Throughout season 1 of Small Prophets, Michael (Pearce Quigley) has sought one thing — an answer. He wants to know what happened to Clea, who disappeared years earlier. Is she dead? Does she still love him? And now he has some fully grown homunculi to help answer those questions if he has the courage to ask his question.
In the finale,“Wise Man’s Song,” is about whether he finds that courage. Let’s dive in.
Secret is out
Clive (Jon Pointing) continues to have a bee in his bonnet about his neighbor. Despite the chiding of his wife, Bev (Sophie Willan), he wants something done. And when Bev suggests he’s keeping creatures in jars in his shed, Clive is even more concerned. So, when he sees Michael slip away, he sneaks over. He finds the Homunculi in the jars, but he’s so startled he doesn’t have time to work out what they are. He’s barely able to slip out before a sleeping Kayce (Lauren Patel) wakes.
When Kayce wakes and finds Michael out and the Homunculi awake, she has a thought. She asks her own big question about appearing on the show Neighbors and gets the word she will be on. But that’s not all. She asks about some winning numbers so she might have the funds to make that particular dream come true.
When Michael returns, they head to work. But before they can go in for their shift, Michael gets a call about his father (Michael Palin). Turns out his father somehow has a motorcycle, which is causing a stir. So, Michael and Kayce head off to see what is going on, much to the dismay of their boss (Mackenzie Crook).
Michael arrives and finds his father is on a motorcycle, one that he apparently won. He introduces his father to Kayce. And his father imparts to Kayce that the Homunculi, once grown, have a limited shelf life. That puts a real rush on Michael asking the question that he hasn’t had the courage to ask. At least not yet.
So, Kayce encourages Michael to get home and get on it. Turns out that’s a good thing. Clive has called the police, who are investigating the property. All while Roy (Paul Kaye) has entered the house and has movers removing Clea’s boxes. He’s hoping to find the Birds of America book.
A big crowd
As Michael and Kayce arrive, there is a crowd at his house. He sends Kayce to look after the Homunculi as he tries to sort out the business with Roy, the police, and a group of scientists looking for a meteorite. It is a convoluted mess that becomes more difficult when Kayce calls from the shed to let him know the king is free, and he’s not pleased.
Michael races to the back and helps to snag the king. They get him back in the jar, but it’s clear that all three are fading quickly. Between that and the looming presence of the police, who wouldn’t understand what’s in the jars, Michael is pressed for time. Out of options for delay, he asks his questions.
He asks if Clea is alive, to which the queen responds yes. He asks if she’s coming home, to which the king responds no. And he asks if she still loves him, to which the third member responds always. Michael quickly ends the Homunculi and makes it out in time to avoid detection.
He runs into Roy and discovers what Roy is actually seeking. He brings out a box with a burned hole in it. Turns out the meteor landed right in the book, ruining it. The team seeking the meteor is thrilled. Roy is crushed. And Michael is free.
He and Kayce sit on the curb and mull the future. She has the winning numbers, which should give them funds. And she’s heading for Australia to fulfill her dream. Michael, meanwhile, is heading for British Columbia to investigate the call he got where the caller hung up. He knows that Clea is alive and loves him, and he’s bound to find her.
This was an interesting show with an interesting hook. It is Quigley that makes it all work, with his back-and-forth with Patel. I would be interested in a second season, even if it is Homunculi-free and set elsewhere. I would hope that somehow their journeys will align so they can remain a duo a little longer.
Small Prophets is now streaming on Apple TV. We’ve recapped all the action of season 1 right here.
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