BBC Hit Small Prophets Lands on Apple TV
The six-episode series blends fantasy and comedy as a man tries to use small creatures to solve a seven-year-old mystery.
By Robert Marshall ·
Apple TV+ now streams Small Prophets, a six-episode series from the BBC that has drawn praise for its blend of humor and fantasy. The show centers on Michael Sleep, a man in his 50s who lives in a suburban home he has maintained exactly as it was when his partner, Clea, disappeared seven years ago.
Michael works part-time at a hardware store called the Tool Box and visits his father, Brian, at a retirement home. Brian tells Michael about a friend in Egypt who could summon homunculi. These are miniature humanoid beings that answer questions with absolute truth. Brian gives Michael a recipe to create the creatures in glass jars, suggesting he use them to learn what happened to Clea.
Michael is skeptical but decides to try the process. The procedure requires various ingredients, including old coins and a large amount of manure. As he prepares the jars in his shed, other characters begin to impact his routine. Roy, the brother of his missing partner, arrives broke and wants to claim the house. He is played by Paul Kaye.
The neighbors also become involved. Clive, the husband next door, is annoyed by Michael's overgrown lawn and hectoring behavior. His wife, Bev, is more curious and finds Michael different from what she expected. At work, Michael forms a friendship with a coworker named Kacey, played by Lauren Patel.
Kacey feels disconnected from their boss, Gordon, who is described as officious and incompetent. Gordon is played by Mackenzie Crook, who also wrote and directed the series. Crook is known for creating tender and offbeat dramas, including the cult comedy Detectorists. His work often focuses on loners and misfits who work unsatisfying jobs.
The show balances these character dynamics with moments of poetic detail. These include a falling star, an oil spill that forms the shape of a rabbit, and a vivid Christmas memory. When the homunculi finally appear, they are fragile and trapped in their bottles. Their isolated presence mirrors the emotional state of the human characters.
Pearce Quigley portrays Michael with a quiet confidence that anchors the series. The character remains open to wonder despite his grief. The series runs for six half-hour episodes and mixes deadpan comedy with a sense of melancholy. It is currently available for streaming on Apple TV.
