Apple TV streams 'Small Prophets,' a BBC fantasy comedy about miniature truth-tellers
The six-episode series, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, follows a man who brews small beings to learn the fate of his missing partner.
By Dominic Foster ·
The BBC drama series 'Small Prophets' is now available for streaming on Apple TV. The show consists of six half-hour episodes written and directed by Mackenzie Crook. It combines fantasy elements with social comedy and deadpan humor. The series is described by critics as a gentle and original production.
Pearce Quigley stars as Michael Sleep, a man in his fifties with long hair and a white beard. He lives in a suburban home with an overgrown lawn. He has maintained the property unchanged for seven years since his partner, Clea, disappeared. Michael hopes she will return. He spends his time working at a hardware store called the Tool Box and visiting his father, Brian.
Michael Palin plays Brian, an inventive but scattered father living in a retirement home. Brian tells his son about a friend in Egypt who summoned homunculi. These are miniature humanoid beings that answer questions and always tell the truth. Brian provides the recipe for creating them in glass jars. He suggests Michael ask the creatures what happened to Clea. Michael attempts the procedure, which requires old coins and a large amount of manure.
Other characters enter Michael's life during this process. Paul Kaye plays Roy, Clea's brother, who arrives broke and seeks to claim the house. Michael's neighbors, Clive and Bev, become obsessed with him. Clive is annoyed by the messy yard, while Bev finds Michael intriguing. Michael also forms a friendship with Kacey, a coworker played by Lauren Patel. They bond over their shared dislike of their boss, Gordon. Crook, the show's writer and director, plays Gordon, an officious manager with a greasy ponytail.
Crook is known for creating tender, offbeat series such as 'Detectorists.' His work often features loners and misfits stuck in unsatisfying jobs. 'Small Prophets' continues this theme by focusing on characters with thwarted hopes. Michael yearns to recapture his life with Clea. Kacey holds large dreams despite working a dead-end job. The characters are portrayed with care, revealing vulnerable moments even when they appear foolish.
The series balances melancholy with humor. Michael makes jokes at the expense of customers at the store. The show incorporates poetic elements into daily life, such as falling stars and an oil spill shaped like a rabbit. The homunculi, when they appear, are fragile and truth-telling. Their faces show pain and isolation. Trapped in their bottles, they reflect the solitude of the human characters.
Quigley delivers a quiet and droll performance as Michael. The character is characterized by an uncynical and accepting approach to life. He remains open to the wonder of life without making a large display of it. The series presents a positive view of people, suggesting they are better than they might sometimes appear.
