Prodigal Son 2×08 “Ouroboros” is the right way to bring a show back from a hiatus, building tension, wrapping up some storylines, and moving others forward. Also, it showcases the amazing Alan Cumming as Simon Hoxley. He’s an over-the-top Sherlock Holmes (who didn’t need to become any more than he already was). And I love him already. Could we keep him?
ALL IN THE FAMILY
Being a Whitly is sort of a double-edged sword. On the one hand, this family knows how to come together in a crisis. And they certainly will do anything to have each other’s backs. On the other hand…murder. Hey, no family is perfect.
This week’s murder mystery ties directly into the greater plot – the Whitly family trying to cover for one of their own. Hoxley is in town, determined to find the murderer of Nicholas Endicott. And he’s pretty sure Malcolm is his man. Not that one could entirely blame him for his assumption. Not only did Malcolm indeed dispose of the body, but he shows once again how far he’s willing to go in order to save his sister, when he cuts off a corpse’s thumb to access the dead man’s cell phone. I love my brothers, but I don’t think I love them that much.
The whole episode is an interesting cat-and-mouse game between the Whitly family and Hoxley. He’s a little over-the-top and knows how to make a dramatic entrance. He definitely fits in well with the show. And from the very first scene, he presents an interesting dichotomy to Malcolm’s character. Yet, while they seem so different, there is something eerily similar about the two. Even if Malcolm wasn’t trying to cover up for his sister’s crime, it still seems likely the two would have formed an interesting rivalry, which I would love to see play out more in the future.
As it turns out, Hoxley isn’t in it for entirely altruistic reasons, but he does seem to know what buttons to push to get results. And in the end, it’s more a twist of fortune that throws him off the scent than anything else. If the murderer hadn’t gone after him, would he have eventually gotten to the truth of the matter? I rather think he might have done. If Martin didn’t kill him first.
Of course, this seems to wrap up the Endicott investigation, letting Ainsley and Malcolm off the hook. For now, at least. But will it stay that way forever? In this show, who could say?
But while the Whitly family contemplates breathing a sigh of relief, they might want to hold off on relaxing too much just yet. Ainsley still seems entirely too…comfortable with murder. Both with committing it and being self-satisfied in her ability to evade capture.
Martin and Jessica might want to keep an eye on her moving forward. It seems she may well be more her father’s daughter than anyone ever suspected.
FORBIDDEN ROMANCE
Since Catherine Zeta-Jones first appeared on Prodigal Son, I thought I might have detected some…sparks between her character, Dr. Capshaw, and Michael Sheen’s Martin Whitly. This episode proved that these sparks weren’t just in my head. There’s a dark attraction between the two, and it probably won’t end well. Of course, Martin being who he is, there’s a good chance he’s putting on an act and has a greater scheme in mind. His escape, more likely. But I also get the feeling Dr. Capshaw isn’t all that she seems. Either she’s got secrets of her own, or she’s got really bad taste in men. I know he’s charming as all heck, but he’s also a serial killer. Girl, raise your standards!
I’m hoping that it’s all a ruse on both sides, though I don’t yet know her endgame. But if it’s to be a war of wits and trickery, who will come out on top? We can only wait and see.
Prodigal Son airs Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox.
