Small Prophets: A gentle fantasy about lonely men and tiny truth-tellers
The six-episode BBC series blends deadpan comedy with supernatural elements to explore grief and suburban isolation.
By Amina Yusuf ·
A new BBC series titled Small Prophets is currently streaming on Apple TV, offering a six-episode narrative that blends deadpan humor with fantasy elements. The show focuses on a 50-year-old man who attempts to conjure miniature beings to answer questions about his missing partner. Each half-hour episode relies on a mix of social comedy and melancholy rather than high-stakes action.
Pearce Quigley stars as Michael Sleep, a resident of a suburban house that has remained unchanged since his partner, Clea, disappeared seven years ago. Michael continues to hope for her return while splitting his time between a part-time job at a hardware store and visits to his father. The father, played by Michael Palin, is an inventive but scattered man who lives in a retirement home.
The central plot device involves a recipe provided by the father for creating homunculi. These are small, humanoid creatures that grow in glass jars and are capable of answering any question with absolute truth. Michael begins the process using various materials, including old coins and a large amount of manure, in an effort to learn what happened to Clea.
Michael’s routine is disrupted by several new characters who enter his life. Clea’s brother, Roy, appears broke and seeks to claim the family home. The neighbors, Clive and Bev, also become involved; Clive is frustrated by Michael’s overgrown lawn, while Bev finds Michael’s demeanor intriguing. At his workplace, Michael forms a bond with a coworker named Kacey, played by Lauren Patel.
The series was written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, who also portrays Gordon, the store manager. Crook is known for creating offbeat comedies that focus on misfits and dreamers, including the metal detecting series Detectorists. In this production, he casts a sympathetic light on characters who feel stuck in unsatisfying jobs or thwarted by life circumstances.
The show balances its emotional weight with humor and poetic visual details. Scenes include a falling star, an oil spill shaped like a rabbit, and a vivid Christmas memory. The homunculi themselves are described as fragile and painful to look at, mirroring the isolation felt by the human characters. They remain trapped in their bottles while offering unfiltered answers to Michael.
Michael Sleep serves as the emotional anchor of the series. Quigley portrays the character as quietly confident and open to wonder, despite his loss. The narrative avoids cynicism, focusing instead on the acceptance of difference and the lingering hope that life can still feel magical. The series concludes with the homunculi fully formed, ready to speak.
