'Prodigal Son' Episode 8: The 'family friend' attacks Malcolm as the hunt for the Junkyard Killer continues

Since the FBI has now taken over the Junkyard Killer case, will Malcolm ever find out about the girl in the box?

Spoilers ahead for season 1 episode 8 'Family Friend' of 'Prodigal Son'

'Prodigal Son' is one of the few shows that keep us on our toes getting better with each week. 

Last week on 'Prodigal Son', Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) was approached by a certain someone who claimed to be his serial killer father Martin Whitly's (Michael Sheen) colleague. It was an eerie revelation as we saw that The Surgeon probably didn't work alone. In episode 8 'Family Friend', we finally meet Paul Lazar. Well, not so much meet as much as call him, and then Paul physically assaults Malcolm without revealing his face to him. While his face isn't revealed, Paul Lazar is played by Michael Raymond-James.

Paul barely gives out any information about himself but Malcolm figures out where Paul used to "prep" his victims. As it turns out, Paul thinks he is on a mission - he kills drug addicts by crushing them in the junkyard the whole while thinking that he is committing the crimes for the greater good. But with his motive out and known, it still doesn't give the NYPD much as the investigations into him keep going on. 

Meanwhile, Ainsley (Halston Sage) is beside herself wanting to be the first person to be on the story of the new serial killer. Her drive to get the next story irks her boyfriend Jin (Raymond Lee) leading to their break up. Needless to say, he is not particularly psyched about Ainsley filming his surgery for the story.

Yet there is one particular pointer that Paul had dropped during one of his conversations with Malcolm this episode - he mentioned the girl in the box. Malcolm begins to tremble with this mention and becomes visibly disturbed, which Paul seems to rather enjoy. Malcolm asks him what he knows about the girl in the box, but for Paul, this was only a bait to show Malcolm just how serious he is about all this - how he is one step ahead of Malcolm. 

But Malcolm must know what happened during the camping trip and why is it that he cannot remember anything - his repressed memories are also interesting to Paul, who indicates that Malcolm might have something to do with the girl. But did he really? Or is Paul also manipulating him the way The Surgeon did all these years?

Since the FBI has now taken over the Junkyard Killer case, will Malcolm ever find out about the girl in the box?

'Prodigal Son' airs on Mondays at 9 pm ET/PT. 

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Owen Wilson returns to the green in ‘Stick’ Season 2. Here’s your guide to Apple TV’s weekly episode rollout, streaming details and finale date.
2026-11-04T15:48:30.000Z
'Trinity,' starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Richard Madden, follows a naval officer who suspects the US Secretary of Defense is at center of a conspiracy.
2026-11-04T15:21:56.000Z
An upcoming ‘Chicago Fire’ episode welcomes a familiar face from ‘Chicago Med,’ marking a One Chicago milestone.
2026-11-04T14:59:11.000Z
Milo Ventimiglia and Justin Hartley could reunite on 'Tracker,' with the show’s producers also discussing bringing 'This Is Us' stars together.
2026-11-04T13:58:31.000Z
After tracking down F.R.I.D.A.Y., Ultron presents himself as an ally
2026-11-04T08:47:31.000Z
'VisionQuest' reveals the Client's real identity, and it is deeply connected to Ultron
2026-11-04T07:14:07.000Z
'VisionQuest' features Paul Bettany playing three characters in Episode 7 titled 'Immolation'
2026-11-04T05:39:20.000Z
‘Phony’ episode 4 deepens the mystery surrounding Ellen’s identity as Sonny investigates rumors of a dead body buried in the woods
2026-11-04T03:54:30.000Z
Netflix’s upcoming YA series’ storyline follows a scholarship student’s high school journey at an elite boarding school.
2026-11-04T03:21:28.000Z
Justin Timberlake will shed light on some key moments from his life and career in the four-part Apple TV docuseries
2026-11-04T02:38:30.000Z