What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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T10 WHATS UP! September 22 - 28, 2019 in law enforcement as an adult, particularly criminal psycholo- gy. He becomes a very success- ful profiler, thanks to his ability to "think like a killer." Unfortunately for Malcolm, his talent is eclipsed by the fear that the apple may not have fall- en far from the tree, and the FBI lets him go. Instead, he's picked out by an NYPD agent named Gil, who is played by screen vet- eran Lou Diamond Phillips ("Longmire"). Unfortunately for Malcolm's sanity, Gil seems to have chosen him because of his unsavory connections, not despite them. A copycat serial killer has emerged, and the perpetrator is copying "The Surgeon." Mal- colm is forced to meet with his father, which brings memories of his traumatic childhood flooding back. He's worked his whole life to ensure that people like his father are caught and in- carcerated, so why the title "Prodigal Son?" Well, Martin seems to think that he and his son are exactly the same, and that once Mal- colm accepts his true nature, the father and son can build a wonderful relationship like the one they had when Malcolm was a child, before Martin was locked up for being a homicid- al maniac. It is the relationship between father and son that really drives this series. Though Malcolm is loathe to admit it, he and Martin really connect. There is still a bond between the two that cannot be denied. While the circumstances are extreme, "Prodigal Son" com- bines its serial killer-centric storyline with elements of a family drama. Rounding out this beyond-dysfunctional fam- ily is Halston Sage ("The Or- ville") as Payne's spoiled sister and Bellamy Young ("Scandal") as Payne's mother — Fox has put together a team of actors who have earned their stripes on the small screen, proven dra- matic stars that keep the show compelling. This series has a real shot at becoming television gold, and I (along with Fox ex- ecutives) am hoping that it lives up to its potential. If you have yet to watch any of the great trailers for "Prodi- gal Son," they're a good place to start in preparation for the se- ries premiere. The costumes, set design and color correction of the show evoke the 1991 Os- car-winning film "The Silence of the Lambs," and that's with- out taking into consideration flashbacks to meetings between the boy and his father, who is chained up just like Dr. Hanni- bal Lecter himself. There are some dark and even gruesome moments in these trailers, though — the se- ries might not be great for the faint of heart or weak of stom- ach. As Malcolm struggles to come to terms with his complex feelings about his father, he ad- mits that what he is truly terri- fied of is himself. Can the apple fall far from the tree? And did it? As Malcolm contemplates whether he has the capacity to become the man his father in- sists he will be, viewers are tak- en on a thrilling ride full of mur- der, psychological turmoil and family drama. I'm such a sucker for a good psychological thrill- er, and with a phenomenal cast, amazing art direction and good production value (plus a pretty "killer" soundtrack), "Prodigal Son" could be the next big thing on TV. Catch the series pre- miere on Monday, Sept. 23. Lou Diamond Phillips stars in "Prodigal Son" continued from page T2 Sins of the father: New Fox drama is police procedural and family drama combined TV FEATURE