In the premiere of Small Prophets, which aired in the U.K. and now is making a domestic release on Apple TV, we met Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley). He’s a simple man with a simple life and routine. But he has a big problem—his girlfriend Clea is missing. And now her family wants to declare her dead and sell her property, which happens to be Michael’s home.
Not only does he want to keep his home, but he’s also holding out hope Clea will return. So, his father Brian (Michael Palin) suggested a radical solution. In this second episode, “Is This Legal,” Michael has to weigh whether to pursue it.
Growing Homunculi
Michael discovered the truth about Homunculi and what it takes to grow them at the end of the pilot. As he awakes the next day, he realizes that he needs to decide whether to take it seriously or not. He heads to work and has some more fun. But he soon gets a call that his father has a problem, so he heads out.
When he arrives, Michael learns that his father has been keeping water bottles. When he questions why, his father shares it’s so he can grow his Homunculi—small prophets—to get the answers he needs about Clea. While Michael doesn’t keep the bottles, it sparks an idea. When he spots some special jars abandoned on his way home, he takes it as a sign. Michael snags the jars and heads home.
There, Michael begins the work of preparing the space. He clears out his shed, dumping more junk into his garden to the dismay of his neighbor. He lays out his jars and opens the recipe, beginning the work of collecting what he needs. He calls in sick to work to have time to prep everything. But it turns out he needs things from his store.
So, Michael heads down in disguise. He finds Kacey (Lauren Patel) on her break and asks her to get what he needs. She does it, though she’s confused about what’s happening. Armed with all the supplies he needs, Michael heads home and begins preparing the jars. He puts in all the needed items and sits there, waiting after reading the incantation.
An invitation
Meanwhile, Michael slips off to sleep. But he’s woken by a call. It’s Kacey, inviting him out to a night of drinks with his co-workers. With some time to kill, he decides to head out. But it isn’t exactly what he expects.
Michael arrives and Kacey is about the only one happy to see him. His other co-workers seem content to mock him and press him about his checkered past. It begins to be too much for Michael, especially after a few drinks. But he opens up and shares a bit more about his life and story with Kacey, who seems to seem him differently.
At the end of the night, they walk home together. She seems drawn to him and his story. There is friendship there, and maybe the kind of friend and sounding board that will be needed moving forward.
At the end of the night, Michael returns to his shed. He checks on the progress of the jars. And, in the murky water something appears—a creature. Could his Homunculi plan actually bear fruit?
Thoughts on this week’s episode:
This is the second of the two-episode premier, and it ends with a wild cliffhanger. It appears the plan to make the small prophets will work well. The question is whether he’ll get an answer, and if it will be the answer he wants.
Small Prophets streams Wednesdays on Apple TV. Check back next week as we recap the next episode.
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