jeremy Carver
Malcolm searches the depths of his mind to unravel the mystery of the girl in the box. When the NYPD investigates a homicide and assumes it is linked to a drug cartel, Malcolm discovers a secret about Dani's past that draws them closer together.
S01 E06
Gil Arroyo
All Souls and Sadists
Directed by Megan GriffithsWritten by Justin W. Lo
When Bright uncovers a photo of himself and Martin from when he was a kid, he is forced to focus on the repressed memories from his childhood psyche. Jessica and Malcolm agree they must put a stop to Ainsley's idea.
S01 E07
Gil Arroyo
Q&A
Directed by Adam KaneWritten by Elizabeth Peterson
Bright's quest for answers about his childhood leads him to a junkyard, where he's bombarded with gunshots. Ainsley's exclusive interview with Martin takes an unexpected turn, forcing her to team up with Bright.
S01 E08
Gil Arroyo
Family Friend
Directed by Rob HardyWritten by Wyatt Cain
Malcolm realizes the suspect in the "Junkyard Killer" case may have a connection to his father.
S01 E09
Gil Arroyo
Pied-A-Terre
Directed by Antonio NegretWritten by Lauriel Harte Marger
When Martin is locked away in solitary confinement and the FBI takes over the Junkyard Killer case, Malcolm uses his spare time as an excuse to try out a “normal” lifestyle.
S01 E10
Gil Arroyo
Silent Night
Directed by Valerie WeissWritten by Sabrina Deana-Roga
Knowing that the “Junkyard Killer” was in cahoots with his father, Malcolm goes against the FBI’s wishes and continues to investigate. His findings reconnect him with a disgruntled ex-detective who was once heavily involved in the search for “The Surgeon,” delivering them both into danger.
S01 E11
Gil Arroyo
Alone Time
Directed by Adam KaneWritten by Nora Zuckerman
The FBI and NYPD band together to save Malcolm from the "Junkyard Killer," aka John Watkins, who reveals shocking details about his involvement in the camping trip memories that have been plaguing his psyche. Meanwhile, as Gil looks for answers from The Surgeon, Ainsley and Jessica search through their memories of the past, hoping to find some sort of clue as to where Malcolm could be hidden.
S01 E12
Gil Arroyo
Internal Affairs
Directed by David S. TuttmanWritten by Lisa Randolph
Following a mysterious and catastrophic incident in the precinct, Bright faces an internal affairs review as Gil and the team worry about his mental health.
S01 E13
Gil Arroyo
Wait & Hope
Directed by Glen WinterWritten by Sam Sklaver
Malcolm takes a detour from his mandated vacation time when he finds out a killer on the loose is mimicking homicides from one his favorite children's books, "The Count of Monte Cristo." With added help from a very excited Martin Whitly, the NYPD trace the case back to a high society family planning one of the biggest weddings of the season, so Malcolm and Dani get dressed up to attend the event and track down their culprit.
S01 E14
Gil Arroyo
Eye of the Needle
Directed by Lisa RobinsonWritten by Wyatt Cain
Jessica continues to search for more information on the "Girl in the Box," but is confronted by the "Carousel Killer," who has a very public vendetta against the Whitlys. While the NYPD investigates families tied to Martin's victims, it's ultimately up to Malcolm and Jessica to track down the tip-line caller, turned killer, who is blackmailing her. Meanwhile, Ainsley receives a big promotion at work, but quickly realizes she may never escape the high demand for serial killer reports.
S01 E15
Gil Arroyo
Death's Door
Directed by Adam KaneWritten by Elizabeth Peterson
When a body is found professionally preserved and embalmed, the NYPD teams up with Edrisa to go undercover at a convention of funeral directors. While there, they discover their top suspects - morticians Tilda and Dev - who used to be in business with the victim. Then, enter the mind of a serial killer as Martin revisits his past through a series of hallucinations.
S01 E16
Gil Arroyo
The Job
Directed by Satya BhabhaWritten by Justin W. Lo
When a motorcycle gang robbery turns into a murder, Malcolm and team are called to the scene to investigate. While he's working on a profile, he runs into an old friend from boarding school, licensed insurance investigator Vijay (guest star Dhruv Singh). Together they work to uncover the identity of the murderer and his accomplices who stole millions in watches. Meanwhile, Martin blackmails Jessica, exchanging his silence about who stabbed him for more quality time with his son.
S01 E17
Gil Arroyo
Stranger Beside You
Directed by Pamela RomanowskyWritten by Lauriel Harte Marger
The NYPD dives into a case surrounding a famous mommy blogger, whose husband was mysteriously stabbed just days after their baby was born. Meanwhile, Bright finds his way back to Eve, but can't shake his paranoia that there's more to her than meets the eye. To help ease his nerves, Ainsley helps him do some investigating and uncovers a secret she has been keeping.
