'Prodigal Son' Episode 2 'Annihilator' preview: The Surgeon's omnipresence is tormenting Malcolm Bright
Spoilers ahead for Season 1 Episode 2 'Annihilator' of 'Prodigal Son' on Fox
At the end of the pilot episode of 'Prodigal Son', it was revealed to us that Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) calls the cops on his terrifying serial killer father Dr Martin Whitly (played by the very versatile Michael Sheen). It was during the arrest of his father that he meets the now-detective Gil Arroyo (Lou Diamond Phillips), who was the arresting officer of Dr Whitly. Since the arrest of The Surgeon in the 90s, Arroyo has treated Bright as his son, and, after his disgraceful exit from FBI, takes him under his wing at the NYPD.
The first episode also shows Bright visiting his father in the psychiatric facility he is held after almost a decade. This meeting doesn't fare well for Bright, unfortunately. As it turns out, Tom Payne's Bright has been suffering through debilitating mental health since the arrest of his father - PTSD, night terrors, tremors, anxiety and nightmares. These take a turn for the worst after his first meeting with The Surgeon.
In episode 2 titled 'Annihilator', as Bright is investigating a quadruple homicide for the NYPD along with Arroyo, JT (Frank Harts), and Detective Dani (Aurora Perrineau), his night terrors begin to worsen - happening more often and causing him to lash out. What on an ordinary day he could contain is now out for many to notice.
The murder investigation is further complicated by The Surgeon constantly butting in - he calls Bright asking him for details about the murder case making it the channel of their reconnection. Despite his son refusing time and again, Dr Whitly is persistent. The Surgeon's omnipresence torments Bright - he is plagued by harrowing nightmares from his childhood and is consumed by their cryptic meaning.
The official synopses for 'Annihilator' are "Bright jumps at the chance to help Arroyo solve a quadruple homicide for the NYPD. As Bright slips into the mind of this serial killer, he finds himself dealing with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years. Tormented by the terrors of his childhood, Bright is faced with a question: are his dreams just nightmares or did they actually happen?"
'Prodigal Son' airs on Mondays at 9 pm ET/PT on Fox.