‘Prodigal Son’ Season 1, Episode 7 ‘Q&A’ Review: A New Serial Killer

Prodigal Son just got so damn better. From last week’s messed up child sadist, the tension in the show has just climbed up two notches. Now, there’s a new serial killer on the block and things are truly coming to head. By far, this is Prodigal Son’s strongest and most thrilling episode. Everything’s cohesively put together and it perfects the blend of Malcolm’s (Tom Payne) personal demons with that of his work. It seems that the show is finally getting to the deep end and I’m pretty much bouncing off my seat for what’s next.

Tonight on Prodigal Son, Ainsley (Halston Sage) finally interviews Dr. Whitly (Michael Sheen). But, as expected, no matter how prepared anyone is, Dr. Whitly still manages to come out on top. Meanwhile, Malcolm encounters the new serial killer in the junkyard where he found his dad’s station wagon. And this sets him to pursue the connection of it all to his father.

The Bronx Serial Killer

Picking up from the last episode, Malcolm inspects his dad’s station wagon. Suddenly, he hears clanging. When he follows the sound, he ends up face to face with a man who suddenly starts shooting at him. Malcolm narrowly escapes with his life and he thinks the man had something to do with his dad. After reporting the incident, the police find something more gruesome in the junkyard, bodies crushed in cars with the car compactor. The total body count amounts to 10 and most of them date back to five to ten years ago.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Observing the way they were killed, Malcolm notes that unlike the surgeon, the killer derives no pleasure from these kills. He disassociates and treats his victims as inanimate objects to kill them. Aside from that, they also discover that the killer only operates in the Bronx area where he targets vulnerable people. However, Malcolm can’t seem to form a solid profile for the man. He does still believe that the killer is connected to his dad.

Unfortunately, his proof, the blood they found in the station wagon, didn’t match any of the newly found victims or even any of Dr. Whitly’s known victims. Dr. Tanaka (Keiko Agena) does, however, find a switchblade hidden in the console. This triggers more of Malcolm’s repressed memories and he distinctly remembers holding that exact same bloody knife as a child.

The Dr. Whitly Exclusive

Meanwhile, Ainsley dives headfirst into her Dr. Whitly exclusive. She immediately pounces her father with the more gruesome one “Why did you kill all these people?” Although taken aback, Dr. Whitly quickly manages to regain his composure. He doesn’t give in to Ainsley’s proddings. Instead, he spins the story to the thousands of people he saved as a doctor. He even boasts about a procedure named after him.

Eric Liebowitz/FOX

Just when Ainsley’s losing her mind, Malcolm arrives with his inquiries related to the new serial killer. He confronts Dr. Whitly about the switchblade but, as usual, Dr. Whitly answers him with childlike innocence. Dr. Whitly’s all like “oh Malcolm, you wanted that knife as a souvenir for you know, whittling wood and scaling fish.” However, when Malcolm pushes the question about the camping trip, Dr. Whitly quiets down and suggests they table it for now.

After this, Ainsley pulls her brother aside and convinces him to work together with her for the interview. With Malcolm behind her, Ainsley delves back into the interview with a new tactic. This time, she mercilessly hounds him with the dark times of Malcolm’s life as a direct consequence of his crimes. And her sharpest weapon of all is the words “You are a terrible father.” Unexpectedly, this hits just the spot. Dr. Whitly jumps out of his chair furious, raging, and definitely a whole lot more terrifying. And it was all caught on camera. Realizing he was played, Dr. Whitly scornfully praises his daughter’s move.

Nothing Gets Better Than a Psychiatric Lockdown

Suddenly, the alarm goes off in the psychiatric prison and a lockdown ensues. Tevin (Matthew Maher), one of the other patients, manages to get a knife from who knows where and stabs his guard. Why? Well, Tevin just wants an interview with Ainsley. He’s addicted to fame and he wants the whole world to know about his crimes. Thinking that they’re safe behind the automated doors, Ainsley sends her cameraman/ boyfriend Jin (Raymond Lee) to get some shots of the lockdown.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Meanwhile, Ainsley and Malcolm continue to grill their father about Malcolm’s new case. This time, Dr. Whitly’s more agreeable and even directs them to get his answer on camera. He confesses that he knows the new serial killer. In fact, he is a mentor to him. Just as he’s about to reveal the killer’s name, however, Tevin appears at the door right in front of Jin. And he has a keycard on his hands.

In a split second, Tevin opens the door and stabs Jin. Dr. Whitly’s guard manages to push him back out again as they seal the door from the inside. And they quickly drag Jin inside to Dr. Whitly’s more protected quarters. The horrifying thing is there’s a man bleeding to death on his feet but, all Dr. Whitly does is stare with sickening interest and barely perceptible pleasure. It’s like the only thing he’s missing is popcorn.

The Surgeon Saves The Day

Ironically, it’s only Dr. Whitly who can save Jin. Jin is suffering from a traumatic hemothorax and they need to relieve the buildup of blood on his lungs to save him. They can’t wait for the medics so, Malcolm volunteers to do the procedure with the scalpel they found in the medical kit. But, with Malcolm’s tremors, he’ll more likely stab Jin to death rather than save him.

Despite Malcolm’s initial refusal, he surrenders the task to Dr. Whitly, the only competent person to do it in the room. The guard uncuffs him, and for one moment, it seems like the Prodigal Son is going to turn into a slasher series. But, he immediately gets to work. Irritatingly, Ainsley picks up the camera and starts filming the surgeon at work. But, well, it is her job. But, still though, really Ainsley, really?

Eric Liebowitz/FOX

Meanwhile, Malcolm tries to deal with the situation outside to clear the lockdown and allow the medics to get in. With a little help from Gil and the team, Malcolm figures out just what to do. Picking up Jin’s camera, he heads out with the prison guard’s taser gun. When he finds Tevin, he appeals to the man’s hunger for fame. When the camera distracts Tevin, Malcolm tasers him.

Back at Whitly’s quarters, the doctor has already managed to save Jin’s life. And Ainsley has nothing but gratitude and admiration for her father. Even then though, Malcolm looks on in distrust as Dr. Whitly hands him back the scalpel. In the midst of Whitly’s chatter though, Malcolm picks up a snippet of information of his dad’s tenure at St. Edwards.

The Family Friend

In the precinct, Malcolm finally figures out what that piece of information meant. Dr. Whitly was telling him the location of the serial killer. St. Edwards is in the Bronx and Dr. Whitly once did a rotation there. However, as Malcolm points out, it wouldn’t be one of Whitly’s colleagues. It will more likely be someone younger and someone he can easily manipulate. As soon as this comes out of his mouth, Malcolm realizes that it’s the same case as Tevin.

David Giesbrecht/FOX

Malcolm immediately calls the psychiatric institute to tell them that Dr. Whitly staged the whole thing. But, as it turns out, Tevin beat him to it. Because of that, the institute moved Dr. Whitly somewhere else where he won’t be able to talk to anybody else for a very long time.

At home, Jessica (Bellamy Young) rubs in her “I told you so” to Malcolm’s face with a heavy dose of enjoyable sarcasm. Suddenly, they hear a telephone ringing. And with dawning horror, they realize it’s coming from the basement, particularly Dr. Whitly’s study that Jessica sealed a long time ago. Without hesitance, Malcolm breaks down the new seal and answers the phone. To his surprise, it’s the Bronx serial killer, a friend of Whitly’s who was apparently also part of Malcolm’s camping trip with his dad. And it seems that he knows more about the prodigal son more than anybody else.

Prodigal Son continues Monday, November 11th, with “Family Friend” at 9/8c on Fox.