S01 E18
Gil Arroyo
Scheherazade
Directed by Dermott DownsWritten by Nora Zuckerman
When an up-and-coming ballet dancer is mysteriously poisoned, the NYPD dives deep into the rigorous world of dance. Meanwhile, Jessica reunites with an old friend, socialite Nicholas Endicott, and Bright and Eve turn to Martin for answers regarding the girl in the box.
S01 E19
Gil Arroyo
The Professionals
Directed by Lily MariyeWritten by Lisa Randolph
After a catastrophic turn of events, Malcolm and Ainsley are convinced there's more to Nicholas Endicott than meets the eye. Their only hope just might be an impromptu Whitly family reunion.
S01 E20
Gil Arroyo
Like Father...
Directed by Adam KaneWritten by Elizabeth Peterson
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
02Season 213 episodes · 2021
S02 E01
Gil Arroyo
It’s All in the Execution
Directed by Antonio NegretWritten by Chris Fedak
Bright finds his personal life in disarray after his sister's shocking actions. Now, he has to "take care" of her and protect his mother, Jessica, from a secret that could tear the family apart all over again. To distract himself, Malcolm takes on a new case and must find the killer behind a recent beheading in the city... and the only person he can turn to for help with the case is his father. Meanwhile, Martin returns to Claremont to a surprise new roommate and JT faces discrimination while on the job.
S02 E02
Gil Arroyo
Speak of the Devil
Directed by Antonio NegretWritten by Eileen Jones
When a priest is found murdered in his place of worship, Bright grapples with its effect on his own trauma.
S02 E03
Gil Arroyo
Alma Mater
Directed by Omar MadhaWritten by Lisa Randolph
When the headmaster of Bright's alma mater is found murdered, he is forced to face a troubling secret from his past. Meanwhile, Jessica struggles with her decision to end things with Gil, Martin grows closer to Friar Pete and JT eagerly anticipates the birth of his baby.
S02 E04
Gil Arroyo
Take Your Father to Work Day
Directed by Omar MadhaWritten by Elizabeth Peterson
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.
S02 E05
Gil Arroyo
Bad Manners
Directed by Chris GrismerWritten by Marcus Dalzine
Malcolm and Ainsley both race to find the killer in the so-called "Debutante Slayings," but Ainsley's persistence has Malcolm worried about what her actual motive might be. While Martin is thrilled to see his daughter's passion in the field, Jessica suggests she and Ainsley take a vacation. Meanwhile, JT meets with his union rep to decide if he should file an official complaint against the cop who discriminated against him.
S02 E06
Gil Arroyo
Head Case
Directed by Lisa RobinsonWritten by Wyatt Cain
The team investigates the murder of an architect who was tasked with renovating a supposedly haunted hotel.
S02 E07
Gil Arroyo
Face Value
Directed by Lou Diamond PhillipsWritten by Lauriel Harte Marger
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.
S02 E08
Gil Arroyo
Ouroboros
Directed by Chris GrismerWritten by Nora Zuckerman
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.
S02 E09
Gil Arroyo
The Killabustas
Directed by Dermott DownsWritten by Sabrina Deana-Roga
Despite Gil's fatherly concerns, Bright throws himself into a new case involving an escalating killer that has Edrisa's online vigilante group, known as the "Killabustas," trying to stop him. Meanwhile, Jessica realizes that she must dive deep into her past traumas in order to write a book and may need Gil's help to do it. Then, Martin's relationship with Dr. Capshaw intensifies.
S02 E10
Gil Arroyo
Exit Strategy
As Malcolm distances himself from Martin, Jessica does the opposite, diving head-first into the past for the sake of her tell-all book. Meanwhile, Martin is desperate to get in touch with his son ahead of his imminent plans, as Dr. Vivian Capshaw grows increasingly suspicious. Meanwhile, the NYPD investigates a crime of passion.
S02 E11
Gil Arroyo
You Can Run...
After a terrifying incident at Claremont, Malcolm is in a race against time to track down multiple killers. The NYPD realizes someone close to home might be the key to finding them.
S02 E12
Gil Arroyo
Sun and Fun
Directed by Chris GrismerWritten by Lisa Randolph
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.
S02 E13
Gil Arroyo
The Last Weekend
Directed by Chris GrismerWritten by Lilla Zuckerman
The search for a serial killer known as "The Woodsman" might help the NYPD find one of their own.
S01 E02
S01 E03
S01 E04
S01 E05
S01 E06
S01 E07
S01 E08
S01 E09
S01 E10
S01 E11
S01 E12
S01 E13
S01 E14
S01 E15
S01 E16
S01 E17
S01 E18
S01 E19
S01 E20
S02 E02
S02 E03
S02 E04
S02 E05
S02 E06
S02 E08
S02 E09
S02 E10
S02 E11
S02 E12
S02 E13
