‘Prodigal Son’ Season 1, Episode 11 ‘Alone Time’ Review: Making A Killer

From the get-go, Prodigal Son has unabashedly embraced plenty of horror and thriller elements from the classics. But, this comeback episode is the cherry on top of the season. Mind games, smashing hands, a terrifying killer chase, and even a little homage to The Shining – this episode of Prodigal Son has it all. And let me tell you, it was an hour-long nailbiting journey on the edge of my seat with my jaw dropping every now and then.

Poor Malcolm (Tom Payne) just can’t take a goddamn break! More than being held captive, however, Malcolm discovers more secrets than ever before. The biggest one of them is particularly one hell of a stinger. And of course, it all goes back to none other than his very own father. Read on to find out what happened in this week’s episode of Prodigal Son. 

The Trials of a Killer

Picking right up from where it left off the last episode, Prodigal Son jumps back in with Malcolm waking up in a bunker. Paul Lazar/ John Watkins (Michael Raymond-James) doesn’t waste any time playing the mind games with him. Although, it’s actually Malcolm who makes the first move. After Lazar killed Shannon with his own hands, Malcolm realizes that Lazar has changed MO. That is rare for serial killers. And it only means that Malcolm has much less time than he expects.

Instead of being his next victim, however, Lazar seems to be looking forward to turning Malcolm over to his side. He thinks that once Malcolm goes through his custom killer trials, he’ll somehow flip a switch. Then, he’ll follow in his footsteps or rather, his fathers.

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In the precinct, Collette (Meagan Good) and Gil (Lou Diamond Phillips) question Lazar’s grandmother Matilda (Marylouise Burke). But, the old bat only succeeds at becoming one of the creepiest characters of Prodigal Son and offering crap. So, Gil moves on to plan B. He heads over to the Whitlys and delivers the news of Malcolm’s disappearance to Jessica (Bellamy Young). Hoping she might have a clue, he leaves her the photos from Lazar’s childhood album. Then, he heads up to the correctional prison for his appointment with the Surgeon.

On the other hand, while sifting through evidence, Dani (Aurora Perrineau) and JT (Frank Harts) finally find their first clue. In one of the pictures, they spot a cabin. They immediately take it to Collette. And given that they have no other leads to go by, she immediately agrees to head out to it once they find its exact location. That job is up to Gil to get out of Dr. Whitly.

Homemade

Seeing Dr. Whitly and Gil for the first time together in a room in Prodigal Son is as weird as it gets. It’s basically dad of past vs dad of now. And Dr. Whitly makes it clear to Gil that he’s thinking the same thing. In fact, he’s quite spiteful that Gil has seemed to take his place. Gil does his best not to let Dr. Whitly’s acidic words get to him though. And when he tells Dr. Whitly that Lazar has Malcolm, the Surgeon collapses. Knowing his comrade, Dr. Whitly thinks his son is already dead.

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On the contrary, Lazar seems to be enjoying his time with Malcolm. But, on their second chat, maybe not so much anymore because Malcolm has him all figured out. Raised by grandparents who abused him quite badly and instilled hate so deep within him, Lazar became the man who he is today. His own home made him that way.

Despite the damning connections, Lazar still believes his work is his calling. He even thinks he has the upper hand since he remembers his past, unlike Malcolm. Using this chance, Malcolm tries to get Lazar to tell the truth about what happened on that camping trip. But, Lazar doesn’t tell. He shows. Lifting his shirt, he unveils a scar right below his ribs. And the sight of it causes Malcolm to remember his young self stabbing Lazar. As it turns out, the deal has always been between Lazar and Malcolm. Now, Lazar pays the deed forward by stabbing Malcolm just where he was stabbed as well.

