Small Prophets: A 6-Episode BBC Hit Finds New Life on Apple TV
The series features a man who brewes magical creatures in glass jars to solve the mystery of his missing partner.
By Austin Reed ·
A new BBC series called Small Prophets is now available on Apple TV.
The show consists of six episodes, each running for half an hour. It blends deadpan humor with fantasy elements and social comedy. Critics describe the tone as gentle and melancholic.
The story centers on Michael Sleep, a man in his 50s played by Pearce Quigley. He lives in a suburban house with an overgrown lawn. He has kept the home unchanged since his partner, Clea, disappeared seven years ago. Michael works part-time at a retail store called the Tool Box. He also visits a retirement home to see his father, Brian.
Brian, who is played by Michael Palin, is inventive but scattered. He tells Michael about a friend in Egypt who could summon homunculi. These are miniature humanoid beings that always tell the truth. Brian gives Michael a recipe to bring the creatures to life. The process requires old coins and a truckload of manure. The creatures grow inside glass jars.
Other characters enter Michael's life as he begins this experiment. Roy, Clea's brother, is played by Paul Kaye. Roy is broke and wants to claim the house. He shadows Michael frequently. The neighbors also become involved. Clive, played by a comically hectoring actor, is tormented by Michael's messy yard. His wife, Bev, finds Michael different and interesting.
Michael develops a friendship with Kacey, a young coworker played by Lauren Patel. They bond over their shared frustration with their boss, Gordon. Gordon is described as an officious incompetent with a greasy ponytail. He is played by Mackenzie Crook, the writer and director of the series. Crook is known for tenderly offbeat series like Detectorists.
The show portrays loners and misfits with a sympathetic eye. Many characters are caught in unsatisfying jobs and thwarted hopes. Michael yearns to recapture his vanished life. Kacey has large dreams despite doing dead-end work. The characters are drawn with care, showing vulnerability even when they appear foolish.
The series includes specific visual motifs that add a poetic touch to daily life. These include a falling star, an oil spill shaped like a rabbit, and a Christmas memory. The homunculi are described as fragile and truth-telling. Their faces show pain and isolation. Trapped in their bottles, they mirror the solitude of the human characters.
Pearce Quigley plays Michael with a quiet performance. The character is described as resolutely uncynical. He is caring, loyal, and accepting of differences. He remains open to the wonder of life without making a big deal of it. The show uses humor to balance its melancholic themes. Michael's interactions with customers at the store provide specific comedic moments.
