Small Prophets Premieres on Apple TV in Six-Episode Run

The British television series Small Prophets is now streaming on Apple TV. The show consists of six half-hour episodes and marks a new project from writer-director Mackenzie Crook.

Pearce Quigley stars as Michael Sleep, a man in his fifties with a white beard and long hair. Michael lives in a suburban house with an overgrown lawn that he has kept unchanged for seven years. His partner, Clea, disappeared during that time, and Michael still expects her to return. He splits his time between part-time work at a hardware store called the Tool Box and visits to the retirement home where his father lives.

Michael’s father, Brian, is played by Michael Palin. Brian tells Michael about a friend in Egypt who could summon homunculi. These are miniature humanoid beings that grow in glass jars and answer questions with absolute truth. Brian gives Michael a recipe for creating the creatures, which involves old coins and a truckload of manure. Michael decides to try the process to learn what happened to Clea.

New characters enter Michael’s life as the homunculi begin to develop in his shed. Roy, played by Paul Kaye, is Clea’s brother. He shows up broke and intends to claim the house. Next-door neighbors Clive and Bev also become involved. Clive, who is tormented by Michael’s messy yard, is joined by his curious wife Bev, who finds Michael intriguing. At work, Michael forms a friendship with Kacey, a disaffected young coworker played by Lauren Patel. Both of them are frustrated by their boss, Gordon, an officious and incompetent manager with a greasy ponytail. Gordon is played by Crook.

The series is described as a gentle and original work that mixes fantasy with social comedy. Crook is known for creating tenderly offbeat series, including the cult comedy Detectorists, which focused on a metal detecting club searching for buried gold. In Small Prophets, Crook casts a sympathetic look at loners, oddballs, and dreamers who are often stuck in unsatisfying jobs. The characters are drawn with care, revealing moments of vulnerability even in those who appear foolish.

The show balances its melancholy with deadpan humor and poetic touches. Michael makes fun of customers at the hardware store in scenes described as especially funny. The narrative includes magical elements such as a falling star and an oil spill that forms the shape of a rabbit. When the homunculi are finally revealed, they are portrayed as fragile creatures whose faces show pain and isolation. Trapped in their bottles, they mirror the solitude of the human characters around them.

Quigley’s performance is characterized as droll and confidently quiet. Michael embodies a positive approach to life, remaining resolutely uncynical and open to wonder. He is caring, loyal, and accepting of differences without making a big deal of it. The series maintains a mood that is alluring and consistently surprising, avoiding the structure of serialized shows that delay the main plot with flashbacks or chase sequences.