Papa’s Biggest Secret

After Dr. Whitly’s surprising collapse, the medics patch him right back up with some drugs. It doesn’t stop him from being nasty towards Gil. But, Gil nevertheless manages to get the location out of him. Dr. Whitly even tells him of the bunker hidden deep under it. With the new information, Collette, Dani, and JT all storm the area. Unfortunately, it’s a bust. Not one soul is in that cabin and it seems that nobody has been there in a while. Upon receiving the news, a nearly unconscious Dr. Whitly realizes with horror where his son and Lazar really are. They are where it all began.

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Back at the bunker, Malcolm’s logical side in the form of his psychiatrist’s illusion helps him deal with his wound. But soon enough, Lazar is back taunting him again. This time, however, Lazar gives up the entire truth. That camping trip was never about the girl in the trunk. Yes, Dr. Whitly disposed of her but, she wasn’t the main agenda. Malcolm was. Dr. Whitly brought his son there to kill him.

Malcolm was remembering too much. So, he needed to be killed. Unfortunately, Dr. Whitly got cold feet at the last second. So, Lazar took it into his own hands. Luckily for little Malcolm, he heard the argument that ensued between his father and Lazar. So, when Lazar came, Malcolm attacked in self-defense.

Mr. Boots

As Lazar says, Malcolm and his father have the same weakness, their family. So, as his final trial, Lazar would be forcing Malcolm to watch the death of his own family. Desperate, Malcolm tries to convince Lazar not to listen to the voice in his head telling him to do what he’s doing. But, Lazar’s too far gone. He likes this life. And he’s not going to give it up. As Lazar opens the door, ax swinging in hand, Malcolm hears the subway. With utter horror, he realizes that he’s at home.

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Meanwhile, upstairs, Ainsley (Halston Sage) arrives to comfort her mother and offer help. Once she starts looking over the photos, Matilda’s angel collection gets her attention. Rushing down to the basement, Ainsley starts going through a box of her childhood things with her mother in tow. And there, she finds another angel figurine just like the ones in the pictures. As she explains, it was from Mr. Boots, her imaginary friend. But, with the picture in hand, Mr. Boots might not have been that imaginary after all.

The Prodigal Son Comes to the Rescue

Suddenly, Ainsley and Jessica hear wood creaking behind them. Jessica takes a look around the corner and sees a portion of the wall opening up. From there, the Junkyard killer steps out, ready for his hunt. Only one word comes out of Jessica. “Run.”

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Mother and daughter race to the front door. But, Lazar is quick on his feet as well. He comes barreling towards them and barely misses Ainsley as he brings his ax down. Ainsley is injured, however, by the shower of glass that comes from the door Lazar hits. In that split second, Jessica hurls a vase towards Lazar and manages to distract him enough to get her injured daughter up the stairs. Then, she proceeds to barricade them deep in her room.

The door to the rooms doesn’t stop Lazar one bit. In a scene straight out of The Shining, Lazar proceeds to start chopping down on the door with his ax. As a last form of defense, Jessica grabs a pair of sharp shiny scissors and plants herself firmly between the door and her daughter.

Meanwhile, back down at the secret dungeon, Malcolm’s starting to give up. Thankfully, his logical side reappears and snaps him out of it. However, it’s his more sinister side in the illusion of his father that sets him free. Following its instructions, Malcolm grabs a hammer from the bag of weapons Lazar left behind. Then, with only a second’s hesitation, Malcolm swiftly brings it down on his own hand smashing his own bones. This allows him to slip out of his handcuffs, grab a crowbar, and catch up to Lazar before he gets to Jessica and Ainsley.

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Malcolm draws Lazar out with his voice. When Lazar emerges into the living room, he sees an open chest. The sight of this innocent object causes the ugly memories of his childhood to resurface. And in that split moment of Lazar’s misery, Malcolm pounces on him from the back. Then, he proceeds to shut him inside that chest. All that can be heard afterward as Malcolm reunites with his family is the sound of Lazar sobbing like a child.

Prodigal Son continues Monday, January 27th, with “Internal Affairs” at 9/8c on Fox.