‘Prodigal Son’ Season 1, Episode 13 ‘Wait & Hope’ Review: The Count

First off, Malcolm (Tom Payne) in that white suit is a look. Too bad he didn’t actually get to strut it down vacation heaven. But, who are we kidding? It’s Malcolm Bright. He might be the only person who doesn’t want a vacation. Where there’s murder, that’s where he’s happiest. Speaking of murder, this week’s case on Prodigal Son is serving up some classic feels. Not only because the crime is literally based on a literary classic, but it’s also because of the intricate crime scenes themselves. Tonight, it’s all about swords, pirate’s guns, and 1902 colt pistols. And of course, nobody can resist some kind of twisted pre-Valentine’s Prodigal Son episode right? Without further ado, here’s what happened in tonight’s episode of Prodigal Son. 

The Count of Monte Cristo

The prodigal son doesn’t do vacations. People literally have to push the guy into an airplane for him to get one. So, to make sure that Malcolm does get to his vacation destination, Jessica (Bellamy Young) conscripts Gil (Lou Diamond Phillips) to take her son to the airport. Unfortunately, a fresh murder comes onto the radio. And after a lot of begging, Gil agrees to let Malcolm have a peek. Proud papa Gil also just wants to show off Malcolm in his sleek white vacation suit.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Once Malcolm gets on the scene, his white suit instantly earns him a round of Bond and Miami Vice jokes. Coincidentally though, it matches the theme of their new Count of Monte Cristo inspired case. Their victim is Jules Conner, a former district attorney. He was found shot with an antique pistol. And the name Villefort was carved into his forearm. Given that Villefort was one of the three men who sent the Count to prison in the novel, Malcolm believes the murder is a revenge killing. And he thinks there will be two more bodies soon to complete it.

Suddenly, Dr. Edrisa notices something under the victim. Just as she goes to lift the body, Malcolm sees the landmine. And he immediately dives to keep the pressure on the trigger. As everyone else evacuates, Malcolm receives a call from Dr. Whitly (Michael Sheen). And he picks up and gives his dad a live update. Better go out with a bang right? Knowing he won’t last any longer with the bomb though, Malcolm decides to take a risk. Ending the call, he grabs the murder weapon, shoots a window, and jumps out of it just as the landmine explodes. And he ends with a spectacular crash on top of Gil’s vintage chevy impala.

Death By Swords

At the precinct, as Gil mourns his precious car, Malcolm receives a call from his father. And Gil puts it on through to their line. As it turns out, Dr. Whitly’s call actually proves to be quite helpful. As he points out, the bomb might’ve been really intended for the cops. This leads Gil to realize that Conner’s crime might’ve something the police helped cover-up.

Luckily, they manage to trace the gun to William Voight (Dennis Boutsikaris). However, when they get to his office, they find the man stuck to an intricate contraption much like the sword of Damocles. Taught wires are tied from Voight to the two balconies above him. These are all connected to swords hanging in the air. And if he moves, the swords plunge into him all at once. The name Danglars, the second culprit in the novel, was also etched on his arm.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Without hesitation, Malcolm slides under all the wires to Voight. Then, he instructs Dani (Aurora Perrineau) and JT (Frank Harts) to cut the wires from the balcony they’re tied to. As for the swords, Malcolm says he’ll catch them. One by one, Dani and JT start cutting. Some wires trip a sword while some don’t. Malcolm does manage to catch the ones that do. While they’re at it, Malcolm questions Voight.

Thanks to the fear and anxiety caused by the situation, it doesn’t take long to crack Voight. Apparently, Voight bought the gun from one of his clients. He thinks the swords are his clients’ as well. This client is none other than one of New York’s rich and mighty, Calvin Taylor. After getting him out from under all those swords, Voight spills everything else.

A Sinking Cover Up

A few years back, Calvin Taylor (Chis Ghaffari) was involved in a boat crash. That night he was with the cook’s daughter, Isabella. Calvin survived but, the cops never found the girl’s body. So, the Taylors commissioned Conner and Voight to cover it up. Conner handled the cops while Voight moved the money. This leads the team to believe that someone’s avenging Isabella’s death through poetic justice. And this points to Isabella’s only living relative, her father Ernesto.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

As it turns out, it was also Cal’s wedding later that day. Malcolm and Gil catch him just as he’s suiting up at their home. At the mention of Isabella, Cal freezes up. But, Cal’s father George (Michael Siberry) barges in and saves his son from talking. Although the man bristles up at the mention of the accident, he does give in when Malcolm points out that their safety might be compromised. The main entrances of their house might be protected by security. But, a house as ancient as theirs also has hidden tunnels that employees like Ernesto would’ve known about.

True enough, after exploring one of those hidden passageways, Malcolm chances upon Ernesto. The man tries to run but, with Gil and Malcolm’s teamwork, they catch him. However, Malcolm doesn’t feel right about it.

Another Father and Son Team Up

With Ernesto’s arrest, Gil sends Malcolm away to catch up on his vacation. But, Malcolm earns Dani’s sympathy. After all, Malcolm confesses that a vacation to him is like caging him up in a movie theatre that’s just playing horror movies about him all day. So, they decide to follow Malcolm’s hunch that Ernesto’s not the right guy.

With Dani beside him, Malcolm pays Dr. Whitly a visit for some help. And to be honest, it’s quite refreshing to see the father and son in the same room again in Prodigal Son. Unfortunately, Malcolm hasn’t forgiven his dad for his attempted murder. Thankfully, Dani helps drive the conversation back to the case. Like his son, Dr. Whitly doubts that Ernesto’s the culprit. Instead, he finds Cal to be much more fitting. All his life, the lad has been controlled by his father. According to rumors, Cal has been feeling suffocated. Now, his father is forcing him to marry without love. And Dr. Whitly believes that the last man on the list is Cal’s father. As Malcolm realizes, Cal might be planning to do it at the wedding.

Wedding Crashers

With no time left to spare, Dani and Malcolm crash the wedding. As it turns out, Jessica was invited as well. After being exiled by the socialite community, this is her first time to be invited to an event again. And despite discovering her son is not in his supposed vacation, she feels happy enough. With a plea for Malcolm not to embarrass her, Jessica leaves them to their job.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Malcolm and Dani then pull Cal aside. And the lad reveals that he did love Isabella. But, on that tragic night, he couldn’t do anything. He knew they could still save Isabella. But, he was high and his dad was set on doing nothing. At this, something clicks in Malcolm’s head. The authorities never found Isabella’s body. And with the way George looked down on her and treated her, there is enough motivation to seek revenge if she were alive. That might also be the reason Ernesto’s there, to stop his daughter. As turns out, their count was a countess this whole time.

The Countess

Rushing out to the reception, Malcolm snags the mic to provide quite a distraction while Dani looks for Isabella (Andrea Morales). He embarrassingly starts rambling on about dads. And back at Jessica’s table, she denounces that he’s her son. As Malcolm gains his momentum though, he reveals George’s crimes to the audience. And at the end of it, Isabella reveals herself.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Malcolm tries to convince her that the Taylors aren’t worth it. But, she just thanks him and proceeds to bring out a pistol. Malcolm immediately dives for George, saving his life in the process. And Dani quickly knocks the gun out of Isabella’s hand and judo throws her down the floor. As Dani leads Isabella away, the spectators hail Malcolm as a hero. And when they ask him who he is, he says he’s Jessica Whitly’s son. To that, Jessica proudly responds, “Yes, he is.”

Prodigal Son continues Monday, February 10th, with “Eye of the Needle” at 9/8c on Fox.