Ep 1. Pilot

As a successful criminal profiler working for the FBI, Malcolm Bright is one of the best in his field. However, he has a dark and troubled past. His father, Dr. Martin Whitly, was a notorious serial killer known as “The Surgeon.”

After being fired from the FBI due to his erratic behavior and difficulty working with others, Malcolm is approached by the NYPD. They want him to help them catch a copycat killer who is mimicking his father’s modus operandi. Reluctantly, Malcolm agrees to help and returns to his hometown of New York City.

Malcolm’s return is met with mixed reactions from his family. His mother, Jessica, is overjoyed to see him, but concerned about his mental stability. His sister, Ainsley, is a successful news reporter who resents Malcolm for leaving her alone to deal with her traumatic childhood memories. And his father, who is serving a life sentence in a psychiatric facility, is surprisingly excited to see Malcolm and offers to help with the case.

The case takes a personal turn for Malcolm when he realizes the killer is targeting girls from his own high school class, including his former crush. Using his unique insight into the mind of a killer, Malcolm is able to help the NYPD track down the suspect and prevent any more killings.

However, the case takes its toll on Malcolm, bringing up old memories and causing him to question his own sanity. At the end of the episode, he confronts his father in an attempt to get answers about his past and why he turned out the way he did.

Overall, the first episode of Prodigal Son sets up an intriguing premise and introduces a cast of complex and flawed characters. It’s a psychological crime drama with a unique twist, as the protagonist is the son of a notorious serial killer. While there are some moments of humor and levity, the show is mostly dark and intense, not shying away from the horrific nature of the crimes committed.