Prodigal Son (2×03) Alma Mater Review

For our review of the last episode of Prodigal Son, click here.

Synopsis: When the headmaster of Bright’s alma mater is found murdered, he is forced to face a secret from his past; Jessica struggles with her decision to end things with Gil; Martin grows closer to Friar Pete; JT eagerly anticipates the birth of his baby. (TV Guide)

This latest episode of Prodigal Son helped shed some light on the root of Malcolm’s issues as he essentially had to go back to school while Martin did some plotting of his own.

Alma Mater started where the last episode left off with Martin’s escape, all the way back to his receptive wife and son who tore away from what obviously was a delusion but suffice it to say that he would try for real. Meanwhile, the real Malcolm was still haunted by his recent trauma and was trying to get over it. His father called and tried to help but Malcolm was saved by his latest case which happened to be that of the murder of the headmaster of his alma mater, Headmaster Brumback (Martin Van Treuren). As far as he was concerned, anyone could be a suspect, even the students. JT was also going crazy in anticipation of the birth of his new child which got delivered by the end of the episode.

Malcolm’s original decision to go to his alma mater was part of his reimagining where he would change his name to further distance himself from his father’s shadow. Jessica even orchestrated his role in the murder investigation in the interest of protecting the school and the interfering just began. Being back brought back some bad memories that he had to face eventually but it was also reminded him of potential evidence, one thing being Brumback’s black book.

Diving into a pool (where the headmaster and his office were found) to get the book, Malcolm led a group profiling session with some of the students from that book. The spanned all the different groups and would be considered separate but there was just something about them that suggested there was something more going on here, The fact that they all ganged up on Edrisa (Keiko Agena) pretty much confirmed it as she stumbled onto something they were doing off the books where the headmaster threatened to expose them. Jessica’s interrogation led the authorities to Anton Currie (Arthur Langlie) one of the questioned students who got away in his father’s helicopter.

Faced with the allegation that Martin torpedoed Malcolm’s chance at better life, the latter confronted his father who denied it because he couldn’t hurt his son. It was Professor Alan Delaney (Campbell Scott) who tried to lead Malcolm away from him but it didn’t work as he confessed to taking part in a cheating scheme with those other students to get his cut of what he thought he deserved. Meanwhile, the others’ pursuit of Currie revealed that Louisa Morrison (Lily Ganser), the perfect one, was the one responsible for Brumback’s death as a means to escape her circumstances (she also poisoned Delaney). Malcolm confided in Louisa that he killed the classmate who bullied him which was the event that led to his expulsion and many of his other issues (Malcolm actually saved him but the results were true). Louisa got arrested after Malcolm triggered a fire alarm from within the air-tight safe she locked him and Delaney in.

Martin betrayed his wouldbe accomplice instead of escaping as least not at that point as he was playing a long game. At least he was there for Malcolm to apologize for his earlier accusation which was a small win in Martin’s eyes.

Whenever Martin escapes, it seems more like a matter of when, it will certainly be a game-changer.

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.