7.9/101,493 votes#1 - Pilot
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/23/2019
Bright deals with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years.
Director: Lee Toland Krieger
Writer: Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver
7.8/101,108 votes#2 - Annihilator
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/30/2019
As Bright slips into the mind of a serial killer, he must deal with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years.
Director: Adam Kane
Writer: Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver
7.6/10988 votes#3 - Fear Response
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/7/2019
A drug-induced homicide forces Malcolm to rethink his fears. Gil, Jessica and Ainsley catch wind that Malcolm has been seeing his father again.
Director: Rob Bailey
Writer: Lisa Randolph
7.5/10917 votes#4 - Designer Complicity
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/14/2019
As Malcolm's childhood memories surface, he realizes his father's killing spree may not have been a surprise to everyone in the family. Malcolm, Gil, Dani and JT hunt for a stalker with a creepy eye for design.
Director: Leon Ichaso
Writer: Wendy Calhoun
7.6/10881 votes#5 - The Trip
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/21/2019
Malcolm searches the depths of his mind to unravel the mystery of the girl in the box. When the NYPD investigates a homicide and assumes it is linked to a drug cartel, Malcolm discovers a secret about Dani's past that draws them closer together.
Director: Omar Madha
Writer: Jeremy Carver
7.8/10848 votes#6 - All Souls and Sadists
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/28/2019
When Bright uncovers a photo of himself and Martin from when he was a kid, he is forced to focus on the repressed memories from his childhood psyche. Jessica and Malcolm agree they must put a stop to Ainsley's idea.
Director: Megan Griffiths
Writer: Justin W. Lo
8.5/10910 votes#7 - Q&A
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/4/2019
Bright's quest for answers about his childhood leads him to a junkyard, where he's bombarded with gunshots. Ainsley's exclusive interview with Martin takes an unexpected turn, forcing her to team up with Bright.
Director: Adam Kane
Writer: Elizabeth Peterson
8.2/10821 votes#8 - Family Friend
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/11/2019
Malcolm realizes the suspect in the "Junkyard Killer" case may have a connection to his father.
Director: Rob Hardy
Writer: Wyatt Cain
8.0/10782 votes#9 - Pied-A-Terre
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/2019
When Martin is locked away in solitary confinement and the FBI takes over the Junkyard Killer case, Malcolm uses his spare time as an excuse to try out a “normal” lifestyle.
Director: Antonio Negret
Writer: Lauriel Harte Marger
8.5/10832 votes#10 - Silent Night
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/2/2019
Knowing that the “Junkyard Killer” was in cahoots with his father, Malcolm goes against the FBI’s wishes and continues to investigate. His findings reconnect him with a disgruntled ex-detective who was once heavily involved in the search for “The Surgeon,” delivering them both into danger.
Director: Valerie Weiss
Writer: Sabrina Deana-Roga
8.5/10837 votes#11 - Alone Time
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 1/20/2020
The FBI and NYPD band together to save Malcolm from the "Junkyard Killer," aka John Watkins, who reveals shocking details about his involvement in the camping trip memories that have been plaguing his psyche. Meanwhile, as Gil looks for answers from The Surgeon, Ainsley and Jessica search through their memories of the past, hoping to find some sort of clue as to where Malcolm could be hidden.
Director: Adam Kane
Writer: Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman
8.1/10767 votes#12 - Internal Affairs
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/27/2020
Following a mysterious and catastrophic incident in the precinct, Bright faces an internal affairs review as Gil and the team worry about his mental health.
Director: David S. Tuttman
Writer: Lisa Randolph, Alexis Siegel
8.3/10769 votes#13 - Wait & Hope
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 2/3/2020
Malcolm takes a detour from his mandated vacation time when he finds out a killer on the loose is mimicking homicides from one his favorite children's books, "The Count of Monte Cristo." With added help from a very excited Martin Whitly, the NYPD trace the case back to a high society family planning one of the biggest weddings of the season, so Malcolm and Dani get dressed up to attend the event and track down their culprit.
Director: Glen Winter
Writer: Sam Sklaver
8.1/10735 votes#14 - Eye of the Needle
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/10/2020
Jessica continues to search for more information on the "Girl in the Box," but is confronted by the "Carousel Killer," who has a very public vendetta against the Whitlys. While the NYPD investigates families tied to Martin's victims, it's ultimately up to Malcolm and Jessica to track down the tip-line caller, turned killer, who is blackmailing her. Meanwhile, Ainsley receives a big promotion at work, but quickly realizes she may never escape the high demand for serial killer reports.
Director: Lisa Robinson
Writer: Wyatt Cain
7.9/10682 votes#15 - Death's Door
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/17/2020
When a body is found professionally preserved and embalmed, the NYPD teams up with Edrisa to go undercover at a convention of funeral directors. While there, they discover their top suspects - morticians Tilda and Dev - who used to be in business with the victim. Then, enter the mind of a serial killer as Martin revisits his past through a series of hallucinations.
Director: Adam Kane
Writer: Elizabeth Peterson
7.9/10660 votes#16 - The Job
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 3/16/2020
When a motorcycle gang robbery turns into a murder, Malcolm and team are called to the scene to investigate. While he's working on a profile, he runs into an old friend from boarding school, licensed insurance investigator Vijay (guest star Dhruv Singh). Together they work to uncover the identity of the murderer and his accomplices who stole millions in watches. Meanwhile, Martin blackmails Jessica, exchanging his silence about who stabbed him for more quality time with his son.
Director: Satya Bhabha
Writer: Justin W. Lo
7.8/10667 votes#17 - Stranger Beside You
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 3/23/2020
The NYPD dives into a case surrounding a famous mommy blogger, whose husband was mysteriously stabbed just days after their baby was born. Meanwhile, Bright finds his way back to Eve, but can't shake his paranoia that there's more to her than meets the eye. To help ease his nerves, Ainsley helps him do some investigating and uncovers a secret she has been keeping.
Director: Pamela Romanowsky
Writer: Lauriel Harte Marger, Sabrina Deana-Roga
8.0/10677 votes#18 - Scheherazade
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/30/2020
When an up-and-coming ballet dancer is mysteriously poisoned, the NYPD dives deep into the rigorous world of dance. Meanwhile, Jessica reunites with an old friend, socialite Nicholas Endicott, and Bright and Eve turn to Martin for answers regarding the girl in the box.
Director: Dermott Downs
Writer: Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman
8.4/10675 votes#19 - The Professionals
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/20/2020
After a catastrophic turn of events, Malcolm and Ainsley are convinced there's more to Nicholas Endicott than meets the eye. Their only hope just might be an impromptu Whitly family reunion.
Director: Lily Mariye
Writer: Lisa Randolph
9.0/101,050 votes#20 - Like Father...
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 4/27/2020
Malcolm continues to unravel as the mystery of the girl in the box comes to a head. As Nicholas Endicott's (guest star Dermot Mulroney) true colors continue to show, the Whitlys must decide to what lengths they are willing to go in order to take him down
Director: Adam Kane
Writer: Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver, Elizabeth Peterson
The Best Episodes of Prodigal Son Season 1
Every episode of Prodigal Son Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Prodigal Son Season 1!
The son of a notorious serial killer becomes an acclaimed criminal psychologist who uses his unique insight into how killers think to help the NYPD.
Genres:CrimeDramaMystery
Network:FOX
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Pilot" is the best rated episode of "Prodigal Son" season 1. It scored 7.9/10 based on 1493 votes. Directed by Lee Toland Krieger and written by Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver, it aired on 9/23/2019. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Annihilator".