Small Prophets - Mackenzie Crook-scripted show (and he also plays a minor character) starring Pierce Quigley, Lauren Patel, Michael Palin(!) and many others. It's a comedy but don't expect it to be lol all the time (though there definitely are parts that made me laugh!) If you've seen Detectorists it is KIND OF like that, but with a bit of fantasy going on and some "magical realism" type stuff (I think that's the right term.) Also, it is twee. I don't always like twee, so I thought I'd give that warning. There are a few scenes that go too twee for me: you'll probably know when you see it but one involves an attempted mugging (and maybe the bit with the rabbit.) BUT, I did like it. The cast are all great at playing their characters. The main character is a weirdo, and he can be frustrating at times, for sure. I actually felt sorry for Crook's character a few times, even though he's a wanker. But there is a bit of depth to everyone: there's one scene I think in episode five where a side character gets some unexpected depth that gave me warm feelings. The friendship between Quigley and Patel's characters is the core of it and that is all very nice and cozy. I am in the mood to feel cozy so I liked it. I would say maybe it took on a bit too much, as things feel rushed by the end and a few of the minor characters fall by the wayside. But yeah I definitely recommend it and there are some very emotional moments and nice pay-offs and it just has that nice feeling to it that makes you want to keep watching.
I’m three episodes in and yeah, it’s definitely good. It does have that
Detectorists vibe, which I guess is obvious due to McKenzie, but a specific comfort-cosy-show formula that’s being refined now. You can kind of see the machinery working; soft pacing, eccentric but endearing weirdos who are ultimately harmless, serious trauma handled very gently, and that ever-present indie-folk or wistful nostalgic soundtrack. Nothing really spikes too hard. It’s all designed to be soothing first and dramatic second, usually set somewhere idyllic with the occasional brush with urban decay for contrast.
Detectorists did this extremely well without overindulging, and so far this feels like it’s on the right side of that line too. The opposite would be things like
Derek and
After Life, which I found cringe-inducing and self-indulgent in the EXTREME. It’s a fine line, and Mackenzie Crook clearly sits on the right side of it, whereas Gervais… very much doesn’t, especially once Merchant was no longer there to rein him in.
I thought the chat about the girl wanting to be in Neighbors and the type of character she would be in it was a bit of a nod to there being these archetypes in certain shows (as well as shows like these) but maybe I was reading too much into it!
There is a bit of tonal whiplash with the supernatural element, but it’s also quite interesting. Great to see Michael Palin, and the lead does a solid job stepping up after being more of a supporting presence in
Detectorists. The obsessed normie neighbour is probably the funniest part of the show. It’s fairly light on outright comedy, but I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing.
There is one thing that sort of irked me, and that was that we only really get a couple of lines of push back on the concept of trapping SUPERNATURAL BEINGS in jars. It feels like there should have been a longer run up to this on the acceptance front! The claymation approach is cool, especially in 2026 where the default choice would have been CGI.
Very much gave me this vibe:
I’m going to stick ep4 on now with my supper.
