Prodigal Son

Michael Sheen is dancing with light feet in this role, clearly having a blast playing a serial killer who is at once a duplicitous menace and a charming conversationalist.

Performances carry the day, here: Payne is edgy and hopped-up as a young man in a perpetual state of ultra-anxiety. ... Sheen cleverly carries off a character with all the urbane wit of Hannibal Lecter, but evil buried further under the surface. ... The show, though, is completely in control, deploying Sheen carefully, well, and never too much. It’s a program that provides a creepy jolt while never reveling in darkness for its sake.

Or, “My Dad’s a Serial Killer.”

“Prodigal Son,” on Fox, is the Foxiest, an edgy, eccentric, style-forward series. ... It’s all a little overheated and fancy for my taste. ... Still, says Malcolm’s mother (Bellamy Young), “the media loves a charismatic serial killer.” So do TV writers, and so, perhaps, do you.

Through three episodes, Sheen goes very light on psychotic menace, a refreshing choice that also allows for future revelations about Martin’s motives. When the show leaves Martin’s cell, it becomes an unexceptional procedural.

Malcolm cut off communication with his dad 10 years ago but turns to him for consultation on a new case. These scenes are far less entertaining than those with Malcolm’s mother, played by “Scandal” star Bellamy Young, hamming it up. These moments give “Prodigal Son” an occasional “Castle” vibe.

This isn't 1995 and there's too much available TV to tune in regularly for a 42-minute broadcast drama of which I love only five minutes. ... Prodigal Son is trapped in that all-too-familiar position that most network dramas find themselves in these days, between wanting to tell cable-style arced stories and satisfying broadcast murder-of-the-week mandates.

This show is very differently written. I can't wait to see each new episode.

I have not been so enthusiastic about a TV show since Hannibal. Hope this runs for several seasons, as the characters provide plenty of potential.

Basically a cute kitschy daytime tv style update of Blacklist. Characters are facile but fun. Not too shocked it didn't get more seasons but if you're out of fun crime show to watch in between season 9012 and 9013 of law and order or CSI or something maybe its your thing

I was excited to watch this show because I liked the premise and some of the actors. It was a complete let down. Horrible writing, horrible script, and the worst is the horrible acting! Ainsley reporting the news made me cringe every time. How was she casted? The only good acting is from Lou D. P. and Sheen. The rest of the main cast is also bad/subpar. I'm surprised this got renewed for a second season. UPDATE* Just finished the series and the last 2 episodes are good enough to change my mind a little. It also made me realize that one of the biggest problem of this show is how long it is. It should be a 10-12 episodes series, not 20. Too much fluff in between. My opinion on the bad acting still stands.