Apple TV: 'Small Prophets' blends fantasy with suburban melancholy
The six-episode BBC series, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, centers on a man who attempts to summon tiny truth-telling creatures to solve the mystery of his missing partner.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Six glass jars sit on a workbench in a suburban shed, each containing a miniature humanoid figure.
The series Small Prophets premiered on Apple TV this year after its initial run on BBC. The show consists of six half-hour episodes that mix deadpan humor with fantasy elements. It follows Michael Sleep, a man in his fifties played by Pearce Quigley. Michael lives in a house with an overgrown lawn that he has kept unchanged since his partner, Clea, disappeared seven years ago. He still expects her to return. His daily life is split between a part-time job at the Tool Box, a retail store, and visits to the retirement home where his father, Brian, resides. Michael Palin portrays Brian, a character described as inventive but scattered.
Brian tells Michael about a friend in Egypt who summoned homunculi. These small beings can answer any question and always speak the truth. Brian provides a recipe for creating the creatures, which involves old coins and a large amount of manure. Michael begins the process despite his doubts. While the homunculi develop, Michael’s life changes as new people enter his space. Roy, played by Paul Kaye, is Clea’s brother. Roy shows up broke and wants to claim the house. Neighbors Clive and Bev also become involved. Clive, who is tormented by Michael’s messy yard, hectoring him frequently. Bev finds Michael different and is curious about him. Michael also forms a friendship with Kacey, a coworker played by Lauren Patel. Kacey is disaffected and bonds with Michael because they both dislike their boss, Gordon. Gordon is described as an officious incompetent with a greasy ponytail. Mackenzie Crook, the show’s writer and director, plays Gordon.
Crook is known for writing and directing offbeat series such as Detectorists. The show focuses on loners and dreamers who hold unsatisfying jobs. Characters like Michael, who yearns for his former life, and Kacey, who has ambitious dreams, are drawn with care. The series includes comedic moments, such as Michael joking with customers at his store. It also features poetic images, including a falling star and an oil spill shaped like a rabbit. The homunculi themselves are depicted as fragile and truth-telling. Their trapped existence mirrors the solitude of the human characters.
Pearce Quigley’s performance as Michael is described as droll and quietly confident. The character is portrayed as uncynical and open to wonder. The series ends with the homunculi fully formed in their jars, ready to answer questions about Clea’s disappearance.
The show is currently streaming on Apple TV.
