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The Worst Episodes of Prodigal Son

Every episode of Prodigal Son ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Prodigal Son!

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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.

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  1. #1 Worst Episode
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    Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 2 - Speak of the Devil
    7.0/10(772 votes)

    #1 - Speak of the Devil

    S2:E2

    When a priest is found murdered in his place of worship, Bright grapples with its effect on his own trauma.

    Director:Antonio Negret
    Writer:Eileen Jones

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  2. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 1 - It’s All in the Execution
    7.2/10(963 votes)

    #2 - It’s All in the Execution

    S2:E1

    Bright finds his personal life in disarray after his sister's shocking actions. Now, he has to "take care" of her and protect his mother, Jessica, from a secret that could tear the family apart all over again. To distract himself, Malcolm takes on a new case and must find the killer behind a recent beheading in the city... and the only person he can turn to for help with the case is his father. Meanwhile, Martin returns to Claremont to a surprise new roommate and JT faces discrimination while on the job.

    Director:Antonio Negret
    Writers:Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver

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  3. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 4 - Designer Complicity
    7.6/10(962 votes)

    #3 - Designer Complicity

    S1:E4

    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

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  4. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 3 - Fear Response
    7.7/10(1032 votes)

    #4 - Fear Response

    S1:E3

    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

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  5. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 5 - The Trip
    7.7/10(925 votes)

    #5 - The Trip

    S1:E5

    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

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  6. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 5 - Bad Manners
    7.7/10(611 votes)

    #6 - Bad Manners

    S2:E5

    Malcolm and Ainsley both race to find the killer in the so-called "Debutante Slayings," but Ainsley's persistence has Malcolm worried about what her actual motive might be. While Martin is thrilled to see his daughter's passion in the field, Jessica suggests she and Ainsley take a vacation. Meanwhile, JT meets with his union rep to decide if he should file an official complaint against the cop who discriminated against him.

    Director:Chris Grismer
    Writer:Marcus Dalzine

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  7. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 2 - Annihilator
    7.8/10(1155 votes)

    #7 - Annihilator

    S1:E2

    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
    Writers:Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver

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  8. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 6 - All Souls and Sadists
    7.8/10(886 votes)

    #8 - All Souls and Sadists

    S1:E6

    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

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  9. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 9 - The Killabustas
    7.8/10(521 votes)

    #9 - The Killabustas

    S2:E9

    Despite Gil's fatherly concerns, Bright throws himself into a new case involving an escalating killer that has Edrisa's online vigilante group, known as the "Killabustas," trying to stop him. Meanwhile, Jessica realizes that she must dive deep into her past traumas in order to write a book and may need Gil's help to do it. Then, Martin's relationship with Dr. Capshaw intensifies.

    Director:Dermott Downs
    Writer:Sabrina Deana-Roga

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  10. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 1 - Pilot
    7.9/10(1566 votes)

    #10 - Pilot

    S1:E1

    Bright deals with the repercussions of seeing his father for the first time in years.

    Director:Lee Toland Krieger
    Writers:Chris Fedak, Sam Sklaver

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  11. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 15 - Death's Door
    7.9/10(711 votes)

    #11 - Death's Door

    S1:E15

    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

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  12. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 16 - The Job
    7.9/10(691 votes)

    #12 - The Job

    S1:E16

    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

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  13. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 17 - Stranger Beside You
    7.9/10(697 votes)

    #13 - Stranger Beside You

    S1:E17

    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
    Writers:Lauriel Harte Marger, Sabrina Deana-Roga

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  14. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 18 - Scheherazade
    8.0/10(707 votes)

    #14 - Scheherazade

    S1:E18

    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
    Writers:Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman

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  15. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 3 - Alma Mater
    8.0/10(629 votes)

    #15 - Alma Mater

    S2:E3

    When the headmaster of Bright's alma mater is found murdered, he is forced to face a troubling secret from his past. Meanwhile, Jessica struggles with her decision to end things with Gil, Martin grows closer to Friar Pete and JT eagerly anticipates the birth of his baby.

    Director:Omar Madha
    Writer:Lisa Randolph

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  16. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 7 - Face Value
    8.0/10(610 votes)

    #16 - Face Value

    S2:E7

    Malcolm focuses on a case in which a famous plastic surgeon is murdered; Martin gets a new job working in the infirmary with Dr. Vivian Capshaw; Jessica is surprised to learn her younger sister is in town.

    Director:Lou Diamond Phillips
    Writer:Lauriel Harte Marger

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  17. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 8 - Ouroboros
    8.0/10(586 votes)

    #17 - Ouroboros

    S2:E8

    When world-famous Europol profiler Simon Hoxley shows up in New York and claims that Major Crimes' current case is connected to the discovery of Endicott's body overseas, Bright fears he and Ainsley's secret is about to be exposed. Meanwhile, Martin gets to know Dr. Vivian Capshaw.

    Director:Chris Grismer
    Writers:Nora Zuckerman, Lilla Zuckerman

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  18. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 9 - Pied-A-Terre
    8.1/10(820 votes)

    #18 - Pied-A-Terre

    S1:E9

    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

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  19. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 14 - Eye of the Needle
    8.1/10(764 votes)

    #19 - Eye of the Needle

    S1:E14

    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

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  20. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 12 - Internal Affairs
    8.2/10(803 votes)

    #20 - Internal Affairs

    S1:E12

    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
    Writers:Lisa Randolph, Alexis Siegel

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  21. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 8 - Family Friend
    8.3/10(860 votes)

    #21 - Family Friend

    S1:E8

    Malcolm realizes the suspect in the "Junkyard Killer" case may have a connection to his father.

    Director:Rob Hardy
    Writer:Wyatt Cain

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  22. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 13 - Wait & Hope
    8.3/10(799 votes)

    #22 - Wait & Hope

    S1:E13

    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

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  23. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 6 - Head Case
    8.3/10(657 votes)

    #23 - Head Case

    S2:E6

    The team investigates the murder of an architect who was tasked with renovating a supposedly haunted hotel.

    Director:Lisa Robinson
    Writer:Wyatt Cain

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  24. Prodigal Son Season 1 Episode 19 - The Professionals
    8.4/10(706 votes)

    #24 - The Professionals

    S1:E19

    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

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  25. Prodigal Son Season 2 Episode 10 - Exit Strategy
    8.4/10(544 votes)

    #25 - Exit Strategy

    S2:E10

    As Malcolm distances himself from Martin, Jessica does the opposite, diving head-first into the past for the sake of her tell-all book. Meanwhile, Martin is desperate to get in touch with his son ahead of his imminent plans, as Dr. Vivian Capshaw grows increasingly suspicious. Meanwhile, the NYPD investigates a crime of passion.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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Worst Episodes Summary

"Speak of the Devil" is the worst rated episode of "Prodigal Son". It scored 7/10 based on 772 votes. Directed by Antonio Negret and written by Eileen Jones, it aired on 1/19/2021. This episode scored 0.2 points lower than the second lowest rated, "It’s All in the Execution".