Prodigal Son Review: Fear Response (Season 1 Episode 3)

Freshman series Prodigal Son jumps through a window to try and shatter barriers to understanding complex trauma. The break isn’t clean, but it’s a good break nonetheless. 

Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 3, “Fear Response,” is the strongest episode so far, due primarily to Bellamy Young and Michael Sheen’s excellent performances.  

It also delves deeper into the impact of childhood trauma, manifested as fear in adulthood.

While there remain issues with the type of representation this provides, with the overt and nearly total emphasis on Bright’s experience, overall the depictions are timely and needed.

Plus, as the mystery heats up, the chemistry between Michael Sheen as Dr. Whitly and Bellamy Young as Jessica Whitly pops off. 

We’re into it. 

The series just got picked up for a full-season order. Because of its strong third episode, we have hope that the full-season order will allow the show to thoroughly examine how Whitly’s (the Whitlys’?) crimes have impacted all the characters.  

I need to admit that I come to Prodigal Son with a particular bias.

I have worked in direct service for students with complex PTSD. Somewhat like a doctor watching medical shows, my eye-rolls and exasperated sighs are ready to go. 

And there are ways in which Prodigal Son gets it wrong (the restraints are over the top and seem unsafe). However, it gets it right too.

Honestly, even if it gets it wrong most of the time, the attempt matters. 

Prodigal Son full body tackles complex PTSD from childhood trauma. That’s enough. 

Again, the show gets many aspects of complex PTSD right.

Bright’s intense symptoms, even jumping out of the window, are not overly dramatic.

In fact, I’d argue they are somewhat more chill or sanitized than the experiences of many in real life.

Pervasive and invasive nightmares are real. Seizures are real. Psychosis and psychotic episodes are real. Severe ADHD and attention issues are real. 

Each of these is a very real symptom of complex PTSD. 

Importantly, none of these traits is sexualized on Prodigal Son.

When Dani questions Bright about having overnight guests on Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 2, “Annihilator,” it doesn’t become flirty.

The tone of the conversation is more sad, like the restraints that should keep Bright in a place of rest are trapping him in his boyhood. 

“Fear Response,” continues the idea that Bright is stunted by his childhood experiences, trapped at age 11. He refuses to move on to an adult therapist, and he distributes suckers to his colleagues. 

It’s childlike and sad. And, it works. 

This is a character I want to know more about. 

If he is stunted at the age of his abuse, a common thing for child victims, that would explain his braggadocious and self-centered nature.

Truly, if Bright’s trauma caused, or at least provided a fertile growing place, for his personality disorder and that is what this show aims to reveal, I am fully on board and ready to eat some crow. 

The show’s emphasis on childhood experiences is pivotal.

According to CDC research, adverse childhood experiences can have extreme and deadly consequences.

ACEs is a survey that asks about adverse childhood experiences. Health outcomes, including things like eating disorders and lung cancer, are linked to high ACEs scores.

Bright scores at least a 5. Scores 4 and higher indicate a significantly increased risk of negative health outcomes. 

Bright as a character matters because he is a rich cis white man who is in no way immune from the ravages of complex trauma because of those privileges. 

Using the lead character to tell a complex story about complex PTSD is a great start. To stay compelling and to really shatter the stigma and ignorance around childhood trauma, the show needs to include marginalized people in its study. 

The foundation is there for Prodigal Son to include Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, trans, and/or disabled women in the conversation. 

The foundation the show is building is also strong enough for the show to explore the innovative therapies that are available to help manage complex PTSD, such as EMDR. 

Television is just getting started getting PTSD right. Prodigal Son is taking important steps forward without sacrificing any excitement or drama in the process.

Helpfully, Payne is settling into his character.

The lack of an age discrepancy between Bright and Mrs. Whitly is still difficult to get past, but it is nice that it is not the actor’s performance that disrupts believability.

The strongest scene on the episode is when Jessica faces Martin. 

Wow. 

Their chemistry scrambles me up in the best way. It is laced with fear.

Not just fear of what he might do, but what this heinous person reflects on her and what she is capable of. 

Again, wow.

Jessica’s startle reflex coming up when Martin reaches to touch her and him calling her “Jess,” in response is powerful enough to light the building. 

I would absolutely watch a show dedicated just to these two. 

The episode title, “Fear Response,” is about the case of the week, but the lasting impact is when the show turns that lens to Jessica’s fear.

Her psychology is complex. She has survived with a combination of booze, delusion, cynicism, and money. 

JESSICA WHITLY: I had to kill you in my mind because I loved you. 

And she nearly unravels when her murderous ex-husband calls her beautiful. 

Young is enthralling, poetic, and really very funny as Jessica Whitly. She puts us on the edge of our seats, where we’re making sure our clenched fists don’t ruin our nails. 

Sakina Jaffrey also shines on the episode as the unlikable Dr. Elaine Brown. She is stern and smart, but not the bad guy. Her chemistry with Bright is perfect for adding grounded tension.

It feels like this could really happen, even though the plot is fairly ridiculous. 

“Fear Response,” builds a solid foundation for getting into the Whitly family grime. We’ll get our gloves on. 

What did you think of this episode of Prodigal Son? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Prodigal Son airs Mondays at 9/8c on Fox.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

15 Reasons to Reserve a Room at the ‘Grand Hotel’